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Thai

อ่าน

Pronunciation

àan

อ่าน

àan

read

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  1. 1 read、read aloud、be pronounced as
  2. 2 study、study from books
  3. 3 read (a situation or person)、interpret、discern

This word describes getting meaning from written words or other signs. Depending on context, it can also mean studying from books or interpreting a situation, a person's feelings, or how events may develop.

1

read、read aloud、be pronounced as

Verb⭐️4 Often used

To get meaning from written text, including reading it silently or saying it aloud.

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2

study、study from books

Verb⭐️4 Often used

To study by reading books or course material, especially when preparing for classes or an exam.

3

read (a situation or person)、interpret、discern

Verb⭐️3 Common

To interpret clues such as expressions, behavior, or circumstances and understand an underlying meaning or likely development.

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Learning notes

Explanation

The core idea is extracting meaning from written words or other visible clues. It is commonly used with objects such as หนังสือ “book,” ข่าว “news,” and ข้อความ “message.” อ่าน by itself does not specify whether the reading is silent or aloud. Use อ่านออกเสียง for reading aloud and อ่านให้ฟัง for reading something to another person. อ่านหนังสือ can literally mean “read a book,” but in a school or exam context it commonly means “study.” Frequent patterns include อ่านจบ “finish reading,” อ่านต่อ “continue reading,” อ่านซ้ำ “read again,” and อ่านออก “be able to read or make out the writing.”

Usage

It is an everyday word used for reading books, news, social media posts, email, signs, and instructions. In education, it is used for reading comprehension, reading aloud, and studying for exams. It also appears in work, sports, and social situations when someone interprets circumstances, intentions, or the flow of events.

Caution

Different expressions are used for different kinds of “cannot read.” อ่านไม่ออก is used when someone lacks the ability to read the script or cannot make out unclear writing, while อ่านไม่เข้าใจ means that the person can read the words but does not understand the content. Also, อ่านหนังสือ may mean either “read a book” or “study,” depending on context.

Differences from similar words

2 study synonyms

3 read (a situation or person) synonyms

  • ตีความ focuses on interpreting what a text, statement, or event means. อ่าน can more naturally describe reading clues in a situation, expression, or behavior to grasp intentions or anticipate what may happen.

Component words

Other words containing อ่าน

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