กลม
round
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 round、circular
- 2 round (number or amount)、rounded (number or amount)
- 3 [classifier for large, round bottles of liquor]
This word primarily describes something that is round, whether flat like a circle or three-dimensional like a ball. It can also describe a round number and serve as a classifier for large bottles of liquor.
round、circular
Describes a shape or outline that is round, from a flat circle to a three-dimensional sphere.
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ปั้นแป้งให้กลม pân pɛ̂ɛŋ hây klom Shape the dough into a ball. ปั้นแป้งให้กลม details
round (number or amount)、rounded (number or amount)
Describes a number or amount that has been rounded to a convenient value without small fractions or awkward digits.
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ขอเป็นเลขกลม ๆ khɔ̌ɔ pen lêek klom klom Make it a round number, please. ขอเป็นเลขกลม ๆ details
[classifier for large, round bottles of liquor]
A specialized classifier used for large, round bottles of liquor.
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เหล้าหนึ่งกลม lâw nʉ̀ŋ klom one large bottle of liquor เหล้าหนึ่งกลม details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image is a shape with no corners and a smoothly continuous outline. It applies both to flat circular objects, as in โต๊ะกลม “round table,” and to spherical objects, as in ลูกบอลกลม “round ball.” It follows the noun it describes and is also common for physical features, such as หน้ากลม “round face” and ตากลม “round eyes.” Patterns with ให้ are useful for describing a resulting shape: ตัดให้กลม means “cut it round,” and ปั้นให้กลม means “shape it into a ball.” By extension, เลขกลม ๆ refers to a convenient number with awkward digits or fractions rounded off. กลม also has a specialized use as a classifier for large bottles of liquor.
Usage
It is common in everyday descriptions of furniture, dishes, fruit, balls, faces, eyes, and other round objects. In cooking and crafts, it is used in instructions to cut or shape something into a round form. In budgets and estimates, เลขกลม ๆ indicates a convenient rounded figure. Its classifier use is limited to contexts involving large bottles of liquor.
Caution
กลม can describe both circular and spherical shapes. When the distinction matters, use วงกลม for a flat circle and ทรงกลม for a three-dimensional sphere. For a mellow, well-balanced flavor, กลมกล่อม is normally used rather than กลม alone. As a classifier, กลม does not apply to bottles in general; ขวด is the usual general-purpose classifier.
Differences from similar words
1 round synonyms
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มน means rounded or smoothly curved, especially without a sharp edge or point. กลม more often describes an overall circular or spherical shape.
2 round (number or amount) synonyms
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ถ้วน emphasizes that an amount is exactly complete, with nothing missing or left over. กลม can indicate that a figure has been rounded to a convenient number.
3 [classifier for large, round bottles of liquor] synonyms
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ขวด is the general classifier for bottles of drinks, medicine, and other liquids. กลม is restricted to large, round liquor bottles.