It is known that gauge potentials/spin-orbit couplings can be simulated for ultracold atoms through their interaction with laser fields. Tripod and Lambda [Formula: see text] are two typical configurations of atom–field interaction in the simulations. We find that there is a similarity between the two configurations if we parametrize Rabi frequencies properly. Based on the similarity, we can transform a gauge potential/spin-orbit coupling simulation scheme in the tripod configuration into a scheme in the [Formula: see text] configuration.