ถูก

Possibly from Old Khmer thoka (“cheap; common; vulgar; petty; worthless”). Compare Modern Khmer ថោក (thaok); Lao ຖືກ (thư̄k).

ถูก • (tùuk) (abstract noun ความถูก)

1. cheap; inexpensive

Of uncertain origin. Compare Old Khmer trū, trūva, or trūha, meaning "right; proper; accurate; to hit; to strike; to match; to correspond; to be stricken by; to undergo; to suffer; etc.", corresponding to Modern Khmer ត្រូវ (trəw). And compare Lao ຖືກ (thư̄k).

ถูก • (tùuk) (abstract noun ความถูก)

1. accurate; precise
2. appropriate; proper; suitable
3. conformable
4. correct; lawful; rightful

ถูก • (tùuk) (abstract noun การถูก)

1. (auxiliary) used as a passive voice marker
2. to touch or be touched
3. to match; to fit together

The passive voice marker ถูก (tùuk) is only used when the target of the action undergoes something unfavourable. Examples:

• ถูกข่มขืน

  tùuk kòm-kʉ̌ʉn

  to be raped

• ถูกด่า

  tùuk dàa

  to be spoken ill of

• ถูกทิ้ง

  tùuk tíng

  to be dumped (e.g. by a boyfriend)

• ถูกฆ่า

  tùuk kâa

  to be killed

• ถูกเก็บ

  tùuk gèp

  to be assassinated

• ถูกตบ

  tùuk dtòp

  to be slapped (e.g. in the face)

In some cases, the marker ถูก (tùuk) and a less formal marker, โดน (doon), can be used interchangeably.

If the target does not undergo an unfavourable situation, the marker ได้รับ (dâai ráp) is used.

These markers can sometimes be omitted.