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How to Say Sorry in Thai

March 10, 2019 by

How to Say Sorry in Thai – Complete Guide to Apologies and Respect

When saying sorry in Thai, the words you should use will depend on the person you are speaking with and your relationship, age and status relative to them. Until you’ve learned to navigate that, just stick to this expression:

ขอโทษ ครับ/ ค่ะ (khaw thot + khrap/kha)

Word breakdown:

  • ขอ (khaw) – is used in Thai as please in the sense of asking for something from someone
  • โทษ (thoht) – means to punish

Even though Thai people don’t think of it this way, it’s a fun mnemonic to think of saying sorry as “Please punish me.”

Formal Apologies – Speaking to Higher Status People

When to Use Formal Apologies

Higher status means bosses, elders, people in respected positions. It will also include people like your partner’s or friend’s parents.

When apologizing in Thai to people of higher status, you should say the standard phrase introduced above, but in many cases, it’s also a good idea to include a wai. If you really messed up, this is a good way to defuse a tense situation.

The Wai Gesture:
ไหว้ [wai] – the wai is when you put your hands together in prayer-like position and it may or may not include a slight bow. The position of the hands in relation to the face/head as well as the deepness of the bow convey differing levels of respect.

What to say:

Informal Apologies – Friends and Partners

Basic Informal Sorry

ขอโทษ

If you’re fairly close to someone (and this can happen fast), you don’t need to use the polite gender particles ครับ/ ค่ะ. The need for politeness drops off considerably at this level of intimacy. If you aren’t sure, use it for the first few sentences and then you can tone it down or phase it out over a longer conversation.

Casual Apologies for Small Mistakes

Stronger Apologies for Serious Mistakes

If you did something really bad or offensive and/or feel really awful about it, you want to express your apology a bit stronger.

Formal Thai Apologies – Public Announcements

This expression is very formal and not normally used in conversation, but you’ll hear it in public announcements, when you call someone on the phone and it doesn’t connect, on the BTS or other public transportation, and you’ll find it written in signs.

Using “Excuse Me” in Thai

Luckily, we can use the same expression, ขอโทษ, for both “sorry” and “excuse me” in Thai.

Examples:

Digital Communication – Social Media and Texting

There tends to be a big drop in formality/politeness in Thai when chatting online. However, when talking on message boards seen by a lot of people, many people will still be fairly polite and often use the polite gender particles. When chatting with your friends on Facebook or Line, it’s not usually necessary.

Explaining What You’re Sorry For

Often times, just saying sorry isn’t enough. You may want to specify what you are apologizing for. Here are some examples of different situations.

Pattern: ขอโทษ + ที่ + what you did wrong

sorry + for + whatever I did wrong / or whatever happened

*You can switch out ขอโทษที่ … for โทษนะ ที่ … to get a more intimate/informal version of this pattern to use with friends.

Being Late or Missing Appointments

Having Done Something Wrong

Apologizing for Not Doing Something

Saying “I Didn’t Mean To” in Thai

ไม่ได้ตั้งใจ – I didn’t mean to. / I didn’t intend to.

Word breakdown:

Expressing Sympathy – Sorry for Things You Didn’t Cause

When you feel bad about something that happened to someone else, such as a death in the family, you’ll use a different phrase.

Examples:

Cultural Context: Why Apologizing Matters in Thailand

Respect and hierarchy are fundamental in Thai culture. Understanding when and how to apologize properly shows cultural awareness and respect for Thai social norms. The wai gesture combined with appropriate apology phrases demonstrates that you understand Thai values.

Building relationships: Proper apologies help maintain harmony (“sanuk”) and face-saving (“kreng jai”) – two crucial concepts in Thai social interaction.

Related Essential Phrases

Politeness is crucial in Thai culture. You should also learn how to say congratulations in thai.

For more essential polite phrases, check out how to say how are you in thai.

Building your vocabulary of courteous expressions includes learning consistency is key.

Filed Under: Beginner Tagged With:

How to Say I Love You in Thai

March 8, 2019 by

 

how-to-say-i-love-you-in-thai

รักต้นไม้บ้างมั้ย = RAK thon-mai baang mai? (Do you LOVE trees?)

How to Say I Love You in Thai?

The quick answer is: chan rak ter or ฉันรักเธอ, but I’d recommend reading further because in context-light language like Thai, choosing the right words and sentences depends on who is talking as well as who you are talking to.

You can click on the blue words and phrases to hear the audio of the Thai word or sentence.

Whether you are studying Thai or just have a significant other that you are trying to impress,  you may be interested in learning how to say I love you in Thai.  Even if you don’t go very deep into Thai language, learning short phrases like this can really win you some bonus points with your partner.

Aside from just knowing how to use and pronounce these Thai phrases correctly, you’ll also hear many of them in Thai songs, Thai soaps and Thai movies.  

In addition to learning the different Thai phrases for “I love you,” we’ll also introduce some of the more common expressions and useful sentences that use the word “love” which is “rak” or รัก in Thai language.

Words for ‘I Love You’ in Thai

how-to-say-i-love-you-in-thai2

หมีมีความรักด้วย

 

The most common expression you’ll probably encounter for “I love you” in Thai across all forms of media is ฉันรักเธอ (chan rak ter).  ฉัน (chan) is generally used as the primary female pronoun, but guys use it in love songs and sometimes on Thai tv and movies. I don’t recommend using this in real life, however if you are male as it can sound a little silly.  You can either drop the pronoun entirely, or use one of the other choices below.  

One thing you will notice pretty quickly in Thai is that the pronouns (like ‘I’ and ‘you’) is often dropped.

When in doubt, just pay attention to how Thai people talk to each other (in real life as opposed to on tv) and copy what they do.  It may take a while sometimes before you can find the answer, but it’s worth the effort.

ฉันรักเธอ (chan rak ter) – I love you.  

ฉัน chan I (primarily used by females)
รัก rak love
เธอ ter you (intimate); she

 

Basic Phrases for “I Love You” in Thai

Choosing the best phrase isn’t always easy.  You’ll probably come across these phrases in textbooks, phrasebooks and other web sites.  I don’t really recommend using them, but they won’t do you any harm.

ผมรักคุณ phom rak khun I love you.  (male speaker)
ฉันรักคุณ chan rak khun I love you.  (female speaker)

 

Thai Sentence Pattern: A รัก B

Here’s the basic sentence pattern saying ‘I love you’ in Thai.

“A loves B,” is what you want to start with, but choosing the correct pronouns to use in Thai can be a little complicated.  Gender, status, age and relationship all have an affect on the words that you should use to refer to both yourself and to whom you are speaking to.

As a learner of the language, you are expected to make mistakes so don’t worry about it too much.  It’s a pretty soft minefield so you won’t lose any limbs. Just keep in mind that the more familiar/intimate/close you are with a person, the more freedom you’ll have to use the informal expressions.

In Thai, it’s very common to drop pronouns when it’s obvious who the target is.  We’ll look at this more in the next section.

Informal ‘I Love You’ in Thai

Since declaring your love for someone tends to be a pretty informal situation to begin with, I’d really recommend becoming familiar with the more informal Thai love phrases you can use with your partner.  You can almost always drop one or both pronouns if it’s clear who is saying what to who.  You can also do this if you just aren’t sure which pronoun to use.

Which Thai pronoun to use?

How to Refer to Your Partner in Thai

Informal;
ผัว poo-ah husband (often used even if not married)
เมีย mia wife (often used even if not married)
Formal:
สามี saa-mee husband
ภรรยา pha-ra-yaa wife

 

General:
แฟน fan boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
ที่รัก thee-rak dear/lover/babe/sweetie

Bonus Thai Love Phrases

 

รักผมรึยัง rak phom rue yang Do you love me yet? (male speaker)
รักฉันรึยัง rak chan rue yang Do you love me yet? (female speaker)
รักไม่เป็น rak mai ppen I don’t know how to love.
ตกหลุมรัก tok lum rak Fall in love (fall-hole-love)
แสดงความรัก sa-dang kwaam rak to show or express love

 

 

Noun vs Verbs in Thai

The word รัก (rak) that we looked at above is going to act as a verb in most cases.  In order to form the noun version of “love” in Thai, you just add the word ความ (kwaam) in front of รัก (rak).  You’ll use the noun form in sentences where you are talking about the concept or idea of love.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of ways to say “I love you” in Thai and this list is not exhaustive, but hopefully we’ve given you enough to get started with.  Remember, that part of learning a language (or any skill!) involves making mistakes and embracing this early on will make the journey go much smoother.

Want to Learn to Read Thai?

Perhaps, the most important part of learning Thai is mastering the script, sounds and tone rules.   It’s very difficult to learn the correct pronunciation using any type of English transliteration and the sooner you get away from it, the faster your Thai will improve.

Try a couple free lessons from my Thai foundation course which teaches everything you need to know about the script, sound system and tone rules of Thai.

Filed Under: Beginner, How to speak Thai, Learn Thai, Learn Thai Online Tagged With: , , ,

How to *Really* Say Yes in Thai

October 16, 2018 by Leave a Comment

How to Say Yes in Thai: Understanding CHAI and Other Common Phrases

Learn the authentic ways to say ‘yes’ in Thai beyond just ‘CHAI’. Discover how to answer yes/no questions correctly in various contexts.

The word “Yes” doesn’t really exist in Thai. The first word you’ll encounter is ใช่ (chai), but that’s usually not the best choice. Typically, you say YES by repeating the key word in the question, or you negate that word to say NO. Understanding this will help you navigate Thai conversations more naturally.

As with many languages, you can’t always translate words directly. In Thai, you express YES or NO based on the context of the question, often without using pronouns. If ใช่ (chai) isn’t in the question, it’s usually better not to use it in the answer.

How to Say Yes in Thai – The Quick Answer

ใช่ (chai) – yes (*actually means “It is” or “that’s right”)

In Thai, you express YES or NO based on the question. Pronouns are often unnecessary. If ใช่ (chai) isn’t in the question, it’s usually best to avoid using it in the answer.

How to Answer Yes / No Questions in Thai

In Thai, answers are often contained within the question itself. Pronouns (you/I/he/she) are usually omitted if the context is clear.

The word MAI ( ไหม) at the end of sentence functions like a  YES/NO question marker.

Example:

Q: ไปไหม (ppai mai) – Are you going? [Go + QUESTION_PARTICLE]

Q: ชอบพิซซ่าไหม (chawp phit-sa mai) – Do you like pizza?

When to Use and Avoid CHAI

Use CHAI ( ใช่) when responding to questions that end with …CHAI MAI? ( ใช่ไหม) and you want to respond affirmatively.    CHAI (ใช่) really means “It is,” or sometimes “That is right.”  It is not used with the same level of frequency as “YES” in English.

Example:

If someone wants to confirm that you like pizza, rather than just ask you, you may hear this:

Q: ชอบกินพิซซ่าใช่มั้ย – (chawp kin pissa chai mai) – (You) like eating pizza right?

Other Common Thai Sentence Patterns:

Yes/No Question Pattern:  ___ รึยัง – Did you ____ or not yet? 

Another very common Thai question that you’ll hear everyday is …. ru yang? (รึยัง) which literally means “or not yet?” but is used ALL THE TIME.   It sounds a little strange in English if we translate it word for word, but this is is basically an additional Yes/No sentence pattern you can use when we expect the thing we are asking about to happen often and/or eventually.

Q: กินข้าวรึยัง (kin khaao ru yang?) – have you eaten yet? (lit. eat rice or not yet)

Q: มีแฟนรึยัง (mee fan ru yang?) – Do you have a gf/bf/husband/wife yet?

Now, there are many different question patterns in Thai.  Here’s another example where you would never use ใช่ (chai).

Q: พรุ่งนี้อยากไปดูหนังกันมั้ย – (phrung nee yaak ppai duu nang gan mai?) – Do you want to go see a movie tomorrow?

Want to Learn to Read Thai?

A crucial part of learning Thai is mastering the Thai script, sounds and tones.   English transliterations often fall short in capturing correct pronunciation.  If you really want to speak Thai compently and confidently, the fastest and most efficient way to do this is to learn the script first.

Sign up and receive at least 5 free lessons from the first course in my Learn Thai Inner Circle program, which teaches all the core skills you need to start speaking and reading Thai language.

Filed Under: Beginner Tagged With: , , ,

How to Practice Tones

December 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

How to Practice Thai Tones: A Beginner’s Guide

Thai tones can seem intimidating at first. But with the right practice methods, you can master them!

Here’s an easy way for beginners to practice tones in Thai.

🎥 Video Guide: Tone Practice Method

Watch this simple technique that makes tone practice much easier:

🎵 Why Tones Matter in Thai

Thai is a tonal language. This means the pitch of your voice changes the meaning of words.

For example:

  • มา (maa) with mid tone = come
  • หมา (mǎa) with rising tone = dog
  • ม้า (máa) with high tone = horse

Getting the wrong tone can completely change what you’re trying to say!

🎯 The 5 Thai Tones

Thai has five distinct tones:

  1. Mid tone – Flat, neutral pitch
  2. Low tone – Starts mid, drops down
  3. Falling tone – Starts high, falls sharply
  4. High tone – High, flat pitch
  5. Rising tone – Starts low, rises up

📝 Practice Methods for Beginners

1. Start with Tone Pairs

Practice words that only differ by tone:

  • ใก glâi (falling) = near
  • ไก gai (mid) = chicken

2. Use Hand Gestures

Move your hand to match the tone direction:

  • Mid: Keep hand flat and level
  • Low: Start middle, drop down
  • Falling: Start high, drop sharply
  • High: Keep hand up high
  • Rising: Start low, go up

3. Practice with Minimal Pairs

Focus on words that sound similar but have different tones:

  • ข่าว (khàao) = news (falling tone)
  • ข้าว (khâao) = rice (falling tone)
  • เข้า (khâo) = to enter (falling tone)

4. Record Yourself

Use your phone to record yourself saying tone practice words. Then compare with native speakers.

5. Listen and Repeat

Find audio of native Thai speakers. Listen carefully to their tones. Then repeat immediately.

🚫 Common Tone Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don’t rush: Take time to get each tone right
  • Don’t ignore context: Some words change meaning completely with wrong tones
  • Don’t give up: Tones take time to master, even for native speakers
  • Don’t practice silently: You need to hear yourself speak

💡 Pro Tips for Tone Practice

  1. Practice daily: Even 10 minutes a day helps
  2. Start simple: Master basic words before moving to complex ones
  3. Use music: Sing Thai songs to practice tone patterns
  4. Find a practice partner: Thai native speakers can give immediate feedback
  5. Be patient: Tone mastery takes months, not days

📱 Helpful Apps and Tools

  • Forvo: Hear native pronunciation of Thai words
  • Google Translate: Has audio playback for tone reference
  • Anki: Create flashcards with audio for tone practice
  • YouTube: Lots of free Thai pronunciation videos

🎯 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Tone Recognition

Listen to Thai words and identify which tone you hear. Start with obvious examples.

Exercise 2: Tone Production

Say the same word with different tones. Record yourself and compare.

Exercise 3: Context Practice

Use tone words in simple sentences. This helps with natural flow.

📚 Next Steps

Once you’re comfortable with basic tones:

  • Learn tone rules for reading Thai
  • Practice with longer phrases and sentences
  • Study how tones change in connected speech
  • Work with a Thai teacher for personalized feedback

🔗 More Resources

I’ve been making lots of new videos lately. If you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube channel, consider doing so.

You can also like my Facebook page for updates.

I’ll be posting more content from recent filming sessions. When I put something up, it will be useful to you. Or at least funny in a Thai way!

Remember: Mastering Thai tones takes time and practice. But with consistent effort, you’ll get there. Good luck!

Filed Under: Beginner, De-Farang-ify, Intermediate, learn to read thai, Tips, Tricks and Tools, Where to start? Tagged With:

Master Thai Tones: Complete Guide + Chart

October 10, 2013 by 2 Comments

Your Complete Thai Tone Rules Chart (Free Download)

Get instant access to the chart thousands of students use to master Thai tones

📊 Your Thai Tone Rules Chart


Complete Thai Tone Rules Chart

👆 Right-click to save this chart to your device

🚀 Quick Start Guide

New to Thai tones? Here’s how to use this chart effectively:

Step 1: Learn the Consonant Classes

High Class (11 letters): ข ฃ ฉ ฐ ถ ผ ฝ ศ ษ ส ห

Mid Class (9 letters): ก จ ฎ ฏ ด ต บ ป อ

Low Class (24 letters): ค ฅ ฆ ง ช ซ ฌ ญ ฑ ฒ ณ ท ธ น พ ฟ ภ ม ย ร ล ว ฬ ฮ

Step 2: Identify Live vs Dead Syllables

Live syllables: End with long vowels or nasal sounds (ม, น, ง, ย, ว)

Dead syllables: End with short vowels or stop consonants (ก, ด, บ, ป, ต, ค)

Step 3: Apply the Rules

Use the chart to determine the tone based on:

  • Starting consonant class
  • Syllable type (live/dead)
  • Tone marks (if present)

💡 Pro Tips for Mastering Thai Tones

  • Start with mid-class consonants – they’re the most predictable
  • Practice with real words – not just individual syllables
  • Use the chart regularly – until the patterns become automatic
  • Focus on common words first – like numbers, colors, and everyday vocabulary

📚 Complete Thai Tone System Details

Ready to dive deeper? Here are the additional elements that make Thai tones work:

Essential Tone Components

  • Vowel Length Recognition: Distinguish between short and long vowels (อ vs อา, เอ vs เออ)
  • Consonant Clusters: Handle combinations like กร, ปร, ตร
  • Silent Letters: Recognize when consonants are silent (marked with การันต์ ์)
  • Tone Mark Exceptions: Know when tone markers override normal rules
  • Word Boundaries: Identify where one syllable ends and another begins

Common Challenges (And How to Overcome Them)

  • Memorizing consonant classes: Use mnemonics and practice daily
  • Vowel pattern recognition: Start with the most common patterns
  • Applying rules consistently: Practice with familiar words first

Ready to Take Your Thai to the Next Level?

This chart is just the beginning. While it shows you the rules, learning to apply them fluently takes practice and the right teaching method.

That’s why I created my step-by-step system that takes you from zero Thai reading ability to confident tone recognition in just 2 weeks.

What makes my course different:

  • ✅ Logical progression – Learn consonant classes in order of difficulty
  • ✅ Memory techniques – Proven methods to memorize consonants quickly
  • ✅ Daily practice system – Make tone recognition automatic
  • ✅ Real examples – Practice with actual Thai words you’ll use
  • ✅ Exception handling – Learn the most important exceptions first
  • ✅ Personal support – Get answers to your specific questions

Stop struggling with confusing explanations and random tutorials.

Get the complete system that actually works.

Get the Complete Course →
Learn More About the System →

Join thousands of students who’ve already mastered Thai reading with this proven system.

Filed Under: Beginner, Intermediate, learn to read thai
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