คล้าย
resemble
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 resemble、look like
- 3 seemingly、as if、apparently
คล้าย describes people, things, or qualities that share noticeable features without being exactly the same. It can also introduce an impression or tentative judgment, much like “seem” or “as if.”
resemble、look like
Describes one person or thing as resembling another. The comparison commonly follows คล้าย directly or is introduced by กับ.
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เขาคล้ายพ่อ khǎw khláay phɔ̂ɔ He resembles his father. เขาคล้ายพ่อ details
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สองคำนี้คล้ายกัน sɔ̌ɔŋ kham níi khláay kan These two words are similar. สองคำนี้คล้ายกัน details
seemingly、as if、apparently
Expresses an impression without presenting it as certain, commonly in the patterns คล้ายจะ… and คล้ายว่า…. It corresponds to “seem,” “apparently,” or “as if,” depending on the sentence.
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เขาคล้ายจะไม่สบาย khǎw khláay cà mây sabaay He seems to be unwell. เขาคล้ายจะไม่สบาย details
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คล้ายว่าฝนจะตก khláay wâa fǒn cà tòk It looks as though it is going to rain. คล้ายว่าฝนจะตก details
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วิงเวียนคล้ายจะเป็นลม wiŋwian khláay cà pen lom I feel dizzy, like I'm about to faint. วิงเวียนคล้ายจะเป็นลม details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of คล้าย is that two things share noticeable features but are not completely identical. It can compare appearance, personality, shape, color, sound, meaning, ideas, and many other qualities. The basic patterns are “A คล้าย B” and “A คล้ายกับ B,” meaning that A resembles B. Use คล้ายกัน when two or more things resemble one another. In conversation, the repeated form คล้าย ๆ or คล้าย ๆ กัน softens the comparison and means “roughly similar” or “something like that.” In คล้ายจะ… and คล้ายว่า…, the idea of resemblance develops into a tentative impression: something seems or appears to be the case. The word is neutral and natural in both conversation and writing.
Usage
คล้าย is common when comparing family members, personalities, product designs, colors, sounds, or word meanings. It is also used when a speaker wants to report an impression or make a cautious guess without claiming certainty.
Caution
คล้าย normally indicates partial resemblance, not complete identity. To say that A and B resemble each other, use A กับ B คล้ายกัน; to compare A with B directly, use A คล้ายกับ B. The กับ introducing the comparison may sometimes be omitted when the relationship is clear.
Differences from similar words
1 resemble synonyms
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คล้ายคลึง also means “to be similar,” but it is somewhat more formal and often describes similarities in features, meanings, or ideas. คล้าย is shorter and more common in everyday conversation.
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เหมือน can mean “the same,” “identical-looking,” or “like,” depending on context. คล้าย more clearly indicates partial similarity rather than exact sameness.
3 seemingly synonyms
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ดูเหมือน is a common way to say that something appears or seems to be the case based on observation. คล้าย can express a similar impression, but it retains a stronger sense of resemblance or comparison.