ตาม

Explanation

The core idea of ตาม is “following” something: a person, a path, a rule, a plan, a preference, or a condition. As a verb, it can mean physically following someone, chasing someone, or going to get someone, as in ไปตามหมอมา “go get the doctor.” It is also extremely common before a noun or clause to mean “according to” or “in line with”: ตามกฎ “according to the rules,” ตามแผน “according to plan,” ตามปกติ “as usual,” and ตามที่... “as...” or “according to what....” In spatial uses, it means “along” or “around,” as in ตามถนน “along the road.”

Usage

ตาม is used across everyday conversation, directions, school, work, news, and social media. Common patterns include ตามไป / ตามมา for following someone, ทำตาม... for following instructions or rules, ตามแผน / ตามปกติ for plans or normal routines, and ตามใจ / ตามสะดวก for preference or convenience.

Caution

Do not treat ตาม as a general word for “search.” The basic word for “search/look for” is หา; ตาม adds the idea of following a trail, pursuing, or going to get someone. Also note the direction: ตามมา means “follow/come here,” while ตามไป means “follow/go there.”

1 follow synonyms

• ติดตาม

  ติดตาม is commonly used for ongoing tracking, following news, social media, progress, or symptoms. ตาม is the more basic word and also covers physically following someone.

• ไล่

  lây chase

  ไล่ often suggests actively chasing or driving someone away. ตาม is broader and can simply mean following behind, as well as pursuing.

2 fetch (someone) synonyms

• เชิญ

  chəən invite

  เชิญ is a polite word for inviting or asking someone to come. ตาม is more everyday and practical, often used when someone is needed.

• เรียก

  rîak summon

  เรียก simply means to call someone. ตาม often implies going to find the person or arranging for them to come.

3 according to synonyms

• ด้วย

  dûay with

  ด้วย often marks a means or instrument, like “with” or “by means of.” ตาม marks a standard, rule, plan, or source being followed.

• ตามที่

  ตามที่ introduces a clause meaning “as...” or “according to what...”. ตาม can be followed by nouns, but when a full clause follows, ตามที่ is the natural form.

4 along synonyms

• ริม

  rim by

  ริม means at the edge or side of something. ตาม can describe things extending or moving along a road, river, wall, or route.

• แถว

  thɛ̌w area

  แถว points to an area, like “around” or “near.” ตาม can suggest placement along a line or spread across several places.

5 depending on synonyms

• ขึ้นอยู่กับ

  khʉ̂n yùu kàp depend on

  ขึ้นอยู่กับ explicitly means “depend on.” ตาม is shorter and commonly used when something is set according to size, preference, convenience, or ability.

• แล้วแต่

  แล้วแต่ is a common conversational way to say “it depends” or “up to you.” ตาม is used with a following standard or condition, such as size, preference, or ability.