ซัก
wash (clothes or fabric)
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 wash (clothes or fabric)、launder
- 2 question closely、interrogate
- 3 some; a certain [informal spelling of สัก]、about; approximately [informal spelling of สัก]、a little [informal spelling of สัก]
This word mainly means to wash clothing or fabric, or to question someone closely for details. In informal writing, it is also commonly seen as a nonstandard spelling of สัก, meaning “some,” “about,” or “a little.”
wash (clothes or fabric)、launder
To clean clothing or other fabric with water, detergent, or another cleaning process.
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ซักผ้า sák phâa do the laundry ซักผ้า details
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เสื้อตัวนี้ต้องซักมือ sʉ̂a tua níi tɔ̂ŋ sák mʉʉ This shirt must be washed by hand. เสื้อตัวนี้ต้องซักมือ details
question closely、interrogate
To question someone closely or repeatedly in order to establish facts or obtain details.
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ตำรวจซักผู้ต้องสงสัย tamrùat sák phûu tɔ̂ŋ sǒŋsǎy The police question the suspect. ตำรวจซักผู้ต้องสงสัย details
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ซักพยาน sák pháyaan examine a witness ซักพยาน details
some; a certain [informal spelling of สัก]、about; approximately [informal spelling of สัก]、a little [informal spelling of สัก]
In casual writing, this is a nonstandard spelling of สัก used to indicate an indefinite person or thing, an approximate amount, or a small degree.
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รอซักพักนะ rɔɔ sák phák ná Wait a little while, okay? รอซักพักนะ details
Learning notes
Explanation
As a verb, ซัก has two main uses. In the laundry sense, its usual objects are fabric items such as clothes, towels, and sheets. ซักผ้า is the basic expression for “do the laundry.” In the questioning sense, it suggests asking closely enough to uncover facts or details, rather than simply asking one ordinary question. It occurs in police investigations, witness examinations, workplace discussions, and similar situations. The compound ซักถาม makes the sense “question in detail” especially clear. In writing that reflects casual speech—particularly chats and social media—ซัก is also used in place of the identically pronounced สัก. This use is unrelated to either washing or questioning.
Usage
It is common in homes, laundromats, hotels, and dry cleaners when discussing how clothing or fabric should be washed. Its questioning sense appears in police interviews, witness examinations, classroom checks, and detailed workplace discussions. The spelling used for “some,” “about,” or “a little” is most likely to appear in texts between friends, social media posts, and other casual writing.
Caution
ซัก is not the general verb for washing everything. Use ล้าง for items such as dishes, hands, and cars, สระผม for washing hair, and อาบน้ำ for bathing. When writing “some,” “about,” or “a little” in schoolwork, formal messages, or official documents, use the standard spelling สัก rather than ซัก.
Differences from similar words
1 wash (clothes or fabric) synonyms
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ล้าง is the general verb for rinsing or washing things such as dishes, hands, and cars. ซัก is used mainly for laundering clothes and other fabrics.
2 question closely synonyms
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ถาม is the ordinary, broad verb for asking a question. ซัก is stronger and suggests probing for details through close or repeated questioning.
3 some; a certain [informal spelling of สัก] synonyms
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สัก is the standard spelling for this use. Because it is pronounced the same as ซัก, the latter is often substituted for it in chats, social media, and other informal writing.