นั่ง
sit
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 sit
- 2 take (transportation)、travel by (a vehicle)
- 3 hold (a position)、occupy (a post)
This basic verb centers on sitting or being seated. It is also used before another verb for an activity done while seated and with a vehicle for traveling as a passenger.
sit
Describes sitting down or remaining in a seated position. Before another verb, it indicates that the activity is performed while sitting and may suggest continuing it for some time.
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เชิญนั่งครับ chəən nâŋ khráp Please have a seat. เชิญนั่งครับ details
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เขานั่งบนเก้าอี้ khǎw nâŋ bon kâwîi He is sitting on a chair. เขานั่งบนเก้าอี้ details
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ฉันนั่งรอเพื่อน chǎn nâŋ rɔɔ phʉ̂an I am sitting and waiting for my friend. ฉันนั่งรอเพื่อน details
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เขานั่งอ่านหนังสืออยู่ khǎw nâŋ àan nǎŋsʉ̌ʉ yùu He is sitting and reading a book. เขานั่งอ่านหนังสืออยู่ details
take (transportation)、travel by (a vehicle)
Describes taking a vehicle and traveling in or on it as a passenger, including cars, trains, planes, and boats.
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นั่งรถไฟไปเชียงใหม่ nâŋ rót fay pay chiaŋmày Take the train to Chiang Mai. นั่งรถไฟไปเชียงใหม่ details
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ฉันนั่งแท็กซี่มา chǎn nâŋ thɛ́ksîi maa I came by taxi. ฉันนั่งแท็กซี่มา details
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นั่งเครื่องบินกี่ชั่วโมง nâŋ khrʉ̂aŋ bin kìi chûamooŋ How many hours does it take by plane? นั่งเครื่องบินกี่ชั่วโมง details
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ฉันนั่งมอเตอร์ไซค์รับจ้างมหาลัย chǎn nâŋ mɔɔtəəsay rápcâaŋ máhǎalay I take a motorcycle taxi to university. ฉันนั่งมอเตอร์ไซค์รับจ้างมหาลัย details
hold (a position)、occupy (a post)
Figuratively describes occupying an official position or holding a particular post in an organization.
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ใครจะนั่งในตำแหน่งนี้ khray cà nâŋ nay tamnɛ̀ŋ níi Who will hold this position? ใครจะนั่งในตำแหน่งนี้ details
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เขานั่งเก้าอี้ผู้จัดการ khǎw nâŋ kâwîi phûu càt kaan He holds the manager’s position. เขานั่งเก้าอี้ผู้จัดการ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image is lowering the body into a seated posture or remaining in that posture. นั่งลง highlights the action of sitting down, while นั่งอยู่ highlights the continuing state of being seated. In combinations such as นั่งอ่าน, นั่งรอ, and นั่งคุย, it introduces an activity performed while sitting and can imply that the activity continues for a while. Followed by a vehicle, as in นั่งรถ or นั่งเรือ, it means traveling in or on that vehicle as a passenger.
Usage
It is common in everyday situations at home, school, work, and restaurants when describing where someone sits or inviting someone to take a seat. It is also used for seated activities such as waiting, reading, and talking, and for stating a means of transportation during commuting or travel. The figurative sense of holding a position occurs in organizational, personnel, and political contexts.
Caution
นั่ง is not used for every kind of “riding.” Use ขี่ when operating a bicycle or motorcycle or when riding a horse. A passenger on a motorcycle taxi, however, can use นั่งมอเตอร์ไซค์. Use ขึ้น when the focus is specifically on boarding or getting onto a vehicle.
Differences from similar words
1 sit synonyms
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นั่งลง specifically emphasizes the movement of sitting down. นั่ง can refer either to that action or to already being in a seated position.
2 take (transportation) synonyms
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ขี่ is used for riding astride something such as a bicycle, motorcycle, or horse, usually as the operator. นั่ง is used from the passenger’s perspective, as in riding on a motorcycle taxi.
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ขึ้น focuses on boarding or getting onto a vehicle. นั่ง focuses on riding in or on it as a means of transportation.
3 hold (a position) synonyms
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ดำรงตำแหน่ง is a formal and explicit way to say that someone holds an office. นั่ง expresses the same idea through the figurative image of occupying a seat and often appears in discussions of appointments, management, or politics.