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Thai

ต่างกัน

Components

ต่าง
กัน

Pronunciation

tàaŋ kan

differ

Native recording

Analyzing pitch…

  1. 1 differ、be different from one another

Expresses that two or more people, things, ideas, or other items are not the same as one another.

1

differ、be different from one another

Verb⭐️4 Often used

Indicates that multiple things differ from one another, sometimes emphasizing that each is different in its own way.

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Learning notes

Explanation

ต่างกัน combines ต่าง, “to be different,” with กัน, which marks a reciprocal relationship. Its central sense is that two or more things differ from one another. With แต่ละ (“each”), it often emphasizes individual variation, as in แต่ละคนคิดต่างกัน, “Each person thinks differently.” To compare two named items, a common pattern is A กับ B ต่างกัน (“A and B are different”). When comparing one item directly with another, use A ต่างจาก B (“A differs from B”).

Usage

Used widely when comparing products or choices, discussing differences in personalities or opinions, and describing variation among countries, regions, or individuals. It is natural in both conversation and writing. Common questions include ต่างกันไหม (“Are they different?”) and ต่างกันอย่างไร (“How are they different?”).

Caution

ต่างกัน normally describes a difference between multiple items. To compare one item explicitly with another, use ต่างจาก in the pattern A ต่างจาก B. Also, ต่างกัน functions as a predicate meaning “to differ”; the noun “difference” is ความแตกต่าง.

Differences from similar words

1 differ synonyms

  • แตกต่าง also means “to differ” and is somewhat more common in formal or written contexts, often highlighting a clear distinction. ต่างกัน is an everyday expression focusing on how multiple things differ from one another.

  • ไม่เหมือนกัน literally presents the comparison as “not the same.” ต่างกัน states more directly and concisely that the items differ.

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