11 Ways to Express Appreciation in Thai

​​Before we get began, it is crucial that you just perceive a significant side of the Thai language.

Thai accommodates phrases known as ending particles which are very continuously used on the ends of sentences. They soften what’s being mentioned and present respect to the particular person you might be speaking to.

These ending particles is likely to be in contrast to utilizing the phrase “please” or saying one thing like “if you don’t mind” on the finish of a sentence or request.

Often, they don’t have a literal which means however as a substitute change the tone of what you are attempting to say, often to make a sentence extra well mannered or respectful. It’s related to the distinction between bluntly saying “give me that” versus a kinder “could you hand me that please?”

These particles are such an necessary a part of the Thai language that they’re among the many most used phrases in on a regular basis dialog. Forgetting to embody them or not studying how to correctly use them may outcome in your Thai sounding harsh or blunt.

The ending particles that we are going to be discussing in this text are:

• ครับ (krap)
• ค่ะ (ka)
• นะ (na)
• จ้า (jaa)

Keep in thoughts that the ending particle you employ is dependent upon who the speaker is, it doesn’t change primarily based on who you might be talking to.

ครับ (krap) is an ending particle that’s utilized by male audio system and it’s added on the finish of a sentence to soften it and make it sound extra well mannered.

It doesn’t have a direct translation however is used very continuously in spoken Thai. You may contemplate it a well mannered interval to the top of your sentence.

Female audio system use the ending particle ค่ะ (ka). It’s the equal of ครับ (krap) talked about above. Female audio system use it in the identical manner, and it carries the identical which means.

Both female and male audio system can use นะ (na) to make a well mannered assertion.

นะ is commonly used when making requests.

If you prefer to to be additional well mannered you may say นะ (na) proper earlier than ครับ (krap) or ค่ะ (ka).

จ้า (jaa) is an ending particle that, technically, each female and male audio system can use, however it’s rather more typically utilized by feminine audio system.

It is taken into account much less well mannered and would typically solely be used when talking with people who find themselves youthful than you or of a decrease standing.

Now that you just’ve discovered just a few of the extra necessary ending particles, I’m going to present you ways these can be utilized to correctly say “thank you” in Thai.

The mostly used phrase in Thai to say “thank you” is ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun krap/ka).

If you’re a male speaker you’ll say ขอบคุณครับ (kop khun krap) and in case you are a feminine speaker you’ll use the phrase ขอบคุณค่ะ (kop khun ka).

ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun krap/ka) is essentially the most generally used manner to thank somebody and this may be safely mentioned 99% of the time. You can say this whenever you’re talking with somebody youthful than you in addition to somebody older and of a better standing.

In the Thai language, there may be typically a particularly formal and casual manner to say the identical factor. ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun krap/ka) strikes the right stability of exhibiting respect whereas not being too formal. It could possibly be used together with your boss or another person of upper standing however on the identical time wouldn’t be uncommon to say to a pal or colleague.

If you prefer to to present an additional degree of politeness, you should use the phrase ขอบคุณนะครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun na krap/ka). นะ (na) provides an additional degree of respect and consideration for the particular person you’re thanking.

You can use ขอบคุณนะครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun na krap/ka) to thank somebody who’s going out of their manner to enable you to with one thing, or in case you are not very acquainted with somebody and need to present somewhat bit extra respect in the direction of them.

If you prefer to to say “thank you very much” in Thai, you should use ขอบคุณมากครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun mak krap/ka). The phrase มาก (mak) means “much” or “very”, so you might be exhibiting the next degree of gratitude.

Similar to ขอบคุณนะครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun na krap/ka) you’ll use ขอบคุณมากครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun mak krap/ka) when somebody has accomplished one thing additional sort for you.

This phrase is taken into account respectful and type with anybody and it’s all the time factor to say when somebody has helped you out.

A enjoyable function of the Thai language is that you could typically repeat a phrase for emphasis. This is so widespread that there’s a image in written Thai known as a ไม้ยมก (mai yah-moke) that signifies you must repeat the earlier phrase a second time.

In this case, that may imply you may say มาก (mak) twice to present that you just actually admire the particular person you might be talking with. The manner to say that is ขอบคุณมากๆครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun mak mak krap/ka).

What if somebody you don’t know very properly has been very sort to you and also you need to be sure to thank them in a respectful manner?

In that case, you’ll need to use ขอบคุณมากนะครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun mak na krap/ka). มาก (mak) provides an additional degree of appreciation and นะ (na) exhibits extra consideration and politeness.

Another manner to specific appreciation is to use the phrase ขอบคุณจริงๆครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun jing jing krap/ka) which interprets to “thank you, sincerely.”

Notice that the phrase จริง (jing) which suggests “true” is repeated twice to add emphasis. This is a heartfelt manner to present the particular person you might be speaking to that you’re really grateful for what they did for you.

This is a phrase that may be applicable to use with everybody you might be talking with.

Of course, you wouldn’t communicate together with your shut buddies in the identical manner you’ll communicate to a boss or instructor. So how must you thank your shut buddies?

You can use ขอบใจ (kop jai) when talking with buddies or people who find themselves youthful than you or of a decrease standing. Amongst buddies, utilizing ขอบใจ (kop jai) is a manner to present closeness and familiarity.

You wouldn’t often use ขอบใจ (kop jai) when talking with somebody you don’t know properly because it could possibly be thought-about impolite.

A phrase that’s typically utilized by feminine audio system to thank somebody shut to them is ขอบใจจ้า (kop jai jah).

This continues to be an off-the-cuff manner to thank somebody. You ought to solely use it with these you’re feeling shut to and people who are youthful or of a decrease standing.

In Thai tradition, there’s a gesture of respect that you’ll typically see Thais do to each other. This is known as the ไหว้ (wai) and it’s accomplished by putting your palms collectively, palms touching, at round chest to neck degree. It can generally include a small bow to present respect.

This is a manner that Thais greet one another and generally it will likely be accomplished when thanking each other.

As a Thai learner, you must all the time search for the chance to ไหว้ (wai) to somebody out of gratitude, particularly if somebody does the ไหว้ (wai) gesture to you first.
For additional kindness and politeness, you should use any of the above phrases together with the ไหว้ (wai) gesture.

The solely exception to this are the casual phrases that you’d use amongst buddies. It can be a bit uncommon to ไหว้ (wai) to a detailed pal.

If you might be in Thailand, chances are high that you’re consuming one thing scrumptious.

If you prefer to to thank somebody for getting ready a beautiful meal, you may say ขอบคุณมากสำหรับอาหารอร่อยๆ (kop khun mak sahm rap ah-han ah-roy ah-roy) which interprets to “thank you very much for the delicious food.”

If somebody is thanking you, you would possibly surprise how you must reply.

A quite common phrase to use is ไม่เป็นไร (mai pen rai). This actually interprets to “it’s nothing” and is quite common in spoken Thai. It can be utilized with nearly everybody and is a gracious and type manner of claiming “you’re welcome.”

ไม่เป็นไร (mai pen rai) it’s used in the sense of “it’s no problem at all.”

Interestingly, ไม่เป็นไร (mai pen rai) can be a well mannered manner to say “no” to somebody. Instead of responding to somebody with a direct ไม่ (mai) which means “no,” it may be extra respectful to use the phrase ไม่เป็นไร (mai pen rai)

In this case, it has a which means nearer to “no thank you.”

Another Way to Say “You’re Welcome” in Thai – ยินดีครับ/ค่ะ (yin dee krap/ka)

If you prefer to to add a extra private contact to “you’re welcome”, you should use the phrase ยินดีครับ/ค่ะ (yin dee krap/ka). This actually interprets to “joyful” and implies the thought of “it was my pleasure.”

This phrase is clearly somewhat extra heartfelt and can be utilized with anybody when you prefer to to allow them to know that you just have been completely satisfied to assist.

Now you may have all you want to present your gratitude in Thai!

If you might be in search of extra methods to enhance your Thai, make sure to try Fluent in three Months’s prime sources for studying Thai together with 10 video games and workout routines that may enable you to develop in your language skill.

Jarek Lewis

Language and Travel Writer

Jarek is a language studying and journey author from California. He has traveled to 30 nations and spent a number of years residing overseas in Asia.

Speaks: English, Thai, Spanish

View all posts by Jarek Lewis