ผ้าไหม
silk
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 silk、silk fabric
This word refers to fabric woven from silk thread, especially silk used for clothing, accessories, and traditional textiles.
silk、silk fabric
Fabric woven from silk thread, typically valued for its smooth texture and sheen.
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ชุดนี้ทำจากผ้าไหม chút níi tham càak phâa mǎy This outfit is made of silk. ชุดนี้ทำจากผ้าไหม details
Learning notes
Explanation
ผ้าไหม is formed from ผ้า “cloth or fabric” and ไหม “silk or silk thread,” so its literal sense is “cloth made of silk.” Depending on context, it can be translated as “silk” or “silk fabric.” It commonly describes the material of clothing, scarves, and traditional garments. ผ้าไหมแท้ means genuine or pure silk. When counting separate pieces of fabric, ผืน is commonly used as the classifier. Fabric sold by length is measured with เมตร “meter.”
Usage
It is commonly used when discussing materials in fabric markets and clothing stores, describing garments or accessories, and talking about Thai weaving, handicrafts, souvenirs, or formal traditional clothing.
Caution
Products labeled ผ้าไหม may sometimes contain blended fibers. Ask whether the material is ผ้าไหมแท้ if you need genuine silk. Also, ไหม by itself can function as a question particle, but in ผ้าไหม it normally means “silk.”
Differences from similar words
1 silk synonyms
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ไหม can mean silk as a material or silk thread. ผ้าไหม includes ผ้า “cloth” and therefore refers more specifically to woven silk fabric.