คัน
kan/kʰan˧/
The English word "itchy" is translated to Thai as คัน (kan).
Meaning: Translations (adj)
Which one should you use?
คันจัง is used informally to convey a stronger sense of itchiness, meaning "very itchy".
How do you pronounce it?
/kʰan˧/
Did you know?
- The Thai word คัน is a homonym with several meanings, including 'handle' or 'rod' and 'dike between rice fields'.
- Depending on the tone used, the word คัน can change meaning entirely, moving from 'itchy' to a 'dike' or a 'rod'.
- In colloquial Thai, คัน can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is 'itching' to do something or cannot stay still.
Examples in context
- ฉันคันจากการถูกยุงกัด เธอมียาอะไรช่วยหรือเปล่า?I'm itchy from mosquito bites. Do you have something for it?This sentence is useful for describing how the form คัน is used when experiencing discomfort from mosquito bites.Tatoeba #4558311 by reminiz, translation #888689 by Scott
- ผู้ป่วยรายนี้มี อาการคัน บริเวณผิวหนังThis patient has itchy symptoms on the skin.
- ฉันรู้สึก คัน ที่หลังI feel an itch on my back.
- ผิวหนังของฉันคันมากphiu nang khong chan khan makMy skin is very itchy.
- ตรงนี้คันจังเลยtrong ni khan chang loeiIt is so itchy right here.
Example conversation
At home, a woman tells a man that her skin feels itchy.
- ณิชา Nichaธนกฤต ฉันคันที่แขนมากเลยThanakit chan khan thi khaen mak loeiThanakrit, my arm is very itchy.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritมันคันเพราะโดนแมลงกัดหรือเปล่า?man khan phro don ma-laeng kat rue plao?Is it itchy because an insect bit you?
- ณิชา Nichaน่าจะใช่ค่ะna cha chai khaIt probably is.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritเดี๋ยวผมไปหายาทาให้ครับdiao phom pai ha ya tha hai khrapI will go get some ointment for you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry คัน, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries คัน, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
