Thai question words.. How to ask khon Thai questions

By Jang

No need to be confused anymore when you are asked with these following questions

Ø  Châi-mái?           ใช่มั้ย

Ø  Mái?                      มั้ย

Ø  Roĕr?                    เหรอ

Ø  Reŭh-bplaào?   หรือเปล่า

Ø  Reŭh-yang?        หรือยัง

Here are the hints to help you out with this problem, Let’s take a look together

Ø Châi-mái? ใช่มั้ย  is just like a tag-question in English. When you reply, just simply say “châi” for Yes and “mâi-châi” for No

Examples:

Q: Khun-cheuh-Sùpansăa-châi-mái? 

Your name is Supansa, isn’t it?   คุณชื่อสุพรรษาใช่มั้ย

A: châi-ka            Yes         ใช่

A: mâi-châi ka, chán-cheûh-Pánídaa      

No, my name is Panida  ไม่ใช่ค่ะ   ฉันชื่อพนิดา

Q: Baân-kun-yoò-teê-sù-kŭm-víd-soi-24-châi-mái?   บ้านคุณอยู่ที่สุขุมวิทซอย 24 ใช่มั้ย

A: châi-kráb        Yes     ใช่ครับ

A: mâi-châi-kráb, baân-pŏm-yoò-teê-sù-kŭm-víd-soi-26  

= No, my house is in Sukhumvit Soi 26   ไม่ใช่ครับ       บ้านผมอยู่ที่สุขุมวิทซอย 26

But when the question ends in “mái?” you have to answer in different way from “châi-mái?”

Ø Mái?  มั้ย  The usage of this question word is similar to English grammar e.g. …Do you…? Does he…? Did she…? Will you…? Can you…?

To say Yes

Noun Classifiers in Thai language - how to use it properly!

By Jang

You might find ‘noun classifiers’ in Thai language hard to use. Here are some hints that will help you to go through this confusing subject.

In English you do not have a noun classifier just to identify an object. That is why many foreigners make a mistake when they talk about numbers of objects

Examples:          

I have two cars  =            chán mee săwng rót  à  Χ          chán mee rót săwng kan  à √

There are four dogs   =   mee seè maă   à  Χ                      mee maă seè dtua    à  √

How many bags do you have?   =  khun mee geè grà-bpaŏ?   à   Χ     khun mee grà-bpaŏ geè bai?   à   √

How many books are there? = mee geè năng-seŭh?  à    Χ         mee năng-seŭh geè lêm?  à  √

Noun Classifiers are the words used when specifying the numbers of things/objects.

*Sentence pattern*  =  object + numbers + noun classifier

*Question pattern*  =  object + geè + noun classifier

Examples: 

Maew  săwng dtua          = two cats                           แมวสองตัว

(maew = cat,  săwng = 2,    dtua = classifier for animals)

Baân saăm lăng                 = three houses                 บ้านสามหลัง

(baân = house,   saăm = 3,    lăng = classifier for house)

Sôm sìb bai                         = ten oranges                    ส้มสิบใบ

Sôm sìb loôk                      = ten oranges                    ส้มสิบลูก

(sôm = oranges,    sìb = 10,     bai/loôk = classifier for fruits)

Q: Khun mee rót geè kan?           คุณมีรถกี่คัน          = How many cars do you have?

A: Chán mee rót săwng kan         ฉันมีรถสองคัน       = I have two cars

(rót = cars,     săwng = 2,   kan = classifier for cars,   geè = how many?)  

Q: Khun mee rawng-taó geè koô?            คุณมีรองเท้ากี่คู่    = How many pairs of shoes do you have?

A: Pŏm mee rawng-taó seè koô                ผมมีรองเท้าสี่คู่      = I have four pairs

(rawng-taó = shoes,    seè = 4,   koô = classifier for shoes,   geè = how many?)

** Geè…(classifier)…? กี่ = How many?  Always used with noun classifiers

** Taô-raì?  เท่าไหร่    = How much?  Not required ‘noun classifiers’. It can be used alone.

Kru Mulan J

Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Thai consonants - Why we have to learn the three groups?

By Jang

The reason that all foreigners who learn reading and writing Thai have to know about the three groups of Thai consonants is that it helps them with tones, pronunciation and correct writing. As a Thai Language Teacher it is difficult to explain how important this is. There is no particularly easy way to learn this other than practice, practice and practice.

What are the three Thai Consonants?
They are the three types of letters that comprise the Thai Alphabet. The three groups of consonants consist of Middle consonants, High consonants and Low consonants. For example ..

Middle Consonants : ก   จ    ด    ต   บ    ป    อ

High Consonants:  ข   ถ   ฉ   ส   ห   ผ    ฝ

Low Consonants:  ง   น   ม   ย   ว   ท   พ   ค    ร

Kru Mulan

Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Doctor, what’s wrong with me??… Learn Thai at Hospital :)

By may

As you go to the hospital hearing Thai doctors and Thai nurses talking about what you have got in Thai Language but you might not be familiar with those words. Have you been curious about what Thai people call some diseases and symptoms?