One of the most common reasons people learn the language is that they’re doing business in Thailand or with Thai people. This makes a lot of sense, because knowing at least the most common business phrases in Thai is an advantage in the workplace.
In this lesson, you’ll learn all of the Thai business phrases you need to get started, as well as the grammar behind them. In addition, we’ll provide you with a list of business terms you should know, categorized by what kind of situation you’d hear them in.
Before we get into Thai business words and their meanings in English, you should know how to speak formally with others in a business setting.
1- Formal Thai Pronouns
Below is a list of Thai pronouns you’re likely to use in Thailand business settings, so we advise you to memorize them before you try learning any other Thai business words or phrases.
To make a sentence sound formal in Thai, put the word ครับ (khráp) or ค่ะ (khà) at the end of a sentence when speaking. ครับ (khráp) is used when the speaker is male, while ค่ะ (khâ) is used when the speaker is female.
2. Thai Business Phrases for a Job Interview
The first step in beginning your career is the job interview. As such, it’s to your advantage that you leave a nice first impression on your interviewer. Here are some common Thai business phrases you should know before your interview.
An interviewer will normally ask you to turn off your phone. If your phone rings during the interview, it may leave a bad impression on your interviewer, so it is proper Thai business etiquette to turn it off right away.
However, if there’s any reason you can’t turn it off, you can tell the interviewer: ไม่สะดวกปิดโทรศัพท์ เพราะ___ ต้องขอโทษด้วย (mâi-sà-dùuak-bpìt-thoo-rá-sàp práw–___ dtâawng-khǎaw-thôot-dûuai), which means “I can’t turn off the phone because ___, I’m sorry.”
In the first blank, put the name of your university; in the second blank, put the name of the faculty; and in the third blank, put the name of your major.
I have experience in ___ for ___ years.
In Thai: ผม / ดิฉันมีประสบการณ์ในสายงาน ___ ทั้งหมด ___ ปี
When doing business with Thai people, knowing business Thai vocabulary isn’t enough. You should also know how to communicate with your coworkers at both the business level and the social level. Here are some phrases you may find helpful.
Let’s go over some important phrases for Thai business meetings. If you’ve spent any time in the business world, you know that meetings are an essential aspect of any job. Knowing the most common phrases and implementing proper Thai business meeting etiquette will give you a huge advantage.
5. Thai Business Phrases for Phone Calls and Emails
If you’re doing business in Thailand, being able to communicate via phone and email is pretty important. Below are some words and phrases you’ll find useful.
This is another phrase you can use when calling someone. This one is a little more formal than the one above. It’s often used when the party you’re calling doesn’t know you.
How do you feel after going over all of these Thai business phrases? Are you more confident in your business communication skills? Let us know in the comments below.
If you want to learn more-specific terms, words, or phrases than the ones we covered here, check out our other lessons on ThaiPod101.com. Here are some lessons you may be interested in:
เป้าเป่าซาลาเปาร้อน ๆ ก่อนเก็บลงกระเป๋า (bpâo–bpào-saa-laa-bpao-ráawn-ráawn-gàawn-gèp-long-grà–bpǎo) means “Bpâo blew the hot bun before putting it in the bag” in Thai.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Thai language, or who have just started learning it, when you hear this sentence, you may wonder why Thai people repeat the same word so often. However, Thai people didn’t repeat the same word; the words in color, despite sounding very similar, have different tones.
Thai is one of many languages that uses tone. Thus, to communicate in Thai, it’s important that you master Thai tones. Luckily for you, this lesson will teach you everything you need to know.
How many tones are there in Thai? How can you identify Thai tone markers in writing? In this article, we’ll cover a variety of essential topics ranging from Thai tone symbols to their pronunciation. We’ll also provide you with some tips on how to learn Thai tones effectively.
Let’s get started! Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)
เสียงวรรณยุกต์ (sǐiang-wan-ná-yúk) is “tone” in the Thai language, and there are five Thai tones that you’ll need to master. When Thai people say the name of each tone, they use เสียง (sǐiang) + the name of the tone.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that you can’t just rely on tone marks to guide your pronunciation and tone changes. Thai alphabet tones also matter, and thus the only way to pronounce the correct tone is to combine the sounds of consonants, vowels, and tone marks together.
The Thai tones chart below summarizes everything you need to know about the five tones of Thai.
In the following sections, ThaiPod101.com will explain each Thai tone in detail. We’ll also provide example sentences, phrases, or dialogues with each of the Thai tones.
Romanization tone mark: For the falling tone, a little hat is put on the first vowel of the word. ( -̂ )
Pronunciation: The falling tone is lower than the high tone, but higher than the mid tone.
Example 1:
บ้านของป้าฉันหลังไม่ใหญ่ แต่สวยมาก bâan-khǎawng-bpâa-chǎn-lhǎng-mâi-yhài dtàae-sǔuay-mâak “My aunt’s house is not big, but is very beautiful.”
Example 2:
เธออ่านหนังสือห้าเล่มจบในเก้าวัน
thooe-àan-nhǎng-sǔue-hâa-lêm-jòp-nai-gâao-wan “She finished five books in nine days.”
Example 3:
อาหารปิ้งย่างกำลังเป็นที่นิยม
aa-hǎan-bpîng-yâang-gam-lang-bpen-thîi-ní-yom “Grilled food is very popular now.”
Example 4:
หน้าหนาวส้มอร่อยและราคาไม่แพง
nhâa-nhǎao-sôm-à-rhôi-láae-raa-khaa-mâi-phaaeng “During winter, oranges taste good and are not expensive.”
Example 5:
แม่บอกว่าเธออ้วนขึ้น ต้องลดน้ำหนักแล้ว
mâae-bàawk-wâa-thooe-aûuan-khûen dtâawng-lód-nám-nhàk-láaew “Mom said she is getting fatter and must go on a diet now.”
Romanization tone mark: For the high tone, a short line that’s higher on the right end is put on the first vowel of the word. ( -́ )
Pronunciation: The high tone is the highest tone.
Example 1:
น้ำทะเลที่ปราณบุรีใสมาก
nám-thá-lee-thîi-praan-bù-rii-sǎi-mâak “The sea at Phetburi is crystal-clear.”
Example 2:
คิ้วของน้าสวยมาก
khíu-khǎawng-náa-sǔuay-mâak “My aunt’s eyebrows are very beautiful.”
Example 3:
ตอนนี้ฟ้ามืดลงเรื่อย ๆ เหมือนฝนจะตกเลย
dtaawn-níi-fáa-mûuet-long-rûueai-rûueai-mǔuean-fǒn-jà-dtòk-looei “The sky is getting darker and darker now; it looks like it will rain soon.”
Example 4:
เธอเคยเห็นช้างเตะฟุตบอลมั้ย thooe-khooei-hěn-cháang-dtè-fút-baawn-mái “Have you ever seen an elephant playing football?”
Example 5:
วันนี้คนมาซื้อของที่ร้านเยอะมาก
wan-níi-khon-maa-súue-khǎawng-thîi-ráan-yóe-mâak “Today, there are a lot of people coming to the shop to buy things.”
Romanization tone mark: For the rising tone, a little “v” is put on the first vowel of the word. ( -̌ )
Pronunciation: The rising tone is the lowest tone.
Example 1:
พ่ออ่านหนังสือพิมพ์ทุกเช้า
phâaw-àan-nhǎng-sǔue-phim-thúk-cháo “Dad reads the newspaper every morning.”
Example 2:
ตอนนี้ภาคเหนือของไทยอากาศเริ่มหนาวแล้ว
dtaawn-níi-phâak-nhǔuea-khǎawng-thai-aa-gàat-rôoem-nhǎao-láaeo “The weather in northern Thailand is getting cold now.”
Example 3:
น้องชายฉันอยากไปดูเสือที่สวนสัตว์
náawng-chaai-chǎn-yhàak-bpai-duu-sǔuea-thîi-sǔuan-sàt “My brother wants to go see the tiger at the zoo.”
Example 4:
ผิวหน้าของเธอดีมาก ๆ
phǐu-nhâa-khǎawng-thooe-dii-mâak-mâak “Her complexion (literally: facial skin) is very good.”
Example 5:
ฉันไม่ชอบหมา chǎn-mâi-châawp-mhǎa “I don’t like dogs.”
7. Comparing Thai Language Tones
You now know that there are five tones in Thai, and you’ve learned the basic Thai tone rules for pronunciation. In terms of vocabulary, knowing how to pronounce Thai tones accurately is crucial. A little change in tone can completely change the meaning of a word.
In this section, we’re going to give you a little bit of practice material to help you see what we mean! These are examples of Thai words with different tones.
1- Near / Far
ใกล้ (glâi) is “near” in Thai.
ไกล (glai) is “far” in Thai.
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
ไกล
ไกล่
ใกล้
ใกล๊
ไกล๋
Pronunciation
glai
glài
glâi
glái
glǎi
Meaning
“far”
–
“near”
–
–
2- Fishy / News / Rice / White
คาว (khaao) is “fishy” in Thai.
ข่าว (khàao) is “news” in Thai.
ข้าว (khâao) is “rice” in Thai.
ขาว (khǎao) is “white” in Thai.
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
คาว
ข่าว
ข้าว
ค้าว
ขาว
Pronunciation
khaao
khàao
khâao
kháao
khǎao
Meaning
“fishy”
“news”
“rice”
–
“white”
3- Come / Horse / Dog
มา (maa) is “come” in Thai.
ม้า (máa) is “horse” in Thai.
หมา (mǎa) is “dog” in Thai.
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
มา
หม่า
ม่า
ม้า
หมา
Pronunciation
maa
màa
mâa
máa
mǎa
Meaning
“come”
–
–
“horse”
“dog”
4- Envelope / Look through / Brothel / Acclaim / Two
ซอง (saawng) is “envelope” in Thai.
ส่อง (sàawng) is “look through” in Thai.
ซ่อง (sâawng) is “brothel” in Thai.
ซ้อง (sáawng) is “acclaim” in Thai.
สอง (sǎawng) is “two” in Thai.
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
ซอง
ส่อง
ซ่อง
ซ้อง
สอง
Pronunciation
saawng
sàawng
sâawng
sáawng
sǎawng
Meaning
“envelope”
“look through”
“brothel”
“acclaim”
“two”
5- Carry / Hungry
หิ้ว (hîu) is “carry” in Thai.
หิว (hǐu) is “hungry” in Thai.
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
ฮิว
หิ่ว
หิ้ว
ฮิ้ว
หิว
Pronunciation
hiu
hìu
hîu
híu
hǐu
Meaning
–
–
“carry”
–
“hungry”
8. Thai Tone Rules and Exceptions
As mentioned at the beginning of this lesson, Thai tone marks aren’t the only factor that affect the tone of a word. The information we’re going to cover here is a bit more advanced than what you’ve learned so far. If you understand it, that’s great! It will help you understand the logic behind Thai tones.
However, if you find this part hard, don’t pressure yourself. When Thai children learn how to pronounce tones, they don’t learn about lessons like this until later. So you don’t need to fully understand these rules and exceptions to pronounce Thai tones correctly.
1- Three Classes of Thai Consonants
In Thai, consonants affect how you pronounce a word. You may have noticed in the examples from the previous section that some letters can take on every tone, while some can’t. This is because there are ไตรยางศ์ (dtrai-yaang), or “three classes of Thai consonants”:
High-toned alphabet
Middle-toned alphabet
Low-toned alphabet
Middle-toned letters can take on all five tones, so if the initial letter of a word is middle-toned, that word has five possible tones. High-toned and low-toned letters can only take on three tones, so in order to pronounce five tones, you need two initial letters.
There’s no need to remember which letter is in which class since it’s likely to confuse you more. Just remember that some words can only have three tones, and you have to change the initial letter in order to pronounce five tones. Also, when you try to pronounce a word, if you pronounce the Thai consonants and vowels correctly, this will help you get the right tone.
ก can be used with every tone.
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
ไกล
ไกล่
ใกล้
ใกล๊
ไกล๋
Pronunciation
glai
glài
glâi
glái
glǎi
Meaning
“far”
–
“near”
–
–
ซ and ส can only be used with certain tones.
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
ซอง
ส่อง
ซ่อง
ซ้อง
สอง
Pronunciation
saawng
sàawng
sâawng
sáawng
sǎawng
Meaning
“come”
“look through”
“brothel”
“acclaim”
“two”
2- Dead Syllables and Live Syllables
Other factors that affect a word’s tone are the sound of the vowels and the final letter. คำเป็น (kham-bpen) means “live syllables” and คำตาย (kham-dtaai) means “dead syllables.” Dead syllables and live syllables are special classifiers Thai people use; we’ll explain this more below.
A- Live syllables
Thai words that are considered to be “live syllables” must have one of these characteristics:
If the word has no final alphabet, it must have a long vowel. For example, สามี (sǎa-mii) which is “husband” and อาหาร (aa-hǎan) which is “food.”
The final alphabet is the last alphabet of the syllable or word. Some syllables or words may not have a final alphabet. For example, มีด (mîit), meaning “knife,” is composed of ม, -ี, and ด. ม is the initial alphabet. -ี is a vowel. ด is the final alphabet.
If the word has a final alphabet, it must end with sonorant final letters (ng, n, m, i, and o in romanization). For example, ส้ม (sôm), which is “orange,” and กางเกง (gaang-geeng), which is “pants.”
Words that are live syllables can be used with three to five tones, depending on the class of the initial alphabets.
B- Dead syllables
Thai words that are considered to be “dead syllables” must have one of these characteristics:
If the word has no final alphabet, it must have a short vowel. For example, มะลิ (má-lí), which is “jasmine,” and กระทะ (grà-thá), which is “pan.”
If the word has a final alphabet, it must end with a stop consonant (k, t, and p in romanization). For example, ซัก (sák), which is “wash,” and ขับ (khàp), which is “drive.”
Words that are dead syllables can be used with two to four tones, depending on the class of the initial alphabets. Mid-tone and dead syllable words can’t be used together.
9. Tips on Mastering Thai Tones
As mentioned before, tones play a very important role in pronunciation. Unfortunately, if your native language has no tones, you’ll find Thai pronunciation and tones quite difficult. We have some tips for you on how to practice Thai tones effectively.
1- Practice All Five Tones for New Words
ผันวรรณยุกต์ (phan-wan-na-yuk) is “pronounce five tones of words” in Thai.
When you learn new words, one of the best ways to get in some Thai tones practice is to try pronouncing that word in all five of its tones (not just the one you’re learning). For example:
Tone
Mid Tone
Low Tone
Falling Tone
High Tone
Rising Tone
Thai
พา
ผ่า
ผ้า
พ้า
ผา
Pronunciation
phaa
phàa
phâa
pháa
phǎa
By practicing the pronunciation of all five tones, you’ll be able to distinguish between each tone better. This is how Thai children learn the different Thai tones as well.
2- Listen to Native Thai Speakers Often
When it comes to understanding Thai tones, listening and speaking go hand-in-hand. By listening to Thai people speak a lot, you’ll get used to how Thai people speak and will eventually be able to hear the differences between tones.
3- Watch Thai Educational Programs for Kids
For those who have just started learning Thai, watching Thai educational programs for kids can certainly help. Normally, hosts or characters in programs like this talk or pronounce words slowly and clearly. This makes it easier for you to practice repeating what they say.
10. Conclusion
You’ve reached the end of this lesson! Do you feel like you’re any closer to distinguishing between and pronouncing Thai tones? We hope you at least know how many tones there are in Thai. Let us know by commenting below.
Learning Thai tones is a very important step in mastering the language. So we hope you practice this lesson a lot. It may be hard now, but you’ll get used to Thai tones in no time.
Be sure to check out other fun lessons on ThaiPod101.com. We make learning Thai both fun and informative.
In Thai, if you want to tell the number or amount of a noun (both countable and uncountable), knowing the numbers and the most common nouns isn’t enough. Unlike in English, you need Thai numerical classifiers to complete the phrase or sentence. So, as a Thai learner, you need to learn about numeric classifiers in Thai in order to speak like a native.
In this lesson, we’ll introduce you to Thai numeric classifiers. You’ll also learn the structure of numerical classifiers in Thai along with how to use them. And lastly, we’ll provide you with a list of Thai classifiers. Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE!(Logged-In Member Only)
By combining the meanings of the last two words together, you can guess the function of numeral classifiers in Thai: they’re used to describe the physical characteristics of a noun.
1- Structure of numerical classifiers in Thai
In Thai, there are no plural numerical classifiers. Further, there’s no relationship between noun classes and classifiers. The main thing you need to remember is: Thai numeral classifiers are always put after nouns.
There are two ways of using numeral classifiers in Thai, shown below.
Additional note: นี้ (níi) is “this” in Thai, and นั้น (nán) is “that.”
Now that you have some basic information about Thai numeral classifiers, let’s learn the most common Thai classifiers. The following section is a categorized list of these classifiers, along with examples of how they’re used in a sentence.
2. Thai Numeric Classifiers for Living Things
1- Humans
Thai numeric classifier: คน (khon)
Example 1:
เธอเชิญแขกมากี่คน thooe-chooen-khàaek-maa-gìi-khon “How many guests have you invited?”
Example 2:
เอาจดหมายไปให้ผู้หญิงคนนั้นหน่อย
ao-jòt-mhǎai-bpai-hâi-phûu-yhǐng-khon-nán-nàauy “Give the letter to that woman.”
2- Animals
Thai numeric classifier: ตัว (dtuua)
Example 1:
พ่อเลี้ยงสุนัขไว้ 2 ตัว phâaw-líiang-sù-nák-wái-sǎawng-dtuua “My father has two dogs.”
Example 2:
แมวตัวนี้น่ารักมาก
maaew-dtuua-níi-nâa-rák-mâak “This cat is very cute.”
3- Monks
Thai numeric classifier: รูป (rûup)
Example 1:
แม่นิมนต์พระมา 5 รูป
mâae-ní-mon-phrá-maa-hâa-rûup “My mother invited five monks.”
Example 2:
พระรูปนั้นตัวสูงมาก
phrá-rûup-nán-dtuua-sǔung-mâak “That monk is very tall.”
4- Angels and Buddha Statues
Thai numeric classifier: องค์ (ong)
Example 1:
เธอคิดว่าบนสวรรค์มีเทวดากี่องค์ thooe-khít-wâa-bon-sà-wǎn-mii-thee-wá-daa-gìi-ong “Do you wonder how many angels there are in heaven?”
Example 2:
พระพุทธรูปองค์นั้นงดงามมาก
phrá-phút-thá-rûup-ong-nán-ngót-ngaam-mâak “That Buddha statue is very beautiful.”
5- Monsters and Hermits
Thai numeric classifier: ตน (dton)
Example 1:
ในนิยายเรื่องนี้ มีฤาษีอยู่ 1 ตน nai-ní-yaai-rûueang-níi mii-ruue-sǐi-yùu-nùeng-dton “There is one hermit in this novel.”
Example 2:
ปีศาจตนไหนน่ากลัวที่สุด
bpii-sàat-dton-nǎi-nâa-gluua-thîi-sùt “Which monster is the scariest one?”
6- Trees
Thai numeric classifier: ต้น (dtôn)
Example 1:
ในสวนมีต้นไม้หลายต้น nai-sǔuan-mii-dtôn-mái-lǎai-dtôn “There are many trees in the garden.”
Example 2:
ต้นไม้ต้นนั้นสูงเท่าไหร่
dtôn-mái-dtôn-nán-sǔung-thâo-rài “How tall is that tree?”
7- Flowers
Thai numeric classifier: ดอก (dàawk)
Example 1:
แม่ซื้อดอกไม้มา 5 ดอก mâae-súue-dàawk-mái-maa-hâa-dàawk “My mother bought five flowers.”
Example 2:
ฉันชอบดอกไม้ดอกนั้นมาก มันชื่ออะไร
chǎn-châawp-dàawk-mái-dàawk-nán-mâak man-chûue-à-rai “I really like that flower. What is it called?”
8- Leaves
Thai numeric classifier: ใบ (bai)
Example 1:
เธอจะให้ใส่ใบไม้ในตระกร้ากี่ใบ thooe-jà-hâi-sài-bai-mái-nai-dtrà-grâa-gìi-bai “How many leaves do you want me to put in the basket?”
Example 2:
ใบไม้ใบนั้นหน้าตาแปลกดี
bai-mái-bai-nán-nâa-dtaa-bplàaek-dii “The shape of that leaf is unique.”
Example 1:
เธอเอากระโปรงมากี่ตัว thooe-ao-grà-bproong-maa-gìi-dtuua “How many skirts did you bring?”
Example 2:
ฉันจะซื้อกางเกงตัวนั้น
chǎn-jà-súue-gaang-geeng-dtuua-nán “I will buy that pair of pants.”
2- Neckties, Belts, Necklaces, and Bracelets
Thai numeric classifier: เส้น (sên)
Example 1:
พ่อลืมเข็มขัดไว้ในรถ 1 เส้น phâaw-luuem-khěm-khàt-wái-nai-rót-nùeng-sên “Dad forgot one belt in the car.”
Example 2:
เนคไทเส้นนี้ราคาเท่าไหร่
nék-thái-sên-níi-raa-khaa-thâo-rài “How much is this necktie?”
Additional note: เส้น (sên) is normally used to describe nouns that are long and straight (like a line).
3- Pairs of Socks, Shoes, and Earrings
Thai numeric classifier: คู่ (khûu)
Example 1:
ปลาทำถุงเท้าหายไป 3 คู่ Bplaa-tham-thǔng-tháo-hǎai-bpai-sǎam-khûu “Bplaa lost three pairs of socks.”
Example 2:
แม่อยากได้ต่างหูคู่นี้
mâae-yàak-dâi-dtàang-hǔu-khûu-níi “Mom wants this pair of earrings.”
Additional note: There are two numerical classifiers in Thai for socks, shoes, and earrings. When these nouns are in pairs, we use คู่ (khûu).
4- Socks, Shoes, and Earrings
Thai numeric classifier: ข้าง (khâang)
Example 1:
เธอทำถุงเท้าขาดไป 3 ข้าง thooe-tham-thǔng-tháo-khàat-bpai-sǎam-khâang “She lost three socks.”
Example 2:
รองเท้าข้างนั้นสกปรกมาก
raawng-tháo-khâang-nán-sòk-grà-bpròk-mâak “That shoe is very dirty.”
Additional note: This is the second Thai classifier for socks, shoes, and earrings. When these nouns are not in pairs, we use ข้าง (khâang).
5- Scarves
Thai numeric classifier: ผืน (phǔuen)
Example 1:
วันนี้ฉันขายผ้าพันคอได้ 9 ผืน wan-níi-chǎn-khǎai-phâa-phan-khaaw-dâi-gâo-phǔuen “Today, I sold nine scarves.”
Example 2:
ผ้าพันคอสีแดงผืนนั้นอยู่ที่ไหน
phâa-phan-khaaw-sǐi-daaeng-phǔuen-nán-yùu-thîi-nǎi “Where is that red scarf?”
Additional note: ผืน (phǔuen) is used as a Thai numerical classifier for plain cloth that’s not designed into an actual article of clothing like a shirt, skirt, pants, or shorts.
6- Hats and Caps
Thai numeric classifier: ใบ (bai)
Example 1:
น้องมีหมวกสีดำ 4 ใบ náawng-mii-mùuak-sǐi-dam-sìi-bai “My brother has four black hats.”
Example 2:
อย่าทำหมวกใบนั้นหายนะ
yhàa-tham-mùuak-bai-nán-hǎai-ná “Don’t lose that hat.”
7- Rings
Thai numeric classifier: วง (wong)
Example 1:
แม่มีแหวนหลายวง Mâae-mii-whǎaen-lǎai-wong “Mom has many rings.”
Example 2:
แหวนทองวงนั้นอยู่ที่ไหน
wǎaen-thaawng-wong-nán-yùu-thîi-nǎi “Where is that gold ring?”
8- Watches
Thai numeric classifier: เรือน (ruuean)
Example 1:
พ่อมีนาฬิกาหลายเรือน phâaw-mii-naa-lí-gaa-lǎai-ruuean “Dad has many watches.”
Example 2:
เธอชอบพาฬิกาเรือนไหน
thooe-châawp-naa-lí-gaa-ruuean-nǎi “Which watch do you like?”
4. Thai Numeric Classifiers for Objects in the House
1- Houses and Buildings
Thai numeric classifier: หลัง (lǎng)
Example 1:
ฉันมีบ้าน 2 หลัง
chǎn-mii-bâan-sǎawng-lǎng “I have two houses.”
Example 2:
บ้านหลังนี้ใกล้ที่ทำงาน
bâan-lǎng-níi-glâi-thîi-tham-ngan “This house is near my office.”
2- Rooms
Thai numeric classifier: ห้อง (hâawng)
Example 1:
บ้านหลังนี้มีกี่ห้อง bâan-lǎng-níi-mii-gìi-hâawng “How many rooms are there in this house?”
Example 2:
ห้องสีขาวห้องนี้เป็นห้องของฉัน
hâawng-sǐi-khǎo-hâawng-níi-bpen-hâawng-khǎawng-chǎn “This white room is mine.”
3- Electric Appliances
Thai numeric classifier: เครื่อง (khrûueng)
Example 1:
บ้านฉันมีโทรทัศน์ 5 เครื่อง bâan-chǎn-mii-thoo-rá-thát-hâa-khrûueng “There are five televisions in my house.”
Example 2:
โทรศัพท์เครื่องนี้ราคาเท่าไหร่
thooe-rá-sàp-khrûueng-níi-raa-khaa-thâo-rài “How much is this telephone?”
4- Tables, Desks, and Chairs
Thai numeric classifier: ตัว (dtuua)
Example 1:
ในห้องนั่งเล่นมีเก้าอี้ 4 ตัว nai-hâawng-nâng-lên-mii-gâo-îi-sìi-dtuua “There are four chairs in the living room.”
Example 2:
กระเป๋าอยู่บนโต๊ะตัวนั้น
grà-bpǎo-yùu-bon-dtó-dtuua-nán “The bag is on that table.”
Additional note: For small furniture, Thai people mostly use ตัว (dtuua) as a numeric classifier.
5- Beds and Cupboards
Thai numeric classifier: หลัง (lǎng)
Example 1:
ฉันทำความสะอาดเตียงไป 3 หลังแล้ว
chǎn-tham-khwaam-sà-àat-dtiiang-bpai-sǎam-lǎng-láaeo “I already cleaned three beds.”
Example 2:
ตู้หลังนั้นเก่ามาก
dtûu-lǎang-nán-gào-mâak “That cupboard is very old.”
Additional note: For big furniture, Thai people mostly use หลัง (lǎng) as a numeric classifier.
6- Doors, Windows, and Mirrors
Thai numeric classifier: บาน (baan)
Example 1:
ในห้องนอนฉันมีกระจก 1 บาน nai-hâawng-naawn-chǎn-mii-grà-jòk-nùeng-baan “There is one mirror in my bedroom.”
Example 2:
หน้าต่างบานนั้นมองออกไปเห็นสวนด้วย
nâa-dtâang-baan-nán-maawng-àawk-bpai-hěn-sǔuan-dûuai “You can see the garden through that window.”
7- Plates, Dishes, Bowls, Cups, Glasses, Pots, and Pans
Thai numeric classifier: ใบ (bai)
Example 1:
เอาจาน 4 ใบวางไว้บนโต๊ะ
ao-jaan-sìi-bai-waang-wái-bon-dtó “There are four plates on the table.”
Example 2:
ระวังถ้วยใบนั้นแตก
ra-wang-thûuai-bai-nán-dtàaek “Be careful or you will break that cup.”
8- Spoons and Forks
Thai numeric classifier: คัน (khaan)
Example 1:
เอาช้อน 6 คันนั้นไปไว้ในอ่างล้านจาน
ao-cháawn-hòk-khan-nán-bpai-wái-nai-àang-láang-jaan “Put those six spoons into dishes.”
Example 2:
หยิบส้อมคันนั้นให้หน่อย
yìp-sôm-khan-nán-hâi-nàauy “Bring me that fork.”
9- Pairs of Chopsticks
Thai numeric classifier: คู่ (khûu)
Example 1:
เมื่อวานนี้ ฉันซื้อตะเกียบมาใหม่ 7 คู่ mûua-waan-níi chǎn-súue-dtà-gìiap-maa-mhài-jèt-khùu “I bought seven pairs of chopsticks yesterday.”
Example 2:
อย่าใช้ตะเกียบคู่ที่วางอยู่บนโต๊ะ
yhàa-chái-dtà-gìiap-khûu-thîi-waang-yùu-bon-dtó “Don’t use the pair of chopsticks that are on the table.”
10- Knives
Thai numeric classifier: เล่ม (lèm)
Example 1:
พ่อวางมีด 2 เล่มไว้บนโต๊ะ
phâaw-waang-mîit-sǎawng-lêm-wái-bon-dtó “Dad put two knives on the table.”
Example 2:
มีดเล่มนั้นคมมาก
mîit-lêm-nán-khom-mâak “That knife is very sharp.”
11- Cloths, Towels, Bedsheets, Duvets, Bed Covers
Thai numeric classifier: ผืน (phǔuen)
Example 1:
คุณมีผ้าปูเตียงกี่ผืน khun-mii-phâa-bpuu-dtiiang-gìi-phǔuen “How many bedsheets do you have?”
Example 2:
ผ้าขนหนูผืนนั้นเป็นของฉัน
phâa-khǒn-nhǔu-phǔuen-nán-bpen-khǎawng-chǎn “That towel is mine.”
13- Toothpaste
Thai numeric classifier: หลอด (lhàawt)
Example 1:
ฉันมียาสีฟันรสมินต์ 2 หลอด chǎn-mii-yaa-sǐi-fan-rót-mín-sǎawng-làawt “I have two mint toothpastes.”
Example 2:
หยิบยาสีฟันหลอดนั้นให้หน่อย
yìp-yaa-sǐi-fan-làawt-nán-hâi-nàauy “Bring me that toothpaste.”
14- Toothbrushes
Thai numeric classifier: ด้าม (dâam)
Example 1:
พ่อมีแปรงสีฟันสีฟ้า 3 ด้าม phâaw-mii-bpraaeng-sǐi-fan-sǐi-fáa-sǎam-dâam “Dad has three blue toothbrushes.”
Example 2:
แปรงสีฟันด้ามนั้นแพงมาก
bpraaeng-sǐi-fan-dâam-nán-phaaeng-mâak “That toothbrush is very expensive.”
5. Thai Numeral Classifiers for Stationery/Office Supplies
1- Paper
Thai numeric classifier: ใบ (bai)
Example 1:
ขอกระดาษ 2 ใบ khǎaw-grà-dàat-sǎawng-bai “Give me two pieces of paper.”
Example 2:
วางกระดาษใบนั้นไว้บนโต๊ะเลย
waang-grà-dàat-bai-nán-wái-bon-dtó-looei “Put that paper on the table.”
2- Books
Thai numeric classifier: เล่ม (lêm)
Example 1:
แม่วางหนังสือ 3 เล่มไว้บนเตียง
mâae-waang-nǎng-sǔue-sǎam-lêm-wái-bon-dtiiang “Mom put three books on the bed.”
Example 2:
หนังสือเล่มนั้นดีมาก
nǎng-sǔue-lêm-nán-dii-mâak “That book is very good.”
3- Pencils
Thai numeric classifier: แท่ง (thâaeng)
Example 1:
ฉันทำดินสอหักไป 5 แท่ง chǎn-tham-din-sǎaw-hàk-bpai-hâa-thâaeng “I broke five pencils.”
Example 2:
ดินสอแท่งนั้นราคาถูกมาก
din-sǎaw-thâaeng-nán-raa-khaa-thùuk-mâak “That pencil is very cheap.”
4- Pens and Scissors
Thai numeric classifier: ด้าม (dâam)
Example 1:
น้องทำปากกาหายไป 4 ด้ามเมื่อวาน
náawng-tham-bpàak-gaa-hǎai-bpai-sìi-dâam-mûua-waan “My sister lost four pens yesterday.”
Example 2:
ปากกาด้ามนี้ราคาเท่าไหร่
bpàak-gaa-dâam-níi-raa-khaa-thâo-rài “How much is this pen?”
5- Erasers
Thai numeric classifier: ก้อน (gâawn)
Example 1:
ในกล่องดินสอ มียางลบอยู่ 2 ก้อน nai-glàawng-din-sǎaw-mii-yaang-lóp-yùu-sǎawng-gâawn “There are two erasers in the pencil box.”
Example 2:
ยางลบก้อนนั้นเป็นของใคร
yaang-lóp-gáawn-nán-bpen-khǎawng-khrai “Whose eraser is that?”
6- Rulers
Thai numeric classifier: อัน (an)
Example 1:
ฉันทำไม้บรรทัดสีดำหายไป 1 อัน chǎn-tham-mái-ban-thát-sǐi-dam-hǎai-bpai-nùeng-an “I lost one black ruler.”
Example 2:
น้องอยากได้ไม้บรรทัดอันนั้น
náawng-yàak-dâi-mái-ban-thát-an-nán “My sister wants that ruler.”
7- Calculators
Thai numeric classifier: เครื่อง (krûueang)
Example 1:
เครื่องคิดเลข 5 เครื่องอยู่ในลิ้นชัก
khrûueang-khít-lêek-hâa-khrûueang-yùu-nai-lín-chák “There are five calculators in the drawer.”
Example 2:
เครื่องคิดเลขเครื่องไหนเป็นของคุณ
khrûueang-khít-lêk-khrûueang-nǎi-bpen-khǎawng-khun “Which calculator is yours?”
Example 1:
ที่โรงเรียนมีเปียโน 2 หลัง thîi-roong-riian-mii-bpia-noo-sǎawng-lǎng “There are two pianos at the school.”
Example 2:
เปียโนหลังนั้นราคาแพงมาก
bpia-noo-lǎng-nán-raa-khaa-phaaeng-mâak “That piano is very expensive.”
2- Guitars
Thai numeric classifier: ตัว (dtuua)
Example 1:
น้องมีกีตาร์ 3 ตัว náawng-mii-gii-dtâa-sǎam-dtuua “My younger brother has three guitars.”
Example 2:
ในบรรดากีตาร์ 3 ตัวนั้น กีตาร์ตัวนี้เก่าที่สุด
nai-ban-daa-gii-dtâa-sǎam-dtuua-nán gii-dtâa-dtuua-níi-gào-thîi-sùt “Among these three guitars, this one is the oldest.”
3- Violins
Thai numeric classifier: คัน (khan)
Example 1:
ไวโอลิน 2 คันนั้น ตัวไหนแพงกว่า
wai-oo-lin-sǎawng-khan-nán dtuua-nǎi-phaaeng-gwàa “Between these two violins, which one is more expensive?”
Example 2:
ไวโอลินคันนั้นเป็นของยาย
wai-oo-lin-khan-nán-bpen-khǎawng-yaai “That violin is my grandma’s.”
4- Flutes
Thai numeric classifier: เลา (lao)
Example 1:
ที่บ้านมีขลุ่ย 1 เลา thîi-bâan-mii-khlùi-nùeng-lao “There is a flute at my house.”
Example 2:
ขลุ่ยเลานั้นเป็นของตา
khlùi-lao-nán-bpen-khǎawng-dtaa “That flute is my grandpa’s.”
Example 1:
เมื่อเช้าแม่กินขนมปังไป 2 แผ่น mûua-cháo-mâae-gin-khà-nǒm-bpang-bpai-sǎawng-phàaen “Mom ate two slices of bread this morning.”
Example 2:
ขนมปังชิ้นนี้หอมมาก
khà-nǒm-bpang-chín-níi-hǎawm-mâak “This bread smells really good.”
Additional note: For slices of bread, แผ่น (phàaen) is used as a numeral classifier in Thai. For other types of bread, you can use ชิ้น (chín).
9- Cake Slices and Cookies
Thai numeric classifier: ชิ้น (chín)
Example 1:
เค้ก 3 ชิ้นราคาเท่าไหร่
khéek-sǎam-chín-raa-khaa-thâo-rài “How much is three slices of cake?”
Example 2:
คุ๊กกี้ชิ้นนี้ขมมาก
khúuk-gîi-chín-níi-khǒm-mâak “This cookie is really bitter.”
10- Rice
Thai numeric classifier: เม็ด (mét)
Example 1:
ข้าว 2-3 เม็ดตกอยู่บนพื้น
khâo-sǎawng-sǎam-mét-dtòk-yùu-bon-phúuen “There is a little rice on the floor.”
Example 2:
ข้าวเหนียวเป็นเม็ดสวยมาก
khâo-nǐiao-bpen-mét-sǔuay-mâak “This sticky rice looks very good.”
Additional note: In Thai, in addition to using เม็ด (mét) which is quite impractical, you can also use the container as a numerical classifier. For example, ข้าว 1 จาน (khâo-nùeng-jaan) is “one plate of rice” in Thai.
8. Thai Numerical Classifiers by Shape
You’ve already learned a lot about Thai numeral classifiers. Still, there are a lot of Thai numerical classifiers you’re yet to learn. Fortunately, as mentioned above, numerical classifiers are used to describe the physical characteristics of a noun. So you can guess the proper numerical classifier by the shape of an object.
For uncountable nouns, you can use the container it’s in as the numeral classifier.
Here’s a list of the numeral classifiers in Thai you need to remember in order to do this.
1- Box-shaped Objects
Thai numeric classifier: กล่อง (glàawng)
Explanation: This is a numeral classifier for box-shaped objects or uncountable nouns that are in a box-shaped container.
Example 1:
ช่วยซื้อซีเรียลให้ 3 กล่องได้มั้ย
chûuay-súue-sii-rîiao-hâi-sǎam-glàawng-dâi-mái “Can you buy me three boxes of cereal?”
Example 2:
ขนมกล่องนี้ใกล้หมดอายุแล้ว
khà-nǒm-glàawng-níi-glâi-mòt-aa-yú-láaeo “This box of snacks is almost expired.”
2- Bottle-shaped Objects
Thai numeric classifier: ขวด (khùuat)
Explanation: This is a numeral classifier for bottle-shaped objects or uncountable nouns that are in a bottle-shaped container.
Example 1:
โซดา 2 ขวดราคา 20 บาท
soo-daa-sǎawng-khùuat-raa-khaa-yîi-sìp-bàat “Two bottles of soda cost 20 Baht.”
Example 2:
น้ำผลไม้ขวดนี้หวานมาก
nám-phǒn-lá-mái-khùuat-níi-wǎan-mâak “This bottle of juice is very sweet.”
3- Cup-shaped Objects
Thai numeric classifier: ถ้วย (thûuai)
Explanation: This is a numeral classifier for cup-shaped objects or uncountable nouns that are in a cup-shaped container.
Example 1:
น้องกินขนมหวานไป 5 ถ้วย náawng-gin-khà-nhǒm-wǎan-bpai-hâa-thûuay “My younger sister ate five cups of dessert.”
Example 2:
ไอศครีมถ้วยนี้เป็นของใคร
ai-sà-khriim-thûuay-ní-bpen-khǎawng-khrai “Whose cup of ice cream is this?”
4- Bowl-shaped Objects
Thai numeric classifier: ชาม (chaam)
Explanation: This is a numeral classifier for bowl-shaped objects or uncountable nouns that are in a bowl-shaped container.
Example 1:
ฉันกินก๋วยเตี๋ยว 1 ชามเป็นมื้อกลางวัน
chǎn-gin-gǔuay-dtǐiao-nùeng-chaam-bpen-múue-glaang-wan “I had a bowl of noodles for lunch.”
Example 2:
ระวังนะ ซุปชามนั้นร้อนมาก
rá-wang-ná súp-chaam-nán-ráawn-mâak “Be careful, that bowl of soup is really hot.”
5- Bag-shaped Objects
Thai numeric classifier: ถุง (thǔng)
Explanation: This is a numeral classifier for bag-shaped objects or uncountable nouns that are in a bag-shaped container.
Example 1:
พี่ซื้อมันฝรั่งทอดมา 3 ถุง phîi-súue-man-fá-ràng-thâawt-maa-sǎam-thǔng “My brother bought three bags of potato chips.”
Example 2:
น้ำยาซักผ้าถุงนี้ราคา 50 บาท
nám-yaa-sák-phâa-thǔng-níi-raa-khaa-hâa-sìp-bàat “This bag of liquid detergent costs 50 Baht.”
9. Conclusion
Give yourself a big hand for finishing this lesson. You’ve now learned about Thai numerical classifiers, and hopefully you can remember the common Thai classifiers from the list we provided. Does your native language have numerical classifiers? What do you think about this lesson? Please comment to let us know.
After you’ve reviewed this lesson a few more times, don’t forget to check out other good and interesting lessons on ThaiPod101.com!
Teachers are valued in every country around the world, but few nations show teachers their due respect like Thailand does. This is reflected in Thai Teachers’ Day, celebrated each year to encourage the humility of students before their teachers.
In this article, you’ll learn all about Teachers’ Day in Thailand, from its recent beginnings to how it’s celebrated. Let’s get started!
1. What is Teachers’ Day?
National Teachers’ Day is a Thai holiday celebrated each year on January 16. On this day, students go out of their way to show their teachers ความเคารพ (khwaam khao-róp), or “respect.”
It was General Phiboonsongkram who first suggested the creation of Teachers’ Day in Thailand. He spoke on the topic with teachers, the mass media got involved in promoting the holiday’s implementation, and the National Cabinet made it an official holiday in 1956. The first celebration took place the next year in 1957.
This holiday is rooted in the belief that teachers are some of the most valuable contributors to society, and as such, deserve to be recognized and appreciated for their devotion. This extends not only to school teachers, but to teachers in any field of life.
Thai people often associate the profession of teaching with that of the taxi-boat profession. The taxi-boat service was once a crucial element of Thai society because Thai people traveled largely by river in the past. Just as a taxi-boat driver takes passengers to their destination and goes back for more passengers, so do teachers bring students to their destinations and continue to do so for students over the years. Teachers are seen as a path to the future.
In Thailand, Teachers’ Day celebrations begin the day before.
Every โรงเรียน (roong-riian), or “school,” in the nation hosts special events honoring teachers. The first activity is for teachers and students to make merit by offering food to the monks. Afterward, students honor their teachers by bringing them a พานไหว้ครู (phaan wâai khruu), or “flower tray with candles and incense,” and bowing at their feet. In addition, there are competitions to see which student can create the best Teachers’ Day slogan; the winner receives a small scholarship.
In some high schools, students may give speeches on this day to reflect on the influence of teachers in their lives. Teachers themselves are encouraged to think back on their own teachers.
Teachers’ Day celebrations in Thailand involve a lot of symbolism. There are four symbols that are particularly important:
ดอกเข็ม (dàawk khĕm), or “Ixora,” flowers.
Ixora flowers have sharp petals, which represent a sharp mind.
Eggplant flowers.
Eggplant flowers grow downward, which represents the humility of students toward their teachers and their willingness to เรียน (riian), or “study.”
Cynodon grass.
Cynodon grass grows easily, which represents the growth of students’ knowledge.
Tok rice.
Tok rice is a white rice that has been roasted and popped, representing the ability of students to flourish and shine brightly with enough discipline.
Visit our ‘Plants’ Culture Class lesson to learn about five other plants that are common in Thailand.
3. The Wai Kru Ceremony
การศึกษา (gaan sùek-sǎa), or “education,” is taken very seriously in Thailand, as is the art of teaching. So it should come as no surprise that there is another special day for teachers in Thailand: Wai Kru, or Teacher Appreciation Day. This ceremony takes place near the beginning of the Thai school year (normally mid-May), and involves students showing respect and humility toward their new teachers.
The most important activities for this day include saying a Buddhist prayer, reciting a chant, offering gifts to teachers, and engaging in special performances. Sometimes, the head teacher of a school will give a speech and present awards to certain students.
Wai Kru in Thailand is also performed outside of the formal education system. For example, it is popular in the arts.
4. Essential Vocabulary for Teachers’ Day in Thailand
Now let’s review some of the words from this article, plus a few more!
สอน (sǎawn) – “teach” [v]
โรงเรียน (roong-riian) – “school” [n]
การศึกษา (gaan sùek-sǎa) – “education” [n]
ครู (khrŭu) – “teacher” [n]
นักเรียน (nák-riian) – “student” [n]
เรียน (riian) – “study” [v]
กตัญญู (gà-dtan-yuu) – “grateful” [adj.]
ดอกเข็ม (dàawk khĕm) – “Ixora” [pr. n]
เรียนรู้ (riian rúu) – “learn” [v]
ความเคารพ (khwaam khao-róp) – “respect” [n]
พานไหว้ครู (phaan wâai khruu) – “flower tray with candles and incense” [n]
Remember that you can hear the pronunciation of each word on our Teachers’ Day vocabulary list!
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed learning about this popular Thai holiday with us, and that you’re feeling inspired to keep studying. Is there a Teachers’ Day celebration in your country? Or maybe a particular teacher you are กตัญญู (gà-dtan-yuu), or “grateful,” to have had in your life? Let us know in the comments!
To learn even more about Thai culture and holidays, you can read the following blog posts from ThaiPod101.com:
And this is only a sample of what we have in store for you! Create your free lifetime account today to gain access to numerous learning resources, themed vocabulary lists, and fun audio and video lessons. We make learning Thai easy and enjoyable, so what are you waiting for?
In Thailand, there’s a saying we apply to our daily interactions with others: ไปมาลาไหว้ (bpai-maa-laa-wâi). In English, this means: “You should say hello and goodbye when you meet and part from each other.”
By using these popular Thai goodbye phrases, you’ll sound more like a native speaker and will more easily form long-lasting relationships with natives. As you study them, you’ll also gain more cultural insight about Thailand and her people!
What are you waiting for? Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE!(Logged-In Member Only)
Keep in mind that the second word, ลาก่อน (laa-gàawn), is rarely used in day-to-day life.
Instead, the most common way to say goodbye in Thai is สวัสดี(sà-wàt-dii), which means “goodness,” “beauty,” “prosperity,” and “safety.” Due to its positive meanings, Thai people use this word for both greetings and farewells.
If you happen to be in Thailand (or meet Thai people elsewhere), and want to impress them, you can always end your conversation with สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) and do an action called ไหว้ (wâi).
2. Specific Ways to Say Goodbye in the Thai Language
Apart from saying สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii), there are a couple of other phrases you can use to say goodbye.
1 – บ๊าย บาย
Thai pronunciation: báai-baai English translation: “Bye”
Explanation:
This Thai word for goodbye actually comes from English. Thai people often use this in casual situations, usually among friends or family. However, keep in mind that Thai people don’t ไหว้ (wâi) when saying this; instead, they just wave goodbye.
Example:
หนูไปหาเพื่อนก่อนนะแม่ บ๊ายบาย
nǔu-bpai-hǎa-phûuean-gàawn-ná-mâae báai-baai “I am going to meet my friend now. Bye.” [Talking to your mother]
I am going to meet my friend now. Bye.
2 – แค่นี้นะ
Thai pronunciation: khâae-níi-ná English translation: “Bye”
Example:
เดี๋ยวพรุ่งนี้เจอกัน แค่นี้นะ
dǐiao-phrûng-níi-jooe-gan khâae-níi-ná “See you tomorrow. Bye.”
3. Phrases to Accompany Your Goodbye
There are various phrases that Thai people say together with สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii). Some of these phrases are similar to their English counterparts, which should give you a healthy head-start!
1 – ขอตัวก่อน
Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-dtuua-gàawn English translation: “I have to go.”
Explanation:
You can use this phrase in formal situations, such as in business meetings or when you speak to elders. You should say this phrase before saying สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii).
Example:
หลังจากนี้ ผมมีนัดลูกค้าอีกท่านไว้ ต้องขอตัวก่อนครับ สวัสดีครับ
lǎng-jàak-níi phǒm-mii-nát-lûuk-kháa-ìik-thâan-wái dtâawng-khǎaw-dtuua-gàawn-khráp sà-wàt-dii- khráp “I have an appointment with another customer after this. I have to go now. Goodbye.”
I have an appointment with another customer after this. I have to go now. Goodbye.
2 – ขอตัวกลับก่อน / กลับแล้ว
Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-dtuua-glàp-gàawn / glàp-láaeo English translation: “I’m heading home.”
Explanation:
This phrase is suitable for specific situations, namely when you’re about to leave for home. You should say it before สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) or บ๊าย บาย (báai-baai). The difference between the two phrases is that ขอตัวกลับก่อน (khǎaw-dtuua-glàp-gàawn) is used in formal situations, while กลับแล้ว (glàp-láaeo) is used in casual situations.
Example 1:
วันนี้ฉันรู้สึกไม่ค่อยดี ต้องขอตัวกลับก่อน สวัสดีค่ะ
wan-níi-chǎn-rúu-sùk-mâi-khâauy-dii dtâawng-khǎaw-dtuua-glàp-gâawn sà-wàt-dii-khà “I’m not feeling well today. I’m heading home. Goodbye.”
Example 2:
กลับแล้วนะ จะรีบไปดูละคร บ๊าย บาย
glàp-láaeo-ná jà-rîip-bpai-duu-lá-khaawn báai-baai “I’m heading home now, as I want to get back in time for the TV drama. Bye.”
3 – ขอตัวไปก่อน / ไปแล้ว
Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-dtuua-bpai-gàawn / bpai-láaeo English translation: “I have to go.”
Explanation:
Despite having the same meaning as ขอตัวก่อน (khǎaw-dtuua-gàawn), these phrases are used in different situations. You should say them before สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) when you’re leaving to go somewhere (but not to your place). The difference between the two phrases is that ขอตัวไปก่อน (khǎaw-dtuua-bpai-gàawn) is used in formal situations, while ไปแล้ว (bpai-láaeo) is used in casual situations.
Example 1:
ครูคะ หนูขอตัวไปก่อนนะคะ สวัสดีค่ะ
khruu-khá nǔu-khǎaw-dtuua-bpai-gâawn-ná-khá sà-wàt-dii-khà “I have to go. Goodbye.” [Talking to your teacher]
Example 2:
ไปแล้วนะ เดี๋ยวออกสายแล้วรถติด บ๊าย บาย
bpai-láaeo-ná dǐiao-àawk-sǎai-láaeo-rót-dtìt báai-baai “I have to go now or else the traffic will be really bad. Bye.”
4 – แล้วเจอกัน
Thai pronunciation: láaeo-jooe-gan English translation: “See you.”
Explanation:
You say this phrase before saying สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) or บ๊าย บาย (báai-baai).
Example:
ต้องไปแล้วนะ แล้วเจอกันพรุ่งนี้ บ๊าย บาย
dtâawng-bpai-láaeo-ná láaeo-jooe-gan-phrûng-níi báai-baai “I have to go now. See you tomorrow. Bye.”
5 – แล้วจะมาใหม่
Thai pronunciation: láaeo-jà-maa-mài English translation: “I will come back again.”
Explanation:
You say this phrase before saying สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) or บ๊าย บาย (báai-baai).
Example:
ยายขา หนูกลับแล้วนะคะ แล้วจะมาเยี่ยมใหม่ค่ะ สวัสดีค่ะ
yaai-khǎa nǔu-glap-láaeo-ná-khá láaeo-jà-maa-yîiam-mâi sà-wàt-dii-khà “I am going home now, but I will come back to visit you again. Goodbye.” [Talking to your grandmother]
6 – ขอลาไปก่อน / ขอลาไปแต่เพียงเท่านี้
Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-laa-bpai-gàawn / khǎaw-laa-bpai-dtàae-phiiang-thâo-níi English translation: “This is the end of the show.” (Not literal translation)
Explanation:
This phrase is used only in TV shows or news channels before the words สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii).
Example 1:
ช่วงนี้ฝนตก ท่านผู้ชมระวังรักษาสุขภาพด้วย ต้องขอลาไปแต่เพียงเท่านี้ สวัสดีครับ
chûuang-níi-fǒn-dtòk thâan-phûu-chom-rá-wang-rák-sǎa-sùk-khà-phâap-dûuai dtâawng-khǎaw-laa- bpai-dtàae-phiiang-thâo-níi sà-wàt-dii-khráp “It has been raining a lot recently, so please take care of your health. This is the end of the show. Goodbye.”
Example 2:
ขอขอบคุณแขกรับเชิญทุกท่าน ขอลาไปก่อน สวัสดีค่ะ
khǎaw-khàawp-khun-khàaek-ráp-chooen-thúk-thâan khǎaw-laa-bpai-gàawn sà-wàt-dii-khà “Thank you to all the guests today. This is the end of the show. Goodbye.”
Thank you to all the guests today. This is the end of the show. Goodbye.
7 – เดินทางปลอดภัย / เดินทางดี ๆ นะ
Thai pronunciation: dooen-thaang-bplàawt-phai / dooen-thaang-dii-dii-ná English translation: “Have a safe trip.”
Explanation:
Thai people often wish or bless other parties to have a safe trip when saying goodbye. The difference between the two phrases is that เดินทางปลอดภัย (dooen-thaang-bplàawt-phai) is used in formal situations, while เดินทางดี ๆ นะ (dooen-thaang-dii-dii-ná) is used in casual situations.
Example 1:
ดึกแล้ว เดินทางดี ๆ นะ บ๊าย บาย
dùek-láaeo dooen-thaang-dii-dii-ná báai-baai “It is late at night now, so I hope you have a safe trip. Bye.”
Example 2:
ขอบคุณที่ใช้บริการ ขอให้ทุกท่านเดินทางปลอดภัย สวัสดีค่ะ
khàawp-khun-thîi-chái-baaw-rí-gaan khǎaw-hâi-thúk-thâan-dooen-thanng-bplàawt-phai sà-wàt-dii- khà “Thank you for using our service. We hope you have a safe trip. Goodbye.”
8 – ขอบคุณสำหรับ…
Thai pronunciation: khàawp-khun-sǎm-ràp-wan-níi English translation: “Thanks for ___.”
Explanation:
Thai people say this phrase to show that they’re thankful for something the other party did or offered to do.
Example:
ขอบคุณสำหรับอาหารเย็นวันนี้ อร่อยมากค่ะ ตอนนี้ต้องขอตัวกลับก่อน สวัสดีค่ะ
khàawp-khun-sǎm-ràp-aa-hǎan-yen-wan-níi a-ràauy-mâak-khà dtaawn-níi-dtâawng-khǎaw-dtuua- glàp-gàawn sà-wàt-dii-khà “Thanks for the dinner today. It was delicious. Now, I have to go back home. Goodbye.”
9 – ดูแลตัวเองดี ๆ นะ
Thai pronunciation: duu-laae-dtuua-eeng-dii-dii-ná English translation: “Take good care of yourself.”
Explanation:
This is what Thai people say to show that they care about the other party.
Example:
พรุ่งนี้เดินทางไปญี่ปุ่นคนเดียว ดูแลตัวเองดี ๆ นะ บ๊าย บาย
phrûng-níi-dooen-thaang-bpai-yîi-bphùn-khon-diiao duu-laae-dtuua-eeng-dii-dii-ná báai-baai “Tomorrow, you have to go to Japan alone, so take good care of yourself. Bye.”
10 – ดูแลสุขภาพด้วย / รักษาสุขภาพด้วย
Thai pronunciation: duu-laae-sùk-khà-phâap-dûuai / rák-sǎa-sùk-khà-phâap-dûuai English translation: “Take good care of your health.”
Explanation:
Thai people use these two phrases with people they care about. There’s no difference between these two phrases, and they’re completely interchangeable.
Example 1:
ตอนนี้ไข้หวัดกำลังระบาด คุณตาดูแลสุขภาพด้วยนะคะ สวัสดีค่ะ
dtaawn-níi-khâi-whàt-gam-lang-rá-bàat khun-dtaa-duu-laae-sùk-khà-phâap-dûuai-ná-khá sà-wàt-dii- khà “This is the flu season, so you have to take good care of your health. Goodbye.” [Talking to your grandfather]
Example 2:
หน้าฝนแล้ว รักษาสุขภาพด้วย สวัสดีค่ะ
nâa-fǒn-láaeo rák-sǎa-sùk-khà-phâap-dûuai sà-wàt-dii-khà “It is the rainy season now, so take care of your health. Goodbye.”
11 – โชคดีนะ
Thai pronunciation: chôok-dii-ná English translation: “Good luck.”
Explanation:
This is another phrase to show you care.
Example:
ขอให้โชคดีในการสอบนะ บ๊าย บาย
khǎaw-hâi-chôok-dii-nai-gaan-sàawp-ná báai-baai “Good luck on your test. Bye.”
12 – หายเร็ว ๆ นะ
Thai pronunciation: hǎai-reo-reo-ná English translation: “Get well soon.”
Explanation:
Thai people usually say this phrase after visiting someone they know in the hospital.
Example:
ขอให้คุณน้าหายเร็ว ๆ นะคะ หนูขอตัวก่อน สวัสดีค่ะ
khǎaw-hâi-khun-náa-hǎai-reo-reo-ná-khá nǔu-khǎaw-dtuua-gàawn sà-wat-dii-khà “I hope you get well soon. I have to go now. Goodbye.”
4. Actions Thai People Do When Saying Goodbye
There are a few specific actions Thai people do when saying goodbye to someone. Here are the most popular ones:
1 – ไหว้ (wâi)
As mentioned earlier, a common action that Thai people normally do when saying goodbye is ไหว้ (wâi). This action can be done when saying hello or goodbye in a formal environment. If you’re going to live in Thailand, it’s good to learn how to ไหว้ (wâi), as you’ll want to use it pretty often.
สวัสดี [sà-wàt-dii]
2 – Hug
Thai people who are close to each other may also hug before saying goodbye.
3 – Wave
In informal situations, such as among friends, Thai people also wave while saying บ๊าย บาย (báai-baai).
See you tomorrow.
5. Conclusion
Now you know how to say goodbye in Thai! After reading this article, you should never be at a loss for words when it’s time to part ways.
How do you say goodbye in your country? Is there much difference? Let us know in the comments below.
And as usual, if you’re not sure where to go next on ThaiPod101.com, we have some suggestions:
If you’re interested in learning the Thai language but haven’t started yet, you may be wondering: “Is Thai difficult to learn?” We’re here to tell you that learning Thai may not be as hard as you think it is!
There are certain things that make the Thai language hard to learn, and for these, you’ll need to spend some time studying and practicing. But there are also many other aspects that are pretty simple and straightforward! You may feel a little doubtful about this, as the Thai alphabet, grammar, pronunciation, and so on, are new to you. But you’ll get familiar with these things in no time once you start learning with ThaiPod101.com.
There are many foreigners who can speak and understand Thai so well, after just a few years, that even native speakers are surprised. So with some time, practice, and the right tools, anyone can learn to speak Thai. Yes, that includes you!
In the following sections, we’ll cover the easiest aspect of Thai first, and then the hardest! Let’s go.
What Makes Thai Easy?
Many language-learners dread the grammar aspect of their studies, and for good reasons! As such, you’ve probably been wondering: “Is Thai grammar hard?”
Good news: It’s not difficult at all! It’s probably the easiest part of learning Thai.
This is because there are no tenses or conjugations in Thai, so there’s a lot less to understand and remember. You don’t have to learn how to change verb forms or swap around the sentence structure from one situation to another. For example:
ฉันกำลังกินอาหารไทย
chǎn-gam-lang-gin-aa-hǎan-thai “I am having Thai food.”
Adding กำลัง (gam-lang), which is like “ing” in English, shows that you’re in the process of doing the action.
Past simple tense:
เมื่อวานฉันกินอาหารไทย
mûuea-waan-chǎn-gin-aa-hǎan-thai “Yesterday, I had Thai food.”
Adding เมื่อวาน (mûuea-waan), which means “yesterday” in Thai, shows that the action happened in the past.
Future simple tense:
วันพรุ่งนี้ฉันจะกินอาหารไทย
wan-phrûng-níi-chǎn-jà-gin-aa-hǎan-thai “Tomorrow, I will have Thai food.”
Adding วันพรุ่งนี้ (wan-phrûng-níi), which means “tomorrow” in Thai, shows that this is a plan for the future. Adding จะ (jà) shows that you will do it.
You can see that there’s not much difference between the four sentences above. That just goes to show how difficult it is to learn Thai language grammar. (Not at all, right? ^^)
For foreigners who have just started learning Thai, it can be hard to differentiate between the words ป้า (phâa), ปลา (phla), and ป่า (phàa).
So, is it hard to learn to speak Thai? It certainly can be, but it’s still very achievable!
Learning how to pronounce the Thai alphabet and tones correctly will help a lot, as it will create a strong foundation for your future studies. And by listening to plenty of Thai content, you’ll become more familiar with Thai pronunciation, making this portion of your studies a bit simpler.
2. I Want to Learn Thai. Where Should I Start?
When you start learning Thai, you should start with the most basic units, which are the พยัญชนะ (phá-yan-chá-ná) or “consonants,” and สระ (sà-rà) or “vowels.” Learning how to pronounce and write the Thai alphabet will enable you to read and write Thai with little problem, and make your conversations a lot smoother.
If you’ve been studying and practicing with the Thai alphabet for a while, and still struggle with reading, writing, or pronunciation, you may need to practice some more. Mastering the Thai alphabet right from the start will make the rest of your language-learning journey so much easier.
At the same time, you should also start practicing basic conversational phrases and learn easy Thai words. Learning new words along with the conversational phrases will make the words easier to remember. Not to mention how useful basic phrases can be in daily life!
3. Advice for a New Thai Learner
Learning a new language is not an easy thing to do. Here are a few tips for you.
1 – Listen to lots of Thai content
Whether it’s a Thai song, TV series, news station, or drama film, listen to your target language as much as possible. Even if you don’t understand anything you’re hearing, you’ll start to become more familiar with Thai pronunciation and tones. And it’s even better with subtitles! This will allow you to more easily learn vocabulary and sentence structures while enjoying yourself!
2 – Find something you like about Thai
Learning any language takes time, and this is especially true for a language very different from your own, like Thai. You can’t master Thai in just a few days!
That said, it’s easier to do something for a long time if that thing interests you. You should find something you like about Thai so that you can develop a passion for learning the language.
For example, if you like a certain Thai actor, you’ll enjoy watching that actor in a movie or TV drama—and you’ll be able to learn Thai at the same time! You’ll also want to understand what he said in an interview or behind the scenes, which will motivate you to learn the language.
It doesn’t have to be a person, though. There are many other Thai-related topics that may interest you: TV shows, culture, food, desserts, or even ghost stories. You just need to look for it, because we guarantee you’ll find something!
3 – Be patient
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
As mentioned earlier, you can’t master any new language in only a few days, so you have to be patient when learning Thai.
You may find it a bit tough and not very enjoyable at first because everything is new and there’s a lot to take in. There are a lot of letters to remember, several pronunciation rules you need to memorize, and the tones are driving you crazy. But that’s just because you’re not familiar with the Thai language yet. As you start to understand Thai, you’ll feel very satisfied with yourself and your language skills.
There’s a saying in Thai: ความพยายามอยู่ที่ไหน ความสำเร็จอยู่ที่นั้น (khwaam-phá-yaa-yaam- yùu-thîi-nǎikhwaam-sǎm-rèt-yùu-thîi-nân). It means that if you keep trying, you’ll be successful. In other words: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” So next time you feel like giving up, just remember these words.
4 – Choose the right learning tools
Have you ever seen chefs in five-star restaurants using dull knives? No, they use high-quality knives and keep them sharp. Their cooking may not depend on the knife they use, but having a good sharp one will make the job a lot easier!
The same is true for learning Thai. If you’ve been learning Thai for a while, and still find it very difficult, you may be using the wrong tool.
Good books used to be enough, but nowadays, everything you need to learn Thai is at your fingertips when you use ThaiPod101.com. ThaiPod101.com is like a knowledgeable teacher, a friend who gets you interested in Thai culture, and an encouraging mentor all wrapped up into one person. So don’t hesitate to visit and learn more about us!
4. Why is ThaiPod101.com Great for Learning Thai?
ThaiPod101.com is a fast, fun, and easy way to learn Thai. Below, we’ll give you just a few reasons to give us a try:
We also have audio lessons so that you can hear how Thai people speak, improve your listening skills, and practice your pronunciation. And don’t forget our handy vocabulary lists, categorized by topic. Examples include Talking About YouTube and Useful Words and Phrases for Going to the Movies. You’ll also find a grammar bank on our website (which contains almost 400 grammar topics you can learn) and printable PDF lesson notes for you to review after lessons.
And by upgrading to a Premium PLUS account, you’ll be able to communicate one-on-one with your own personal teacher. Your teacher will be more than happy to help with your Thai learning and provide you with the tools and encouragement you need to succeed.
With these abundant materials, ThaiPod101.com is the best and easiest way to learn Thai!
2 – Learn Thai 24/7
You don’t need to meet your teacher face-to-face to learn Thai. With internet access and a mobile phone, tablet, or PC, you can access all of our Thai lessons through ThaiPod101.com—anytime, wherever you are.
3 – Flexible learning plans for individuals
ThaiPod101.com provides the most flexible Thai class you can join. If you don’t know where to start, we can provide you with guidance and suggestions, tailored to your current level and your goals. But you can also plan your lessons based on your interests, strengths, and weaknesses. In addition, you can always repeat a lesson if you forgot something or didn’t quite understand the topic. Learn at your own pace, your way!
4 – Pronunciation practice
Learning Thai pronunciation is the hardest part of learning the language. As such, you may be concerned that learning Thai online will take away from your ability to practice pronunciation. Don’t worry! ThaiPod101.com has a pronunciation and accent review function for you to practice with. You can keep practicing until you get it right.
5 – Assignments, quizzes, and tests
Don’t leave yet! Even though assignments, quizzes, and tests are typically boring and unwelcome, you can’t deny that completing assignments and quizzes improves our understanding and shows us where we need to do better. And don’t worry: there’s not much pressure when completing them, like there would be in a traditional classroom.
6 – Daily learning encouragement
If you’re a student, we know that you probably have tons of homework to do, tests to prepare for, and recreational activities to attend to stay sane. If you’re a full-time worker, finding time to learn a new language can be an issue when there are work responsibilities and other things you need to do. We understand and will encourage you to learn Thai little by little with us. There are even short lessons you can complete daily—we’ll even remind you to do them. 😉
7 – Cultural knowledge
ThaiPod101.com also provides information about Thai culture: how Thai people live, act, and think in daily life. These lessons are interesting for both Thai learners and foreigners who are living in Thailand.
5. Conclusion
At this point, we hope that if someone asks you whether the Thai language is easy or hard, you’ll let them know it’s not that bad.
It will take some time, but anyone can learn Thai.
The best way to get started is to visit ThaiPod101.com and explore our many lessons and learning tools. We recommend starting with our Thai Alphabet Made Easy lessons.
Before you go, let us know in the comments if you feel ready to start learning Thai! If not, we’d love to hear your questions or concerns as well.
In Thai, there’s a saying, ผิดเป็นครู (phìt-bpen-khruu), which means “learning from your mistakes.”
Still, making mistakes can sometimes be embarrassing, so it’s better if you can avoid them in the first place. Hence, this comprehensive guide on typical Thai language mistakes from ThaiPod101.com.
You’ll learn about mistakes in Thai grammar, vocabulary, word choice, and the appropriate use of Thai phrases. By the end of this article, you should be able to decrease the number of common Thai-English mistakes you make, or avoid them altogether!
A frequent mistake in Thai language-learning is that of confusing similar-sounding consonants. In Thai, there are many consonants that have similar sounds, and pronouncing them incorrectly can completely change the meaning of a word. Below are some examples.
1 – ข (kh) and ค (kh)
Despite having the same romanization, these two consonants have different sounds. ข (kh) sounds deeper than ค (kh), and if you use the wrong sound, this could happen:
Correct pronunciation meaning: “The cymbal is a Thai musical instrument.”
Incorrect pronunciation meaning: “Running away is a Thai musical instrument.”
Here’s another tip for avoiding typical Thai mistakes like this one: If there’s romanization, pay attention to the tone of the word. You may notice that, despite both words having the same tone mark, the tones are not the same.
3 – ถ (th) and ท (th)
The last pair of consonants is ถ (th) and ท (th). Here’s what a mistake in Thai might look like if you confuse them:
Correct pronunciation meaning: “Stir it thoroughly.”
Incorrect pronunciation meaning: “Stir it nut.”
Explanation:
ทั่ว (thûua) means “thoroughly” in Thai.
ถั่ว (thùua) means “nut” in Thai.
Hopefully the examples and tips above will help you avoid these common mistakes English-speakers make in Thai!
2. Short and Long Vowel Sounds
Another common pronunciation mistake is to pronounce Thai vowels too short or too long. As there are many pairs of short and long vowels in Thai, it’s important that you pay close attention here. Pronouncing a word too short or too long can change its meaning.
1 – ุ (u) and ู (tuu)
Pronouncing ุ (u) and ู (tuu) incorrectly can lead to this weird situation:
Correct pronunciation meaning: “Today is Monday.”
Incorrect pronunciation meaning: “Today is Dish day.”
Explanation:
จันทร์ (jan) means “moon,” or if it’s after วัน (wan), it means “Monday” in Thai.
จาน (jaan) means “dish” in Thai.
3. A Note on Tone Marks
Despite having the same name, you can’t use tone marks to define the tone of words. This is a common mistake in spoken Thai. There are many factors, other than tone marks, that affect the tone of a word. For example, initial consonants and vowel sounds.
Example 1: ขา (khǎa), which means “leg” in Thai, has a rising tone despite having no tone mark.
Example 2: ซ้ำ (sám), which means “repeat,” in Thai, has a high tone despite having a falling tone mark.
Example 3: ฆ่า (khâa), which means “kill” in Thai, has a falling tone despite having a low tone mark.
4. The Correct Tone for คะ (khá) and ค่ะ (khâ)
In Thai, to be polite, females add คะ (khá) and ค่ะ (khà) to the end of sentences. However, many people use these incorrectly. This is the most common mistake in Thai, for both native Thai people and foreigners. Below are examples of how to use คะ (khá) and ค่ะ (khà) correctly.
1 – คะ (khá)
คะ (khá) is used in two conditions:
After questions
After sentences that end with นะ (ná)
Example 1:
กระดาษอยู่ที่ไหนคะ
grà-dàat-yùu-thîi-nǎi-khá “Where is the paper?”
Example 2:
อย่าทำแบบนี้อีกนะคะ
yàa-tham-bàaep-níi-ìik-ná-khá “Don’t do this again.”
2 – ค่ะ (khâ)
ค่ะ (khâ) is used after affirmative and negative sentences.
ฉันจะไปทะเลตอนสงกรานต์ค่ะ
chǎn-jà-bpai-thá-lee-dtaawn-sǒng-graan-khâ “I will go to the sea during Songkran.”
5. False Friends
For those who can speak English, don’t be so happy to see or hear English words in Thai. The meanings may be very different!
1 – Fit
ฟิต (fít) is “too tight” in Thai, while in English, it means “not too tight or too loose.”
กางเกงตัวนี้ใส่แล้วฟิตมาก
gaang-geeng-dtuua-níi-sài-láaeo-fít-mâak “These pants are too tight for me.”
2 – Over
โอเวอร์ (oo-vôoe) is “exaggerate” in Thai, while in English, it means “end.”
เรื่องที่เธอเล่ามันโอเวอร์มาก
rûueang-thîi-thooe-lâo-man-oo-vôoe-mâak “The story you told is exaggerated.”
6. ตัวผู้ (dtuua-phûu) is for Male Animals
Another Thai word mistake you should know has to do with ตัวผู้ (dtuua-phûu). This word is used for male animals in Thai.
When you start learning the language, you may learn that เมีย (miia) is “wife” in informal Thai and ผัว (phǔua) is “husband.” However, when it comes to animals, Thai people put ตัวเมีย (dtuua-miia) after the animal’s name to specify that the animal is female. You may see this, and think that you should use ตัวผัว (dtuua-phǔua) to specify that the animal is male, but this is incorrect! Instead, you should put ตัวผู้ (dtuua-phûu).
Example:
สิงโตตัวผู้ (sǐng-dtoo-dtuua-phûu) is “male lion” in Thai.
สิงโตตัวเมีย (sǐng-dtoo-dtuua-miia) is “female lion” in Thai.
7. Word Order: Nouns and Adjectives
Now, let’s talk about common Thai grammar mistakes that foreigners often make.
In English, adjectives are put in front of nouns; in Thai, it’s the other way around.
Example 1:
ดอกไม้สีขาวมีกลิ่นหอม
dâawk-mái-sǐi-khǎao-mii-glìn-hǎawm “The white flowers smell nice.”
Example 2:
แม่ชอบผลไม้เปรี้ยว ๆ มากกว่าผลไม้หวาน ๆ mâae-châawp-phǒn-lá-mái-bprîiao-bprîiao-mâak-gwàa-phǒn-lá-mái-wǎan-wǎan “Mom likes sour fruit more than sweet fruit.”
8. Politeness Level
Politeness level is the source of many common Thai-English mistakes. In Thai, there are many words that mean the same thing but have different levels of politeness, which you may know already if you’ve studied Thai pronouns. Thus, it’s important to use the right words in the right situations. Using the wrong words can be both inappropriate and funny.
Example 1:
คุณครูกินข้าวเที่ยงรึยังคะ
khun-khruu-gin-khâao-thîiang-rúe-yang-khá “Have you had lunch yet?” (Talking to a teacher)
Explanation:
The situation here is that a student is talking to a teacher. Thus, the student should ask the teacher this question in a polite manner. The student has already put คะ (khá) after the question, which is good. However, instead of using กิน (gin), it would have been better to use รับประทาน (ráp-bprà-thaan). And instead of using ข้าวเที่ยง (khâao-thîiang), the student should have used อาหารกลางวัน (aa-hǎan-glaang-wan).
Appropriate Thai sentence:
คุณครูรับประทานอาหารกลางวันรึยังคะ
khun-khruu-thaan-aa-hǎan-glaang-wan-rúe-yang-khá “Have you had lunch yet?” (Talking to a teacher)
Example 2:
เธอมีบุตรกี่คน
thooe-mii-bùt-gìi-khon “How many sons and daughters do you have?”
Explanation:
Here, two friends are having a conversation. The speaker must be close to the other party, as there’s no ครับ (khráp) or คะ (khá) at the end of the sentence. In this case, using บุตร (bùt), which means “son” or “daughter,” is too polite. Instead, the speaker should have used ลูก (lûuk), which has the same meaning but sounds better.
Appropriate Thai sentence:
เธอมีลูกกี่คน
thooe-mii-lûuk-gìi-khon “How many sons and daughters do you have?”
9. Special Words for Monks
In Thai language, we have special words for monks which include pronouns and verbs. This is a part of คำราชาศัพท์ (kham-raa-chaa-sàp). Don’t be confused if you hear some words you are not familiar with when the topic involves monks in Thai. Also, it is a good idea to learn basic words related to monks so that you won’t make common Thai mistakes.
Example 1:
พระกำลังสวดมนต์อยู่
phrá-gam-lang-sùuat-mon-yùu “The monks are praying.”
Explanation:
สวดมนต์ (sùuat-mon) is “pray” in Thai, but it should be used with normal people. For monks, instead of using สวดมนต์ (sùuat-mon), Thai people use ทำวัตร (tham-wát).
Appropriate Thai sentence:
พระกำลังทำวัตรอยู่
phrá-gam-lang-tham-wát-yùu “The monks are praying.”
Example 2:
พระไม่กินอาหารเย็น
phrá-mâi-gin-aa-hǎan-yen “The monk didn’t have dinner.”
Explanation:
กิน (gin) is “eat” in Thai, but it should be used with normal people. For monks, instead of using กิน (gin), Thai people use ฉัน (chǎn).
Appropriate Thai sentence:
พระไม่ฉันอาหารเย็น
phrá-mâi-chǎn-aa-hǎan-yen “The monk didn’t have dinner.”
10. Being Too Afraid to Speak
The biggest mistake in learning Thai is being too afraid to speak with natives.
Don’t be afraid to speak, even if Thai people don’t seem to understand what you’re saying. Thai pronunciation is hard and Thai people know this. Actually, most Thai people find it cute when they hear foreigners trying to speak Thai, and they’ll try their best to understand.
11. Conclusion
After finishing this lesson, we hope you can avoid making these common Thai mistakes. Have you ever made one of these Thai mistakes before? What did you feel? Let us know in the comments!
Do you already know what you’re going to study next in your Thai learning? If you’re not sure, here are some suggestions:
As a new Thai language-learner, do you find it hard to make conversation with native speakers? Because speaking Thai as often as possible is a great way to acquire the language, knowing the most common questions and answers in Thai conversations will be very helpful for you.
In this lesson, you’ll learn about asking questions in Thai and how you can answer them yourself. Knowing these common Thai questions and answers will give you the confidence you need to practice speaking more often!
However, before we start our list of the top ten questions in Thai, there are a few things you need to know first.
When going over the topic of Thai questions, many learners wonder “Are there question marks in Thai?” The answer is yes, there are question marks in the Thai language.
In Thai, question marks are called ปรัศนี (bpràt-sà-nii) and เครื่องหมายคำถาม (khrùueng-mǎai-kham-thǎam). In normal conversations, people usually use เครื่องหมายคำถาม (khrùueng-mǎai-kham-thǎam). ปรัศนี (bpràt-sà-nii) is rarely used in daily conversation; it’s only used in academic contexts.
That said, there’s no rule about asking questions in Thai grammar that requires you to put a question mark after your question. Thai people really only put question marks after a question to show that they’re really in doubt and want to know the answer.
2 – Pronouns Used in Thai Questions and Answers
When you ask or answer questions in Thai, you can use both names and pronouns, so you’ll find it easier if you know some Thai pronouns. Below are some examples of pronouns often used in Thai questions and answers.
Thai pronouns for “you“:
คุณ (khun) is used in formal or business situations. It can be used with both males and females.
นาย (naai) is used in casual situations. It can be used with males only.
เธอ (thooe) is used in casual situations. It can be used with females only.
Thai pronouns for “I“:
ฉัน (chǎn) is used when the speaker is female.
ผม (phǒm) is used when the speaker is male.
You’ll find throughout this lesson that Thai people often omit the subject from the sentence, so don’t be surprised if you don’t hear any name or pronoun when speaking with natives.
3 – Making Questions and Answers Formal
To make a sentence formal in Thai, put the word ครับ (khráp) or ค่ะ (khâ) at the end of a sentence when speaking. ครับ (khráp) is used when the speaker is male, while ค่ะ (khâ) is used when the speaker is female.
Keep in mind that there’s a special rule when it comes to questions: for females, instead of using ค่ะ (khâ), you put คะ (khá) after questions.
Now, let’s start learning ten common Thai phrases and questions.
2. Our Thai Questions and Answers List
1. What’s your name?
The first question you should learn is how to ask for someone’s name. This is an easy question to ask in Thai, and it’s a great way to start a conversation with someone you don’t know.
1 – Thai question
Question pattern:
pronoun for “you” / noun + ชื่ออะไร
pronoun for “you” / noun + chûue-à-rai “What is your name?”
2 – Thai answers
Answer pattern 1:
pronoun for “I” + ชื่อ + ___
pronoun for “I” + chûue + ___
“My name is ___.”
Answer pattern 2:
ชื่อ + ___
chûue + ___
“My name is ___.”
Answer pattern 3:
Just say your name.
Additional Note:
Patterns 2 and 3 are short versions of pattern 1, which is the full answer. Of the three patterns, pattern 1 is the most formal, followed by pattern 2, with pattern 3 being the most casual.
3 – Examples
Example 1
Thai question:
ลูกค้าชื่ออะไรคะ
lûuk-khaa-chûue-à-rai-khá “What is the customer’s name?” (You are talking to the customer.)
Thai answer:
ผมชื่อป้องศักดิ์ครับ
phǒm-chûue-bpâawng-sàk-khráp “My name is Pongsak.”
Example 2
Thai question:
เธอชื่ออะไร
thooe-chûue-à-rai “What is your name?”
Thai answer:
กิ๊ฟ
gíp “Gip.”
2. Where are you from?
To learn more about someone, one of the best Thai language questions to ask is “Where are you from?” There are a few ways to ask this question, shown below.
1 – Thai questions
Question pattern 1:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + มาจากที่ไหน
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + maa-jàak-thîi-nǎi “Where are you from?”
Question pattern 2:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + เป็นคนจังหวัดอะไร
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + bpen-khon-jang-wàt-à-rai “Which province are you from?”
Question pattern 3:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + เป็นคนประเทศอะไร
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + bpen-khon-bprà-thêet-à-rai “Which country are you from?”
Additional Note:
When Thai people are asked where they come from, they often answer with the name of the province they grew up in. Thus, you can use pattern 2 specifically with a Thai person. Pattern 3, as you can guess, is used with foreigners.
2 – Thai answers
Answer pattern 1:
pronoun for “I” + มาจาก + ___
pronoun for “I” + maa-jàak + ___
“I come from ___.”
Answer pattern 2:
มาจาก + ___
maa-jàak + ___
“I come from ___.”
Answer pattern 3:
Just say the name of your hometown or country.
Additional Note:
Patterns 1 through 3 can be used to answer all of the questions above. Patterns 2 and 3 are the short versions of pattern 1, which is the full answer. Pattern 1 is the most formal, followed by pattern 2, with pattern 3 being the most casual.
Answer pattern 4:
pronoun for “I” + เป็นคน + name of province or country
pronoun for “I” + bpen-khon + ___
“I come from ___.”
Answer pattern 5:
คน + name of province or country
khon + ___
“I am ___.”
Additional Note:
Patterns 4 and 5 are used to answer question patterns 2 and 3 only. As you can see, pattern 5 is the short version of pattern 4.
3 – Examples
Example 1
Thai question:
เดวิดมาจากที่ไหน
dee-vìt-maa-jàak-thîi-nǎi “Where are you from?” (You are talking to David.)
Thai answer:
มาจากออสเตเรียครับ
maa-jàak-áawt-dtee-riia “I come from Australia.”
Example 2
Thai question:
นักเรียนเป็นคนจังหวัดอะไร
nák-riian-bpen-khon-jang-wàt-à-rai “Which province are you from?” (You are talking to a student.)
Thai answer:
คนลพบุรีค่ะ
khon lóp-bù-rii khà “I come from Lopburi.”
3. Do you speak ___?
This is one of the best Thai questions for foreigners. Knowing the language skills of other parties makes it easier to communicate, in case you can speak the same language. ^^
1 – Thai question
Question pattern:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + พูดภาษา___ได้มั้ย
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + phûut-phaa-sǎa-___-dâi-mái “Do you speak ___?”
2 – Thai answers
Answer pattern 1:
ได้
dâi “Yes.”
Answer pattern 2:
ได้นิดหน่อย
dâi-nit-nàauy “Yes, a little bit.”
Thai answer:
ได้ หนูเคยไปเรียนที่อเมริกา 3 ปี
dai nǔu-khooei-bpai-riian-thii-a-mee-ri-gaa-saam-bpii “Yes, I do. I have studied in the United States for three years.”
4. How long have you been studying ___?
To continue the conversation, you can ask this question in Thai.
1 – Thai questions
Question pattern 1:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + เรียนภาษา___มานานเท่าไหร่แล้ว
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + riian-phaa-sǎa-___-maa-naan-thâo-rài-láaeo “How long have you been studying ___?”
Question pattern 2:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + เรียนภาษา___มากี่ปีแล้ว
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + riian-phaa-sǎa-___-maa-gìi-bpii-láaeo “How many years have you been studying ___?”
2 – Thai answers
Answer pattern 1:
pronoun for “I” + เรียนมา ___ ปี / เดือน
pronoun for “I” + riian-maa-___-bpii / duuean “I have studied for ___ years / months.”
Answer pattern 2:
เรียนมา ___ ปี / เดือน
riian-maa-___-bpii / duuean “I have studied for ___ years / months.”
Answer pattern 3:
pronoun for “I” + เรียนมาตั้งแต่อายุ ___ ปีแล้ว
pronoun for “I” + riian-maa-dtâng-dtàae-aa-yú-___-bpii-lâaeo “I have studied since I was ___ years old.”
Answer pattern 4:
เรียนมาตั้งแต่อายุ ___ ขวบ / ปีแล้ว
Riian-maa-dtâng-dtàae-aa-yú-___-khùuap / bpii-lâaeo “I have studied since I was ___ years old.”
Pattern 2 is the short version of pattern 1, and pattern 4 is the short version of pattern 3. The subject of the sentence is omitted as Thai people assume you already know who you’re talking about.
ขวบ (khùuap) and ปี (bpii) are both numeric classifiers of age. ขวบ (khùuap) is used for ages under thirteen years old, while ปี (bpii) is used for ages thirteen years old and above.
Thai answer:
เรียนมา 2 ปีแล้ว
riian-maa-sǎawng-bpii-láaeo-khà “I have studied Thai for two years now.”
Example 2
Thai question:
คุณเรียนภาษาอังกฤษมานานเท่าไหร่แล้วครับ
khun-riian-phaa-sǎa-ang-grìt-maa-naan-thâo-rài-láaeo-khráp “How long have you studied English?”
Thai answer:
ฉันเรียนภาษาอังกฤษมาตั้งแต่อายุ 3 ขวบค่ะ
chǎn-riian-phaa-sǎa-ang-grìt-maa-dtâng-dtàae-aa-yú-sǎam-khûuap-khà “I have studied English since I was three years old.”
5. Have you been to ___?
This is another conversational Thai question you should know, and you’re likely to hear it from travel enthusiasts!
1 – Thai question
Question pattern:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + เคยไปประเทศ___มั้ย
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + khooei-bpai-bprà-thêet-___-mái “Have you been to ___?”
2 – Thai answers
Answer pattern 1:
เคย
khooei “Yes, I have.”
Answer pattern 2:
ไม่เคย
mâi-khooei “No, I haven’t.”
3 – Examples
Example 1
Thai question:
คุณป้าเคยไปประเทศญี่ปุ่นมั้ยคะ
khun-bpâa-khooei-bpai-bprà-thêet-yîi-bpùn-mái-khá “Have you been to Japan?” (You are talking to your aunt.)
Thai answer:
เคยจ๊ะ ปีที่แล้วป้าไปเที่ยวที่โตเกียวมา
khooei-já pbii-thîi-láaeo-bpâa-bpai-thîiao-thîi-dtoo-giiao-maa “Yes, I have. I traveled to Tokyo last year.”
Thai answer:
ไม่เคย แต่อยากไปมากนะ
mâi-khooei dtàae-yàak-bpai-mâak-ná “No, I haven’t. But I really want to go there.”
6. What do you do for work?
If you’re asking questions in Thai to get to know more about someone, asking about their occupation is a must. Good news: This conversational question in Thai is very easy.
1 – Thai question
Question pattern:
pronoun for “you” / name + ทำอาชีพอะไร
pronoun for “you” / name + tham-aa-chîip-à-rai “What do you do for work?”
2 – Thai answer
Answer pattern:
pronoun for “I” + เป็น ___
pronoun for “I” + bpen ___
“I am a(n) ___.”
3 – Examples
Example 1
Thai question:
คุณธัญญ์ทำอาชีพอะไรคะ
khun-than-tham-aa-chîip-à-rai-khá “What does Than do for work?” (You are talking to Than.)
Thai answer:
ผมเป็นวิศวกรครับ
khun-than-tham-aa-chîip-à-rai-khá “I am an engineer.”
Example 2
Thai question:
นายทำอาชีพอะไร
naai-tham-aa-chîip-à-rai “What do you do for work?”
Thai answer:
ผมเป็นครู
phǒm-bpen-khruu “I am a teacher.”
7. Do you like ___ food?
Asking someone about their food preferences is a fantastic way to get to know someone, and to find common ground.
1 – Thai question
Question pattern:
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + ชอบอาหาร___มั้ย
pronoun for “you” / noun / name + châawp-aa-hǎan-___-mái “Do you like ___ food?”
2 – Thai answers
Answer pattern 1:
ชอบ
châawp “Yes, I do.”
Answer pattern 2:
ไม่ชอบ
mâi-châawp “No, I don’t.”
Additional note:
Pattern 2 is the short version of pattern 1. The subject of the sentence is omitted as Thai people assume you already know who you’re talking about.
3 – Examples
Example 1
Thai question:
นักเรียนทำอะไรอยู่คะ
nák-riian-tham-à-rai-yùu-kha “What are you doing?” (You are talking to a student.)
Thai answer:
หนูกำลังทำการบ้านอยู่ค่ะ
nǔu-gam-lang-tham-gaan-bâan-yùu-khà “I am doing homework now.”
Example 2
Thai question:
แม่ทำอะไรอยู่
mâae-tham-à-rai-yùu “Mom, what are you doing?”
You’ve just finished learning the basics about how to ask questions in Thai. If you can remember all of these common questions and answers, you have all you need to practice your Thai speaking and listening skills through conversations with Thai people. We hope this article has been very helpful for you!
Now that you’ve finished this lesson, you may be curious about related topics such as question words in Thai, which you can learn on ThaiPod101.com as well. Of course, there are other interesting lessons for you to study, such as Thai Girl’s Dream Job and Thai Jokes. Don’t forget to visit ThaiPod101.com and check out new lessons as they become available.
Before you go, practice writing some of these Thai questions and answers in the comments section, and answer the questions about yourself. We look forward to hearing from you!
When you learn any language, knowing its basic sentence patterns helps you get a grip of the language as a whole, and allows you to communicate more effectively. So if you’re a Thai learner and don’t know how to form sentences in Thai yet, knowing certain Thai sentence structures and patterns is like a shortcut to creating your own sentences.
In this lesson, we’ll teach you common Thai sentence patterns that you can use in daily life. While there are various types of sentence patterns in the Thai language, we’ll focus on just ten patterns with examples. Also keep in mind that we won’t be focusing on the tenses today.
The first simple Thai sentence pattern you should know is “A is B,” which is used for linking two nouns. Below are some examples of this Thai sentence structure.
Sentence structure:
A + เป็น (bpen) + B
A + คือ (khuue) + B
Explanation:
เป็น (bpen), อยู่ (yùu), and คือ (khuue) are used for the verb “to be” in Thai. While they all refer to the same verb, เป็น (bpen), อยู่ (yùu), and คือ (khuue) have different meanings, are used in different situations, and can’t substitute one another.
เป็น (bpen) is used to explain what A is. The information used to explain A can include things such as a person’s job or marital status.
อยู่ (yùu) is used to explain where A is. So in this case, B is the place.
คือ (khuue) is used to explain what A is. The information used to explain A is either a fact/status that doesn’t change, or information that other parties don’t know.
Because เป็น (bpen) and คือ (khuue) seem pretty similar, it can be difficult to decide which one to use in a given scenario. Even Thai people find this hard; they can use it correctly, but can’t explain why. Let’s look at some Thai example sentences to help you understand better.
Example 1:
แม่เป็นครู
mâae-bpen-khruu “Mom is a teacher.”
Mom is a teacher.
Example 2:
แก้วเป็นสาวโสด
gâaew-bpen-sǎao-sòot “Kaew is a single lady.”
Example 3:
ฤทธิเป็นคนที่ไม่เก่งเลขเลย
rít-bpen-khon-thîi-mâi-gèng-lêek-looei “Rit is a person who is not good at math.”
Example 4:
ตอนนี้รัตน์อยู่ที่นี่
dtaawn-níi-rát-yùu-thîi-nîi “Rat is here now.”
Example 5:
กระเป๋าอยู่บนโต๊ะทานอาหาร
grà-bpǎo-yùu-bon-dtó-thaan-aa-hǎan “The bag is on the dining table.”
Example 6:
หมีแพนด้าอยู่ในสวนสัตว์ที่เชียงใหม่
mǐi-phaaen-dâa-yùu-nai-sǔuan-sàt-thîi-chiiang-mài “Pandas are in the zoo at Chaingmai.”
Example 7:
ที่นี่คือโรงพยาบาลที่ใหญ่ที่สุดในจังหวัด
thîi-nîi-khuue-roong-phá-yaa-baan-thîi-yài-thîi-sùt-nai-jang-wàt “Here is the largest hospital in the province.”
Here is the largest hospital in the province.
Example 8:
ลัดดาคือเพื่อนที่ดีที่สุดของฉัน
lát-daa-khuue-phûuean-thîi-dii-thîi-sùt-khǎawng-chǎn “Ladda is my best friend.”
Example 9:
ผลไม้ที่พ่อชอบกินที่สุดคือแตงโม
phǒn-lá-mái-thîi-phâaw-châawp-gin-thîi-sùt-khuue-dtaaeng-moo “Dad’s favorite fruit is watermelon.”
2. Describing Nouns: A is [Adjective]
Another Thai sentence construction you should know is “A is [Adjective].” This is a very easy Thai sentence pattern, used to describe nouns with adjectives. Let’s take a look.
Sentence structure:
Noun + Adjective
Explanation:
If you want to describe a noun, all you have to do is put the adjective after that noun.
Example 1:
กานดาสูงและผอม
gaan-daa-sǔung-láe-phǎawm “Ganda is tall and slim.”
Example 2:
เก้าอี้ไม้ตัวนั้นราคาแพงมาก
gâo-îi-mái-dtuua-nán-raa-khaa-phaaeng-mâak “That wooden chair is very expensive.”
Example 3:
มะระสีเขียวและมีรสขม
má-rá-mii-sǐi-khǐiao-láe-mii-rót-khǒm “Bitter melon is green and bitter.”
Additional note:
มะระ (má-rá) is “bitter melon” in Thai. It’s one of the fruits that Thai people like to eat.
3. [Subject] Wants / Needs
Some of the most useful Thai phrases are those for expressing “want” and “need.” There are a few different Thai sentence patterns you should remember for this.
ต้องการ (dtâawng-gaan), อยาก (yàak), and อยากได้ (yàak-dâi) mean both “want” and “need” in Thai, and can substitute one another.
However, ต้องการ (dtâawng-gaan) sounds more formal than อยาก (yàak) and อยากได้ (yàak-dâi). Thai people often use ต้องการ (dtâawng-gaan) in formal situations, and อยาก (yàak) and อยากได้ (yàak-dâi) in casual conversations.
To express your wants and needs, you can use any of the structures above. Here are a few Thai sentence examples for you.
Example 1:
คุณครูต้องการคอมพิวเตอร์เครื่องใหม่
khun-khruu-dtâawng-gaan-khaawm-phíu-dtôoe-khrûueng-mài “The teachers want a new computer.”
Example 2:
โรงพยาบาลต้องการจ้างนางพยาบาลเพิ่ม
roong-phá-yaa-baan-dtâawng-gaan-jâang-naang-phá-yaa-baan-phôoem “The hospital wants to hire more nurses.”
Example 3:
เธอต้องการอะไรเพิ่มมั๊ย
thooe-dtâawng-gaan-à-rai-phôoem-mái “Do you want anything more?”
Example 4:
น้ำตาลอยากไปเที่ยวหัวหิน
nám-dtaan-yàak-bpai-thîiao-hǔua-hǐn “Namtan wants to go to Huahin.”
Example 5:
แม่อยากลองทำเค้กสูตรใหม่
mâae-yàak-laawng-tham-khéek-sùut-mài “Mom wants to try a new cake recipe.”
Mom wants to try a new cake recipe.
Example 6:
มินท์อยากแต่งงานก่อนอายุ 30 ปี
mín-yàak-dtàaeng-ngaan-gàawn-aa-yú-sǎam-sìp “Mint wants to get married before she is 30 years old.”
Example 7:
ฉันอยากได้รองเท้าคู่ใหม่
chǎn-yàak-dâi-raawng-tháo-khûu-mài “I want a new pair of shoes.”
Example 8:
รพีไม่อยากได้งานเพิ่ม
rá-phii-mâi-yàak-dâi-ngaan-phôoem “Rapee doesn’t want more jobs.”
Example 9:
มีใครอยากได้ชาเพิ่มมั๊ย
mii-khrai-yàak-dâi-chaa-phôoem-mái “Anyone want more tea?”
4. [Subject] has to [Verb]
Another basic Thai sentence pattern you should know is “I have …”. You can use this Thai sentence pattern to express what you have to do.
Sentence structure:
Subject + ต้อง (dtâawng) + Verb
Explanation:
This type of sentence in Thai is pretty easy and straightforward. You just put the subject, followed by ต้อง (dtâawng), which means “must” or “have to” in Thai, and then the verb.
Example 1:
เธอต้องออกจากบ้านเดี๋ยวนี้ ไม่งั้นจะสาย
thooe-dtâawng-àawk-jàak-bâan-dǐiao-níi mâi-ngán-jà-sǎai “You have to leave now or else you will be late.”
Example 2:
ยายต้องกินยาก่อนนอนทุกวัน
yaai-dtâawng-gin-yaa-gàawn-naawn-thúuk-wan “Grandma has to take medicine before bed every day.”
Example 3:
วรรณาต้องไปเชียงรายพรุ่งนี้
wan-naa-dtâawng-bpai-chiiang-raai-phrûng-níi “Wanna has to go to Chiangrai tomorrow.”
5. [Subject] Likes [Noun/Verb]
Another common Thai language sentence structure is that for expressing likes and preferences. It’s one of the most basic Thai sentence patterns you can use to talk about your favorite things and activities.
Sentence structure:
Subject + ชอบ (châawp) + Noun / Verb
Explanation:
ชอบ (châawp) is “like” in Thai. To use this sentence pattern, you put the subject, followed by ชอบ (châawp), and then the noun or verb.
Example 1:
แม่ชอบกินแก้วมังกร
mâae-châawp-gin-gâaeo-mang-gaawn “Mom likes to eat dragon fruits.”
Example 2:
นภาชอบสีชมพู ná-phaa-châawp-sǐi-chom-phuu “Napa likes pink.”
Napa likes pink.
Example 3:
ตุ้มไม่ชอบดูหนังผี
dtûm-mâi-châawp-duu-nǎng-phǐi “Tum doesn’t like scary movies.”
6. Please…
The next basic Thai sentence structure we’ll show you is used to politely ask someone to do something. There are two Thai sentence patterns you need to know.
Thai people use กรุณา (gà-rú-naa) and ช่วย (chûuai) when they want to ask others to do something. กรุณา (gà-rú-naa) and ช่วย (chûuai) are pretty much the same, except กรุณา (gà-rú-naa) is used in formal situations while ช่วย (chûuai) is more often used in casual conversations.
Example 1:
กรุณาถอดรองเท้าก่อนเข้าห้อง
gà-rú-naa-thàawt-raawng-tháo-gàawn-khâo-hâawng “Please take off your shoes before entering the room.”
Example 2:
กรุณาอย่าส่งเสียงดัง
gà-rú-naa-yàa-sòng-sǐiang-dang “Please don’t make loud noises.”
Example 3:
กรุณาให้ความร่วมมือกับเจ้าหน้าที่
gà-rú-naa-hâi-khwaam-rûuam-muue-gàp-jâo-nâa-thîi “Please cooperate with our staff.”
Example 4:
ช่วยฉันทำความสะอาดห้องหน่อย
chûuai-chǎn-tham-khaawm-sà-àat-hâawng-nàauy “Please help me clean the room.”
Example 5:
ช่วยเงียบหน่อย
chûuai-ngîiap-nàauy “Please be quiet.”
Please be quiet.
Example 6:
ช่วยเดินเร็ว ๆ หน่อย
chûuai-dooen-reo-reo-nòi “Please walk faster.”
7. May I? / Can I?
This sentence pattern in Thai is used to ask for permission. However, this is considered an imperfect sentence because Thai people leave the word “may” or “can” out.
Sentence structure:
ขอ (khǎaw) + Verb + ได้มั้ย (dâi-mái)
Explanation:
This Thai sentence pattern is quite different from its English counterpart. This is because there is no ฉัน (chǎn), which is “I” in Thai, in the sentence.
You start the sentence with ขอ (khǎaw), which means “ask.” Next, you put the verb, followed by ได้มั้ย (dâi-mái), which is used to make a permission question in Thai.
Example 1:
ขอเข้าไปได้มั้ย
khǎaw-khâo-bpai-dâi-mái “May I come in?”
Example 2:
ขอยืมหนังสือเล่มนั้นได้มั้ย
khǎaw-yuuem-nǎng-sǔue-lêm-nán-dâi-mái “Can I borrow that book?”
Can I borrow that book?
Example 3:
ขอไปดูหนังกับเพื่อนวันเสาร์นี้ได้มั้ย
khǎaw-bpai-duu-nǎng-gàp-phûuen-wan-sǎo-níi-dâi-mái “Can I go see the movie with my friend this Saturday?”
8. What is…?
Another useful Thai sentence pattern you should learn is “What is…?” You can use this sentence pattern in Thai to ask for information about something.
Sentence structure:
… + คือ (khuue) + อะไร (à-rai)
Explanation:
As mentioned earlier, คือ (khuue) is one of the words for the verb “to be” in Thai. Also note that อะไร (à-rai) is “what.”
You may notice that Thai people use คือ (khuue), not เป็น (bpen), in this sentence structure. This is because you’re asking for information you don’t know.
Example 1:
นี่คืออะไร nîi-khuue-à-rai “What is this?”
Example 2:
อาหารที่เราสั่งครั้งที่แล้วคืออะไร aa-hǎan-thîi-rao-sàng-khráng-thîi-láaeo-khuue-à-rai “What is the food we ordered last time?”
Example 3:
เครื่องดื่มที่คุณชอบคืออะไร khrûueng-dùuem-thîi-khun-châawp-khuue-à-rai “What is your favorite drink?”
9. When is…?
Now that you’ve learned the “What is …?” sentence structure, it makes sense to learn the “When is…?” structure as well. With this structure, you can make Thai phrases for asking about the time.
Sentence structure:
… + เมื่อไหร่ (mûuea-rài)
Explanation:
เมื่อไหร่ (mûuea-rài) is “when” in Thai. You put the event that you want to know the time of, followed by เมื่อไหร่ (mûue-rài).
Example 1:
ประชุมเมื่อไหร่ bprà-chum-mûuea-rài “When is the meeting?”
Example 2:
เธอจะเริ่มทำงานเมื่อไหร่ thooe-jà-rôoem-tham-ngan-mûuea-rài “When will you start working?”
Example 3:
ตาลจะมาถึงเมื่อไหร่ dtaan-jà-ma-thǔeng-mûuea-rài “When will Tarn arrive?”
10. Where is…?
You can now ask for more information and about the time. In this section, we’ll also teach you how to ask about location. This is one of those basic Thai phrases you’ll use all the time!
Sentence structure:
Place + อยู่ที่ไหน (yùu-thîi-nǎi)
Place + ไปทางไหน (bpai-thaang-nǎi)
Explanation:
Both of the structures above are pretty similar to each other, and are used to ask about location. The first one is the Thai translation sentence pattern of “Where is …?” The other is closer to: “How to go to …?”
Example 2:
บ้านของเธออยู่ที่ไหน bâan-khǎawng-thooe-yùu-thîi-nǎi “Where is your house?”
Example 3:
ภูเขาที่สูงที่สุดในไทยอยู่ที่ไหน phuu-khǎo-thîi-sǔung-thîi-sùt-nai-thai-yùu-thîi-nǎi “Where is the highest mountain in Thailand?”
Example 4:
จุดชมวิวไปทางไหน jùt-chom-wiu-bpai-thaang-nǎi “How to go to the viewpoint?”
Example 5:
สถานีตำรวจที่ใกล้ที่สุดไปทางไหน sà-thǎa-nii-dtam-rùuat-thîi-glâi-thîi-sùt-bpai-thaang-nǎi “How to go to the nearest police station?”
Example 6:
ประชาสัมพันธ์ไปทางไหน bprà-chaa-sǎm-phan-bpai-thaang-nǎi “How to go to the information center?”
11. Conclusion
The lesson has finally come to an end, and you’ve already learned ten useful Thai sentence patterns for everyday use! We hope they’re not too hard for you, but remember that it may take a while to memorize all of them. Using a variety of Thai sentence patterns in daily conversations will help you get familiar with them; eventually, you’ll be able to use them with great fluency.
Are there any specific topics you want to learn about in future articles? Leave us a comment to let us know! If you have no clue what you want to learn next, we have a list of fun lessons for you at ThaiPod101.com, so don’t forget to check it out.
If you want to know more about sentence structure in Thai, our word order article is a great place to expand your knowledge. However, if that’s too serious a lesson for you, what about listening to a conversation about Thai tea and a date? Our lesson about ordering food at restaurants is also an interesting choice.
Like in English, both adverbs and adjectives in Thai are quite important. Thai adjectives and adverbs are used to convey a more detailed message in speech and writing. They can also help you sound like a true native speaker. We’ve already published an article about Thai adjectives, so now it’s time to learn about adverbs in Thai.
In this lesson, you’ll learn about adverbs in Thai grammar, including proper adverb usage in Thai and a list of the most common Thai adverbs. Let’s begin our lesson.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s important to know a little bit about Thai language adverbs. To start with the very basics, คำวิเศษณ์ (kham-ví-sèet) means “adverb” in Thai. However, คำวิเศษณ์ (kham-ví-sèet) is not exactly the same as adverbs in English. It’s just the Thai grammatical term that’s the most similar to adverbs in English.
คำวิเศษณ์ (kham-ví-sèet) refers to words that are used to modify nouns, pronouns, verbs, as well as adverbs. If compared to English, คำวิเศษณ์ (kham-ví-sèet) is like a combination of adverbs and adjectives in Thai. Still, learning both adverbs and adjectives may confuse you, so this lesson will focus solely on adverbs.
Now that you know the definition of an adverb in Thai, the next thing you should know is how to use adverbs in Thai sentences. There’s no clear structure of where you should put adverbs, meaning that the placement of adverbs in each group is different. But don’t worry, we’ll explain word order for each adverb, one by one, in the following sections.
One last note: If you’re looking for a way to identify adverbs in sentences, there’s some bad news. Unlike in English, there’s no clear way to distinguish adverbs from other words. So this lesson focuses mainly on vocabulary, as opposed to a set of rules for Thai adverbs.
In the following section, we’ll teach you Thai language adverbs that you should know, categorized into different groups for easy understanding.
“The weather forecast states that it will be sunny tomorrow.”
Example 2:
พรุ่งนี้ เธอจะไปไหนเหรอ
phrûng-níi thooe-jà-bpai-nhǎi-rhǒoe
“Where will you go tomorrow?”
Additional note: วันพรุ่งนี้ (wan-phrûng-níi) and พรุ่งนี้ (phrûng-níi) have the same meaning and can substitute one another perfectly. Actually, พรุ่งนี้ (phrûng-níi) is a shortened version of วันพรุ่งนี้ (wan-phrûng-níi), so วันพรุ่งนี้ (wan-phrûng-níi) is a little bit more formal.
3 – The day after tomorrow
Thai adverb: วันมะรืน (wan-má-ruuen)
Placement in sentence: It is often in the beginning or the end of sentences.
Example: ผลสอบจะออกวันมะรืนนี้
phǒn-sàawp-jà-àawk-wan-má-ruuen-níi
The test result will be announced the day after tomorrow.
4 – Yesterday
Thai adverb: เมื่อวาน (mûuea-waan)
Placement in sentence: It’s often at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
Placement in sentence: It’s often at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
Example 1:
ตอนเช้า ในสวนอากาศดีมาก
dtaawn-cháao nai-sǔuan-aa-gàat-dii-mâak
“The weather in the garden is very good in the morning.”
Example 2:
พ่ออ่านหนังสือพิมพ์ช่วงเช้า
phâaw-àan-nǎng-sǔue-phim-chûuang-cháo
“Dad reads the newspaper in the morning.”
Additional note: ตอนเช้า (dtaawn-cháo) is slightly different from ช่วงเช้า (chûuang-cháo). ตอนเช้า (dtaawn-cháo) refers to a specific time in the morning, while ช่วงเช้า (chûuang-cháo) refers to the morning period.
“The traffic in front of my house is very bad in the late morning.”
Additional note: ตอนสาย (dtaawn-sǎai) is slightly different from ช่วงสาย (chûuang-sǎai). ตอนสาย (dtaawn-sǎai) refers to a specific time in the late morning, while ช่วงสาย (chûuang-sǎai) refers to the late morning period.
Placement in sentence: It’s often at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
Example 1:
ท้องฉันร้องตอนเที่ยง
tháawng-chǎn-ráawng-dtaawn-thîiang
“My stomach rumbles at noon.”
Example 2:
ช่วงเที่ยง โรงอาหารคนแน่นมาก
chûuang-thîiang roong-aa-hǎan-khon-nâaen-mâak
“The canteen is very crowded at noon.”
Additional note: ตอนเที่ยง (dtaawn-thîiang) is slightly different from ช่วงเที่ยง (chûuang-thîiang). ตอนเที่ยง (dtaawn-thîiang) refers to a specific time from noon to one, while ช่วงเที่ยง (chûuang-thîiang) refers to the entire period of time between noon and one.
“After having lunch, I want to take a nap in the afternoon.”
Example 2:
ช่วงบ่าย นลินมีประชุม
chûuang-bàai-ná-lin-mii-bprà-chum
“Nalin has a meeting in the afternoon.”
Additional note: ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn-bàai) is slightly different from ช่วงบ่าย (chûuang-bàai). ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn-bàai) refers to a specific time in the afternoon, while ช่วงบ่าย (chûuang-bàai) refers to the afternoon period.
“I often go jogging with my friend in the evening.”
Additional note: ตอนเย็น (dtaawn-yen) is slightly different from ช่วงเย็น (chûuang-yen). ตอนเย็น (dtaawn-yen) refers to a specific time in the evening, while ช่วงเย็น (chûuang-yen) refers to the evening period.
13 – During the day
Thai adverb: ตอนกลางวัน (dtaawn-glaang-wan)
Placement in sentence: It’s often at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
Placement in sentence: แทบจะไม่เคย (thâaep-jà-mâi) and ไม่ค่อยได้ (mâi-khâauy-dâi) are put between the subject and the verb. นาน ๆ ครั้ง (naan-naan-khráng) is put either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Additional note: แทบจะไม่ (thâaep-jà-mâi), นาน ๆ ครั้ง (naan-naan-khráng), and ไม่ค่อยได้ (mâi-khâauy-dâi) are pretty much the same and can substitute one another.
3 – Sometimes
Thai adverb: บางครั้ง (baang-khráng)
Placement in sentence: It’s put either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Placement in sentence: บ่อย ๆ (bàauy–bàauy) is put at the end of a sentence, while บ่อยครั้ง (bàauy-khráng) can be put either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Additional note: Despite having the same meaning, บ่อย ๆ (bàauy–bàauy) and บ่อยครั้ง (bàauy-khráng) are slightly different. บ่อย ๆ (bàauy–bàauy) can be used in both spoken and written language, while บ่อยครั้ง (bàauy-khráng) is often used in written language but rarely in spoken language.
Placement in sentence: ตามปกติ (dtaam-bpòk-gà-thì) can be put either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence, while โดยปกติ (dooi-bpòk-gà-thì) is put at the beginning.
Additional note: The meanings of ตามปกติ (dtaam-bpòk-gà-thì) and โดยปกติ (dooi-bpòk-gà-thì) are pretty much the same. However, โดยปกติ (dooi-bpòk-gà-thì) sounds a little more formal than ตามปกติ (dtaam-bpòk-gà-thì).
6 – Always
Thai adverb: เสมอ (sà-mǒoe)
Placement in sentence: It’s put at the end of a sentence.
Example:
ฉ้นคิดถึงเธอเสมอ
chǎn-khít-thǔeng-thooe-sà-mǒoe
“I always think of you.”
Additional note: Apart from meaning “always,” เสมอ (sà-mǒoe) can also mean “draw” or “tie.”
7 – All the time
Thai adverb: ตลอดเวลา (dtà-làawt-wee-laa)
Placement in sentence: It’s put either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Placement in sentence: It’s put at the end of a sentence.
Example 1:
เขาอ่านหนังสือ 1 เล่มทุกสัปดาห์
khǎo-àan-nǎng-sǔue-nùeng-lêm-thúk-sàp-daa
“He reads a book weekly.”
Example 2:
สิงห์เตะบอลทุกอาทิตย์
sǐng-dtè-baawn-thúk-aa-thít
“Singh plays football weekly.”
Additional note: ทุกสัปดาห์ (thúk-sàp-daa) and ทุกอาทิตย์ (thúk-aa-thít) have the same meaning and can substitute one another. However, since สัปดาห์ (sàp-daa) is more formal than อาทิตย์ (aa-thít), you can also guess that ทุกสัปดาห์ (thúk-sàp-daa) is more formal than ทุกอาทิตย์ (thúk-aa-thít) as well.
11 – Monthly
Thai adverb: ทุกเดือน (thúk-duuean)
Placement in sentence: It’s put at the end of a sentence.
Additional note: ทุกไตรมาส (thúk-dtrai-mâat) and ทุก 3 เดือน (thúk-sǎam-duuean) have the same meaning and can substitute one another. However, ทุกไตรมาส (thúk-dtrai-mâat) is more formal than ทุก 3 เดือน (thúk-sǎam-duuean). ทุกไตรมาส (thúk-dtrai-mâat) is often used in news or formal reports.
13 – Annually
Thai adverb: ทุกปี (thúk-bpii)
Placement in sentence: It’s put at the end of a sentence.
Placement in sentence: It’s often put at the end of a sentence, or after อยู่ (yùu), which is the verb “to be” in Thai.
Example 1:
ฉันจะรอเธออยู่ตรงนี้
chǎn-jà-raaw-thooe-yùu-dtrong-níi
“I will wait for you here.”
Example 2:
เธอมาทำอะไรที่นี่
thooe-maa-tham-à-rai-thîi-nîi
“What are you doing here?”
Additional note: ที่นี่ (thîi-nîi) and ตรงนี้ (dtrong-níi) have very similar meanings and can substitute one another. However, ตรงนี้ (dtrong-níi) refers to a small area around the speaker, while ที่นี่ (thîi-nîi) refers to a wider area around the speaker.
Placement in sentence: It’s often put at the end of a sentence, or after อยู่ (yùu), which is the verb “to be” in Thai.
Example 1:
อีก 5 นาทีน้ำจะไปถึงที่นั่น
ìik-hâa-naa-thii-nám-jà-bpai-thǔeng-thîi-nân
“Nam will be there in 5 minutes.”
Example 2:
กระเป๋าของเธออยู่ตรงนั้น
grà-bpǎo-khǎawng-thooe-yùu-dtrong-nán
“Your bag is there.”
Additional note: ที่นั่น (thîi-nân) and ตรงนั้น (dtrong-nán) have very similar meanings and can substitute one another. However, ที่นั่น (thîi-nân) refers to a small area around the person you’re talking to, while ที่นี่ (thîi-nîi) refers to a wider area around the person you’re talking to.
“When I travel to Krabi, I like the weather over there.”
Example 2:
อย่าไปตรงนู้น คนเยอะมากเกินไป
yàa-bpai-dtrong-núun khon-yóe-mâak-gooen-bpai
“Don’t go over there. It is too crowded.”
Additional note: ที่นู่น (thîi-nûun) and ตรงนู้น (dtrong-núun) have very similar meanings and can substitute one another. However, ที่นู่น (thîi-nûun) refers to a small area of the place you’re talking about, while ที่นี่ (thîi-nîi) refers to a wider area of the place you’re talking about.
4 – Everywhere
Thai adverb: ทุกที่ (thúk-thîi)
Placement in sentence: It has no certain placement in a sentence.
“Who is the owner of the box in front of the room?”
Example 2:
ต้นไม้ที่อยู่ด้านหน้าพนิตชื่ออะไร
dtôn-mái-thîi-yùu-dâan-nâa-phá-nít-chûue-à-rai
“What is the name of the tree in front of Panit?”
Additional note: ข้างหน้า (khâang-lǎng) and ด้านหน้า (dâan-lǎng) have very similar meanings and can substitute one another.
13 – Abroad
Thai adverb: ต่างประเทศ (dtàang-bprà-thêet)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put after อยู่ (yùu), which is the verb “to be” in Thai.
Example:
ตอนนี้มานิตเรียนอยู่ต่างประเทศ
dtaawn-níi-maa-nít-riian-yùu-dtàang-bprà-thêet
“Manit is studying abroad now.”
Additional note: Literally, ต่างประเทศ (dtàang-bprà-thêet) means “different country” in Thai. ต่าง (dtàang) means “different” and ประเทศ (bprà-thêet) means “country.”
5. Thai Adverbs of Manner
1 – Slowly
Thai adverb: ช้า (cháa)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put after the verb.
Example:
เขาเดินช้า เพราะ เจ็บขา
khǎo-dooen-cháa phráw-jèb-khǎa
“He walks slowly because his leg hurts.”
2 – Quickly
Thai adverb: เร็ว (reo)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put after the verb.
Example:
ลลิตาหั่นผักได้เร็วมาก
lá-lí-dtaa-hàn-phàk-dâi-reo-mâak
“Lalita can chop vegetables very quickly.”
Lalita can chop vegetables very quickly.
3 – Intentionally
Thai adverb: ตั้งใจ (dtâng-jai)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put before the verb.
Example:
แม่ตั้งใจทำน้ำแกงให้ฉัน
mâae-dtâng-jai-tham-nám-gaaeng-hâi-chǎn
“Mom makes this soup for me intentionally.”
4 – Neatly
Thai adverb: เรียบร้อย (rîiap-ráauy)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put after the verb.
“He did the work perfunctorily, didn’t pay much attention.”
Example 2:
อย่าทำลวก ๆ นะ
yàa-tham-lûuak-lûuak-ná
“Don’t do this perfunctorily.”
Additional note: ทำให้เสร็จ ๆ ไป (tham-hâi-sèt-sèt-bpai) sounds more formal than ทำลวก ๆ (tham-lûuak-lûuak). ทำลวก ๆ (tham-lûuak-lûuak) is often used in spoken language.
Placement in sentence: It’s often put after the verb.
Example:
หนังสือเล่มนี้ถูกเขียนมาอย่างดี
nǎng-sǔue-lêm-níi-thùuk-khǐian-maa-yàang-dii
“This book is written well.”
22 – Angrily
Thai adverb: อย่างโกรธเคือง (yàang-gròot-khuueng)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put after the verb.
Example:
แม่มองน้องอย่างโกรธเคือง
mâae-maawng-náawng-yàang-gròot-khuueng
“Mom looked at my younger brother angrily.”
6. Thai Adverbs of Degree
1 – Very / So
Thai adverbs: มาก (mâak); โคตร (kôot)
Placement in sentence: มาก (mâak) is put after adjectives and adverbs, while โคตร (kôot) is put before adjectives and adverbs.
Example 1:
เขาวิ่งเร็วมาก
khǎo-wîng-reo-mâak
“He can run very fast.”
Example 2:
เธอทำอาหารโคตรเก่ง
thooe-tham-aa-hǎan-khôot-gèng
“She cooks very well.”
Additional note: มาก (mâak) and โคตร (khôot) have the same meaning and can substitute one another. However, โคตร (khôot) is viewed as a rude word, so don’t use it in formal conversations.
Placement in sentence: ค่อนข้าง (khâawn-khâang) is put before adjectives and adverbs, while พอสมควร (phaaw-sǒm-kuuan) is put after adjectives and adverbs.
Additional note: ค่อนข้าง (khâawn-khâang) and พอสมควร (phaaw-sǒm-khuuan) have the same meaning and can substitute one another. However, พอสมควร (phaaw-sǒm-khuuan) is slightly more formal than ค่อนข้าง (khâawn-khâang).
3 – Too
Thai adverb: เกินไป (gooen-bpai)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put after adjectives and adverbs.
Placement in sentence: มาก ๆ (mâak-mâak), โคตร ๆ (khôot-khôot), and สุด ๆ (sùt-sùt) are all put after adjectives and adverbs.
Example 1:
เธอทำได้ดีมาก ๆ
thooe-tham-dâi-dii-mâk-mâk
“You did this extremely well.”
Example 2:
รถคันนี้วิ่งได้เร็วโคตร ๆ
Rót-khan-níi-wîng-dâi-reo-khôot-khôot
“This car can go extremely fast.”
Example 3:
แอนร้องเพลงได้เก่งสุด ๆ
aan-ráawng-pleeng-dâi-gèng-sùt-sùt
“Aan can sing terribly well.”
Additional note: มาก ๆ (mâak-mâak), โคตร ๆ (khôot-khôot), and สุด ๆ (sùt-sùt) have the same meaning and can substitute one another. However, โคตร ๆ (khôot-khôot) is viewed as a rude word which can’t be used in formal conversations, and สุด ๆ (sùt-sùt) is a slang word used among adolescents.
5 – Not very
Thai adverb: ไม่ค่อย (mâi-kâauy)
Placement in sentence: It’s often put before adjectives and adverbs.
Example:
ณภัทรวิ่งไม่ค่อยเร็วเพราะตัวอ้วน
ná-pát-wîng-mâi-khâauy-reo-phráw-dtuua-ûuan
“Napat can’t run very fast because he is fat.”
7. Conclusion
How do you feel about adverbs in Thai after reading this article? Can you remember them all? We know that it takes a lot of work to finish this lesson. We suggest you use these Thai adverbs a lot as practice so you can remember them faster.
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