เข็ม

Thai

Etymology

From Proto-Tai *qemᴬ (“needle”), from Middle Chinese 針 (MC t͡ɕiɪm, t͡ɕiɪm^H). Cognate with Lao ເຂັມ (khem), Shan ၶဵမ် (khěm), Ahom 𑜁𑜢𑜉𑜫 (khim). Compare Vietnamese kim.

Pronunciation

Orthographic/Phonemic		เข็ม e kʰ ˘ m
Romanization	Paiboon	kěm
	Royal Institute	khem
(standard) IPA^(key)		/kʰem˩˩˦/

Noun

เข็ม • (kěm)

needle.
(medicine) stitch.
similar object (in terms of appearance, usage, etc), as syringe, clock hand, foundation pile, etc.
anything containing such object, as pin, brooch, etc.
(botany) ixora.
(zoology) the fish Dermogenys pusillus van Hasselt of the family Hemiramphidae.