Episode 34 :Thai question words part 1

Thai question word
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This is part 1 of a 5 part series on question words in Thai language. This episode we are talking about  ใช่ไหม/châi măi/ isn’t that right?

 

Download MP3 to listen offline here

 Thai question words part 1

This is the first lesson of the new series on “ Thai question words” , in Thai language the question words are at the end of question. Unlike in English where the question words are at the beginner

English : where are you from?

Thai : you (are) from where?

English : what is your name?

Thai: your name( is) what?

So, to create a question in Thai it’s very easy ,simply add a question word at the end of the statement

You like to eat + what?

She comes to Thailand+ when?

 Let’s start with the first question words of this series!!!

 ใช่ไหม/châi măi

ใช่ไหม/châi măi is used when the speaker show some reasonably high confidence toward the information and simply want the listener to confirm it. It’s call confirmation question, equivalent to

-aren’t you? 

-isn’t it ?

 -right? 

isn’t that right?

 These questions are used when you are sure about the answer but still not 100% and you want the listener to confirm it.

 

There are 3 different ways to say ใช่ไหม/châi măi, it’s depend on the degree of formality

1.ใช่ไหม/châi măi  is used in written Thai and in a very formal situation.

2.ใช่มั้ย/châi máai   is used in spoken Thai and casual situation but commonly used. I recommend you to use in spoken Thai.

3.ใช่มะ/châi má is only use in very informal situation.

 Sentence example

Thai question word

  •   เขาเป็นคนไทยใช่ไหม?

kăo bpen kon tai chái măi?

He is Thai, isn’t he?

  •  เค้าเป็นคนไทยใช่มั้ย?

káo bpen kon tai chái máai

He is Thai, right?

  •  เค้าเป็นฝรั่ง**ใช่มะ?

káo bpen fà-ràng chái má

He is a foreigner, isn’t he?

**ฝรั่ง/fà-ràng is the nickname that Thai people use to call foreigners except Asian foreigners.

  •  เป็นฝรั่งใช่มั้ย?

bpen fà-ràng chái má

Are (you) a foreigner?

Special note on the question, the speaker has dropped the pronoun “เป็นฝรั่งใช่มั้ย”

When the pronoun is well understood in the context ,the pronoun can be dropped.

what is เป็น/pben ? how to use it? check it Thai verb to be part 1

Answer  ใช่ไหม/châi măi question

YES answer

You have 2 options:

1. ครับ/kráp( for male speakers), ค่ะ/kâ (for female speakers)

2.ใช่/châi

NO answer

ไม่ใช่/ mâi  châi

Example

Question :  เขาเป็นคนไทยใช่ไหม?

kăo bpen kon tai chái măi?

He is Thai, isn’t he?

Answer : ครับ/ kráp/ yes (male speaker)

ค่ะ/ kâ/ yes (female speaker)

 

Question : เค้าเป็นคนไทยใช่มั้ย?

káo bpen kon tai chái máai?

He is Thai, right?

Answer : ใช่/châi

 

Question : เค้าเป็นฝรั่งใช่มะ?

káo bpen fà-ràng chái má

He is a foreigner, isn’t he?

Answer : ไม่ใช่/mâi châi

 

Question : เป็นฝรั่งใช่มั้ย?

bpen fà-ràng chái má

Are (you) a foreigner?

Special note on the question, the speaker has dropped the pronoun “เป็นฝรั่งใช่มั้ย”

When the pronoun is well understood in the context ,the pronoun can be dropped.

 Answer :ไม่ใช่ เป็นลูกครึ่ง

mâi châi bpen lôok krêung

No, (I) am biracial.

ลูกครึ่ง/lôok krêung means mixed race.

The answer is not only disagree with the question, the speaker is also give the correct information.

 

Now, it’s your turn to answer the question

 

คุณอยู่เมืองไทยใช่มั้ย?

kun yùu muang Thai châi mái?

Please leave the answer in a comment area below

 

 

44 thoughts on “Episode 34 :Thai question words part 1”

  1. meithai says:

    Q: คุณอยู่เมืองไทยใช่มั้ย
    A: ไม่ใช่ผมอยู่ประเทศสวิส

    Reply
    • Mia says:

      I’m assuming that you are living in France, right?
      If so, your answer should be mai chai yuu fa rang set.
      bpen means is, am, are
      yuu means to be located
      France in Thai language is fa rang set.

      Reply
        • Mia says:

          “no, I am a foreigner- mai chai bpen fa rang” is correct if someone is mistaken that you are not fa-rang. Make sure to add a little pause after mai chai (pause) bpen fa rang.

          Reply
    • Mia says:

      In order to understand Thai musics and movies, yes! you will need to learn and understand Thai language :-) , thank you for appreciate Thai movies and musics.

      Reply
      • joizah penaflor says:

        can you teach me??? im searching too..many words i learn… like basic…arai, tam mai tee nai?? but i cant find the others words??? i like toknow…

        Reply
  12. KORKUT SARSILMAZ says:

    your question is “kun yoo meuang thai chai maai”
    my answer is ” mai chai” yoo istanbul-turkey
    hope it is correct…

    Reply
  15. Mukhamad zacky says:

    Q: khun yoo muang thai chai mai?
    A: Mai chai, krab. Phom yoo indonesia, krab.

    Hi, again! I would like to ask some question. Farang could also mean guava, chai mai krab?
    And what the different between spoken language and written language? Is spoken language mean we speak up the tone like it’s written or something?

    Reply
    • Mia says:

      Q: khun yoo muang thai chai mai?
      A: Mai chai, krab. Phom yoo indonesia, krab.

      Your answer is correct!

      The written Thai is more formal than spoken Thai. The same is true with other languages eg. slangs, colloquial words, shortening sentences are commonly seen in spoken language.

      Reply
  16. Brenda says:

    สวัสดีค่ะ ไม่ใช่ค่ะ ดิฉันอยู่ที่เม็กซิโกค่ะ แต่ดิฉันอยากไปที่เมืองไทยค่ะ

    Reply
  18. Cheuchheang Sear says:

    ใช่ครับ ผมอยู่ที่จังหวัดมหาสารคามครับผม

    Reply

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