ฟัน
tooth
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 tooth、teeth
- 2 slash、chop、hack at
- 3 tooth (of a saw or gear)、cog
- 4 screw [vulgar slang]、have sex with [crude]
This word primarily means a tooth or teeth. It can also refer to a toothlike projection on a tool or machine. As a verb, it describes cutting with a forceful blow from a blade. It also has a crude sexual slang use.
tooth、teeth
A hard structure in a person’s or animal’s mouth used for biting and chewing. It can refer to one tooth or to the teeth collectively.
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แปรงฟัน prɛɛŋ fan brush one’s teeth แปรงฟัน details
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ฉันปวดฟัน chǎn pùat fan I have a toothache. ฉันปวดฟัน details
Show more (1)
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ต้องถอนฟันสองซี่ tɔ̂ŋ thɔ̌ɔn fan sɔ̌ɔŋ sîi Two teeth need to be extracted. ต้องถอนฟันสองซี่ details
slash、chop、hack at
To strike something forcefully with a sword, axe, machete, or similar blade in order to slash or chop it.
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เขาใช้ขวานฟันไม้ khǎw cháy khwǎan fan máay He chopped the wood with an axe. เขาใช้ขวานฟันไม้ details
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ฟันกิ่งไม้ที่ขวางทาง fan kìŋ máay thîi khwǎaŋ thaaŋ Chop off the branch blocking the path. ฟันกิ่งไม้ที่ขวางทาง details
tooth (of a saw or gear)、cog
A toothlike projection on a tool or mechanical part, such as a saw tooth or a gear tooth.
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ฟันเลื่อยคมมาก fan lʉ̂ay khom mâak The saw teeth are very sharp. ฟันเลื่อยคมมาก details
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ฟันเฟืองหัก fan fʉaŋ hàk A gear tooth broke. ฟันเฟืองหัก details
screw [vulgar slang]、have sex with [crude]
A crude slang verb meaning to have sex with someone. It can sound objectifying and disrespectful.
Learning notes
Explanation
The most basic meaning is “tooth” or “teeth.” The classifier ซี่ is used for individual teeth: ฟันหนึ่งซี่ means “one tooth,” and ฟันสองซี่ means “two teeth.” แถว can count rows of teeth, while ชุด can be used for a complete set, such as dentures. Very common expressions include แปรงฟัน “brush one’s teeth,” ปวดฟัน “have a toothache,” ถอนฟัน “extract a tooth,” and ฟันผุ “have tooth decay.” As a verb, ฟัน conveys a forceful blade stroke rather than ordinary cutting. It also appears in fixed expressions whose meanings have developed beyond literal cutting, such as ฟันธง, “state or predict something with certainty.” Some dictionaries associate ฟัน with handling a difficult situation or overcharging someone. These readings are strongly dependent on particular phrases or contexts, so they are not treated here as core standalone senses for learners.
Usage
In the “tooth” sense, ฟัน is used constantly when talking about brushing, appearance, toothaches, dental appointments, and dental treatment. The cutting sense occurs when describing chopping wood or branches with an axe or machete, attacks with a sword, and violent incidents. The toothlike-projection sense is mainly used for tools and machinery. The sexual meaning may appear in crude jokes, rough conversation, or online slang, but it is rarely appropriate for a learner to use actively.
Caution
Do not use ฟัน as the verb “bite”; use กัด instead. For ordinary cutting, ตัด is generally appropriate. For slicing or cutting food into pieces, use หั่น. Use ฟัน when a blade is swung forcefully, as with an axe, sword, or machete. The sexual sense is very crude and can make the other person sound like an object. Use มีเพศสัมพันธ์ for a neutral or formal statement, or นอนกับ… for the euphemistic “sleep with….”
Differences from similar words
1 tooth synonyms
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เขี้ยว refers specifically to a canine tooth or an animal’s fang. ฟัน is the general word for any tooth or for the teeth collectively.
2 slash synonyms
4 screw [vulgar slang] synonyms
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มีเพศสัมพันธ์ is a neutral, formal expression meaning “have sexual intercourse.” ฟัน is crude slang and is unsuitable for polite conversation.