ชื้น
damp
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 damp、moist、humid
Describes something that contains moisture and is not completely dry, including objects, surfaces, soil, and humid air.
damp、moist、humid
Describes an object that is slightly wet or air that contains a high level of moisture.
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เสื้อยังชื้นอยู่ sʉ̂a yaŋ chʉ́ʉn yùu The shirt is still damp. เสื้อยังชื้นอยู่ details
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ดินชื้น din chʉ́ʉn moist soil ดินชื้น details
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วันนี้อากาศชื้นมาก wan níi aakàat chʉ́ʉn mâak It is very humid today. วันนี้อากาศชื้นมาก details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ชื้น is that something contains some moisture and is not completely dry. It can describe physical things, as in ผ้าชื้น (“damp cloth”) and ดินชื้น (“moist soil”), as well as air or climate, as in อากาศชื้น (“humid air”). It is a neutral, everyday word used in both speech and writing. As a Thai adjective describing a state, it can follow a noun or serve directly as the predicate of a sentence, as in เสื้อยังชื้นอยู่ (“The shirt is still damp”).
Usage
Commonly used for laundry that has not fully dried, damp floors or walls, and soil containing moisture. It is also used when talking about humid weather, moisture-filled rooms, and hot, humid climates.
Caution
For something thoroughly wet or soaked, เปียก is usually more appropriate. ชื้น fits something that is only damp, such as clothing that is nearly dry. Also, ชื้น by itself does not normally mean “relieved”; that idea is expressed with words such as ชื่นใจ or โล่งใจ.
Differences from similar words
1 damp synonyms
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ชุ่มชื้น often suggests a beneficial or desirable amount of moisture, especially for skin or soil. ชื้น neutrally describes the presence of moisture and may sound unpleasant when used of a room or the weather.
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เปียก means clearly wet, often with visible or substantial water. ชื้น usually describes a lower degree of wetness: damp rather than wet.