Daily Thai Confidence — Using ล้างสมอง (láang sà-hmǎwng)

Verb: ล้างสมอง (láang sà-^hmǎwng)
Meaning: to brainwash

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the verb phrase ล้างสมอง (láang sà-^hmǎwng), which means ‘to brainwash.’ It refers to the process of strongly influencing someone’s thoughts, beliefs, or opinions so that they accept new ideas without critical thinking, often by repeated messaging, pressure, or manipulation.

This verb phrase is made of up two components:

• ล้าง (láang) = to wash
• สมอง (sà-^hmǎwng) = brain

It is used when someone:

• Is heavily influenced
• Loses independent thinking
• Is persuaded repeated or forcefully
• Adopts beliefs without questioning

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

เขาถูกล้างสมองโดยกลุ่มนั้น

k^hǎo t^hùuk láang sà-^hmǎwng dōy glùm nán
Literal: He was brainwash by group that.
He was brainwashed by that group.

The passive marker ถูก (t^hùuk) means ‘to be affected by’ or ‘to be subjected to’ an action that followed — subject + ถูก (t^hùuk) + verb. For example: เขาถูกจับ (k^hǎo t^hùuk jàb = He was arrested.); เธอถูกหลอก (t^hēr t^hùuk ^hlàwk = She was deceived.); บ้านถูกทำลาย (bâan t^hùuk t^hām-lāai = The house was destroyed.), etc.

สื่อบางประเภทพยายามล้างสมองคนดู

sèu bāang bprà-p^hâed p^há-yāa-yāam láang sà-^hmǎwng k^hōn-dūu
Literal: Media some types make attempt to brainwash people-watch.
Some media try to brainwash viewers.

The verb พยายาม (p^há-yāa-yāam) means ‘to try,’ ‘to attempt,’ or ‘to make an effort.’ It is used when someone puts effort into doing something, especially when it is difficult or requires persistence.

อย่าให้ใครมาล้างสมองคุณ

^awyàa hâi k^hrāi māa láang sà-^hmǎwng k^hūn
Literal: Do not let anyone brainwash you.
Don’t let anyone brainwash you.

The imperative verb อย่า (^awyàa) means ‘do not’ or ‘don’t’ and is used in warnings, instructions, advice, or requests. It tell someone not to do something — อย่า (^awyàa) + verb. For example: อย่าวิ่ง (^awyàa wîng = Do not run.); อย่าพูดเสียงดัง (^awyàa p^hûud sǐang-dāng = Do not speak loudly.); อย่าจอดรถตรงนี้ (^awyàa jàwd ród dtrōng née = Do not park here.), etc.

เขาเชื่อสิ่งนั้นเพราะว่าเขาถูกล้างสมองมาเป็นเวลานาน

k^hǎo chêua sìng nán p^hrót wâa k^hǎo t^hùuk láang sà-^hmǎwng māa bpēn wāy-lāa nāan
Literal: He believe thing that because of he was brainwash come to be time long.
He believed that because he had been brainwashed for a long time.

The adverb of time นาน (nāan) means ‘long’ or ‘a long time.’ It is used to describe how much time something takes or how long something lasts. For long in length, use the adjective ยาว (yāow = is long). For long in distance, use the adjective ไกล (glāi = is far / is faraway / is a long way).

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.

1. He believes everything because he was brainwashed.
2. The group was brainwashed by the leader.
3. Many people were brainwashed by social media.
4. Don’t believe everything —you might be brainwashed.
5. They were brainwashed by that organisation.

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