ระวัง
be careful
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 be careful、watch out for、beware of
- 2 Watch out!、Be careful!
This word expresses staying alert or acting with care to avoid danger, mistakes, or other unwanted results. It is also used as a direct warning when danger is near.
be careful、watch out for、beware of
Describes paying attention or being on guard so that danger, mistakes, or unwanted consequences can be avoided.
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ระวังรถ ráwaŋ rót Watch out for cars. ระวังรถ details
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ขับรถระวัง ๆ นะ khàp rót ráwaŋ ráwaŋ ná Drive carefully, okay? ขับรถระวัง ๆ นะ details
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ระวังอย่าให้ตก ráwaŋ yàa hây tòk Be careful not to drop it. ระวังอย่าให้ตก details
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ต้องระวังมิจฉาชีพ tɔ̂ŋ ráwaŋ mítchǎachîip You need to watch out for scammers. ต้องระวังมิจฉาชีพ details
Watch out!、Be careful!
A direct warning used to alert someone to an immediate or approaching danger.
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ระวัง! ráwaŋ Watch out! ระวัง! details
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ระวังหัว! ráwaŋ hǔa Mind your head! ระวังหัว! details
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ระวังพื้นลื่น ráwaŋ phʉ́ʉn lʉ̂ʉn Caution: Slippery floor. ระวังพื้นลื่น details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of ระวัง is directing your attention to something in advance so that danger or another unwanted result can be avoided. It is a basic, widely used word in conversation, signs, and written cautions. A common pattern is ระวัง followed by the thing to watch out for. For example, ระวังรถ means to watch out for cars, while ระวังคำพูด means to be careful about what one says. An unwanted result can be introduced with ระวังอย่า… or ระวังอย่าให้…. ระวังนะ is a common way to tell someone to take care; นะ makes the warning sound warmer and more considerate. The repeated form ระวัง ๆ can follow an action to indicate that it should be done carefully.
Usage
It is used in a wide range of situations involving road safety, driving, hot objects, slippery floors, theft, scams, and health risks. It also applies to nonphysical concerns, such as choosing one's words carefully or handling information securely. When danger is immediate, ระวัง! can be shouted by itself. On signs and notices, it is commonly followed by the specific hazard.
Caution
ระวัง does not normally mean “warn someone” as a reporting verb. To say that one person warns or reminds another, use เตือน. Also, it is most natural as a farewell when there is a real concern about safety or the journey, rather than as a general equivalent of “Take care.”
Differences from similar words
1 be careful synonyms
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ระมัดระวัง emphasizes acting cautiously and with close attention, and it often sounds somewhat more formal. ระวัง is more common in everyday speech and works naturally in short warnings.
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เฝ้าระวัง means to keep something under continuing observation, especially a disease, threat, or developing situation. ระวัง is broader and can refer to taking care during a single action or watching out for an immediate danger.