ไม่กี่

mâi-gìi

Meaning

1determinerA2

a few; not many

only a small number; used before classifiers or measure nouns (e.g., ไม่กี่คน, ไม่กี่เล่ม, ไม่กี่ครั้ง).

Examples

ผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)มีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoหนังสือnǎng-sʉ̌ʉหนังสือnǎng-sʉ̌ʉ1book (printed work)2document; letterไม่กี่mâi-gìiไม่กี่mâi-gìia few; not manyเล่มlêmเล่มlêm1CL: books/volumes/issues2classifier: knives, swords, candles, carts
I have a few books.
3 more examples
เขาkǎoจะjàมาmaaพักpákที่นี่tîi-nîiไม่กี่mâi-gìiวันwan
He will stay here for a few days.
เธอtəəซื้อของsʉ́ʉ-kɔ̌ɔngมาmaaแค่kɛ̂ɛไม่กี่mâi-gìiชิ้นchín
She only bought a few items.
ผมpǒmอ่านàanไปbpaiได้dâaiไม่กี่mâi-gìiหน้าnâaแต่dtɛ̀ɛคิดว่าkít-wâaหนังสือnǎng-sʉ̌ʉนี้níiน่าสนใจnâa-sǒn-jaiมากmâak
I've only read a few pages, but I think this book is very interesting.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

2 syllables · pick one to see its rule

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classLow class
  2. Tone markMai ek
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.

Low class consonants

คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ

Result

Falling tone

mâi

Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.

Low class + Mai ek → Falling

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——

Word Breakdown

ไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)not (negator)Part 1
+
กี่gìiกี่gìi1how many; how much2how many? (pron.)3loom; weaving loomhow many; how muchPart 2
ไม่กี่mâi-gìiไม่กี่mâi-gìia few; not manya few; not manyWord

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