Learn to ask, "How are you?"
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| Introduction |
| Eric: Welcome to 3-Minute Thai Season 1, Lesson 4 - Asking How Someone Is. In this lesson, you'll learn how to ask and answer the question How are you? in Thai. |
| Body |
| Eric: Here's the way to ask "How are you?" in Thai. |
| Jay: [Normal] คุณสบายดีไหมครับ (khun sà-baai-dii mǎi khráp) |
| Eric: Note that this is for male speakers because it has the particle. |
| Jay: khráp |
| Eric: at the end. If you’re a female speaker, use the particle. |
| Jay: khâ |
| Eric: ...instead. Listen to the entire question once more. “How are you?” in Thai is |
| Jay: [Normal] คุณสบายดีไหมครับ (khun sà-baai-dii mǎi khráp) |
| Eric: First is a pronoun meaning "you” politely. |
| Jay: [Normal] คุณ [Slow] คุณ (khun) |
| Eric: Next comes the word meaning “fine" |
| Jay: [Normal] สบายดี [Slow] สบายดี(sà-baai-dii) |
| Eric: Followed by a particle that indicates a yes or no question. |
| Jay: [Normal] ไหม [Slow] ไหม(mǎi) |
| Eric: And lastly, the polite sentence ending for men. |
| Jay: [Normal] ครับ [Slow] ครับ(khráp) |
| Eric: Note the rising intonation. Listen again to the question meaning "How are you?" |
| Jay: [Slow] คุณสบายดีไหมครับ [Normal] คุณสบายดีไหมครับ |
| Eric: Now, imagine you were asked the question “How are you?” Here's the formal way to respond, "I’m fine" if you are a female speaker. |
| Jay: [Normal] ดิฉันสบายดีค่ะ(dì-chǎn sà-baai dii khâ) |
| Eric: First is a pronoun meaning "I" for women. |
| Jay: [Normal] ดิฉัน [Slow] ดิฉัน (dì-chǎn) |
| Eric: Then comes the word meaning "fine" |
| Jay: [Normal] สบายดี [Slow] สบายดี(sà-baai-dii) |
| Eric: And last is the polite sentence ending for women. |
| Jay: [Normal] ค่ะ [Slow] ค่ะ(Khâ) |
| Eric: Note again the rising intonation. Listen again to the formal response "I’m fine" as a female speaker. |
| Jay: [Slow] ดิฉันสบายดีค่ะ [Normal] ดิฉันสบายดีค่ะ |
| Eric: Now let’s cover the way to respond "I’m fine" for male speakers. |
| Jay: [Normal] ผมสบายดีครับ(phǒm sà-baai-dii khráp) |
| Eric: First is a pronoun meaning "I" for men. |
| Jay: [Normal] ผม [Slow] ผม(phǒm) |
| Eric: Next comes the word meaning "fine" |
| Jay: [Normal] สบายดี [Slow] สบายดี(sà-baai-dii) |
| Eric: And last is the polite sentence ending for men. |
| Jay: [Normal] ครับ [Slow] ครับ(khráp) |
| Eric: Listen again to the response meaning "I’m fine" for male speakers. |
| Jay: [Slow] ผมสบายดีครับ [Normal] ผมสบายดีครับ |
| Eric: Here's the way to respond, "I’m sick." if you are a male speaker. |
| Jay: [Normal] ผมไม่สบายครับ(phǒm mâi sà-baai khráp) |
| Eric: First is a pronoun meaning "I" for men. |
| Jay: [Normal] ผม [Slow] ผม(phǒm) |
| Eric: Next is the word meaning "not" |
| Jay: [Normal] ไม่ [Slow] ไม่(mâi) |
| Eric: Then comes the word meaning "fine" |
| Jay: [Normal] สบาย [Slow] สบาย(sà-baai) |
| Eric: And last is the polite sentence ending for men. |
| Jay: [Normal] ครับ [Slow] ครับ(khráp) |
| Eric: Listen again to the response meaning "I’m sick." for male speakers. |
| Jay: [Slow] ผมไม่สบายครับ [Normal] ผมไม่สบายครับ |
| Cultural Insight |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight. |
| Jay: In Thai, you can use the same verb to say both "I am fine" and “I am sick.” The verb Sà-baai means “fine,” and you can change its meaning from “fine” to “sick” by simply adding the prefix mâi, meaning “no” or “not”. You say sà-baai to mean “fine” and mâi sà-baai to mean “sick”. Literally, it means “not fine.” It’s easy to remember, right? |
Outro |
|---|
| Eric: And that's all for this lesson. Don't forget to check out the lesson notes, and we'll see you in the next lesson! |
| Jay: สวัสดี ค่ะ |
Comments
HideListeners! How are you? Try answering this question in Thai.
Hi Rory O'Conor!
Thank you for pointing this out! 😊
The issue is fixed.
We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused.
Let us know if you have any questions. ขอบคุณครับ (khàawp-khun khráp / Thank you)
Team ThaiPod101.com
phrase 1 doesnt the thai include the word khun at the front? (not romanised)
Hi Andy A,
Thank you. That's a good idea. I will suggest. Will take sometime for our team. We will do our best. Please feel free to let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Please allow the Final quiz to be answered in Romanization mode ... I don't have a Thai keyboard :0)
Please consider 4 slide show options
O words in English
O words in English w 4 second delay
O words in Thai
O words in Thai w 4 second delay
... it gives the student a chance to answer :0)
Hi Michael,
Thank you. We're glad to hear. Hope you enjoy studying with us. Please let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
phǒm sà-baai-dii khráp
Hi Saai,
Thank you. Yes, sure you could. If you wish to ask the same question back. Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
How can I ask "How about you?" after i answered someone elses question?
Hello monera,
Thank you. As a female speaker, you would add "khá" which is a high tone used when asking question. Not too little and not too much, you just need polite particle everyone a while during conversation with strangers and elderly people, to show respect. Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Peace & Love,
คุณสบายดีไหม sà-baai-dii mǎi khráp
As a female asking this question, should I ask the question including "khrap" or substitue it for "kha"?
Hello Steven,
Thank you for comment. dii means "good" sentence will sound contradict and not correct grammar. Hope that helps. Please feel free to let me know if you have questions. I will be glad to helps.
Have a nice day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Hi Parisa
I've noticed the last response 'I'm sick/not fine' is 'phom mai sa-baai khrap'.
Is it ok to say 'phom mai sa-baai-dii khrap' also?
Cheers
😁
Hello John,
Thank you for comment and shared. We used it with people we know after you not meet each other after a while then follow with the question for " How are things?" in Thai. Hope that's help. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have future questions. I will be glad to help.
Wish you a great day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
I would advise nobody say "sabai dee mai". I have been using it and get blank stares. I finally asked someone about it and was told nobody says that, which makes sense considering the blank stares I got.
Hello Helen,
Than you very much. ม in "mai" depend on what tone and meaning it is. maai ไมล์ mile / mài ใหม่ new/ mâi ไม่ no/not or ไหม้ to burn / mǎi ไหม silk or ไหม(มั้ย) question particle used to ask general questions. Hope that's help. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a nice day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Hi there not exactly.... I thought that m letter ม would be at the start of mai. Also i dont understand the yes no aspect of it as surely asking how someone is, is not a yes no answer. Thanks 😁
Hello Helen,
Thank you very much. ไหม mǎi a particle indicating yes/no question, it is rising tone by how it's spell but speak with "high tone". Is this what make you confused? Hope that's help. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a nice day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Hi I am confused with the makeup of letters in the word mai, the 'm' seems to be last. Im sure this is a silly question but as i am learning to write and use the alphabet this word and some others are confusing me.
Dear Ki Tae Stünzi,
Thank you very much for your comment and question. We made a mistake the sentence should be คุณสบายดีไหม[ครับ] sà-baai-dii mǎi [khráp] How are you? . Hope that's help. Please let us know if you have future questions. I will be glad to help you. We wish you will have a good progress in learning Thai.
Have a good day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com