ข้าง
side
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 side、flank、side; party、position; camp
- 2 next to、beside、by; near
- 3 one side [of a pair]、one of a pair、side [classifier]
ข้าง is a basic word built around the idea of a side or the area next to something. It is used for physical position, one side of a pair, direction words such as front/back/inside/outside, and also for someone’s side in an argument or group.
side、flank、side; party、position; camp
Refers to a side of something, or figuratively to a side, party, or position in a matter.
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ข้างซ้าย khâaŋ sáay the left side ข้างซ้าย details
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เขาอยู่ข้างเรา khǎw yùu khâaŋ raw He is on our side. เขาอยู่ข้างเรา details
next to、beside、by; near
Placed before a noun to mean next to, beside, by, or at the side of that thing.
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นั่งข้างฉัน nâŋ khâaŋ chǎn Sit next to me. นั่งข้างฉัน details
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ร้านกาแฟอยู่ข้างธนาคาร ráan kaafɛɛ yùu khâaŋ thánaakhaan The cafe is next to the bank. ร้านกาแฟอยู่ข้างธนาคาร details
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บ้านอยู่ข้างถนน bâan yùu khâaŋ thanǒn The house is by the road. บ้านอยู่ข้างถนน details
one side [of a pair]、one of a pair、side [classifier]
Used as a classifier for one side or one item of a paired body part or object, such as an ear, eye, hand, foot, shoe, or side.
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รองเท้าหายไปหนึ่งข้าง rɔɔŋ tháaw hǎay pay nʉ̀ŋ khâaŋ One shoe is missing. รองเท้าหายไปหนึ่งข้าง details
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หูข้างซ้ายเจ็บ hǔu khâaŋ sáay cèp My left ear hurts. หูข้างซ้ายเจ็บ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of ข้าง is a side relative to a reference point. It appears in basic location words such as ข้างซ้าย “left side” and ข้างขวา “right side,” and it also extends to figurative uses like อยู่ข้างเรา, “to be on our side.” It forms essential direction expressions such as ข้างหน้า “in front,” ข้างหลัง “behind,” ข้างบน “above/upstairs,” ข้างล่าง “below/downstairs,” ข้างใน “inside,” and ข้างนอก “outside.” ค่อนข้าง, meaning “rather” or “fairly,” is best learned as a fixed expression.
Usage
This word is very common when giving directions, describing where things are in a room, talking about seating, placing objects, referring to left or right body parts, talking about paired items like shoes, and saying whose side someone is on. It is a basic everyday word used in both speech and writing.
Caution
ข้าง does not only mean “sideways” or “lateral.” In compounds like ข้างหน้า and ข้างใน, the whole expression means “in front” and “inside.” When you need to stress that two things are directly adjacent or touching, ติดกับ may be more precise.
Differences from similar words
1 side synonyms
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ด้าน also means a side or aspect, and is common for surfaces, directions, and abstract aspects. ข้าง is more everyday and works naturally for left/right sides, being next to something, and being on someone’s side.
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ฝ่าย refers more clearly to a party, faction, side, or department. ข้าง is broader, starting from physical side and extending to being on someone’s side.
2 next to synonyms
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ใกล้ means near in distance. ข้าง more specifically places something at the side of or beside something else.