ตาก
dry (something in the sun or open air)
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 dry (something in the sun or open air)、hang out (laundry) to dry
- 2 be exposed to (sun, rain, or wind)、stay out in (the weather)
- 3 Tak Province
This word mainly describes leaving something or someone exposed to the sun, air, wind, or rain. With objects, it often means drying them outdoors; with people, it means being out in the weather. It is also the name of Tak Province in Thailand.
dry (something in the sun or open air)、hang out (laundry) to dry
To leave something in the sun or open air so that it dries.
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ตากปลาให้แห้ง tàak plaa hây hɛ̂ɛŋ dry the fish in the sun ตากปลาให้แห้ง details
be exposed to (sun, rain, or wind)、stay out in (the weather)
To remain exposed to sunlight, rain, wind, or other outdoor conditions.
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อย่าตากแดดนาน yàa tàak dɛ̀ɛt naan Don't stay out in the sun for too long. อย่าตากแดดนาน details
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ออกไปนั่งตากลมกันเถอะ ɔ̀ɔk pay nâŋ tàak lom kan thə̀ Let's go sit outside and enjoy the breeze. ออกไปนั่งตากลมกันเถอะ details
Tak Province
The name of a province in western Thailand on the border with Myanmar, as well as its principal city.
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image is exposure: something or someone is left uncovered in the sun, open air, wind, or rain. When ตาก is followed by the item being dried, as in ตากผ้า, it means to hang or lay that item out to dry. In combinations such as ตากแดด, ตากฝน, and ตากลม, it can instead describe a person being exposed to the sun, rain, or wind. ตากหน้า is an idiomatic expression meaning to show one's face or approach someone despite embarrassment or loss of face. In a critical context, it can suggest that someone has the nerve to appear again. In geographical contexts, the same spelling is the proper name Tak.
Usage
In everyday conversation, ตากผ้า is especially common when talking about hanging laundry out to dry. The verb is also used for sun-drying foods and agricultural products such as fish, meat, and rice. It also appears when someone is out in the sun, caught in the rain, or enjoying the breeze. In travel or geographical contexts, จังหวัดตาก refers to Tak Province.
Caution
ตากผ้า refers only to hanging laundry out to dry, not to washing it. “Wash clothes” is ซักผ้า. ตากแดด can mean either putting an object in the sun to dry or having a person stay in the sun; the subject and context determine the reading. ตาก is generally not used for machine-drying or heat-drying, for which ทำให้แห้ง or อบ may be more appropriate.
Differences from similar words
1 dry (something in the sun or open air) synonyms
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ผึ่ง emphasizes airing something out or letting moisture or heat dissipate in a ventilated place. ตาก more broadly refers to exposing something to the sun or open air to dry it and is the usual verb in ตากผ้า for hanging laundry out to dry.