Thai Speaking Lesson: Basic Yes/No Questions

by | Nov 6, 2020 | Thai Speaking Lessons | 0 comments

Vocabulary used in this post

Thai (Phonetic)ThaiEnglish
máiไหมquestion after adjective/verb
mâiไม่negative before adjective/verb
rórnร้อนhot
yenเย็นcold (an object)
pètเผ็ดspicy
aròiอร่อยdelicious
ang-grìtอังกฤษEnglish
grung-thêepกรุงเทพฯBangkok
aahǎanอาหารfood
sǔaiสวยbeautiful
paengแพงexpensive
năuหนาวcold (a feeling)
hǐwหิวhungry
nèuayเหนื่อยtired

Grammar Focus

To create a basic yes/no question in Thai, the structure is slightly different from English.

In English, you would say: Are you hungry? (Question word + pronoun + adjective)

In Thai, you would say: khun (you) hǐw (hungry) mái (are)
(noun/pronoun + adjective + question word)

When you answer in Thai, you just use the adjective + khráp / khâ

Asking about food

Is it HotYes, it’s hotNo, it’s not hot
rórn mái khráp / khârórn khráp / khâmâi rórn khráp / khâ

Grammar Focus

When you add mâi before an adjective it turns it into a negative sentence.

Is the pizza hot?Yes, it’s hotNo, it’s not hot
pizza rórn mái khráp / khârórn khráp / khâmâi rórn khráp / khâ

Grammar Focus

Just like in English, you can give a short answer. You do not need to include the noun in your answer. You do not need to say: yes, the pizza is hot. You can just say: yes, it’s hot.

Is the beer cold?Yes, it’s coldNo, it’s not cold
beer yen mái khráp / khâyen khráp / khâmâi yen khráp / khâ
Is the somtum spicy?Yes, it’s spicyNo, it’s not spicy
somtum pèt mái khráp / khâpèt khráp / khâmâi pèt khráp / khâ
Is the food delicious?Yes, it’s deliciousNo, it’s not delicious
aahǎan aròi mái khráp / khâaròi khráp / khâmâi aròi khráp / khâ
Is English food delicious?Yes, it’s deliciousNo, it’s not delicious
aahǎan ang-grìt aròi mái khráp / khâaròi khráp / khâmâi aròi khráp / khâ

Asking if someone wants something

Do you want a pizza?Yes, I want (a pizza)No, I don’t want (a pizza)
au pizza mái khráp / khâau khráp / khâmâi au khráp / khâ

Grammar Focus

The structure for asking if someone wants something is slightly different. You put the verb au before the noun, and then add question word at the end like the other sentences on this page.

The answer to this question follows the same structure as the rest of the questions. you just use a verb au instead of an adjective.

Asking about a place

Is Bangkok hot?Yes, it is hotNo, it’s not hot
grung-thêep rórn mái khráp / khârórn khráp / khâmâi rórn khráp / khâ
Is Paris beautiful?Yes, it is beautifulNo, it’s not beautiful
Paris sǔai mái khráp / khâsǔai khráp / khâmâi sǔai khráp / khâ
Is London expensive?Yes, it is expensiveNo, it’s not expensive
London paeng mái khráp / khâpaengkhráp / khâmâi paeng khráp / khâ

Grammar Focus

Just like the question: Is it hot? All of the above questions on this page (except do you want) can be asked with only the adjective, such as, Is it beautiful? sǔai mái khráp / khâ

Asking how someone feels

Are you hot?Yes, I am hotNo, I am not hot
khun rórn mái khráp / khârórn khráp / khâmâi rórn khráp / khâ
Are you cold?Yes, I am coldNo, I am not cold
khun nău mái khráp / khânău khráp / khâmâi nău khráp / khâ
Is he/she hungry?Yes, he/she is hungryNo, he/she is not hungry
kháu hǐw mái khráp / khâhǐw khráp / khâmâi hǐw khráp / khâ
Is he/she tired?Yes, he/she is tiredNo, he/she is not tired
kháu nèuay mái khráp / khânèuay khráp / khâmâi nèuay khráp / khâ

Grammar Focus

Just like the previous sentences, you just add a pronoun at the beginning of the sentence instead of the noun.

Also, you do not need to add the pronoun in the answer. A short answer is fine.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *