Using 'That' (nan) in Thai
nan to point to objects or ideas that are not in your immediate grasp but are still clear in the conversation.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Nan' to point to things that are far away from you but near the person you are talking to.
- Use 'Nan' for objects at a distance: 'Book that (over there) is mine.'
- Place 'Nan' after the noun it modifies: 'House that' (That house).
- Combine with classifiers for natural speech: 'Pen that (one)'.
Overview
nan is just a fancy way to say "what," but it is actually a versatile demonstrative pronoun. In Thai, it acts as a bridge between your thoughts and the physical world around you. Think of it as the "that" you use when you are pointing at something slightly out of reach. It is the linguistic equivalent of a finger-point across the table. Whether you are scrolling through a menu or referencing a meme, nan is your go-to tool. It keeps your sentences snappy and avoids the awkwardness of repeating nouns.How This Grammar Works
ni is for things right here, nan is for things over there, and nun is for things way off in the distance. nan sits in the "medium-distance" zone. If you are ordering a coffee and pointing at a pastry behind the glass, you use nan. It is not quite touching you, but it is definitely in your line of sight. Using it correctly makes you sound like a local instead of a lost tourist.
Formation Pattern
phone + nan).
nan as a standalone pronoun if the context is already clear.
phone + classifier + nan).
When To Use It
nan when referencing something previously mentioned in a text thread. If your friend says, "I love that new movie," you can reply with "nan is so good." It is also perfect for shopping at Chatuchak Market when you want to signal to a vendor which item you want. It is essential for storytelling, too. When you recount your day, you use nan to point back to an event you just described. It is basically your verbal highlight reel.
Common Mistakes
nan with ni. ni is for things in your hand. Using nan for your own phone creates confusion. Another trap is forgetting that nan is not a question word. If you want to ask "what," use arai. Mixing these up is a classic beginner move, so don't sweat it if you trip up once or twice. Just keep practicing and you will nail the spatial logic soon enough.Contrast With Similar Patterns
ni (this) is for the intimate, immediate space. nan (that) is for the conversational, accessible space. nun (that over there) is for the distant, vague space. Think of it as a camera zoom. ni is a macro shot, nan is a standard lens, and nun is a wide-angle shot. Once you see the distance, you will never mix them up again.Quick FAQ
Can I use nan for people? A: Yes, but it can sound slightly distancing or cold. Q: Is nan rude? A: Not inherently, but avoid pointing it directly at people like a weapon. Q: Does it change based on gender? A: Nope, nan is gender-neutral and stress-free. Q: Can I use it to mean "then"? A: Yes, ton nan means "at that time," which is super useful for stories.
Demonstrative Structure
| Noun | Classifier | Demonstrative | English |
|---|---|---|---|
|
บ้าน
|
หลัง
|
นั้น
|
That house
|
|
ปากกา
|
ด้าม
|
นั้น
|
That pen
|
|
คน
|
คน
|
นั้น
|
That person
|
|
หนังสือ
|
เล่ม
|
นั้น
|
That book
|
|
รถ
|
คัน
|
นั้น
|
That car
|
|
ร้าน
|
ร้าน
|
นั้น
|
That shop
|
Meanings
A demonstrative pronoun used to indicate an object or person that is distant from the speaker but often closer to the listener.
Spatial distance
Referring to an object physically far from the speaker.
“บ้านนั้นสวยมาก (That house is very beautiful.)”
“คนนั้นเป็นใคร (Who is that person?)”
Reference Table
| Term | Distance | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
ni
|
Close
|
this
|
|
nan
|
Medium
|
that
|
|
nun
|
Far
|
that over there
|
Formality Spectrum
รถคันนั้นคือรถของดิฉัน (Identifying property)
รถคันนั้นเป็นของฉัน (Identifying property)
รถคันนั้นของฉัน (Identifying property)
รถคันนั้นอะของฉัน (Identifying property)
Thai Demonstratives
Distance
- ni this
- nan that
- nun that far
Distance Levels
Choosing the Right Word
Is it in your hand?
Is it within reach?
Usage Scenarios
Daily Life
- • Shopping
- • Ordering food
- • Pointing objects
Examples by Level
อันนั้นคืออะไร
What is that?
ฉันชอบเสื้อตัวนั้น
I like that shirt.
คนนั้นเป็นเพื่อนของฉัน
That person is my friend.
ร้านอาหารนั้นอร่อยมาก
That restaurant is very delicious.
เรื่องนั้นฉันไม่รู้มาก่อนเลย
I didn't know about that matter before.
เหตุการณ์นั้นเปลี่ยนชีวิตเขาไปเลย
That event changed his life completely.
Easily Confused
Learners swap them based on English 'this/that'.
Both mean 'that'.
When to use 'An'.
Common Mistakes
Nan book
Book that
Nan
Book that
Nii book
Book that
Book nan
Book classifier nan
Nan khong chan
An-nan khong chan
Nan mai chai
Mai chai an-nan
Nan is mine
An-nan khue khong chan
Nan-nan
Nan
Nan place
Tii-nan
Nan person
Khon-nan
Nan as a conjunction
Use 'wa' or 'thi'
Sentence Patterns
___ ___ ___ คือของฉัน
ฉันไม่ชอบ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ สวยมาก
คุณเห็น ___ ___ ___ ไหม
Real World Usage
เอาอันนั้นครับ
เสื้อตัวนั้นราคาเท่าไหร่
เห็นรูปนั้นยัง
ตึกนั้นคืออะไร
ชอบเพลงนั้นมาก
โครงการนั้นน่าสนใจครับ
Context is King
nan is your safest bet!Don't be rude
nan at people, it can feel aggressive.Storytelling
ton nan to set the scene when telling stories to friends.Smart Tips
Use your chin, not your finger.
Use 'An' as a safe default.
Add 'khrap/kha'.
Use 'Khon-nan'.
Pronunciation
Tone
Nan has a falling tone.
Question
Nan... mai? ↑
Rising pitch at the end for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Nan is for 'Near-ish' things.
Visual Association
Imagine pointing at a friend's coffee cup across the table. You aren't touching it, but it's right there. That's 'Nan'.
Rhyme
If it's not in your hand, but you can see it planned, use the word Nan.
Story
You walk into a shop. You point to a hat on a shelf. You say 'Hat that' (Muak bai nan). The clerk smiles because you used the right word.
Word Web
Challenge
Point to 5 things in your room right now and say '[Noun] + [Classifier] + Nan' for each.
Cultural Notes
Pointing with your finger is considered rude. Use your chin or a slight nod when using 'Nan'.
Derived from Proto-Tai roots for distance.
Conversation Starters
อันนั้นคืออะไร
คุณชอบเสื้อตัวนั้นไหม
ร้านนั้นอร่อยไหม
คุณคิดยังไงกับเรื่องนั้น
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
I want ___ (that) apple.
nan.Choose the sentence that refers to something at a medium distance.
nan is the correct term for medium distance.Find and fix the mistake:
ฉันเอา ni (pointing to a far sign).
nan or nun, but nan is standard for 'that'.Score: /3
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesบ้าน ___ (that) สวยมาก
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Nan book is mine.
นั้น / สวย / เสื้อ / ตัว
That shop is good.
Match 'That car'.
ปากกา ___ นั้น
ฉันไม่ชอบคน ___ นั้น
Score: /8
Practice Bank
2 exercises___ คืออะไร? (What is that?)
เขาชอบ ni (referring to a movie mentioned earlier).
Score: /2
FAQ (8)
Yes, use 'Khon-nan'.
It is neutral.
Thai grammar requires it for countability.
Use 'An' as a generic one.
No, Nii is this.
Yes, it is standard.
Yes, use your chin.
No, it is gender-neutral.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ese/esa
Spanish gendered nouns.
ce...là
Thai uses a separate word.
das
German articles change by case.
sore
Japanese is SOV.
dhalika
Arabic is gendered.
nà
Chinese word order.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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