Relative Clause 'Thi'
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'thi' (ທີ່) to link a noun to a description, acting like 'that', 'which', or 'who' in English.
- Place 'thi' directly after the noun you are describing: 'khon thi...' (the person who...)
- Use 'thi' to introduce a verb phrase that modifies the noun: 'nangsue thi pen...' (the book that is...)
- Do not use 'thi' for simple adjectives that don't require a verb; use 'lae' or direct placement.
Meanings
The particle 'thi' functions as a relative pronoun or subordinator, allowing a speaker to add descriptive information to a noun.
Relative Pronoun
Connecting a noun to a relative clause.
“khon thi kin khao”
“nangsue thi yu bon to”
Location/Place Marker
Sometimes used to specify a location.
“hong thi hao yu”
“muang thi hao pai”
Relative Clause Formation
| Noun | Connector | Verb/Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khon | thi | kin | Khon thi kin |
| Nangsue | thi | di | Nangsue thi di |
| Ban | thi | ngam | Ban thi ngam |
| Phuean | thi | ma | Phuean thi ma |
| Ahan | thi | phet | Ahan thi phet |
| Hong | thi | yai | Hong thi yai |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Noun + thi + Verb | Khon thi ma |
| Negative | Noun + thi + bo + Verb | Khon thi bo ma |
| Question | Noun + thi + Verb + bo? | Khon thi ma bo? |
| Past | Noun + thi + dai + Verb | Khon thi dai ma |
| Future | Noun + thi + cha + Verb | Khon thi cha ma |
| Complex | Noun + thi + Verb + Object | Khon thi kin khao |
طیف رسمیت
phu-thi kam-lang ma (Describing someone arriving.)
khon thi kam-lang ma (Describing someone arriving.)
khon thi ma (Describing someone arriving.)
khon ma (Describing someone arriving.)
The 'Thi' Bridge
People
- khon person
Objects
- nangsue book
Places
- ban house
Examples by Level
ma thi yai
The dog that is big
khon thi ma
The person who came
nangsue thi di
The book that is good
ban thi ngam
The house that is beautiful
phuean thi yu Vientiane
The friend who lives in Vientiane
khon thi bo kin khao
The person who is not eating
nangsue thi khoi an
The book that I read
hong thi hao pai
The room that we went to
panha thi hao tong kae-khai
The problem that we must solve
khon thi pen phu-nam
The person who is the leader
sathan-thi thi mi chue-siang
The place that is famous
nangsue thi khian doi lao
The book that was written by Lao
khwam-khit thi mi khwam-sam-khan
The idea that has importance
saphap-wat-lom thi dai-rap phon-krathop
The environment that is affected
khon thi dai-rap kan-khat-lueak
The person who was selected
nawattakam thi chai nai kan-phat-thana
The innovation that is used in development
phu-dai thi mi khwam-samat
Whoever has the ability
het-kan thi pen-pai-dai
The event that is possible
khwam-samat thi mi yu nai tua-ek
The ability that exists within oneself
sathan-kan thi mi khwam-sap-son
The situation that is complex
khwam-pen-pai-dai thi mi khwam-luek-sueng
The possibility that has depth
kan-pat-ibat-kan thi mi khwam-sam-khan
The operation that is significant
sathan-thi thi pen-pai-tam-prawattisat
The place that is historical
khon thi mi khwam-samat nai kan-wikhro
The person who has analytical ability
Easily Confused
They sound the same but have different meanings.
Both can refer to places.
Both connect ideas.
اشتباهات رایج
khon ngam thi
khon thi ngam
maeo thi
maeo thi non
khon thi
khon
thi khon ma
khon thi ma
khon thi bo ma
khon thi bo ma
nangsue thi khoi
nangsue thi khoi an
ban thi yu
ban thi khoi yu
khon thi pen khon di
khon di
thi thi 1
thi 1
khon thi ma ha
khon thi ma ha khoi
sathan-thi thi pen-pai-dai
sathan-thi thi mi khwam-pen-pai-dai
khon thi mi khwam-samat
phu-thi mi khwam-samat
thi thi thi
thi thi
Sentence Patterns
___ thi ___
___ thi ___ bo ___
___ thi ___ mi ___
___ thi ___ pen ___
Real World Usage
khon thi hak
khon thi ma
pasopkan thi mi
menu thi phet
sathan-thi thi ngam
het-kan thi mi khwam-sam-khan
Keep it simple
Watch the spelling
Use it to connect
Listen to locals
Smart Tips
Use 'phu-thi' for a more formal tone.
Place 'bo' before the verb.
Use 'sathan-thi thi' for formal contexts.
Double-check your character choice.
تلفظ
Tone
Thi is a low-tone word.
Statement
khon thi ma ↘
Neutral information.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Thi is the glue, it sticks the noun to the view.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge (thi) connecting two islands: one island is a Noun, the other is an Action.
Rhyme
When you want to describe a thing, use 'thi' to give it wing.
Story
I saw a man (khon). He was running. I wanted to say 'the man who is running'. I used 'thi' to connect them: 'khon thi laen'. Now I can describe everything!
Word Web
چالش
Write 5 sentences describing objects in your room using 'thi' in 5 minutes.
نکات فرهنگی
Used very frequently in daily speech.
Often uses slightly different particles, but 'thi' is understood.
More relaxed usage.
Derived from Proto-Tai roots for location/relative markers.
Conversation Starters
khon thi ma ha chao pen phai?
nangsue thi chao an pen naeo-dai?
sathan-thi thi chao mak thi-sut pen thi-dai?
khon thi mi khwam-samat pen-yang-rai?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
khon ___ ma
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
khon ngam thi
khon ma. khon kin khao.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
nangsue ___ khoi an
khon ___ bo ma
khon thi ma
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exerciseskhon ___ ma
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
khon ngam thi
khon ma. khon kin khao.
khon - ma
nangsue ___ khoi an
khon ___ bo ma
khon thi ma
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
It's a relative clause marker.
To describe nouns.
No, it's very consistent.
No, only for relative clauses.
Your sentences will be choppy.
It's used in all registers.
Different characters.
Yes, but be careful.
In Other Languages
that/which/who
Lao 'thi' is invariant.
que
Spanish 'que' is more frequent.
qui/que
Lao 'thi' does not distinguish.
der/die/das
Lao has no gender or case.
no
Japanese 'no' is a particle; 'thi' is a subordinator.
de
Chinese 'de' is more versatile.
