เชิญ
invite
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 invite、ask (someone to attend)
- 2 please do、be invited to do
- 4 ceremonially carry、respectfully move、raise (a revered object or symbol)
This word conveys respectful invitation or encouragement. It is used to invite someone, politely prompt an action, or simply say “please” or “go ahead.”
invite、ask (someone to attend)
To respectfully invite someone to an event, place, meeting, or other occasion.
please do、be invited to do
Placed before another verb, it politely encourages or requests the listener to perform that action.
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เชิญนั่งครับ chəən nâŋ khráp Please have a seat. เชิญนั่งครับ details
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เชิญเข้ามาค่ะ chəən khàw maa khà Please come in. เชิญเข้ามาค่ะ details
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เชิญรับประทานอาหาร chəən rápprathaan aahǎan Please help yourself to the food. เชิญรับประทานอาหาร details
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เชิญค่ะ chəən khà Please, go ahead. เชิญค่ะ details
ceremonially carry、respectfully move、raise (a revered object or symbol)
To ceremonially or respectfully carry, move, or raise a sacred object, honored person, or important symbol.
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เชิญพระพุทธรูปมาประดิษฐานที่นี่ chəən phrá phúttharûup maa pradìtsathǎan thîi nîi Bring the Buddha image here to be enshrined. เชิญพระพุทธรูปมาประดิษฐานที่นี่ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of เชิญ is respectfully welcoming someone or guiding them toward an action. It can invite a person to an occasion, or precede a verb as in เชิญนั่ง, “please have a seat.” ขอเชิญ is a more formal pattern commonly heard in announcements, ceremonies, and official invitations. On its own, เชิญครับ or เชิญค่ะ can mean “please” or “go ahead.” The word is also used for respectfully moving sacred or honored objects.
Usage
It is common in invitations to weddings or meetings, when welcoming guests at home or in a business, when offering a seat or food, and when an emcee calls someone to the stage. It is also used to let another person enter or go first. In religious and official ceremonies, it may describe respectfully moving a revered object.
Caution
For a casual invitation between friends, ชวน is often more natural than เชิญ. Also, patterns such as ถ้าอยากทำก็เชิญ, “if you want to do it, go ahead,” can sound dismissive—like “suit yourself”—depending on tone and context.
Differences from similar words
1 invite synonyms
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ชวน is common for casually asking someone to join an activity. เชิญ is more respectful or formal and often treats the person as a guest.
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นิมนต์ is specifically used when inviting monks or respectfully asking them to do something. เชิญ is the general term used with other people.
2 please do synonyms
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กรุณา makes a polite request and is also common in instructions and notices. เชิญ more strongly suggests welcoming or encouraging the listener to do something.
4 ceremonially carry synonyms
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อัญเชิญ is more ceremonial and elevated, especially for sacred or highly revered objects. เชิญ can carry the same respectful sense but has a much broader range of everyday uses.