Verbo de habilidade 'Dai' (poder)
dai is your universal 'can' in Thai, needing no conjugation or changes based on the subject.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'dai' after a verb to express ability or permission, meaning 'can' or 'able to'.
- Place 'dai' after the main verb: 'kin dai' (can eat).
- For negatives, put 'mai' before 'dai': 'mai dai' (cannot).
- For questions, add 'mai' at the end: 'kin dai mai?' (can you eat?).
Overview
dai...Meanings
The word 'dai' acts as a modal verb indicating physical ability, learned skill, or permission to perform an action.
Physical Ability
Possessing the physical capacity to do something.
“เขาวิ่งได้เร็ว (He can run fast)”
“ฉันยกของหนักได้ (I can lift heavy things)”
Learned Skill
Having acquired the knowledge to perform a task.
“ผมขับรถได้ (I can drive)”
“เธอทำอาหารไทยได้ (She can cook Thai food)”
Permission
Being allowed to do something.
“ที่นี่จอดรถได้ (You can park here)”
“เข้าได้ไหม (Can I enter?)”
Dai Sentence Structure
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + Verb + Dai | Chan pai dai |
| Negative | Subject + Verb + Mai Dai | Chan pai mai dai |
| Question | Subject + Verb + Dai + Mai? | Chan pai dai mai? |
| Short Yes | Dai | Dai |
| Short No | Mai Dai | Mai Dai |
| Ability | Subject + Verb + Dai | Chan kin dai |
Reference Table
| Subject | Ability | Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chan | dai | pai | I can go |
| Khun | dai | kin | You can eat |
| Khao | dai | tham | He/She can do |
| Puen | dai | len | Friends can play |
| Chan | dai | sue | I can buy |
| Khun | dai | fang | You can listen |
Espectro de formalidade
ไปได้ไหมครับ (Asking for permission)
ไปได้ไหม (Asking for permission)
ไปได้ป่ะ (Asking for permission)
ไปได้ป่ะแก (Asking for permission)
The World of 'Can' in Thai
Usage
- Possibility It is possible
- Permission You may do it
Dai vs Pen
How to form a sentence
Is it a learned skill?
Is it a question?
Common `dai` Phrases
Daily
- • pai dai (can go)
- • kin dai (can eat)
- • ma dai (can come)
Examples by Level
ฉันกินได้
I can eat.
ไปได้
Can go.
ทำได้
Can do.
ดูได้
Can watch.
คุณไปได้ไหม
Can you go?
ฉันไปไม่ได้
I cannot go.
ที่นี่จอดรถได้
You can park here.
ฉันพูดไทยได้นิดหน่อย
I can speak a little Thai.
ถ้าว่าง ฉันไปได้
If I am free, I can go.
เขาบอกว่าทำได้
He said he can do it.
คุณช่วยฉันได้ไหม
Can you help me?
ฉันไม่คิดว่าทำได้
I don't think I can do it.
รบกวนช่วยเปิดประตูให้ได้ไหม
Could you please open the door for me?
เราสามารถตกลงกันได้
We can reach an agreement.
ไม่ว่าอย่างไร ฉันก็ไปไม่ได้
No matter what, I cannot go.
คุณพอจะบอกทางได้ไหม
Could you tell me the way?
หากคุณต้องการ ฉันก็จัดหาให้ได้
If you wish, I can provide it.
ไม่มีใครทำได้ดีเท่าเขา
No one can do it as well as him.
ฉันเกรงว่าจะทำไม่ได้
I am afraid I cannot do it.
คุณจะทำอย่างไรก็ได้ตามใจ
You can do whatever you like.
การที่เขาทำเช่นนั้นได้ ถือเป็นเรื่องน่าประหลาดใจ
The fact that he could do such a thing is surprising.
หากปราศจากความช่วยเหลือนี้ ฉันคงทำไม่ได้
Without this help, I could not have done it.
เขาทำได้ทุกอย่างที่ต้องการ
He can do everything he wants.
คุณจะให้ฉันทำอย่างไรได้
What can you expect me to do?
Easily Confused
Both mean 'can'.
Both relate to possibility.
Both are modals.
Erros comuns
Dai kin
Kin dai
Kin dai?
Kin dai mai?
Chan dai kin
Chan kin dai
Mai kin dai
Kin mai dai
Phuut thai dai
Phuut thai pen
Dai mai?
Pai dai mai?
Chan dai pai
Chan pai dai
Dai pai mai
Pai dai mai
Kin dai pen
Kin dai
Mai dai kin
Kin mai dai
Dai pai
Pai dai
Pai pen
Pai dai
Mai pai dai
Pai mai dai
Sentence Patterns
Subject + ___ + dai
Subject + ___ + dai + mai?
Subject + ___ + mai + dai
Subject + ___ + dai + nit-noi
Real World Usage
Sang ahaan dai mai?
Pai dai!
Chan tham dai.
Pai thii nii dai yangrai?
Song dai mai?
Tham dai!
Context is King
Don't over-use
Politeness Matters
Smart Tips
Use 'mai dai' after the verb.
Use 'dai mai' at the end.
Use 'pen' instead of 'dai'.
Keep it simple with 'dai'.
Pronúncia
Tone
Dai is a mid-tone word, keep it flat.
Question
Pai dai mai? ↑
Rising intonation at the end for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Dai is like a 'Die' (pronounced similarly) — if you can't do it, you might as well die!
Visual Association
Imagine a person trying to lift a heavy box. They succeed and shout 'Dai!' while holding it up.
Rhyme
For ability, use Dai, put it after the verb, don't be shy!
Story
Somchai wanted to swim. He practiced hard. Now he can swim. He says 'Wai nam dai!' to his friends. They are happy.
Word Web
Desafio
Spend 5 minutes today saying 5 things you can do using 'Verb + Dai'.
Notas culturais
In Bangkok, 'dai' is used very frequently in daily life.
Northern speakers might use 'dai' differently or use local particles.
Southern speakers have a distinct accent but use 'dai' similarly.
Dai is a Proto-Tai word meaning 'to get' or 'to obtain'.
Conversation Starters
วันนี้คุณไปที่ไหนได้บ้าง?
คุณกินอาหารเผ็ดได้ไหม?
คุณทำอาหารไทยได้ไหม?
ที่นี่ใช้บัตรเครดิตได้ไหม?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Chan ___ pai suea.
Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
Find and fix the mistake:
Chan dai speak Thai.
Score: /3
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesChan pai ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Dai kin?
dai / pai / chan
I can go.
Kin dai
I can speak Thai.
Chan pai mai ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesKhun ___ len game?
Khao dai ma mai?
I can eat.
How to say 'I cannot go'?
dai / pai / chan / ? / mai
Match: I can come | I can go
Puen ___ pai.
Chan dai phut phet.
Can you come?
Which is better for 'I can swim'?
Score: /10
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Always after the verb.
No, 'pen' is for skills.
Use 'mai dai'.
Add 'mai' at the end.
No, it is invariant.
Yes, it is very common.
The sentence will be incomplete.
It is neutral.
In Other Languages
Poder
Thai does not conjugate.
Pouvoir
Thai is invariant.
Können
Thai word order is fixed after the verb.
Dekiru
Japanese uses particles like 'ga'.
Istata'a
Thai is isolating.
Néng
Thai puts it after.
