Thai Passive Voice: Using `ถูก`
ถูก to express that the subject is the victim of a negative or unwanted action.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Thai, use 'ถูก' (thook) for positive or neutral passive events and 'โดน' (doon) for negative, unwanted experiences.
- Use 'ถูก' for formal or neutral passive actions: 'เขาถูกเชิญ' (He was invited).
- Use 'โดน' for negative or annoying passive actions: 'ผมโดนดุ' (I was scolded).
- The agent (doer) follows the verb with 'โดย' (by) in formal writing.
Overview
ถูก (thùuk) passive construction to express things that happen to us, especially when they aren't exactly highlights of our day. Unlike English, where passive voice is for formal reports, ถูก is for when life gives you lemons—or when your Wi-Fi dies mid-Zoom call.How This Grammar Works
ถูก as the "unfortunate event" marker. It’s not just a grammatical passive; it’s a vibe check. Use it when something negative happens to the subject. If you passed an exam, you wouldn't use ถูก. If you failed because the teacher graded unfairly? That’s a ถูก moment. It’s essentially saying "I was on the receiving end of this annoying action."
Formation Pattern
ถูก (thùuk).
When To Use It
ถูก unless they want to sound like they were forced to accept help.
Common Mistakes
ถูก for good things. Saying "I was loved by my parents" with ถูก sounds like you’re being held hostage. Also, don't confuse ถูก with โดน (doon). โดน is the "crazier" cousin; use it for more intense or sudden bad experiences, like getting hit by a motorbike or getting ghosted by a crush.Contrast With Similar Patterns
ถูก is emotional. If you say "The cake was eaten," and you’re the one who wanted that cake, ถูก is your best friend. If you just want to state a fact without emotion, you might skip the passive entirely and stick to active voice. It’s all about whether you want to emphasize the "victim" status of the subject.Quick FAQ
Can I use ถูก for positive things? A: Please don't, unless you enjoy confusing your Thai friends. Q: Is ถูก always necessary? A: Not at all! Active voice is often more natural for daily chatting. Why make it complicated if you don't have to?
Passive Construction Table
| Type | Marker | Tone | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Neutral
|
ถูก
|
Formal
|
News/Reports
|
|
Negative
|
โดน
|
Informal
|
Personal/Venting
|
|
Formal Agent
|
ถูก...โดย
|
Formal
|
Academic
|
|
Negative Agent
|
โดน...จาก
|
Informal
|
Conversational
|
Meanings
The passive voice in Thai is used to shift focus to the recipient of an action, often implying an external influence.
Neutral Passive
Describing an action done to someone/something without emotional bias.
“งานถูกส่งไปแล้ว”
“จดหมายถูกเขียนโดยเขา”
Negative Passive
Describing an action that is unpleasant or unwanted.
“ฉันโดนแย่งที่นั่ง”
“เขาโดนไล่ออก”
Reference Table
| Form | Thai | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
Subject + ถูก + Verb
|
ฉันถูกหลอก
|
I was tricked
|
|
Subject + ถูก + Verb
|
รถถูกขโมย
|
The car was stolen
|
|
Subject + ถูก + Verb
|
เขาถูกดุ
|
He was scolded
|
Formality Spectrum
ออเดอร์ถูกยกเลิก (Food delivery)
ออเดอร์ถูกยกเลิก (Food delivery)
โดนยกเลิกออเดอร์ (Food delivery)
โดนเทออเดอร์ (Food delivery)
The Passive Mindset
Usage
- Negative Bad events
Active vs Passive
Decision Flow
Is the event bad?
Common `ถูก` verbs
Misfortune
- • ถูกหลอก
- • ถูกขโมย
- • ถูกดุ
Examples by Level
ฉันโดนดุ
I was scolded
เขาถูกเชิญ
He was invited
รถโดนชน
The car was hit
งานถูกส่ง
The work was sent
ฉันโดนแย่งที่นั่ง
My seat was taken
บ้านถูกสร้างปีที่แล้ว
The house was built last year
เขาโดนไล่ออก
He was fired
จดหมายถูกเขียนโดยแม่
The letter was written by mom
โครงการถูกยกเลิกโดยผู้บริหาร
The project was cancelled by management
ฉันโดนฝนตกใส่
I got rained on
เขาถูกจับกุมโดยตำรวจ
He was arrested by police
ฉันโดนเพื่อนล้อ
I was teased by friends
นโยบายนี้ถูกวิพากษ์วิจารณ์อย่างหนัก
This policy was heavily criticized
ผมโดนหักหลังโดยคนที่ไว้ใจ
I was betrayed by someone I trusted
สินค้าถูกจัดส่งเรียบร้อยแล้ว
The goods have been delivered
เธอโดนปฏิเสธคำขอ
Her request was rejected
ความผิดพลาดนี้ถูกมองข้ามไปอย่างน่าเสียดาย
This mistake was unfortunately overlooked
เขาโดนกระแสสังคมโจมตีอย่างรุนแรง
He was severely attacked by social pressure
กฎระเบียบถูกบังคับใช้อย่างเคร่งครัด
The regulations were strictly enforced
ฉันโดนบีบให้ตัดสินใจในเวลาจำกัด
I was pressured to decide in a limited time
เหตุการณ์ดังกล่าวถูกบันทึกไว้ในประวัติศาสตร์
The aforementioned event was recorded in history
เขาโดนกลืนกินด้วยความโลภ
He was consumed by greed
สิทธิถูกละเมิดโดยอำนาจมืด
Rights were violated by dark forces
ฉันโดนทำลายความหวังลงอย่างสิ้นเชิง
My hopes were completely destroyed
Easily Confused
Learners use passive when active is more natural.
Common Mistakes
ฉันโดนชม
ฉันถูกชม
งานโดนส่ง
งานถูกส่ง
เขาโดนเลือกโดยหัวหน้า
เขาถูกเลือกโดยหัวหน้า
โดนตัดสินโดยศาล
ถูกตัดสินโดยศาล
Sentence Patterns
ฉันโดน ___
Real World Usage
โดนเทแล้ว
Vibe Check
Smart Tips
Use โดน.
Pronunciation
Tone
ถูก has a low tone, โดน has a mid tone.
Question
ถูกไหม? (rising)
Asking for confirmation
Memorize It
Mnemonic
ถูก is for the 'Good' (or neutral), โดน is for the 'Done' (bad things).
Visual Association
Imagine a judge hitting a gavel for 'ถูก' (official) and a person getting hit by a rain cloud for 'โดน' (unpleasant).
Rhyme
ถูก for the news, โดน for the blues.
Story
Yesterday, my project was approved (ถูกอนุมัติ). But then, I got stuck in traffic (โดนรถติด). I felt frustrated, but the project was still a success.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your day: one neutral using 'ถูก' and two negative using 'โดน'.
Cultural Notes
Thais value 'face'. Using 'โดน' can sound like you are complaining too much.
Derived from ancient Thai verbs meaning 'to touch' or 'to hit'.
Conversation Starters
วันนี้โดนอะไรมาบ้าง?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
เขา___โกงเงิน
ถูก because being cheated is a negative experience.Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
ถูกดุ (scolded) is a negative experience.Find and fix the mistake:
ฉันถูกได้เงิน
ถูก requires a negative verb action.Score: /3
Practice Exercises
1 exercisesบ้าน ___ สร้างโดยสถาปนิก
Score: /1
Practice Bank
1 exercisesI was scolded by my boss.
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
Yes, if you want to sound objective.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ser + participio
Thai has emotional markers.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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