กัน
each other
Native recording
Analyzing pitch…
Pitch graph is unavailable
- 1 each other、one another、together、as a group
- 2 let's ...、shall we ...?、why don't we ...?
- 3 prevent、block
- 4 shave、trim、shape (eyebrows, moustache, hair)
กัน is very common after verbs to show that people or things act together, toward each other, or as a group. As a verb, it also means to block, prevent, or keep something out.
each other、one another、together、as a group
Placed after a verb, it shows that two or more people or things are involved with each other or acting together.
-
เรารักกัน raw rák kan We love each other. เรารักกัน details
-
เด็ก ๆ เล่นกันอยู่ dèk dèk lên kan yùu The children are playing together. เด็ก ๆ เล่นกันอยู่ details
let's ...、shall we ...?、why don't we ...?
Near the end of a sentence, it makes an action sound like an invitation or suggestion involving the listener.
-
ไปกันเถอะ pay kan thə̀ Let's go. ไปกันเถอะ details
-
กินข้าวกันไหม kin khâaw kan mǎy Shall we go eat? กินข้าวกันไหม details
Show more (1)
-
เริ่มกันเลย rə̂əm kan ləəy Let's get started. เริ่มกันเลย details
prevent、block
As a verb, it means to block, prevent, keep out, or protect against something. It is also common in compounds meaning “anti-,” “-proof,” or “protective.”
-
ครีมกันแดด khriim kan dɛ̀ɛt sunscreen ครีมกันแดด details
-
ปิดอาหารไว้กันแมลง pìt aahǎan wáy kan malɛɛŋ Cover the food to keep insects out. ปิดอาหารไว้กันแมลง details
shave、trim、shape (eyebrows, moustache, hair)
This verb means to shave or trim hair, especially to shape eyebrows, a moustache, or similar hair.
-
กันคิ้ว kan khíw trim one's eyebrows กันคิ้ว details
-
เขากันหนวดเรียบร้อย khǎw kan nùat rîap rɔ́ɔy He trimmed his moustache neatly. เขากันหนวดเรียบร้อย details
Learning notes
Explanation
A useful learner’s rule is: after a verb, กัน shows that the action involves more than one person or thing, either mutually or as a group. รักกัน means “love each other,” ช่วยกัน means “help together,” and ไปกัน can mean “go together” or “let’s go.” As a standalone verb, กัน means “block” or “prevent,” and it forms many everyday protective compounds such as กันแดด, กันน้ำ, and กันยุง.
Usage
It appears constantly in everyday speech when inviting someone, talking about doing things together, or describing relationships. It is also common in product names and descriptions for protective functions such as waterproofing, sun protection, and insect repellent.
Caution
Do not translate กัน as “together” every time. รักกัน means “love each other,” and ทะเลาะกัน means “fight with each other.” Also, ไปด้วย often means “go along with someone,” while ไปกัน sounds more like “go together” or “let’s go.”
Differences from similar words
1 each other synonyms
2 let's ... synonyms
3 prevent synonyms
-
ป้องกัน is a fuller, general word for “protect” or “prevent,” common in explanations and formal contexts. กัน is shorter and very common in everyday compounds meaning “anti-,” “-proof,” or “protective.”},{
4 shave synonyms
-
โกน broadly means “to shave,” including shaving hair or a beard off. กัน often means trimming or shaping, especially eyebrows.