ตัว
body
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 body、physical body、build
- 2 self、oneself、the person themselves
- 3 [classifier for animals]、[classifier for clothes]、[classifier for furniture]、[classifier for letters or certain objects]
- 4 letter、character、digit、symbol
- 5 actual thing、real person、main body、the thing itself
- 6 thing that does something、person who does something、functional element、role
- 7 you [casual, affectionate]
ตัว is built around the idea of a concrete individual form or main body. It can mean a body, oneself, the actual thing, a written character, and it is also a very common classifier for animals, clothes, furniture, letters, and similar items.
body、physical body、build
Refers to the physical body or outward physical condition of a person or animal.
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ปวดตัว pùat tua My body aches. ปวดตัว details
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ตัวร้อน tua rɔ́ɔn to have a fever ตัวร้อน details
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เขาตัวสูง khǎw tua sǔuŋ He is tall. เขาตัวสูง details
self、oneself、the person themselves
Used especially in forms like ตัวเอง to refer to oneself or the person themselves.
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ดูแลตัวเอง duulɛɛ tua eeŋ Take care of yourself. ดูแลตัวเอง details
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ทำด้วยตัวเอง tham dûay tua eeŋ do it oneself ทำด้วยตัวเอง details
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เขาเป็นตัวของตัวเอง khǎw pen tua khɔ̌ɔŋ tua eeŋ He is his own person. เขาเป็นตัวของตัวเอง details
[classifier for animals]、[classifier for clothes]、[classifier for furniture]、[classifier for letters or certain objects]
A common classifier for individual animals and many concrete items such as clothes, furniture, and written characters.
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แมวสองตัว mɛɛw sɔ̌ɔŋ tua two cats แมวสองตัว details
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เสื้อสามตัว sʉ̂a sǎam tua three shirts เสื้อสามตัว details
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เก้าอี้ตัวนี้ kâwîi tua níi this chair เก้าอี้ตัวนี้ details
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ตัวอักษรห้าตัว tua àksɔ̌ɔn hâa tua five letters ตัวอักษรห้าตัว details
letter、character、digit、symbol
Refers to a written unit such as a letter, character, digit, or symbol.
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ตัวอักษรไทย tua àksɔ̌ɔn thay Thai letters ตัวอักษรไทย details
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ตัวเลข tua lêek number; digit ตัวเลข details
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เขียนผิดไปหนึ่งตัว khǐan phìt pay nʉ̀ŋ tua I wrote one character wrong. เขียนผิดไปหนึ่งตัว details
actual thing、real person、main body、the thing itself
Refers to the actual person or thing, the main body, or the real item rather than a copy, label, or substitute.
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ตัวจริง tua ciŋ the real thing; the person in real life ตัวจริง details
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ตัวเมือง tua mʉaŋ the town center ตัวเมือง details
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ตัวปัญหา tua panhǎa the real problem; troublemaker ตัวปัญหา details
thing that does something、person who does something、functional element、role
Used in many compounds to form a noun meaning the person, thing, role, or element that performs a function.
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ตัวเลือก tua lʉ̂ak choice; option ตัวเลือก details
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ตัวแทน tua thɛɛn representative; agent ตัวแทน details
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ตัวช่วย tua chûay helper; aid ตัวช่วย details
you [casual, affectionate]
A casual, affectionate second-person pronoun used with someone close, often with a cute or intimate tone.
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ตัว is an individual form or main body. From that, it extends to body, oneself, the actual thing, a written character, and a counting unit. As a classifier, it is especially important: แมวสองตัว means two cats, เสื้อสามตัว means three shirts, and เก้าอี้ตัวนี้ means this chair. It also appears in many essential words such as ตัวเอง “oneself,” ตัวจริง “the real person/thing,” and ตัวเลือก “choice.”
Usage
This word is used constantly in everyday speech and writing. You will hear it when talking about body condition or body size, counting animals, clothes, furniture, or letters, referring to oneself, and in common compounds meaning option, representative, real person, and similar ideas.
Caution
Use คน, not ตัว, to count people in normal speech. นักเรียนสามคน “three students” is natural, while นักเรียนสามตัว can sound insulting because it treats people like animals. The pronoun ตัว meaning “you” is also intimate and casual, so avoid it with strangers, seniors, or in formal situations.
Differences from similar words
1 body synonyms
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ร่างกาย is a more general or medical-sounding word for the human body. ตัว is more everyday and often refers to body size, physical appearance, or surface condition.
2 self synonyms
3 [classifier for animals] synonyms
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คน is the classifier for people. ตัว is used for animals and things; using it for people can sound rude or dehumanizing unless the context is fixed or joking.
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อัน is a broad classifier for many small objects or items. ตัว is more tied to individual bodies or shaped entities such as animals, clothes, furniture, and letters.
4 letter synonyms
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อักษร means letter or script. ตัว emphasizes an individual written form, especially when counting or pointing to one character.
5 actual thing synonyms
6 thing that does something synonyms
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ผู้ forms nouns meaning a person who does something. ตัว is broader and can refer to a person, thing, element, or role.