ดัน
push
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 push、press、shove
- 2 support、promote、push forward
- 3 insist on doing、force oneself to do、be bent on doing
- 4 unfortunately、of all things、unexpectedly
ดัน mainly means to push something with force. It also extends to backing or promoting a person, plan, or product, forcing an action through, and in casual speech marking that something happened annoyingly or unexpectedly.
push、press、shove
The basic physical sense: to push or press something so it moves forward, inward, or away.
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ดันประตู dan pràtuu push the door ดันประตู details
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ช่วยดันรถหน่อย chûay dan rót nɔ̀ɔy Help push the car a little. ช่วยดันรถหน่อย details
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พ่อดันกล่องไปข้างหน้า phɔ̂ɔ dan klɔ̀ɔŋ pay khâŋ nâa Dad pushed the box forward. พ่อดันกล่องไปข้างหน้า details
support、promote、push forward
To back, promote, or push forward a person, plan, policy, or product.
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รัฐบาลดันนโยบายใหม่ rátthàbaan dan náyoobaay mày The government is pushing a new policy. รัฐบาลดันนโยบายใหม่ details
insist on doing、force oneself to do、be bent on doing
To insist on doing something that seems unsuitable, unreasonable, or ill-advised, often with the speaker’s disapproval.
unfortunately、of all things、unexpectedly
Placed before a verb to show that something happened unexpectedly, unfortunately, or annoyingly, often with a “of all times/things” feeling.
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วันนี้ดันลืมกระเป๋าเงิน wan níi dan lʉʉm krapǎw ŋən Of all days, I forgot my wallet today. วันนี้ดันลืมกระเป๋าเงิน details
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เขาดันมาสายวันสอบ khǎw dan maa sǎay wan sɔ̀ɔp He was late on exam day, of all days. เขาดันมาสายวันสอบ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image of ดัน is applying force to push something forward. It is first used for physical actions such as pushing a door, a car, or a box. From that, it extends to pushing a policy, project, product, or person forward. In everyday speech, ดัน before a verb is especially common and adds the speaker’s feeling that the action or event is inconvenient, surprising, badly timed, or unreasonable.
Usage
Use it in daily life for physically pushing doors, cars, boxes, or other objects. In work, news, and business contexts, it can describe promoting or backing policies, projects, products, or people. In casual conversation, it often appears when complaining that something happened at the worst time or in an unexpected, irritating way.
Caution
ดัน does not cover every use of “support” or “be a fan of.” For cheering for a performer, team, or favorite person, words like เชียร์, ชอบ, or เป็นแฟนคลับ are often more natural. Also, ดัน + verb is casual and often sounds annoyed or ironic, so it is not ideal when you need a neutral or polite tone.
Differences from similar words
1 push synonyms
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ผลัก is a general word for pushing something away or forward. ดัน often suggests applying force continuously to move or press something.
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เข็น is used for pushing something that rolls or can be moved along, such as a cart, car, or bicycle. ดัน is broader and can be used with doors, boxes, bodies, pressure, and more.
2 support synonyms
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ส่งเสริม means to encourage or promote growth and sounds somewhat more formal. ดัน is more direct and conversational, often meaning to push something into visibility or success.
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สนับสนุน means to support or endorse and is fairly neutral. ดัน sounds more active, as if someone is trying to push something or someone forward.
3 insist on doing synonyms
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ขืน often appears in warnings such as “if you insist on doing that.” ดัน is used more directly to judge an action someone actually does or is determined to do.
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ฝืน means to force oneself against conditions, feelings, or limits. ดัน adds the sense that the action is inappropriate or surprising from the speaker’s point of view.
4 unfortunately synonyms
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บังเอิญ means “by chance” and is neutral. ดัน also points to chance or unexpectedness, but it carries annoyance, irony, or inconvenience.
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เผอิญ means “it happened that...” and can be neutral. ดัน is more likely to sound like the speaker is complaining about an inconvenient or badly timed event.