ยิ้ม
yím/jim˦˥/
To smile in Thai is to say ยิ้ม (yím).
The word ยิ้ม is used to express the act of smiling or to refer to a smile. It can function as both a verb and a noun.
Meaning: to have a smile on one's face (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun form รอยยิ้ม is created by adding the prefix รอย, which means trace or mark, to the word ยิ้ม.
Which one should you use?
While ยิ้ม can be used as a noun meaning 'a smile', the form รอยยิ้ม is more common when you are referring to a smile as a specific physical feature or a lasting impression on someone's face.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ยิ้ม can function as both a verb (to smile) and a noun (a smile).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is yím. The IPA is /jim˦˥/.
Did you know?
- Thailand is widely known as 'The Land of Smiles', but a ยิ้ม can communicate many things other than happiness, including embarrassment, apology or even disagreement.
- There are many culturally specific types of smiles in Thailand, such as the ยิ้มแหย which is a smile used to express a feeling of being awkward or tentative.
- In some social contexts, a ยิ้ม is used as a polite tool to 'save face' and avoid direct confrontation or the delivery of bad news.
Examples in context
- ขอบคุณที่ทำให้ผมยิ้มได้เสมอThanks for always making me smile.This sentence shows how to use ยิ้ม to express gratitude for someone making you smile.Tatoeba #10116355 by Somsak, translation #9685330 by DJ_Saidez
- ยิ้ม!Smile.This sentence is an imperative use of ยิ้ม to tell someone to smile.Tatoeba #7784273 by pastelite, translation #2764108 by CK
- Phu chǎi yim lǎeo nâ (ผู้ชายยิ้มแล้วนะ)The man has smiled.
- ช่วยยิ้มหน่อยนะchuai yim noi naPlease give a little smile.
Example conversation
A man is trying to take a photo of his friend.
- พิมล Pimonธนกฤต ยิ้มหน่อยสิthanakrit yim noi siThanakrit, please smile.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritผมเขินน่ะครับphom khoen na khrapI'm feeling shy.
- พิมล Pimonไม่ต้องเขินหรอกmai tong khoen rokDon't be shy.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritโอเค ยิ้มแล้วครับok yim laeo khrapOkay, I'm smiling now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smile” translations and entries ยิ้ม, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
