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Thai Question & Answer Formats

In this section we have used two of the many ways to form questions and answers in Thai.

นี่ อะไร
(nêe à-rai)
what is this?

The word อะไร (à-rai) means what? Just as in English, you answer by supplying the information asked about.

นี่เก้าอี้ใช่ไหม
(nêe gâo-êe châi-mǎi)
this is a chair, right?

We also used the words ใช่ไหม (châi-mǎi) which is often used when you want to confirm what you think you know.

Because this lesson has been about using the demonstrative pronouns นี่, นั่น, and โน่น, we have not used the question particles, which are simply added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. This form tends to sound a little abrupt. Because you are asking for help, you should avoid this, or at least add the polite particle.

นั่นหนังสือหรือ
(nûn nǎng-sǔu rǔu)
Is that a book?
นั่นดินสอไหม
(nûn din-sǎw mǎi)
Is that a pencil?

Two other forms that you will hear all the time are:

นี่ประตูหรือเปล่า
(nêe bprà-dtoo rǔu blào)
Is this a door? (yes or no)

Although รือเปล่า (rǔu blào) is used all the time to ask questions, it tends to sound more like a demand than a request. Once again, softening it with several polite particles will help.

Two addition forms that we have not covered so far are ใช่หรือ (châi-rǔu) and ใช่หรือเปล่า (châi-rǔu blào):

นั่นเก้าอี้ใช่หรือ
(nûn gâo-êe châi rǔu)
That's a chair, right?

ใช่หรือ (châi-rǔu) and ใช่ไหม (châi-mǎi) are the same.

นี่ดอกไม้ใช่หรือเปล่า
(nêe dàwk-máai châi rǔu blào)
Is this a flower? (yes or no)

ใช่หรือเปล่า (châi-rǔu blào) and หรือเปล่า (rǔu blào) are the same.

How to answer:

Generally, any answer that sounds polite and complete will be just fine. But some answers require more than a simple yes or no, so you should practice saying the complete sentences in our exercises, over and over.

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Gender  (Recordings for your gender)
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Lesson Navigation:

Application Settings:
Gender  (Recordings for your gender)
Transliterations  (Thai words in English)
Interpretations  (What the words mean)

More to come . . .

Active Thai is a work in progress, supported by our users. Please tell your friends!