โลก

Explanation

The core idea of โลก is a setting or expanse in which people and things exist and act. At its most concrete, it means the planet Earth. By extension, it refers to the world as a whole—its countries and people—or to human society and life in general. It can also describe a particular sphere or realm, as in โลกออนไลน์ (“the online world”) and โลกของเด็ก (“a child's world”). When Earth or a world must be counted, ใบ can be used as its classifier, although this is uncommon in everyday conversation.

Usage

It is common in discussions of the planet, the environment, international affairs, and changes in society. It is also used to present areas such as online life, business, or a child's experience as distinct worlds. It is a standard word in both speech and writing.

Caution

Do not confuse โลก with the similarly spelled โรค, which means “disease.” โลก means Earth or the world and is narrower than จักรวาล (“the universe”). To say “world-class,” use ระดับโลก rather than โลก alone.

1 Earth synonyms

• ดาวเคราะห์โลก

  ดาวเคราะห์โลก explicitly identifies Earth as a planet, mainly in scientific contexts. โลก is the ordinary word and can mean Earth by itself.

2 the world synonyms

• จักรวาล

  จักรวาล means the universe, including Earth and all other celestial bodies. โลก normally refers to Earth or the human world and therefore has a narrower scope.

• สังคม

  sǎŋkhom society

  สังคม focuses on society as a community or network of human relationships. โลก is broader and can encompass the whole world, its countries, and human affairs generally.

3 sphere synonyms

• ด้าน

  dâan field

  ด้าน marks a particular aspect or side of a subject. โลก presents an entire field or sphere as a world in its own right.

• วงการ

  woŋ kaan professional circle

  วงการ usually refers to an industry, professional circle, or the people active in a field. โลก is more flexible and can also describe a person's experiences or inner life.