ไม่ค่อย
mâi-kɔ̂iMeanings
1AdverbA2
rarely; seldom; not often
used to say something happens rarely or not often
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂i1rarely; seldom; not often2not very; hardly (degree)มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect markerที่นี่tîi-nîiที่นี่tîi-nîi1here; at this place2this place; the current location
He doesn't come here often.
3 more examplesShow less
It hasn't rained much recently.
I rarely get to watch movies at the cinema.
เธอtəəไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iกินข้าวgin-kâaoนอกบ้านnɔ̂ɔk-bâanเพราะprɔ́ชอบchɔ̂ɔpทำอาหารtam-aa-hǎanเองeengมากกว่าmâak-gwàa
She doesn't eat out often because she prefers cooking herself.
2AdverbA2
not very; hardly (degree)
used to say something is not very; the degree or intensity is low
Examples
อาหารaa-hǎanอาหารaa-hǎan1food; nourishment2dish; meal3diet; what one eatsจานjaanจานjaan1plate; dish (tableware)2classifier for plates/servings3dish antenna; satellite dishนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂i1rarely; seldom; not often2not very; hardly (degree)เผ็ดpètเผ็ดpèt1spicy; hot (pungent)2figuratively fierce/biting
This dish is not very spicy.
3 more examplesShow less
I'm not feeling very well today.
I am not very good at speaking Thai.
หนังnǎngเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangนี้níiผมpǒmว่าwâaไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iสนุกsà-nùkแต่dtɛ̀ɛเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanผมpǒmกลับglàpชอบchɔ̂ɔpมากmâak
I think this movie is not very entertaining, but my friend really likes it.
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
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markMai ek
- 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 class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
+
ค่อยkɔ̂iค่อยkɔ̂i1gradually; little by little2gently; softly3not very; hardly (with negation)4then; later; only aftergradually; little by littlePart 2
ไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂irarely; seldom; not oftenrarely; seldom; not oftenWord