I always say that if you want to speak Thai correctly, one of the first things you should learn is “Thai verb to be” because it is different from English.
Thai uses several different verbs to translate English ‘is/am/are’, ‘was/were’. The most important are เป็น [bpen] , อยู่ [yùu] and คือ [kue]
1. เป็น [bpen]
A must know rule for เป็น [bpen] is “it is always followed by a noun or noun phrases; it cannot be followed by an adjective:
The pattern of using เป็น [bpen] is “SUBJECT + เป็น [bpen] + noun”
เขาเป็นเพื่อน [káo bpen pûean]
She is a friend.
พวกเขาเป็นคนอเมริกา [pûak- káo bpen kon à-may-rí-gaa]
They are American.
ฉันเป็นครู [chán bpen kruu]
I am a teacher.
* Adjectives in Thai doesn’t need a verb to be:
อาหารแพง [aa-hăan pang]
The food is expensive.
กรุงเทพฯร้อน [grung-tâpe ráwn]
Bangkok is hot.
2. อยู่ [yùu]
อยู่ [yùu] (‘to be situated at’) is used to describe the location:
The pattern of using อยู่ [yùu] is “SUBJECT + อยู่ [yùu] + PREPOSITION + location”
แมวอยู่ใต้โต๊ะ [meaw yùu dtâi dtó]
A cat is under the table.
นมอยู่ในตู้เย็น [nom yùu nai dtûu-yen]
Milk is in the fridge.
แม่อยู่ที่โรงพยาบาล [ mâe yùu têe roong pá-yaa-baan]
Mom is at the hospital.
*Tips : for the preposition ‘ที่ têe’ can be dropped out, so you might hear Thai people say mom is hospital แม่อยู่โรงพยาบาล [mâe yùu roong pá-yaa-baan]
3. คือ [kue]
คือ [kue] means ‘is equal to’ or ‘namely’ and it is used when giving explanations, clarifications and definitions.
ความรัก คือ ความเข้าใจ [kwaam-rák kue kwaam kâo-jai]
Love is understanding.
In some instances, คือ [kue] is used in introductions and identifying people:
นี่คือน้องชายของฉัน [nêe kue nóng-chaai kŏrng chăn]
This is my little brother.
Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
GOOD LUCK!
Mod
ความรัก คือ ความเข้าใจ [kwaam-rák kue kwaam kâ-jai]
u mean kao jai?
Yes, that’s right. Thank you for correcting my mistake. kop kun ka:)
Very good summary of “เป็น” and “อยู่”.
Thank you.
Hi, I was hoping you could help me, I am trying to do a revision sheet for my Thai students. I am looking for the Thai script for “that is…”, I pretty sure it is said “Nang kur” (This is = Nee kur; That is = Nang kur), I just can’t seem to find the Thai script. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Sawatdee ka, “that is…” in Thai is นั่นคือ (nan kue). “this is…” นี่คือ
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Kop kun Krap, I like the way you teach
Pom rack palayah ?
I Love my Wife
wife in Thai is ภรรยา /pan-ra-yaa/
my wife in Thai structure is ‘wife my’ >> pan-ra-yaa korng pom
so it is “pom rak pan-ra-yaa korng pom”