ฉีก
tear
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 tear、rip、be torn、rupture
- 2 break (a rule or agreement)、depart from (an established style)
ฉีก describes tearing something apart or causing it to split, typically by pulling rather than cutting. It can also mean breaking a rule or departing sharply from an established style.
tear、rip、be torn、rupture
To pull something apart so that it tears, or for a material or body tissue to split or rupture.
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ฉีกกระดาษ chìik kradàat tear paper ฉีกกระดาษ details
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ช่วยฉีกซองนี้ให้หน่อย chûay chìik sɔɔŋ níi hây nɔ̀ɔy Could you tear this envelope open for me? ช่วยฉีกซองนี้ให้หน่อย details
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เขาฉีกจดหมายเป็นชิ้น ๆ khǎw chìik còt mǎay pen chín chín He tore the letter into pieces. เขาฉีกจดหมายเป็นชิ้น ๆ details
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กล้ามเนื้อฉีก klâamnʉ́a chìik A muscle is torn. กล้ามเนื้อฉีก details
break (a rule or agreement)、depart from (an established style)
Figuratively, to break a rule or agreement, or to move sharply away from an established pattern or style.
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ฉีกกฎ chìik kòt break the rules ฉีกกฎ details
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หนังเรื่องนี้ฉีกแนว nǎŋ rʉ̂aŋ níi chìik nɛɛw This movie breaks away from the usual formula. หนังเรื่องนี้ฉีกแนว details
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ฉีกสัญญา chìik sǎnyaa tear up a contract ฉีกสัญญา details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of ฉีก is pulling something apart until it splits. It is commonly used with paper, cloth, envelopes, bags, and packaging. With a person as the subject, it usually means “tear” or “rip.” When a material or body part is the subject, it can mean “be torn” or “rupture.” For example, ฉีกผ้า means “tear cloth,” while กล้ามเนื้อฉีก describes a torn muscle. The physical image also extends to figurative expressions such as ฉีกกฎ, “break the rules,” and ฉีกแนว, “break away from an established style.” In idiomatic combinations, ฉีกหน้า means to humiliate someone publicly, while ฉีกยิ้ม describes breaking into a broad smile.
Usage
It is common in everyday situations involving paper, cloth, envelopes, bags, or packaging being torn by hand. It is also used when clothing tears or when a muscle, tendon, or ligament is injured. Figuratively, it appears when discussing broken rules or agreements and when movies, music, fashion, or design depart dramatically from convention.
Caution
ฉีก normally implies tearing by pulling. Use ตัด for cutting with scissors, a knife, or another tool. If a bag or package is opened without tearing it, เปิด “open” or แกะ “unwrap/remove the packaging” may be more natural. ฉีกหน้า is a strong expression meaning to humiliate someone or make them lose face publicly, so it should be used with care.
Differences from similar words
1 tear synonyms
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ขาด commonly describes something being broken, severed, or torn as a resulting condition. ฉีก more directly emphasizes the act or process of tearing.
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ตัด means to cut, usually with scissors, a knife, or another tool. ฉีก focuses on pulling something apart so that it tears, often leaving an uneven edge.
2 break (a rule or agreement) synonyms
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ละเมิด is a more formal term for violating a law, rule, or right and is clearly negative. ฉีก is more vivid and figurative; it can describe either breaking rules or positively breaking away from convention.