ไม่อาจ
mâi-àatMeaning
1VerbB1
[to be] unable to; cannot
to be unable to do something; cannot. This is often used in a more formal or literary context than ไม่ได้ไม่ได้mâi-dâai1cannot; not allowed; impossible2did not3[to] fail to get/receive [sth]4unacceptable; not allowed (won’t do)5No way!; absolutely not6not really/actually (corrective) (mâi dâi).
Examples
ผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)ไม่อาจmâi-àatไม่อาจmâi-àat[to be] unable to; cannotไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already past5too; excessivelyงานเลี้ยงngaan-líiangงานเลี้ยงngaan-líiangparty; banquet; reception; feast; functionได้dâaiได้dâai1okay; sure; agreed2[to] get; obtain; receive3can; [to] be able to; may4[to] manage to; succeed in5actualized-action markerเพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingต้องdtɔ̂ngต้องdtɔ̂ng1must; have to2must; bound toทำงานtam-ngaanทำงานtam-ngaan1[to] work; do one's job; be on duty2[to] function; operateครับkrápครับkráppolite particle (male speaker)
I cannot go to the party because I have to work.
3 more examplesShow less
เขาkǎoอยากจะyàak-jàช่วยchûuaiแต่dtɛ̀ɛก็gɔ̂ไม่อาจmâi-àatทำอะไรtam-à-raiได้dâaiมากไปmâak-bpaiกว่าgwàaนี้níi
He wanted to help, but he couldn't do anything more than this.
ฉันchănไม่อาจmâi àatลืมleuumความทรงจำkwaam song jamดีๆdee deeที่têeเราraoเคยkoeiมีmeeร่วมกันrûuam ganได้เลยdâai loei
I cannot forget the good memories we once had together.
ความจริงkwaam-jingบางอย่างbaang-yàangเป็นbpenสิ่งที่sìng-tîiมนุษย์má-nútไม่อาจmâi-àatหยั่งรู้yàng-rúuหรือrʉ̌ʉเข้าใจkâo-jaiได้dâaiอย่างถ่องแท้yàang-tɔ̀ɔng-tɛ́ɛ
Some truths are things that humans cannot possibly fathom or thoroughly understand.
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
+
อาจàatอาจàat1may; might (possibility)2possibly; perhaps3able; capable (literary/formal)may; might (possibility)Part 2
ไม่อาจmâi-àatไม่อาจmâi-àat[to be] unable to; cannot[to be] unable to; cannotWord