Bedeutung
An apology used when arriving after the scheduled time.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of 'Thai Time' means that for social events, being 15-30 minutes late is often expected and not considered rude, but the apology 'ขอโทษที่มาสาย' is still performed as a social grace. Traffic is so notoriously bad that 'Rot Tit' (traffic jam) is the most common and accepted excuse for being late. It's almost a bonding topic. In modern Thai offices, punctuality is highly valued. Arriving late without an apology can be seen as a sign of disrespect toward the hierarchy. Younger Thais often use the English word 'Late' (เลท) instead of 'Sai'. It sounds more modern and slightly less heavy than the traditional apology.
The 'Wai' Factor
If you are late to meet someone older or a boss, perform a small 'Wai' while saying the phrase. It doubles the sincerity of your apology.
Don't Just Say 'Sai'
Saying just 'Sai' (Late) sounds like a statement of fact, not an apology. Always include 'Kho Thot' to be polite.
Bedeutung
An apology used when arriving after the scheduled time.
The 'Wai' Factor
If you are late to meet someone older or a boss, perform a small 'Wai' while saying the phrase. It doubles the sincerity of your apology.
Don't Just Say 'Sai'
Saying just 'Sai' (Late) sounds like a statement of fact, not an apology. Always include 'Kho Thot' to be polite.
The Traffic Excuse
Even if you were late for another reason, blaming the traffic (Rot Tit) is the most socially acceptable excuse in Bangkok.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct word for 'late' in terms of time.
ขอโทษที่มา____ครับ พอดีรถติด
'สาย' (sai) is used for being late according to a clock. 'ช้า' (cha) means slow.
Which sentence is the most polite for a business meeting?
Choose the best option:
'ขออภัย' (kho-aphai) and the particle 'ครับ' (khrap) make it the most formal and polite.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: ทำไมวันนี้มาสายจ๊ะ? B: ________ ตื่นสายค่ะ
When asked why you are late, you should start with an apology.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Match 'โทษทีนะที่มาสาย' with the right person:
'โทษที' is an informal version of 'ขอโทษ', suitable for friends.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Sai vs. Cha
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenขอโทษที่มา____ครับ พอดีรถติด
'สาย' (sai) is used for being late according to a clock. 'ช้า' (cha) means slow.
Choose the best option:
'ขออภัย' (kho-aphai) and the particle 'ครับ' (khrap) make it the most formal and polite.
A: ทำไมวันนี้มาสายจ๊ะ? B: ________ ตื่นสายค่ะ
When asked why you are late, you should start with an apology.
Match 'โทษทีนะที่มาสาย' with the right person:
'โทษที' is an informal version of 'ขอโทษ', suitable for friends.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it's actually very polite to use it even for minor lateness. It shows you value the other person's time.
'Kho Thot' is general and neutral. 'Kho Aphai' is formal and often used in writing or professional settings.
Absolutely. It's very common to text 'ขอโทษทีนะ มาสายนิดหน่อย' if you are on your way.
Add 'มาก' (mak) at the end: 'ขอโทษที่มาสายมากครับ'.
Usually, it's dropped. 'ขอโทษที่มาสาย' is more natural than 'ผมขอโทษที่ผมมาสาย'.
Say 'ขอโทษที่มาสายครับ/ค่ะ' to the teacher as you enter.
Yes, but you might use 'Thot thi na' (โทษทีนะ) to sound sweeter and less formal.
It can mean 'line', 'wire', 'string', or 'route' (like a bus route).
Socially, there is more flexibility, but professionally, it is increasingly discouraged. Always apologize to be safe.
The most common response is 'ไม่เป็นไร' (Mai pen rai) - It's okay / No problem.
Verwandte Redewendungen
ขออภัยในความไม่สะดวก
similarSorry for the inconvenience
ผิดนัด
specialized formTo miss an appointment
รอนานไหม
builds onHave you been waiting long?
สายเสมอ
contrastAlways late
