นวด
massage
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 massage、rub (sore muscles)
- 2 knead
- 3 thresh (rice or grain)
This verb describes repeatedly pressing and working something with the hands, especially when massaging the body or kneading dough. In farming contexts, it can also mean threshing grain.
massage、rub (sore muscles)
To press and rub the body with the hands in order to relax the muscles or relieve soreness.
knead
To repeatedly press and work dough or another mixture until it becomes smooth and evenly combined.
thresh (rice or grain)
In farming, to separate rice or other grain from its stalks or husks by threshing.
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is that of repeatedly applying pressure to something. With the body, นวด means “massage”; with dough or a mixture, it means “knead.” A body part can follow the verb directly, as in นวดไหล่ “massage the shoulders” and นวดเท้า “massage the feet.” The pattern นวดให้ + person means to give that person a massage. In everyday conversation, ไปนวด normally means “go get a massage,” even though no passive construction is used. Adding การ forms the action noun การนวด, meaning “massage” or “massaging.” In an agricultural context, นวดข้าว is the established expression for threshing rice.
Usage
It is commonly used when discussing sore muscles, asking someone to rub your shoulders, or getting treatment at a massage shop or spa. It also appears in cooking instructions for kneading dough and in farming contexts for threshing rice or other grain.
Caution
นวด does not normally mean gently stroking a surface; ลูบ is more appropriate for that action. Also, นวดข้าว means “thresh rice,” not “knead rice.”
Differences from similar words
1 massage synonyms
2 knead synonyms
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ขยำ means to squeeze, crush, or crumple something forcefully by hand. นวด describes systematically working a material such as dough, usually to make it smooth and uniform.