กำ
grasp
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 grasp、grip、clench
- 2 handful、fistful
- 3 [classifier for tied bunches of flowers, vegetables, or grass]
This word centers on closing the fingers around something and holding it in the hand. It also refers to a handful and serves as a classifier for tied bunches of flowers, vegetables, or grass.
grasp、grip、clench
To close the fingers firmly around something, emphasizing the grip of the hand.
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กำมือ kam mʉʉ clench one's fist กำมือ details
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กำด้ามไว้แน่นๆ kam dâam wáy nɛ̂n nɛ̂n Grip the handle tightly. กำด้ามไว้แน่นๆ details
handful、fistful
An approximate amount that can be held in one closed hand.
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เกลือหนึ่งกำ klʉa nʉ̀ŋ kam a handful of salt เกลือหนึ่งกำ details
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หยิบข้าวสารมากำหนึ่ง yìp khâaw sǎan maa kam nʉ̀ŋ take a handful of rice หยิบข้าวสารมากำหนึ่ง details
[classifier for tied bunches of flowers, vegetables, or grass]
A classifier for tied bunches or bundles of flowers, vegetables, grass, and similar items.
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ผักสองกำ phàk sɔ̌ɔŋ kam two bunches of vegetables ผักสองกำ details
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ดอกไม้สามกำ dɔ̀ɔk máay sǎam kam three bunches of flowers ดอกไม้สามกำ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image is that of curling the fingers inward and enclosing something in the hand. กำมือ means to make a fist, while กำหมัด means to clench one’s fist. By extension, กำ can be the approximate amount held in one hand. It is not an exact unit and varies with the person and the material. It also functions as a classifier for tied bunches of flowers, vegetables, or grass. The usual order is noun + number + กำ, as in ผักสองกำ, “two bunches of vegetables.” A separate noun sense means a wheel spoke, though learners will encounter it less often than the verb and quantity uses.
Usage
It is commonly used when gripping a handle or small object and when clenching a fist in anger or tension. It also appears in cooking for rough handful-sized amounts and in markets when counting bunches of vegetables or flowers.
Caution
ถือ simply means to hold or carry, while จับ broadly means to touch, catch, or take hold of something. กำ specifically emphasizes enclosing something with curled fingers. In กำหนึ่ง, “one handful,” กำ denotes an amount; in ผักหนึ่งกำ, “one bunch of vegetables,” it is a classifier. Also, do not interpret the initial กำ in words such as กำลัง, กำหนด, or กำกับ as the independent verb meaning “grip.”
Differences from similar words
1 grasp synonyms
3 [classifier for tied bunches of flowers, vegetables, or grass] synonyms
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มัด is a general classifier for bundles tied together. กำ is used especially for hand-sized bunches of flowers, vegetables, or grass.