ยืม
borrow
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- 1 borrow
- 2 borrow (a word or expression)、adopt (from another source)
This word means taking and using something that belongs to someone else or comes from another source. With objects and money, it normally implies that it will be returned or repaid.
borrow
To take and use an object or money temporarily, with the expectation that it will be returned or repaid.
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ฉันยืมหนังสือจากห้องสมุด chǎn yʉʉm nǎŋsʉ̌ʉ càak hɔ̂ŋ samùt I borrowed a book from the library. ฉันยืมหนังสือจากห้องสมุด details
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เขายืมเงินเพื่อน khǎw yʉʉm ŋən phʉ̂an He borrowed money from a friend. เขายืมเงินเพื่อน details
borrow (a word or expression)、adopt (from another source)
To adopt a word, expression, or similar element from another language or source and use it in a new context.
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ภาษาไทยยืมคำมาจากภาษาอังกฤษหลายคำ phaasǎa thay yʉʉm kham maa càak phaasǎa aŋkrìt lǎay kham Thai has borrowed many words from English. ภาษาไทยยืมคำมาจากภาษาอังกฤษหลายคำ details
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คำยืมจากภาษาจีน kham yʉʉm càak phaasǎa ciin a loanword from Chinese คำยืมจากภาษาจีน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea is taking something that belongs to another person or comes from another source and using it on your side. The basic pattern is ยืม followed by the thing borrowed. To identify the source, you can use ยืม + object + จาก + person or place. A common request pattern is ขอยืม...หน่อยได้ไหม, meaning “Could I borrow ...?” From the lender’s point of view, Thai normally uses ให้ยืม, “to lend.” For example, เพื่อนให้ฉันยืมรถ means “My friend lent me a car.” The word also applies to language: a word can be borrowed from another language. คำยืม means “loanword.”
Usage
It is common when borrowing everyday items from friends or family, borrowing books from a library, or borrowing money from another person. It is also used in discussions of language and culture when words or expressions are adopted from another source.
Caution
ยืม describes the borrower’s action. Use ให้ยืม for “lend.” When something is rented for payment, เช่า is normally used instead. For a formal bank loan, กู้ is usually more natural.
Differences from similar words
1 borrow synonyms
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เช่า means to rent or hire something in exchange for payment. ยืม normally means to borrow something temporarily rather than paying a rental fee.