เด็ก
child
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 child、young person、younger person
- 2 young、childish
- 3 junior or subordinate [colloquial]、protégé or attendant [colloquial]
เด็ก primarily refers to a child, but it can also mean a young person or someone younger in context. It can also describe someone as young or childish.
child、young person、younger person
The everyday word for a person who has not reached adulthood; depending on context, it can also refer broadly to a young person or someone younger.
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เด็กคนนี้น่ารัก dèk khon níi nâa rák This child is cute. เด็กคนนี้น่ารัก details
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มีเด็กสามคน mii dèk sǎam khon There are three children. มีเด็กสามคน details
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ตอนเป็นเด็ก tɔɔn pen dèk when I was a child ตอนเป็นเด็ก details
young、childish
Describes someone as young, or as childish and not yet mature in behavior or judgment.
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เขายังเด็ก khǎw yaŋ dèk He/She is still young. เขายังเด็ก details
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อย่าทำตัวเป็นเด็ก yàa tham tua pen dèk Don't act like a child. อย่าทำตัวเป็นเด็ก details
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เขาหน้าเด็ก khǎw nâa dèk He/She has a youthful-looking face. เขาหน้าเด็ก details
junior or subordinate [colloquial]、protégé or attendant [colloquial]
In colloquial use, it can refer to a junior, subordinate, protégé, or attendant associated with someone.
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เขาเป็นเด็กของผู้จัดการ khǎw pen dèk khɔ̌ɔŋ phûu càt kaan He/She is one of the manager's junior people. เขาเป็นเด็กของผู้จัดการ details
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เด็กเสี่ย dèk sìa a young lover supported by a wealthy man เด็กเสี่ย details
Learning notes
Explanation
เด็ก is the neutral everyday word for a child of any gender. People are counted with the classifier คน, as in เด็กสองคน, “two children.” The reduplicated form เด็กๆ commonly means “children” or addresses a group of younger people in a friendly way. Although the default meaning is “child,” an older speaker may also use it for university students or young adults viewed as the younger generation.
Usage
It is widely used in everyday situations involving children, including at home, school, parks, and hospitals. Common patterns include ตอนเป็นเด็ก (“when one was a child”), เด็กๆ (“children”), and เขายังเด็ก (“he/she is still young”). In informal workplace or social contexts, it may also refer to a junior person associated with someone.
Caution
Calling an adult เด็ก directly can sound patronizing or imply immaturity unless the relationship and age difference make it natural. Also, เด็กของใคร can mean someone's junior or underling, but in some contexts it may suggest a younger lover or financially supported sexual partner, so the phrase should be used with care.
Differences from similar words
1 child synonyms
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ลูก means someone's son or daughter from the parent's perspective. เด็ก refers to a child in general, without implying a parent-child relationship.
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วัยรุ่น specifically refers to an adolescent or teenager. เด็ก is broader and includes younger children.
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เยาวชน is a more formal term for youth, often used in official or institutional contexts. เด็ก is the ordinary everyday word.
2 young synonyms
3 junior or subordinate [colloquial] synonyms
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ลูกน้อง is the straightforward general word for a subordinate. เด็ก is more colloquial and may loosely suggest a junior associate, protégé, attendant, or underling.