INTRODUCTION |
Jessi: Top 25 Thai Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 16: "How are you?" in Thai. In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Thai learners, and then learn how to answer like a native speaker. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then, through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question "How are you?" In Thai, this is... |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi khá |
Jessi: The first word in the question "How are you?" is... |
Pim: khun |
Jessi: meaning "you" in English. |
Pim: (Slow, by syllable) khun |
Jessi: Listen again and repeat. |
Pim: khun |
{Pause} |
Jessi: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question "How are you?" is- |
Pim: sà-baai dii |
Jessi: meaning "to be fine" |
Pim: (Slow, by syllable) sà-baai dii |
Jessi: Now repeat. |
Pim: sà-baai dii |
{Pause} |
Jessi: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat. |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii |
{Pause} |
Jessi: And next is... |
Pim: mǎi |
Jessi: a particle indicating a yes/no question |
Pim: (Slow, by syllable) mǎi |
Jessi: Now repeat. |
Pim: mǎi |
{Pause} |
Jessi: Listen to the first three words of the question and repeat. |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi |
{Pause} |
Jessi: And next... |
Pim: khá |
Jessi: a polite ending particle for female speakers for questions and requests |
Pim: (Slow, by syllable) khá |
Jessi: Now repeat. |
Pim: khá |
{Pause} |
Jessi: Now listen to the entire question and repeat. |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi khá |
{pause} |
Jessi: Remember to change the final khá to khráp if you’re a male speaker. Now, master the following pattern and responses to the question "How are you?" |
Pim: dì-chǎn sà-baai dii khâ |
Jessi: "I'm fine." Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
Pim: (Slow) dì-chǎn sà-baai dii khâ |
{pause} |
Jessi: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word... |
Pim: dì-chǎn |
Jessi: meaning "I" used by females |
Pim: (Slow, by syllable) dì-chǎn |
Jessi: Now repeat. |
Pim: dì-chǎn |
{Pause} |
Jessi: And next is... |
Pim: sà-baai dii |
Jessi: meaning "to be fine." |
Pim: (Slow, by syllable) sà-baai dii |
Jessi: Now repeat. |
Pim: sà-baai dii |
{Pause} |
Jessi: Next is... |
Pim: khâ |
Jessi: a particle added at the end of the sentence or phrase in order to increase the level of politeness when the speaker is female |
Pim: (Slow, by syllable) khâ |
Jessi: Now repeat. |
Pim: khâ |
{Pause} |
Jessi: Listen to the speaker say "I'm fine." and then repeat. |
Pim: dì-chǎn sà-baai dii khâ |
{Pause} |
Jessi: This is how you would say "I'm fine." if you are a female; if you are a male, simply replace the word dì-chǎn with the word phǒm, and remember to change the final syllable. Now, listen to the entire response as you would say it if you were a male, and repeat. |
Pim: phǒm sà-baai dii khráp |
Jessi: To expand on the pattern, replace "fine" with "very well." |
Pim: sà-baai dii mâak |
Jessi: "very well" |
Pim: (slow) sà-baai dii mâak (regular) sà-baai dii mâak |
Jessi: Listen to the phrase again, this time with "very well." |
Pim: dì-chǎn sà-baai dii mâak khâ |
Jessi: It mostly stays the same, simply replace "fine." Say, "I'm very fine." |
{pause} |
Pim: dì-chǎn sà-baai dii mâak khâ |
Jessi: Remember, this is how to answer you question if you’re a female. Now, let’s try it with a masculine version. To use a different phrase, replace "very well" with "sick." |
Pim: mâi sà-baai |
Jessi: "sick" |
Pim: (slow) mâi sà-baai (regular) mâi sà-baai |
Jessi: Listen to the phrase again, this time with "sick." |
Pim: phǒm mâi sà-baai khráp |
Jessi: Simply replace the phrase "very well" and make the sentence masculine. Say, "I'm sick." |
{pause} |
Pim: phǒm mâi sà-baai khráp |
Jessi: To use a different phrase, replace "sick" with "very sick." |
Pim: mâi sà-baai mâak |
Jessi: "very sick" |
Pim: (slow) mâi sà-baai mâak (regular) mâi sà-baai mâak |
Jessi: Listen to the phrase again, this time with "very sick." |
Pim: phǒm mâi sà-baai mâak khráp |
Jessi: Replace the word "sick" and make the sentence masculine. Say, "I'm very sick." |
{pause} |
Pim: phǒm mâi sà-baai mâak khráp |
Jessi: Ok! Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you're visiting Thailand and someone asks you how you are. You want to respond that you’re fine. Respond to the question. |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi khá (five seconds) dì-chǎn sà-baai dii khâ |
Jessi: Now you want to respond that you're very well. Respond to the question. |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi khá (five seconds) dì-chǎn sà-baai dii mâak khâ |
Jessi: Now you want to respond that you're sick. Answer the speaker's question. |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi khá (five seconds) phǒm mâi sà-baai khráp |
Jessi: Now you want to respond that you're very sick. Answer the speaker's question. |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi khá (five seconds) phǒm mâi sà-baai mâak khráp |
Jessi: Now, you want to ask someone the questions "How are you?" Ask them the question. |
(5 seconds) |
Pim: khun sà-baai dii mǎi khá |
{pause} |
Jessi: This is the end of Lesson 16. |
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