ข้าม
cross
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 cross、cross over、step over、go across
- 2 skip、skip over、leave out、pass over
- 3 across、over、beyond、spanning
ข้าม means moving past a boundary, obstacle, or point in a sequence. It can mean physically crossing something, or skipping over a step, item, or part.
cross、cross over、step over、go across
Used when someone or something crosses from one side of a road, river, bridge, line, or obstacle to the other.
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ข้ามถนน khâam thanǒn cross the road ข้ามถนน details
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เขาข้ามสะพานไปอีกฝั่ง khǎw khâam saphaan pay ìik fàŋ He crossed the bridge to the other side. เขาข้ามสะพานไปอีกฝั่ง details
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อย่าข้ามถนนตรงนี้ yàa khâam thanǒn troŋ níi Don't cross the road here. อย่าข้ามถนนตรงนี้ details
skip、skip over、leave out、pass over
Used when skipping over something in an order, list, process, text, video, or sequence.
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ข้ามข้อนี้ไปก่อน khâam khɔ̂ɔ níi pay kɔ̀ɔn Skip this question for now. ข้ามข้อนี้ไปก่อน details
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อย่าข้ามขั้นตอน yàa khâam khântɔɔn Don't skip any steps. อย่าข้ามขั้นตอน details
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ข้ามโฆษณา khâam khôotsanaa skip the ad ข้ามโฆษณา details
across、over、beyond、spanning
Used to show that something goes across, over, or beyond a boundary such as time, country, road, or category.
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ทำงานข้ามคืน tham ŋaan khâam khʉʉn work through the night ทำงานข้ามคืน details
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ประชุมข้ามวัน prachum khâam wan the meeting runs into the next day ประชุมข้ามวัน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ข้าม is going past a boundary, obstacle, or point in order to reach the other side or the next point. A basic example is ข้ามถนน, “cross the road.” The same idea extends to skipping steps, skipping an ad, or spanning time, as in ข้ามคืน, “through the night.” It is a common everyday word in both speech and writing.
Usage
You will hear it when talking about crossing roads, bridges, and rivers; skipping questions, steps, or ads; working through the night; events that run into the next day; and things that cross national or cultural boundaries.
Caution
Do not use ข้าม for every English “exceed” or “go past.” For amounts, limits, or budgets, เกิน is usually the right word. For simply passing by or passing through, ผ่าน may be more natural.
Differences from similar words
1 cross synonyms
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ผ่าน means to pass through or pass by, without necessarily ending up on the other side. ข้าม emphasizes crossing a boundary or obstacle to the other side.
2 skip synonyms
3 across synonyms
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ตรงข้าม specifically means opposite or across from in location or contrast. ข้าม is broader and can mark crossing or spanning roads, time, countries, or other boundaries.