รัฐมนตรี
cabinet minister
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- 1 cabinet minister
A member of a government’s cabinet who shares responsibility for national policy and administration.
cabinet minister
A senior government official who serves in the cabinet, often with responsibility for a particular ministry.
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รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงการคลัง rátthamontrii wâakaan krasuaŋ kaan khlaŋ Minister of Finance รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงการคลัง details
Learning notes
Explanation
รัฐมนตรี refers to a cabinet member. Many ministers head a ministry, but the term also covers cabinet members who do not. The formal title for the head of a ministry follows the pattern รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวง + ministry name. For example, รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงการคลัง means “Minister of Finance.” In a US context, a cabinet member’s title may instead be translated as “Secretary,” as in “Secretary of the Treasury.” Use คน to count ministers: รัฐมนตรีสองคน means “two cabinet ministers.” ท่าน can replace คน to show respect. The word รัฐมนตรี itself is a neutral job title, not an honorific.
Usage
Common in news about cabinet appointments, resignations, policy announcements, and reshuffles. It also appears in official titles and ordinary conversations about politics.
Caution
Use นายกรัฐมนตรี for “prime minister”; do not shorten it to รัฐมนตรี. The term does not refer to politicians, legislators, or civil servants in general, and it does not carry the religious meaning of English “minister.”