man
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- 1 man、adult male
This is the common, neutral everyday word for a man, especially an adult male.
man、adult male
Refers to a man or an adult male in ordinary, neutral language.
Learning notes
Explanation
ผู้ชาย is the ordinary, neutral noun for a man. It consists of ผู้, meaning a person or one who does something, and ชาย, meaning male in this expression. Its classifier is คน. For example, ผู้ชายสองคน means “two men,” ผู้ชายคนหนึ่ง means “a man,” and ผู้ชายคนนั้น means “that man.” It can also follow another noun to indicate that something is for men, as in เสื้อผ้าผู้ชาย, “men’s clothing.”
Usage
It is widely used in everyday conversation to talk about men, describe someone’s gender, or point out an unidentified man. It also appears in expressions for products, clothing, and facilities intended for men.
Caution
ผู้ชาย usually refers to an adult man. Use เด็กผู้ชาย when you specifically mean a boy. In an informal romantic context, it can imply “her man” or “boyfriend,” but that is a contextual implication rather than its basic meaning. แฟน is the clearer neutral word for a boyfriend or partner.
Differences from similar words
1 man synonyms
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ชาย also means “male” or “man,” but it is more common in labels, classifications, and formal writing. ผู้ชาย is usually more natural when referring to an individual man in everyday conversation.