A1 Negation 3 min read 简单

泰语否定句：使用 `mai`

In Thai, keep your negatives singular, because adding two negatives creates a positive meaning.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Thai, you negate a sentence by placing 'mai' (ไม่) before the verb or adjective.

  • Place 'mai' before the verb: 'mai kin' (don't eat).
  • Place 'mai' before the adjective: 'mai suay' (not beautiful).
  • Thai does not use double negatives; one 'mai' is enough.
Subject + ไม่ (mai) + Verb/Adjective

Overview

概述
在英语中我们喜欢双重否定，但在泰语中这会变成肯定。为了避免困惑，句子中只用一个否定词。

Meanings

The particle 'mai' (ไม่) is the standard way to negate verbs and adjectives in Thai.

1

Verb negation

Negating an action.

“ฉันไม่ไป (I don't go)”

“เขาไม่ทำ (He doesn't do)”

2

Adjective negation

Negating a state or quality.

“ไม่ดี (Not good)”

“ไม่แพง (Not expensive)”

Basic Negation Structure

Subject Negative Particle Verb/Adjective Example
ฉัน ไม่ กิน ฉันไม่กิน
เขา ไม่ ไป เขาไม่ไป
มัน ไม่ ดี มันไม่ดี
เรา ไม่ รู้ เราไม่รู้
คุณ ไม่ ชอบ คุณไม่ชอบ
เธอ ไม่ สวย เธอไม่สวย

Reference Table

Reference table for 泰语否定句：使用 `mai`
Function Thai Word English Usage
Negation mai not Verbs/Adjectives
Noun Negation mai chai not is Nouns
Prohibition ya don't Commands
Not yet yang mai not yet Time
Never mai khoei never Experience
No/Refusal mai ao don't want Desires

正式程度

正式
ดิฉันไม่ต้องการค่ะ

ดิฉันไม่ต้องการค่ะ (Declining an offer)

中性
ฉันไม่ต้องการ

ฉันไม่ต้องการ (Declining an offer)

非正式
ไม่เอา

ไม่เอา (Declining an offer)

俚语
ไม่อาวว

ไม่อาวว (Declining an offer)

Thai Negation Map

Negation

Actions

  • mai pai not going

Adjectives

  • mai hiw not hungry

Mai vs Mai Chai

Mai (Verb/Adj)
mai pai not go
Mai Chai (Noun)
mai chai rot not a car

How to negate

1

Is it a noun?

YES
Use mai chai
NO
Use mai + verb/adj

Negative Expressions

🚫

Common Negatives

  • • mai (not)
  • • mai chai (not a)
  • • mai khoei (never)
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Examples by Level

1

ฉันไม่กิน

I don't eat.

2

เขาไม่ไป

He doesn't go.

3

มันไม่ดี

It is not good.

4

ไม่ร้อน

Not hot.

1

อาหารนี้ไม่เผ็ด

This food is not spicy.

2

ฉันไม่ชอบ

I don't like it.

3

เขาไม่ทำงาน

He doesn't work.

4

ร้านไม่เปิด

The shop is not open.

1

ฉันไม่ได้ไปที่นั่น

I did not go there.

2

เขาไม่ค่อยสบาย

He is not feeling well.

3

มันไม่น่าจะเป็นไปได้

It is unlikely.

4

เราไม่ควรทำแบบนี้

We shouldn't do this.

1

เขาไม่ยอมรับความจริง

He refuses to accept the truth.

2

โครงการนี้ไม่ประสบความสำเร็จ

This project is not successful.

3

ฉันไม่เห็นด้วยกับคุณ

I don't agree with you.

4

มันไม่จำเป็นต้องทำตอนนี้

It is not necessary to do it now.

1

เขาไม่เพียงแต่ฉลาด แต่ยังใจดีด้วย

He is not only smart but also kind.

2

ไม่มีใครรู้ความจริง

Nobody knows the truth.

3

มันไม่เชิงว่าผิด แต่ก็ไม่ถูก

It's not exactly wrong, but it's not right.

4

เขาไม่เคยไปเมืองไทย

He has never been to Thailand.

1

หาไม่พบว่าเขาไปไหน

It cannot be found where he went.

2

มิได้เป็นเช่นนั้น

It is not so (formal).

3

เขาไม่วายที่จะบ่น

He couldn't help but complain.

4

ไม่ว่าอย่างไร ฉันก็จะไป

No matter what, I will go.

Easily Confused

Thai Negation: Using `mai` (Not) 对比 ไม่ vs ไหม

They sound similar but have different tones and meanings.

Thai Negation: Using `mai` (Not) 对比 ไม่ vs ไม่ได้

Both negate, but one is general and one is past/inability.

Thai Negation: Using `mai` (Not) 对比 ไม่ vs ไม่มี

Both start with 'mai', but 'mee' means 'have'.

常见错误

✗

Mai kin chan

✓

Chan mai kin

Wrong word order.
✗

Chan not kin

✓

Chan mai kin

Using English word 'not'.
✗

Chan mai mai kin

✓

Chan mai kin

Double negative.
✗

Mai mai

✓

Mai

Repeating the particle.
✗

Chan mai dai kin khao

✓

Chan mai kin khao

Using past tense marker when not needed.
✗

Chan mai suay mai

✓

Chan mai suay

Adding question particle to statement.
✗

Mai pen kin

✓

Mai kin

Adding unnecessary auxiliary verb.
✗

Mai chai kin

✓

Mai kin

Using 'mai chai' for verbs.
✗

Mai dai pai

✓

Mai pai

Overusing past tense marker.
✗

Mai mee pai

✓

Mai pai

Using 'mai mee' (don't have) for actions.
✗

Mai chai pai

✓

Mai pai

Incorrect usage of 'mai chai'.
✗

Mai dai mai pai

✓

Mai pai

Double negation.
✗

Mai mee mai pai

✓

Mai pai

Redundant negation.

Sentence Patterns

ฉันไม่ ___

มันไม่ ___

ฉันไม่ได้ ___

เขาไม่ค่อย ___

Real World Usage

Food ordering constant

ไม่เผ็ด (Not spicy)

Texting very common

ไม่ว่าง (Not free)

Job interview common

ไม่เคยทำ (Never done)

Travel common

ไม่ไป (Not going)

Shopping common

ไม่เอา (Don't want)

Social media common

ไม่ชอบ (Don't like)

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💡

The Math Rule

Think of mai as a negative sign. Two mais cancel out!
⚠️

Noun Alert

Always use mai chai for nouns, not just mai.
💬

Politeness

Add khrap (male) or kha (female) after mai to stay polite.

Smart Tips

Use 'mai ru'.

Chan ru mai (wrong) → Chan mai ru (correct)

Use 'mai' + [adjective].

Phet mai (wrong) → Mai phet (correct)

Use 'mai' + [verb].

Kin mai (wrong) → Mai kin (correct)

Use 'mai' + [adjective].

Suay mai (wrong) → Mai suay (correct)

发音

IPA: /mai˨˩/

Low Tone

The word 'mai' (ไม่) has a low tone. Start low and keep it flat.

Statement

Chan mai kin ↘

Falling intonation for a simple negative statement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Mai is the 'my' in 'my bad'—it's how you say no.

Visual Association

Imagine a big red 'X' sign over a plate of food. The 'X' is the word 'mai'.

Rhyme

To say no, don't be shy, just put 'mai' before the guy.

Story

I went to a market. I saw spicy food. I said 'mai phet'. The seller smiled. I was happy.

Word Web

ไม่ไม่ได้ไม่มีไม่ชอบไม่ดีไม่ไป

挑战

Write 5 things you don't like using 'mai' + [verb/adjective] in 5 minutes.

文化笔记

Thais often use 'mai' to soften a refusal. It is polite to add 'ka' or 'krap'.

The word 'mai' is an ancient Tai particle for negation.

Conversation Starters

“

คุณหิวไหม? (Are you hungry?)

“

คุณชอบอาหารไทยไหม? (Do you like Thai food?)

“

คุณไปทำงานวันนี้ไหม? (Are you going to work today?)

“

คุณเห็นด้วยกับเขาไหม? (Do you agree with him?)

Journal Prompts

Write about 3 things you don't like.
Describe a day where nothing went right.
Explain why you didn't do something yesterday.
Argue against a popular opinion.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct negative word.

Phom ___ pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mai
Use mai before the verb pai (to go).
Which sentence is correct for 'I am not a student'? 多项选择

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Phom mai chai nakrian
When negating a noun like 'student', use mai chai.
Find and fix the mistake in this sentence: 'Phom mai mai hiw'. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Phom mai mai hiw

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Phom mai hiw
Double mai creates a positive. Remove one to say 'not hungry'.

Score: /3

练习题

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

ฉัน ___ กินข้าว

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ไม่
Use 'mai' for negation.
Choose the correct sentence. 多项选择

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ฉันไม่กิน
Subject + mai + verb.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ฉันไม่ไม่กิน

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ฉันไม่กิน
No double negatives.
Make negative. Sentence Transformation

ฉันหิว (I am hungry)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ฉันไม่หิว
Add 'mai' before adjective.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

ไม่ไป

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Don't go
Mai + pai = don't go.
Which is correct? 多项选择

เขา ___ สวย

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ไม่
Mai negates adjective.
Fill in the blank.

เรา ___ รู้

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ไม่
Mai + ru = don't know.
Make negative. Sentence Transformation

เขาชอบ (He likes)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: เขาไม่ชอบ
Add 'mai' before verb.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

3 exercises
Fill in the blank 填空

Chan ___ kin khao.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mai
Fix the sentence Error Correction

Nii mai chai pen rot.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nii mai chai rot
Which means 'I don't want it'? 多项选择

Select the correct translation:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Phom mai ao

Score: /3

常见问题 (8)

Put 'mai' before the verb.

Yes, it is the standard negative particle.

No, Thai does not use double negatives.

'Mai' is general, 'mai dai' is past/inability.

Before the verb or adjective.

Yes, but add 'ka' or 'krap' to be extra polite.

Yes, if the context is clear.

Yes, like 'mai chai' or 'mai mee'.

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

no

Spanish uses double negatives, Thai does not.

French low

ne...pas

Thai is single-particle.

German moderate

nicht

Thai places it before.

Japanese moderate

nai

Thai negates at the beginning.

Arabic moderate

la

Thai is simpler.

Chinese high

bu

Very similar structure.

Previous
泰语中的禁止：如何说“不要” (`ya`)

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