Thai Question & Answer Formats

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

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

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.

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

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):

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

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.