ราว
rail
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 rail、handrail、rod or rack、clothesline
- 2 about、approximately、around (a time or amount)
- 3 as if、as though、like
- 4 [classifier for rails, clotheslines, and racks]
This word refers to a long rail, rod, rack, or clothesline. It also means “about” before an amount, and forms comparisons meaning “as if” or “like.”
rail、handrail、rod or rack、clothesline
A long horizontal structure used for hanging things, providing support, or forming a barrier.
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จับราวบันไดไว้ càp raaw banday wáy Hold on to the stair rail. จับราวบันไดไว้ details
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แขวนเสื้อไว้ที่ราว khwɛ̌ɛn sʉ̂a wáy thîi raaw Hang the shirt on the rack. แขวนเสื้อไว้ที่ราว details
about、approximately、around (a time or amount)
Placed before a number, time, or measurement to show that the value is approximate.
as if、as though、like
In the forms ราวกับ and ราวกับว่า, it introduces a vivid comparison meaning “like” or “as if.”
Show more (1)
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สวยราวกับเจ้าหญิง sǔay raaw kàp câw yǐŋ She is as beautiful as a princess. สวยราวกับเจ้าหญิง details
[classifier for rails, clotheslines, and racks]
A classifier used when counting rails, clotheslines, racks, and similar structures called ราว.
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ราวตากผ้าสองราว raaw tàak phâa sɔ̌ɔŋ raaw two drying racks ราวตากผ้าสองราว details
Learning notes
Explanation
As a noun, ราว centers on the image of a long horizontal bar or line-like structure. Its natural translation changes with its function: a handrail, clothesline, clothing rack, or similar fixture. Before a number or time, it means “about” or “approximately.” For example, ราวสิบคน means “about ten people,” and ราวสามทุ่ม means “around 9 p.m.” The repeated form ราวๆ is also common. ราวกับ is followed by a noun or short expression, while ราวกับว่า commonly introduces a clause with its own subject and predicate. The word also appears in เรื่องราว, meaning “story” or “series of events.” In modern usage, however, ราว is not normally used alone to mean “story,” so เรื่องราว is best learned as a complete word.
Usage
It is used in everyday settings for clotheslines, clothing racks, stair rails, and balcony railings. It also commonly gives approximate numbers, prices, distances, durations, and times. ราวกับ and ราวกับว่า occur in conversation but are especially useful for vivid comparisons in stories, articles, and descriptive writing.
Caution
Approximate ราว normally comes before the number or time, as in ราวสิบคน. For an “as if” comparison, use ราวกับ or ราวกับว่า rather than bare ราว. When counting objects called ราว, however, the same word can also appear after the number as a classifier, as in ราวตากผ้าสองราว.
Differences from similar words
1 rail synonyms
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รั้ว is a fence enclosing an area. ราว focuses on a rail or long horizontal bar and does not necessarily enclose a space.
2 about synonyms
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ประมาณ is the most broadly used word for “approximately” in both conversation and factual statements. ราว is used similarly but can sound slightly more descriptive in writing; the repeated form ราวๆ is also common in conversation.