How To Say No In Thai Language

How to say no in Thai The Thai word for “no&#8221 […]

How to say no in Thai

The Thai word for “no” is ไม่ (mâi). It is used before a verb or adjective to negate it. For example:

• ไม่ไป (mâi bpai) – I am not going.
• ไม่ชอบ (mâi chôrp) – I do not like it.
• ไม่ใช่ (mâi chai) – It is not.

You can also use the word เปล่า (bplào) to say no, but it is more commonly used in conjunction with the word หรือ (rʉ̌ʉ), which means “or”. This combination is used to form a question that asks if something is or not. For example:

• จะมาหรือเปล่า (ja maa rʉ̌ʉ-bplào) – Are you coming or not?
• คุณเป็นคนไทยหรือเปล่า (khun bpen khon thai rʉ̌ʉ-bplào) – Are you Thai or not?

To answer these questions with a no, you can simply say ไม่ (mâi). For example:

• ไม่มา (mâi maa) – I am not coming.
• ไม่ใช่ (mâi chai) – I am not Thai.

Here are some other examples of how to say no in Thai:

• ไม่เอา (mâi ao) – I don’t want it.
• ไม่กิน (mâi gin) – I don’t want to eat it.
• ไม่ดื่ม (mâi d̂ʉ̂m) – I don’t want to drink it.
• ไม่เป็นไร (mâi bpen rai) – It’s okay.
• ไม่ต้อง (mâi d̂ʉ̂ng) – You don’t have to.

It is important to note that Thai people are generally very polite and indirect, so they may not always say no outright. Instead, they may use phrases such as:

• ไม่แน่ใจ (mâi nâi jai) – I’m not sure.
• ขอลดก่อน (khǒ lât gɔ̀on) – Let me think about it.
• ไม่สะดวก (mâi sà-dวก) – It’s not convenient.
• เกรงใจ (krēeŋcāi) – I’m afraid I can’t.

If you are unsure whether someone is saying yes or no, it is always best to ask again.

Tips for saying no in Thai:

• Be polite and respectful.
• Use indirect language if possible.
• Be firm but not rude.
• If necessary, explain your reasons for saying no.

With a little practice, you will be able to say no in Thai like a native speaker!