Learn the difference between khráp and kha
Now Playing: Lesson Audio
Get a breakdown of the dialogue and translations instantly with the Premium line-by-line Audio. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.
Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.
Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.
| Michael: What's the difference between khráp and khâ? |
| Nantanee: And how should you use them? |
| Michael: At ThaiPod101.com, we hear these questions often. |
| The following situation is typical. Karen is checking into a hotel with her husband, Mark. She says to the receptionist, "Hello." |
| KAREN LEE: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| Michael: Listen to the way both she and Mark greet the receptionist. |
| [DIALOGUE - THAI ONLY] |
| KAREN LEE: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| MARK LEE: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| Michael: Once more with the English translation. |
| [DIALOGUE - WITH TRANSLATION] |
| KAREN LEE: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| Michael: "Hello." |
| MARK LEE: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| Michael: "Hello." |
| Michael: Did you notice how Mark ends his greeting by saying, |
| Nantanee: ครับ (khráp) |
| Michael: while Karen ends her greeting by saying, |
| Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
| Michael: This is typical in Thai. To create a formal sentence, Thai speakers add a final particle. This particle will vary depending on the gender of the speaker. |
| Nantanee: ครับ (khráp) |
| Michael: is usually used by male speakers, while |
| Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
| Michael: Is usually used by female speakers. |
| Michael: Now let's look at some examples. Our first example is |
| Nantanee as Mark: |
| ผมสามารถพูดภาษาอังกฤษครับ (phǒm sǎa-mâat phûut phaa-sǎa ang-grìt dâi khráp) (enunciated) |
| ผมสามารถพูดภาษาอังกฤษครับ (phǒm sǎa-mâat phûut phaa-sǎa ang-grìt dâi khráp) |
| Michael: "I can speak English." The speaker is male and he ends his sentence with |
| Nantanee: ครับ. (khráp) |
| Michael: The next example is |
| Nantanee as Karen: |
| ไปรษณีย์อยู่ที่นี่ค่ะ (bprai-sà-nii yùu thîi nîi khâ) (enunciated) |
| ไปรษณีย์อยู่ที่นี่ค่ะ (bprai-sà-nii yùu thîi nîi khâ) |
| Michael: "The post office is here" The speaker is female, and she ends her sentence with the particle |
| Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
| Michael: Let's review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the Thai speaker, focusing on pronunciation. |
| Do you remember how Karen Lee says, "Hello." |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| Nantanee as Karen Lee: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| Michael: Listen again and repeat. |
| Nantanee as Karen Lee: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| Michael: And do you remember how Mark Lee says, "Hello." |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| Nantanee as Mark Lee: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| Michael: Listen again and repeat. |
| Nantanee as Mark Lee: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| Michael: Great job. Now you know how to use the particles, |
| Nantanee: ครับ (khráp) |
| Michael: and |
| Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
| Michael: in Thai. That's all there is to it! Be sure to download the lesson notes for this lesson at ThaiPod101.com and move onto the next lesson! |
Comments
HideWhat Thai learning question do you have?
Hi Evan,
Thank you. I think we don't have one. Nonbinary seem to be able to avoice saying particle but still sound polite. Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Hi! I was just wondering since ค่ะ is for female speakers and ครับ is for male speakers, do you have any advice for what nonbinary people should do?