นึก
remember
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 remember、bring to mind
- 2 think、imagine、picture
- 3 think that、assume that、mistakenly think that
This verb describes something coming up in the mind. It is commonly used for remembering, picturing something mentally, or saying that you thought or assumed something was true.
remember、bring to mind
Used when a name, event, plan, or memory comes back to mind.
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นึกชื่อเขาไม่ออก nʉ́k chʉ̂ʉ khǎw mây ɔ̀ɔk I can’t remember his name. นึกชื่อเขาไม่ออก details
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เพิ่งนึกได้ว่ามีนัด phə̂əŋ nʉ́k dâay wâa mii nát I just remembered that I have an appointment. เพิ่งนึกได้ว่ามีนัด details
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นึกถึงเรื่องเก่า ๆ nʉ́k thʉ̌ŋ rʉ̂aŋ kàw kàw to think back on old memories นึกถึงเรื่องเก่า ๆ details
think、imagine、picture
Used for thinking about or picturing something in the mind, often with a mental-image or inner-thought nuance rather than formal reasoning.
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ลองนึกภาพดู lɔɔŋ nʉ́k phâap duu Try to picture it. ลองนึกภาพดู details
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นึกให้ดีก่อนตอบ nʉ́k hây dii kɔ̀ɔn tɔ̀ɔp Think carefully before answering. นึกให้ดีก่อนตอบ details
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นึกในใจว่าไม่เป็นไร nʉ́k nay cay wâa mây pen ray I thought to myself that it was okay. นึกในใจว่าไม่เป็นไร details
think that、assume that、mistakenly think that
In the pattern นึกว่า..., it means “I thought...” or “I assumed...,” often when the assumption turns out to be wrong.
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นึกว่าเธอไม่มา nʉ́k wâa thəə mây maa I thought you weren’t coming. นึกว่าเธอไม่มา details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of นึก is bringing something into the mind. With memories, it means “remember.” With images or situations, it means “picture” or “imagine.” With a clause after ว่า, it often means “thought” or “assumed.” The most useful learner patterns are นึกออก “can remember / come up with,” นึกไม่ออก “can’t remember / can’t think of,” นึกได้ “remember,” นึกถึง “think of,” นึกภาพ “visualize,” and นึกว่า “thought that.”
Usage
It is common in everyday conversation: when you cannot recall a name, suddenly remember a plan, think back on something, ask someone to picture a situation, or explain that you had assumed something.
Caution
Do not use นึก for every sense of “think.” For opinions, planning, calculation, or careful reasoning, คิด is usually better. Also, นึกว่า often sounds like an assumption or mistaken belief, so คิดว่า is safer for a neutral “I think that...”.
Differences from similar words
1 remember synonyms
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จำได้ means that you remember or recognize something. นึก focuses more on the act of something coming back to mind.
2 think synonyms
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คิด is the broad basic verb for thinking, including opinions, plans, calculations, and reasoning. นึก is narrower and more about something coming to mind or being pictured mentally.
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จินตนาการ clearly means to imagine and can sound a bit more formal. นึก is more conversational and often means to picture something briefly in your mind.