energy
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 energy、vitality
It refers to energy—the capacity that powers machines, physical processes, and the human body.
energy、vitality
It means the energy available from sources such as electricity, fuel, or food to make things function. It can also refer to a person's energy or vitality.
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เราต้องประหยัดพลังงาน raw tɔ̂ŋ prayàt phalaŋ ŋaan We need to conserve energy. เราต้องประหยัดพลังงาน details
Learning notes
Explanation
พลังงาน is a neutral term commonly used in science, industry, environmental discussions, and nutrition. Its core meaning is energy as the capacity to do work, including electricity, fuel energy, solar energy, and energy supplied by food. The word combines พลัง, “power or force,” with งาน, “work,” so it can be remembered as “the power to do work.” It is normally treated as an uncountable quantity. Common combinations include ใช้พลังงาน “use energy,” ประหยัดพลังงาน “conserve energy,” and พลังงานสูง “high in energy.” In everyday speech, it can also describe the energy or vitality a person has.
Usage
It is common in discussions of electricity, energy conservation, power generation, fuel, environmental issues, and renewable energy. In nutrition and health contexts, it refers to the energy supplied by food. In casual conversation, it may also describe how energetic a person feels.
Caution
When พลังงานสูง describes food, it normally means “high in calories,” not simply “energizing.” For muscular strength or power in a broader sense, กำลัง or พลัง may be more natural.
Differences from similar words
1 energy synonyms
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กำลัง can mean strength or physical capacity and also functions as a progressive marker. พลังงาน primarily means energy obtained from sources such as electricity, fuel, or food.
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พลัง broadly means force, strength, or power. พลังงาน more specifically refers to energy that can be supplied, used, or consumed.