Hi everyone,
After we learn how to say hello and greet now it is time to start some basic conversations.
[1] Yes/no questions
Statements are transformed into questions that require a simple yes/no question answer by adding the question particles to the end of the statement:
มั้ย /mái/ (used spoken Thai) orไหม /măi/ (used in formal written Thai)
is an information-seeking question particle used in neutral questions which do not anticipate either a positive or negative response.
The pattern is
Subject + adjective or verb + mái ?
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Answer to simple mái? questions are formed as follows:
YES : VERB/ ADJECTIVE
NO : “mâi” + VERB/ADJECTIVE
For example;
question: bprá-têet tai rôrn mái?
ประเทศไทยร้อนมั้ย
(Is Thailand hot?)
answer: rôrn / mâi rôrn
ร้อน / ไม่ร้อน
Yes / No.
If the question includes more than one verb, the first verb is normally used in responses.
Question:yàak bpai duu năng mái?
อยากไปดูหนังมั้ย
Would you like to go to see a movie?
Answer: yàak / mâi yàak
อยาก / ไม่อยาก
Yes/No.
These are other yes/no question particles you might see in books or hear:
– หรือ /rŭe/ is obsolete, no one is using this one as a question word anymore. It is used for ‘or’.
– รึเปล่า /rúe-bplào/ and มั้ย /mái/ are the same. In spoken Thai, รึเปล่า /rúe-bplào/ is shorten to ป่ะ/bpà?/
Example: Do you like Thai food? can be phrased in three different ways;
1.คุณชอบอาหารไทยมั้ย /kun chôrp aa-hăan tai mái?/
2.คุณชอบอาหารไทยรึเปล่า/ kun chôrp aa-hăan tai rúe-bplàao?/
3.คุณชอบอาหารไทยป่ะ/ kun chôrp aa-hăan tai bpà?/
Sawatdee ka Kru Mod,
may I know if it is possible to start with a verb in front of the sentence. For example, if I want to ask “is shopping at japan fun”, can I write: Chɔppin thii pratheet yiipun sanuk rəə kha
Thank you, would greatly appreciate your help:)
Yes you can start the sentence with a verb. The question you formed is very good, I would correct only one thing which is the question word – it should be “มั้ย /mái/?” –> Chɔppin thii pratheet yiipun sanuk mai kha?
Thank you for your reply 😀
I will answer to the question like this: yes: เป็นคะ (bpen ka) or no: ไม่ใช่คะ (mâi châi ka). Is it right?
Kop kun ka Kru Mod. ^_^
In my opinion, when you answer “yes”, you’d better say ใช่ค่ะ.
Sawatdee ka Kru Mod,
I have a question that is how to say “Is she a teacher?” in Thai.
Kornkun ka KruMod 😀
Sawatdee ka, it is “เขาเป็นครูรึเปล่า” kao bpen kruu rue-bplaao?
Hi , would you please help me , I want to learn thai language .
Regardes
nasser
The writing ” มั้ย” (Mai) and the “ไหม” are the same na krup.
Great Website. Learning thai this way is fun! One question: is ไหม the same as มั้ย ? I see the first in the text and the second in the video. Thank you for all the good info here 🙂
Sawasdii ka Para,
Thank you for your question.
The question word used to form Yes/No question “mái” (high tone), to put it in writing it is “ไหม” (măi – writing language) but it is pronounced as “มั้ย” (mái -speaking language).
When I made my video I was afraid that the audience would be confused if it should be rising tone or high tone, so I decided to write it as the way it is pronounced which is high tone มั้ย. But later when I wrote the blog I thought I better write in Thai script in writing language ไหม. That’s why they are different.
To make it easy to understand, when you speak you say mái (มั้ย) but when you write it, write ไหม (măi) .
I am sorry if I confused you. Please feel free to ask me any questions:)
kop kun ka
Mod
hi ,its gud that i learning more about thai language,so as i got more knowledge for yes /no question,..in the last video a question been asked by mod ,and the answer is yes,so mod can u plz tel me how to wright the yes in thai language,,the quetion was,,,wi-dioo-ssa-nuk-mai?
The yes answer to “mai?” question is repeating the verb/adjective from the question.
Question: wi-di-oo sa-nuk mai?
Answer : sa-nuk krap สนุกครับ