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Thai word

ใกล้

klâi

近/靠近

Falling tone

How to pronounce ใกล้

High Low

Falling tone

Starts high, falls quickly to low

ใกล้ is written klâi and carries the falling tone. Listen first, then copy the pitch — in Thai the pitch belongs to the word the way a vowel does.

Same syllable, five tones

Thai uses pitch to tell words apart. Below is the same syllable on each of the five tones — nothing changes but the pitch. Say your word (highlighted) on one of the other four and a Thai listener hears a different word, or none at all.

  1. klai

    Mid tone

  2. klài

    Low tone

  3. klâi

    Falling tone

    ใกล้
  4. klǎi

    Rising tone

  5. klái

    High tone

What does ใกล้ mean?

Translation

近/靠近

ใกล้ (klâi) means "近/靠近" in Thai.

Tone: Falling tone Frequency: #78 neutral

Example sentences

อยู่ใกล้กับ BTS นะครับ เดินแค่สองนาที

yùu glâi gàp BTS ná kráp dern kâae sǒng naa-tii

它离 BTS 很近,dern 只需 sǒng naa-tii。

หนูอยากหาห้องใกล้ BTS ค่ะ ราคาไม่แพงมาก

Nǔu yàak hǎa hông glâi BTS kâ raa-kaa mâi pɛɛng mâak

我想找一间BTS附近的房间,价格不要太贵。

บ้านอยู่ในซอยเล็กๆ แต่ใกล้ถนนใหญ่ครับ

Bâan yùu nai sooý lék-lék dtɛ̀ɛ glâi tà-nǒn yài kráp

房子在一条小巷子里,但离主干道很近。

Test yourself

One word from the same tone group. Its meaning is not on this page — see whether it stuck.

What does this word mean?

ห้า

hâa

More words with the falling tone — the same pitch shape, different words.

Learn more about Thai tones

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