What to say when you are in an uncomfortable situations in Thailand
Situation 1: When someone is trying to offer you a service or trying to sell you something. You just simply say:
- ไม่ค่ะ/ครับ “maî kâ/kráp” = No
- or ไม่เอา….ขอบคุณค่ะ/ครับ “maî-ao…kàwp-khun kâ/kráp” = No, Thank you.
- or มีแล้วค่ะ/ครับ “mee-laéw kâ/kráp” = I’ve already had it.
- or ยังไม่สนใจค่ะ/ครับ “yang maî sŏn-jai kâ/kráp” = I’m not interested in it yet.
Situation 2: When someone is trying to ask you for some money. You just simply say:
- ไม่มีค่ะ/ครับ “maî-mee kâ/kráp” = I don’t have it.
Situation 3: When someone is blocking your way and you want to get through. You just simply say:
- ขอโทษค่ะ/ครับ “kŏr-toâd kâ/kráp” = Excuse me.
- or ขอทางหน่อยค่ะ/ครับ “kŏr taang noì kâ/kráp” = Can I get pass, please?
Situation 4: When you are in the meeting, at the party or in the middle of conversation and you want to be excused for a moment. You just simply say:
- ขอตัวสักครู่นะคะ / ครับ “kŏr dtua sàk-kroô ná kâ/kráp” = May I be excused?
Situation 5: When you are at the party or hanging out with friends and you want to take leave. You just simply say:
- ขอกลับก่อนนะ “kŏr glàb gàwn ná” = Can I take leave first?
Situation 6: When your friend/colleague loses one of his/her member in the family. You have to show your sympathy by saying:
- เสียใจด้วยนะ “siă-jai duây ná” = I’m sorry for your lose. (informal)
- ขอแสดงความเสียใจด้วยนะคะ/นะครับ “kŏr sà-daeng kwaam siă-jai duây ná kâ/kráp” = I am sorry for your lose. (formal)
Situation 7: When someone is making a loud noise in public place and it really disturbs or annoys you. You just simple say:
- ขอโทษค่ะ/ครับ “kŏr-toâd kâ/kráp ….chuây kui siăng bao-bao noì daî-maí kâ/kráp?” = Excuse me, can you please low your voice down?
Situation 8: When a person you are talking to speaks very fast to you. You just tell him/her to:
- ช่วยพูดช้า ๆ หน่อยได้ไหมคะ/ครับ “chuây poôd chaá-chaá noì daî-maí kâ/kráp?” = Can you please speak slowly?
Situation 9: When a vendor is trying to cheat on you by adding the price up from the regular price. Surprise them with:
- ปกติราคา……..บาทเอง “pòk-gà-dtì raa-kaa …(price)……. Baht aing” = Usually, it costs only……Baht
- Or เคยซื้อราคา ……………. บาทเอง “koey seúh raa-kaa …..(price)…. Baht aing” = I used to buy it with this price
Situation 10: When you have to cancel the appointment urgently. Try this:
- ขอโทษค่ะ/ครับ …. วันนี้ไปไม่ได้พอดีติดธุระด่วนค่ะ/ครับ “kŏr-toâd kâ/kráp.…wan-neé bpai maî-daî..por-dee dtìd tú-rá duàn kâ/kráp” = Sorry, I cannot come today. I just have an urgent matter to do.
Situation 11: When your Thai girlfriend is angry with you. This might save your life!
- ขอโทษครับ … ผมผิดเอง …ยกโทษให้ผมได้ไหมครับ … ผมจะไม่ทำอีกแล้วครับ “kŏr-toâd kráp…pŏm pìd aing…yók-toâd haî pŏm daî-maí kráp?…pom jà maî-tam eèk-laéw kráp” = I’m sorry…it was all my fault….can you please forgive me? I won’t do that again. **then make your eyes like a little puppy or kitten**
Please note: Kâ ค่ะ (for female) = is a polite particle that added at the end of the phrase or sentence
Kráp ครับ (for male) = a polite particle that added at the end of the phrase or sentence
I hope these Thai phrases and sentences will help you get through some uncomfortable situations that you usually find in everyday life.
Mulan
Thai Language Teacher
