ไม่เป็นไร mâi bpen rai Thai Expression
ไม่เป็นไร “mâi bpen rai” is an idiomatic expression meaning never mind, don’t worry about it, it doesn’t matter. We can use “mâi bpen rai” to response to “Thank you” ขอบคุณ /kɔ̀ɔp-kun/, when it means you’re welcome and to response to “Sorry” ขอโทษ /kɔ̌ɔ-tôot/, when it means it doesn’t matter.
For example,
Thank you : ขอบคุณค่ะ/ครับ kɔ̀ɔp-kun kâ / kráp response : ไม่เป็นไรค่ะ/ครับ mâi bpen rai kâ / kráp
Sorry : ขอโทษค่ะ/ครับ kɔ̌ɔ-tôot kâ / kráp response : ไม่เป็นไรค่ะ/ครับ mâi bpen rai kâ / kráp
Moreover, “mâi bpen rai” is able to use if you want to say “no, thank you” indirectly when somebody offers you something and you do not want it. Sometimes, Thais are worried that they could hurt the others feeling if they said “no” directly so they avoid by saying “mâi bpen rai”
For example,
A : คุณเอากาแฟไหม kun ao gaa-fɛɛ mái? Do you want coffee?
B : ไม่เป็นไรค่ะ (ขอบคุณค่ะ) mâi bpen rai kâ (kòrp-kun kâ). No, thank you.
Huh? You would like to give me some snacks? ไม่เป็นไรค่ะ Mâi bpen rai kâ! ^_^
New Thai Vocabulary
ขอบคุณ kɔ̀ɔp-kun = thank you
ขอโทษ kɔ̌ɔ-tôot = sorry
เอา ao = to take + something
กาแฟ gaa-fɛɛ = coffee
ไหม mái = …….or not?
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Thai Language Hut