แหลม
pointed
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 pointed、pointy
- 2 high-pitched、shrill
- 3 sharp-minded、quick-witted
- 4 cape、peninsula
This word centers on the image of something narrow and projecting to a point. It describes pointed shapes, high and piercing sounds, and sharp intelligence; as a noun, it also refers to a cape or peninsula.
pointed、pointy
Describes an object whose end narrows and projects to a point.
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มีดปลายแหลม mîit plaay lɛ̌ɛm a pointed knife มีดปลายแหลม details
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รองเท้าหัวแหลม rɔɔŋ tháaw hǔa lɛ̌ɛm pointed-toe shoes รองเท้าหัวแหลม details
high-pitched、shrill
Describes a sound or voice that is high in pitch and often thin or piercing.
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เสียงแหลม sǐaŋ lɛ̌ɛm a high-pitched voice or sound เสียงแหลม details
sharp-minded、quick-witted
Describes keen intelligence or the ability to understand and judge things quickly, most often in established combinations.
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ความคิดที่แหลมคม khwaam khít thîi lɛ̌ɛmkhom a perceptive idea ความคิดที่แหลมคม details
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เขาเป็นคนหัวแหลม khǎw pen khon hǔa lɛ̌ɛm He is a sharp-minded person. เขาเป็นคนหัวแหลม details
cape、peninsula
Refers to land projecting into the sea, usually a cape or headland and, in some established geographical names, a peninsula.
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เรือแล่นอ้อมแหลม rʉa lɛ̂n ɔ̂ɔm lɛ̌ɛm The boat sailed around the cape. เรือแล่นอ้อมแหลม details
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แหลมพรหมเทพ lɛ̌ɛm phrom thêep Promthep Cape แหลมพรหมเทพ details
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แหลมมลายู lɛ̌ɛm malaayuu the Malay Peninsula แหลมมลายู details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image is of something narrowing to a point and projecting outward. For physical shapes, ปลายแหลม (“having a pointed tip”) is a basic and useful combination. The same image extends to เสียงแหลม for a high, piercing sound and to expressions such as แหลมคม and ฉลาดหลักแหลม for keen intelligence. As a noun, it describes land projecting into the water, especially a cape. It can also mean “peninsula” in established geographical names. The word is common and not especially formal.
Usage
It is commonly used for pointed shapes such as knife tips, pencils, beaks, noses, and shoes. It also describes the pitch and quality of voices, screams, musical notes, and similar sounds. When praising someone’s intelligence, ฉลาดหลักแหลม is common, while แหลมคม often describes perceptive thinking or observation. In maps, travel information, and place names, the noun refers to a cape or sometimes a peninsula.
Caution
แหลม normally describes a pointed tip, whereas คม describes a keen cutting edge. Thus มีดปลายแหลม is a knife with a pointed tip, while มีดคม is a sharp knife that cuts well. เสียงแหลม can simply describe a high pitch, but when applied to a person’s voice it may suggest an unpleasant shrillness. For intelligence, แหลม is more natural in combinations such as แหลมคม or ฉลาดหลักแหลม than on its own.
Differences from similar words
1 pointed synonyms
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คม mainly describes a keen cutting edge. แหลม focuses on a shape that tapers to a point, whether or not it can cut.
2 high-pitched synonyms
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สูง can neutrally indicate that a pitch is high. แหลม also suggests a thin, sharp, or piercing quality and can sound mildly negative.
3 sharp-minded synonyms
4 cape synonyms
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คาบสมุทร is the precise geographical term for a peninsula, a substantial area of land surrounded by water on three sides. แหลม usually means a smaller projecting cape, though it can mean “peninsula” in established place names.