ชาย
man
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 man、male person、male
- 2 male、men’s、for men
- 3 edge、rim、border、fringe、shore
ชาย mainly refers to a man or male person. It is also used in compounds for the edge or boundary of something, including places like coasts, borders, and hems.
man、male person、male
Refers to a male person or man. In everyday speech, ผู้ชาย is the most common form for “a man” or “men.”
male、men’s、for men
Used after a noun to mark something as male, men’s, or for males. It is common in signs, categories, school terms, and product labels.
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ห้องน้ำชาย hɔ̂ŋ náam chaay men’s restroom ห้องน้ำชาย details
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นักเรียนชาย nák rian chaay male student นักเรียนชาย details
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เสื้อผ้าชาย sʉ̂a phâa chaay men’s clothing เสื้อผ้าชาย details
edge、rim、border、fringe、shore
Refers to the edge, rim, border, or outer part of something. This sense is especially common in compounds such as borders, beaches, coasts, and hems.
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ชายเสื้อ chaay sʉ̂a the hem of a shirt ชายเสื้อ details
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เขายืนอยู่ชายป่า khǎw yʉʉn yùu chaay pàa He is standing at the edge of the forest. เขายืนอยู่ชายป่า details
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บ้านชายทะเล bâan chaay thalee a seaside house บ้านชายทะเล details
Learning notes
Explanation
For learners, the first meaning to learn is “man” or “male.” In ordinary conversation, however, ผู้ชาย is usually the natural word for “a man.” ชาย by itself often appears in contrasts such as “female or male,” or in more classificatory contexts. The other important meaning is “edge” or “boundary area.” In this sense, it is best learned through common compounds such as ชายแดน “border area,” ชายฝั่ง “coast,” ชายหาด “beach,” and ชายเสื้อ “hem.”
Usage
It is common when talking about gender, signs, school categories, jobs, and product categories. It also appears often in geography, travel, news, and descriptions of nature through compounds for borders, coasts, beaches, and forest edges.
Caution
ชายแดน does not mean “male land”; it means “border area.” Because ชาย has very different meanings, interpret it together with the surrounding words, especially in compounds.