ดู
look at
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 look at、watch、view
- 2 check、inspect、examine
- 3 seem、look、appear
- 4 try doing、do experimentally
- 5 look after、take care of、watch over
ดู is a very common verb built around looking at something or paying attention to it. It covers looking, watching, checking, seeming based on appearance, and, after another verb, trying something out.
look at、watch、view
This is the basic sense of looking at or watching something, including photos, screens, movies, TV, and events.
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ดูรูปนี้สิ duu rûup níi sì Look at this picture. ดูรูปนี้สิ details
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เขากำลังดูมือถือ khǎw kamlaŋ duu mʉʉ thʉ̌ʉ He is looking at his phone. เขากำลังดูมือถือ details
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วันนี้ไปดูหนังกัน wan níi pay duu nǎŋ kan Let's go see a movie today. วันนี้ไปดูหนังกัน details
check、inspect、examine
This sense means to check, inspect, or look something over in order to find out information.
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ขอดูก่อน khɔ̌ɔ duu kɔ̀ɔn Let me check first. ขอดูก่อน details
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กรุณาดูข้อมูลด้านล่าง karunaa duu khɔ̂ɔmuun dâan lâaŋ Please see the information below. กรุณาดูข้อมูลด้านล่าง details
seem、look、appear
This sense describes how someone or something appears based on what you can see or perceive.
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อาหารนี้ดูอร่อย aahǎan níi duu arɔ̀ɔy This food looks delicious. อาหารนี้ดูอร่อย details
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เขาดูเหนื่อยมาก khǎw duu nʉ̀ay mâak He looks very tired. เขาดูเหนื่อยมาก details
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ชุดนี้ดูดี chút níi duu dii This outfit looks good. ชุดนี้ดูดี details
try doing、do experimentally
After another verb, ดู adds the idea of trying something out or doing it to see what happens.
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ลองกินดู lɔɔŋ kin duu Try eating it. ลองกินดู details
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ถามเขาดู thǎam khǎw duu Try asking him. ถามเขาดู details
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คิดดูอีกที khít duu ìik thii Think it over one more time. คิดดูอีกที details
look after、take care of、watch over
This sense means to look after, take care of, or keep watch over someone or something. It is especially common in compounds such as ดูแล.
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ดูแลตัวเองนะ duulɛɛ tua eeŋ ná Take care of yourself. ดูแลตัวเองนะ details
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เธอดูแลลูกคนเดียว thəə duulɛɛ lûuk khon diaw She takes care of her child by herself. เธอดูแลลูกคนเดียว details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ดู is directing your eyes or attention toward something. From that core, it naturally extends to watching a movie, checking information, judging how something appears, trying an action to see the result, and looking after someone. Key patterns are ดู + noun for “look at/watch,” ดู + state word for “look/seem,” verb + ดู for “try doing,” and ดูแล for “take care of.” It is a very common everyday word and is also acceptable in ordinary written language.
Usage
Use ดู when looking at photos, phones, TV, movies, documents, times, weather, or someone’s condition. It is also common when describing impressions, suggesting that someone try something, or talking about caring for someone. Everyday phrases like ขอดูก่อน, ลองดู, and ดูแลตัวเองนะ are especially useful.
Caution
Do not use ดู for every English “see.” For noticing or seeing something in view, เห็น is often better. For seeing a doctor, Thai normally says ไปหาหมอ; ดูหมอ usually means to have one’s fortune told.
Differences from similar words
1 look at synonyms
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มอง focuses on directing your eyes toward something and can be more casual or aimless. ดู often implies looking with some attention or purpose, and is also the normal verb for watching media.
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เห็น means to see or notice something, often because it comes into view. ดู is the intentional action of looking at or watching something.
2 check synonyms
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ตรวจสอบ is more formal and means to verify or inspect carefully. ดู is the everyday verb for checking or looking something over.
3 seem synonyms
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เหมือน means to be like or similar to something. ดูเหมือน or ดู plus a state word emphasizes an impression based on appearance or evidence.