Learn how to use ครับ (Khráp) or ค่ะ (Kha)
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Intro |
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| Hi everybody! Jay here. Welcome to Ask a Teacher, where I’ll answer some of your most common Thai questions. |
| The Question |
| The question for this lesson is: How do I use ครับ khráp and ค่ะ khâ? |
| Explanation |
| You might have heard these terms when you first learned how to say “hello” in Thai: สวัสดีค่ะ sà-wàt-dii khâ and สวัสดีครับ sà-wàt-dii khráp. But, what are the differences between ครับ khráp and ค่ะ khâ? In the example I gave, the two forms have the same meaning but use different endings. Today, you’ll know how to use them correctly. |
| To start, let me explain the basic meaning of these two words. ครับ khráp and ค่ะ khâ are particles commonly used among Thai people in order to make the sentences more polite and formal. This includes when you talk to the elderly, to someone you respect, or to someone you don’t know very well. Using ครับ khráp and ค่ะ khà helps convey the message in a softer and more polite manner. |
| So how do I use them? Well, the basic rules of these two particles are very simple and easy to understand. These two particles are gender specific - male and female. This means if you’re male, you end your sentences with ครับ khráp. If you’re female, you end your sentences with ค่ะ khà. Simple and easy, right? |
| Now the main question: In what types of sentences do I use them? The answer is, you can use these particles in most sentences in Thai. For example, you can use it to ask for requests, such as ห้องน้ำอยู่ไหนคะ, (hâawng nâm yòo năi khà, “where is the toilet?”) for female or ห้องน้ำอยู่ไหนครับ (hâawng nâm yuù năi khráp, “Where is the toilet?”) for male. You can use it when answering questions, such as อยู่ตรงนี้ครับ. (yòo dtrong née khráp, “It is over here.”) In this case, the person who answered the question is male. If the responder is female, she’ll reply อยู่ตรงนี้ค่ะ. (yòo dtrong nî khà, “It is over here.”) We can see that despite different endings, the meaning of the sentences stay the same. |
Outro |
| Also, you can use ครับ and ค่ะ to mean “yes” when you answer yes-or-no questions. For example, somebody asks you ใช่คุณดีเปล่าคะ. (chài kun Dee bplao khá, “Is this Dee?”) The full sentence would be ใช่ค่ะ. (chài khà or khráp, “Yes, this is Dee.”) But, you can say only ค่ะ (khà) or ครับ (khráp), and the person will know you mean yes. This only works when you want to say yes. If you want to give a negative response, you simply have to add ไม่ใช่ค่ะ (mài chài khà) or ครับ (mài chài khráp). Both mean “No, it’s not.” |
| Pretty interesting, right? |
| If you have any more questions, please leave a comment below! |
| Bye! สวัสดี ค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ) |
Comments
HideWhat Thai learning question do you have?
Hi abigail,
Thank you. Yes, all sentences. If possible for people who are older than you or higher in status of society that need your highly respect. Others people use just every one a while to keep conversation sound nice and polite. Hope that helps. 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
when do you use kha in sentence? do you use it in all sentences?
Hello Oliver,
Thank you.I think it is a reason of melody when you speak either questions with คะ (high tone) or statement sound nice and rhyme with ค่ะ (falling tone). 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
In question of female speakers you have คะ (high tone), whereas in anwers you have ค่ะ (falling tone). Why?
Hello Michael,
Thank you. I think we just not speak according to it spelling khráp, but mostly we just drop "r". Sound will always remain "khap /khaap" I dont think "u" sound will happen in "khráp". Mostly depend on personal hearing. 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
When I've been it Thailand the khráp always sounds more like khúp. Why is that?
Hello Alissa,
Thank you very much for your comment and questions. For female speaker, you always use "khâ/khá" when you speaking to everyone either "male or female". You don't need to end with "khâ/khá" in every single sentences, just use it one in a while or as much as you considered necessary Hope that help. Please let me know if there any future questions. I will be glad to help. We wish you have a good progress with your Thai.
Have a great day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
I am not sure if I understand this.
Does this mean since I am female I will always end my sentences with kha and never use khrap?
or
When I speak to a female I use kha and to male I use khrap?