Significado
Describing low temperature or weather.
Contexto cultural
The 'Winter' season in Thailand lasts from November to January. Even if it's 20°C (68°F), Thais will consider it 'หนาวมาก' and wear full winter gear. Offices are often kept at 18-20°C. It is common to see employees wearing hoodies or using blankets at their desks while saying 'หนาวมาก'. In the North, 'หนาวมาก' is a point of pride. Mountain resorts advertise their 'lowest temperature' to attract tourists who want to feel the cold. Going to a movie is often an excuse to escape the heat, but the air conditioning is so strong that 'หนาวมาก' is the most common phrase heard after the movie ends.
The 'Is' Rule
Never use 'pen' (is) with 'nao'. Just say the subject and the adjective. 'Phom nao' is perfect Thai.
The Beer Test
If you can drink it, it's 'yen'. If it makes you shiver, it's 'nao'.
Significado
Describing low temperature or weather.
The 'Is' Rule
Never use 'pen' (is) with 'nao'. Just say the subject and the adjective. 'Phom nao' is perfect Thai.
The Beer Test
If you can drink it, it's 'yen'. If it makes you shiver, it's 'nao'.
Adding 'Loey'
Add 'เลย' (loey) at the end — 'หนาวมากเลย' — to sound much more like a native speaker. It adds emphasis and flow.
Politeness
Always add 'khrap' or 'kha' when complaining about the cold to staff; it makes your request for a temperature change sound like a polite observation rather than a demand.
Ponte a prueba
How do you say 'I am very cold' in Thai?
I am very cold.
'หนาว' is for feeling cold, and 'มาก' follows the adjective.
Complete the sentence to say 'The weather is very cold today'.
วันนี้อากาศ____มาก
'อากาศหนาว' is the standard way to say the weather is cold.
Which phrase is most appropriate when you touch an ice cube?
Touching an ice cube.
Use 'เย็น' for objects like ice.
Fill in the response.
A: หนาวมากไหมครับ? B: ________
A simple confirmation using the same adjective is the most natural response.
Match the Thai phrase to its English meaning.
Phrases: 1. หนาวมาก, 2. เย็นมาก, 3. หนาวนิดหน่อย, 4. ไม่หนาว
Matching intensifiers and the correct 'cold' word.
Which intensifier makes 'หนาว' sound more emotive/cute?
หนาว____
'จัง' adds an emotive 'so...' quality to the adjective.
🎉 Puntuación: /6
Ayudas visuales
หนาว vs เย็น
When to say หนาวมาก
Places
- • Cinema
- • Mall
- • Office
Nature
- • Mountains
- • Winter
- • Night
Banco de ejercicios
6 ejerciciosI am very cold.
'หนาว' is for feeling cold, and 'มาก' follows the adjective.
วันนี้อากาศ____มาก
'อากาศหนาว' is the standard way to say the weather is cold.
Touching an ice cube.
Use 'เย็น' for objects like ice.
A: หนาวมากไหมครับ? B: ________
A simple confirmation using the same adjective is the most natural response.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
Matching intensifiers and the correct 'cold' word.
หนาว____
'จัง' adds an emotive 'so...' quality to the adjective.
🎉 Puntuación: /6
Preguntas frecuentes
14 preguntasNo, that would mean they are physically cold. Use 'เย็นชา' (yen-cha) for an emotionally cold person.
'หนาว' is for weather and personal feeling. 'เย็น' is for objects, drinks, and a pleasant cool breeze.
It is neutral. To make it polite, add 'ครับ' (khrap) for men or 'ค่ะ' (kha) for women.
Say 'ไม่หนาว' (mai nao).
Yes, if the room is actually cold, but it's better to say 'อากาศในห้องนี้ค่อนข้างเย็นครับ' (The air in this room is quite cool) to be more formal.
Thailand is a tropical country; 25°C is a significant drop from the usual 35°C, so it feels cold to locals.
Yes, 'หนาวเวอร์' (nao ver) is very common among teenagers.
No, Thai uses 'โทนเย็น' (tone yen) for cool colors.
Ask 'หนาวไหม?' (Nao mai?).
It means 'So cold!' and is more emotive and cute than 'หนาวมาก'.
No, 'หนาว' is a low tone. 'มาก' is a falling tone.
No, use 'เย็น'.
You can say 'หนาวจนแข็ง' (nao jon khaeng) or 'หนาวสุดๆ' (nao sut-sut).
Yes, very often to represent loneliness or a 'cold' heart in a metaphorical sense.
Frases relacionadas
เย็น
similarCool / Cold (objects)
หนาวจัง
variationSo cold!
ร้อนมาก
contrastVery hot
เสื้อกันหนาว
builds onSweater / Jacket
เป็นไข้
similarTo have a fever
น้ำแข็ง
relatedIce
