Copy word

Thai

สั่น

Pronunciation

sàn

สั่น

sàn

tremble

Native recording

Analyzing pitch…

  1. 1 tremble、shake、vibrate

Describes a person, body part, or object making small, repeated movements, such as trembling from fear or vibrating mechanically.

1

tremble、shake、vibrate

Verb⭐️4 Often used

To move rapidly back and forth in small motions, whether from a physical or emotional reaction or from mechanical vibration.

Show more (2)

Learning notes

Explanation

The central image of สั่น is small, repeated movement around a relatively fixed position. The person or thing that trembles normally comes first: มือสั่น “one's hand trembles,” ตัวสั่น “one's body shakes,” and โทรศัพท์สั่น “the phone vibrates.” It covers involuntary trembling caused by cold, fear, nervousness, or illness, as well as mechanical vibration. Common fixed expressions include เสียงสั่น for a trembling voice and ใจสั่น for a pounding heart or heart palpitations. For the figurative idea of undermining stability, confidence, or authority, the compound สั่นคลอน is more usual.

Usage

It is common when talking about shivering from cold, trembling hands or a shaky voice caused by fear or nerves, and vibrating phones, engines, or buildings. ใจสั่น is used both for physical palpitations and for a pounding heart caused by surprise, anxiety, or excitement.

Caution

For deliberately shaking an object, เขย่า is normally used; “shake a bottle,” for example, is เขย่าขวด. Also, do not confuse สั่น “to tremble or vibrate” with the separately spelled word สั้น “short.”

Differences from similar words

1 tremble synonyms

  • สั่นสะเทือน emphasizes forceful vibration, shock, or a disturbance whose effects spread. สั่น is broader and commonly describes ordinary trembling or vibration.

  • เขย่า means to shake something deliberately, such as a bottle. สั่น usually describes a person or object trembling or vibrating in small repeated motions.

Component words

Share or cite this page

You are welcome to link to this page from blogs, social media, articles, and other materials. Quotations are welcome, too.

Send feedback

Let us know about errors, anything that seems unclear, or suggested corrections.

Content production and review

Thai content last reviewed

The Thai meaning, naturalness, examples, and pronunciation in this entry have been reviewed by a native Thai editor. We always welcome reports of errors and suggested corrections through the link above.

See our editorial and English localization process