One of the more difficult things to learn when beginning to speak Thai is the proper way to say "no." Unlike English, there is more than one way to say no in Thai. And it is important to learn the proper way to say no, as using the wrong way can lead to confusion. In the beginning it might be difficult, but soon you will catch on.



In Thai, saying no requires that you remember two words. DAI means "can" or "able" while CHAI means "yes" or "correct." To say no, you must place the word MAI in front of one of those two words in order to make the meaning negative. Therefore, in order to say "cannot" you would say "MAI DAI," and in order to say "wrong" or "no" you would say "MAI CHAI."

For example:

MAI DAI

1. Can you please turn on the air conditioner?

ช่วยเปิดแอร์ให้หน่อยได้ไหม คะ/ครับ

CHÛAI PÈRD AIR HÂI-NÒI "DÂI-MĂI" KÁ/KRÁB


No, I can't. The air conditioner is broken.

ไม่ได้ค่ะ/ครับ แอร์เสีย

"MÂI DÂI" KÀ/KRÁB, AIR SǏA


2. Are these mushroom edible?

เห็ดพวกนี้กินได้ไหม คะ/ครับ

HÈT PHÛAK-NÉE GIN DÂI-MĂI KÁ/KRÁB


No, they're not. They're poisonous.

ไม่ได้ค่ะ/ครับ พวกมันมีพิษ

"MÂI-DÂI" KÀ/KRÁB, PHÛAK-MAN MEE-PHÍT


3. Should we try to play a joke on John?

เรามาแกล้งจอห์นกันเถอะ

RAO MA GLÂENG JOHN GAN-THÈUH


No. He'll know it's us.

ไม่ได้ เขาต้องรู้แน่ว่าเป็นพวกเรา

"MÂI-DÂI", KĂO TÂWNG RÓO NÂE WÂ PEN PHÛAK-RAO


MAI CHAI


1. Is it Pim in this photo?

ในรูปนี้คือพิมพ์ใช่ไหม

NAI RÔOP NÉE KEU PHIM "CHÂI-MĂI"?


No, it's Pim's sister.

ไม่ใช่ นี่น้องสาวของพิม

"MÂI-CHÂI", NÊE NÁWNG-SĂO KĂWNG PHIM


2. Was political science your major?

คุณเรียนจบเอกรัฐศาสตร์ใช่ไหม คะ/ครับ

KHUN RIAN-JÒP ÈK RÁT-THA-SÀAT CHÂI-MĂI KÁ/KRÁB


No, I wasn't. I took law.

ไม่ใช่ ค่ะ/ครับ ฉัน/ผม เรียนกฎหมาย

"MÂI-CHÂI" KÀ/KRÁB, CHĂN/PHǑM RIAN KÒT-MĂI


3. Does two plus two equal five?

สองบวกสองเท่ากับห้าใช่ไหม

SĂWNG BÙAK SĂWNG THÂO-GÀB HÂA CHÂI-MĂI


No. Two plus two equals four.

ไม่ใช่ สองบวกสองเท่ากับสี่

"MÂI-CHÂI", SĂWNG BÙAK SĂWNG THÂO-GÀB SÈE