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?
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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
-
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
iTune Podcast
Q: คุณอยู่เมืองไทยใช่มั้ย
A: ไม่ใช่ผมอยู่ประเทศสวิส
ถูกต้องคะ เก่งมาก /that is correct, well done!
chai muang thai
chai bpen muang thai
mai chai bpen fa rang
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.
No, I am from New Zealand, I just wanted to say – no, I am a foreigner- mai chai bpen fa rang?
Dennis
“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.
ใช่ครับ ผมอยู่ที่เชียงใหม่
ถูกต้องคะ เก่งมาก /that is correct, well done!
mai chai yuu bprateet angrit
ถูกต้องคะ เก่งมาก /that is correct, well done!
Chai, yoo Phayao, khrap.
ถูกต้องคะ เก่งมาก /that is correct, well done!
i have to know your language..to understands the music i like…..from the movie of yes or no
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.
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…
ไม่ใช่ อยู่มะเลยสิะ
you are in Malaysia,right? if so, it should be ไม่ใช่ อยู่มาเลเซีย
Hi,may I know what do Thai people call for Asian foreigner?thank you.
WE don’t have a generic name for Asian foreigners, we call them by their nationality.
can u pls teach me>> what is the english of took hang???
and the fao mong tarm….
“took hang” means everywhere
“fao mong tarm” means look at someone or something
I want to ask you one question about grammar thai and khmer . Is it the same?
I don’t know Khmer at all but there are a lot of loanword from Khmer in Thai language.
คุณอยู่เมืองไทยใช่มั้ย?
Mai chai yu filippin
Kob khun nakap.
ถูกต้อง/ tòok dtông / [to be] correct ; right ; accurate
your question is “kun yoo meuang thai chai maai”
my answer is ” mai chai” yoo istanbul-turkey
hope it is correct…
KOKO
Absolutely correct!!!
Answer from the question “kun yoo meuang thai chai mai”:
mai chai, pom austrian. kop kun kráp.
I hope it´s right
thank you for the answer!
almost perfect : mai chai, pom yoo austrian. kop kun kráp.
mai chai pom yoo Spain Barcelona
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?
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.
สวัสดีค่ะ ไม่ใช่ค่ะ ดิฉันอยู่ที่เม็กซิโกค่ะ แต่ดิฉันอยากไปที่เมืองไทยค่ะ
ไม่ใช่
ใช่ครับ ผมอยู่ที่จังหวัดมหาสารคามครับผม
Chai Mai, chan yuu Philippines ka
mai chain bpen fa rang
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Good post, do you have any others on this topic?