คู่
pair
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 pair、matching set
- 2 partner、mate、counterpart
- 3 pair [classifier]
- 4 be paired with、go with、match
- 5 even (number)
This word centers on two things or people that belong together, correspond to each other, or face one another. It is used for pairs, partners, matching counterparts, and as a classifier for items counted in pairs.
pair、matching set
Two matching or corresponding things considered together as one set.
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รองเท้าคู่นี้สวย rɔɔŋ tháaw khûu níi sǔay This pair of shoes is beautiful. รองเท้าคู่นี้สวย details
partner、mate、counterpart
The other person in a relationship, shared activity, conversation, or competition.
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วันนี้ฉันไม่มีคู่ซ้อม wan níi chǎn mây mii khûu sɔ́ɔm I don't have a practice partner today. วันนี้ฉันไม่มีคู่ซ้อม details
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คนไร้คู่ khon ráy khûu a single person คนไร้คู่ details
pair [classifier]
A classifier used to count things that naturally come in pairs.
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รองเท้าหนึ่งคู่ rɔɔŋ tháaw nʉ̀ŋ khûu one pair of shoes รองเท้าหนึ่งคู่ details
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ขอถุงเท้าสองคู่ khɔ̌ɔ thǔŋ tháaw sɔ̌ɔŋ khûu I'd like two pairs of socks. ขอถุงเท้าสองคู่ details
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ซื้อตะเกียบมาสามคู่ sʉ́ʉ tàkìap maa sǎam khûu I bought three pairs of chopsticks. ซื้อตะเกียบมาสามคู่ details
be paired with、go with、match
To correspond to, be paired with, or form a suitable combination with something.
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เสื้อตัวนี้คู่กับกางเกงสีดำ sʉ̂a tua níi khûu kàp kaaŋkeeŋ sǐi dam This shirt goes with black pants. เสื้อตัวนี้คู่กับกางเกงสีดำ details
even (number)
Describes a number divisible by two, usually in the expression เลขคู่.
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สองเป็นเลขคู่ sɔ̌ɔŋ pen lêek khûu Two is an even number. สองเป็นเลขคู่ details
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เลือกเฉพาะเลขคู่ lʉ̂ak chaphɔ́ lêek khûu Choose only the even numbers. เลือกเฉพาะเลขคู่ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of คู่ is that two things correspond to each other and form a unit. With objects, it means a pair. With people, it refers to the other person in a relationship or shared activity. The type of relationship is often specified by another word, as in คู่รัก “romantic partner,” คู่ชีวิต “life partner,” and คู่แข่ง “competitor.” As a classifier, the usual order is noun + number + คู่. For example, รองเท้าหนึ่งคู่ means “one pair of shoes,” and ตะเกียบสองคู่ means “two pairs of chopsticks.” The pattern คู่กับ means “be paired with” or “go with.” The idea of being divisible into groups of two also gives เลขคู่, meaning “even number.”
Usage
คู่ is common when talking about or counting shoes, socks, gloves, chopsticks, and other things that come in pairs. It also appears frequently in words for romantic partners, spouses, practice partners, conversation partners, and competitors. It is used for combinations of clothing, colors, food, and drinks, as well as for even numbers in mathematics.
Caution
คู่ does not always mean a romantic couple. Use a more specific compound such as คู่รัก, คู่ชีวิต, or คู่แข่ง when the relationship needs to be clear. รองเท้าหนึ่งคู่ means a complete pair of shoes, while รองเท้าหนึ่งข้าง means one shoe from the pair. For “even number,” คู่ is normally used as part of เลขคู่ rather than by itself.
Differences from similar words
1 pair synonyms
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ชุด means a set that may contain any number of items. คู่ normally refers specifically to two things forming a pair.
2 partner synonyms
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แฟน commonly means a boyfriend, girlfriend, or romantic partner. คู่ is broader and can refer to a spouse, an activity partner, or an opponent, depending on context.
3 pair [classifier] synonyms
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ข้าง counts one side or one individual item, such as a single shoe or glove. คู่ counts the two matching items together as a pair.