ไย
yaiMeaning
1AdverbC1
why (archaic/literary)
used to ask for a reason in an archaic or literary style; why; for what reason
Examples
ในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)บทกวีbòt-gà-wiiบทกวีbòt-gà-wiia poem; a piece of verseเขียนkǐianเขียนkǐian1[to] write2[to] draw; sketch3[to] fill out; write in4[to] compose; author5[to] write (data); burn (a disc)ไว้wáiไว้wái1[to] keep; save; store2[to] set aside; reserve3for later; in reserve4[to] leave (something) as is5marks retention or maintenance of a state6[to] wear; sport (hair/moustache/etc.)ว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeรักrákรักrák1[to] love; be fond of2love (affection)3beloved; dearแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)ไยyaiไยyaiwhy (archaic/literary)ต้องdtɔ̂ngต้องdtɔ̂ng1must; have to2must; bound toพรากprâakพรากprâak[to] separate [sb/sth]; take [sb/sth] away; bereave [sb]
The poem says, "If there is love, why must there be separation?"
7 more examplesShow less
เขาkǎoรำพึงram-pʉngกับgàpตัวเองdtuua-eengว่าwâaเมื่อmʉ̂ʉaใจjaiไม่ตรงmâi-dtrongกันganแล้วlɛ́ɛoไยyaiจะjàฝืนทนfʉ̌ʉn-tonอยู่ร่วมกันyùu-rûuam-ganต่อไปdtɔ̀ɔ-bpaiอีกìik
He mused to himself, "When our hearts are no longer aligned, for what reason should we force ourselves to stay together?"
ชีวิตchii-wítมนุษย์má-nútแสนsɛ̌ɛnสั้นsânและlɛ́ไม่แน่นอนmâi-nɛ̂ɛ-nɔɔnไยyaiเราraoจึงjʉngมัวเมาmuua-maoในnaiลาภยศสรรเสริญlâap-yót-sǎn-sə̌ənกันganอยู่yùuเล่าlâo
Human life is so short and uncertain; why then are we so infatuated with wealth, status, and praise?
เมื่อmʉ̂ʉaทุกสิ่งtúk-sìngล้วนlúuanอนิจจังà-nít-jangไยyaiจึงjʉngยึดมั่นถือมั่นyʉ́t-mân-tʉ̌ʉ-mânในnaiสิ่งที่sìng-tîiไม่ใช่mâi-châiของเราkɔ̌ɔng-raoอย่างแท้จริงyàang-tɛ́ɛ-jing
Since all things are impermanent, for what reason do we cling to that which is not truly ours?
ข้าkâaให้hâiความไว้ใจkwaam-wái-jaiแก่gɛ̀ɛเจ้าjâaoถึงtʉ̌ngเพียงนี้piiang-níiไยyaiเจ้าjâaoจึงjʉngทรยศtɔɔ-rá-yótข้าkâaได้dâai
I gave you so much of my trust; how come you could betray me?
เมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waanท่านtânยังyangพูดจาpûut-jaaดีdiiอยู่yùuเลยləəiไยyaiวันนี้wan-níiจึงjʉngทำtamเย็นชาyen-chaaกับgàpข้าkâaนักnák
Just yesterday you were speaking kindly; how come you are so cold to me today?
ในเมื่อnai-mʉ̂ʉaท่านtânก็gɔ̂รู้rúuว่าwâaแผนการpɛ̌ɛn-gaanนี้níiมีmiiความเสี่ยงkwaam-sìiangสูงsǔungไยyaiจึงjʉngยังyangปล่อยให้bplɔ̀i-hâiพวกเขาpûuak-kǎoดำเนินการต่อdam-nəən-gaan-dtɔ̀ɔไปbpaiโดยdooiไม่mâiทัดทานtát-taan
Since you knew this plan was high-risk, how could you let them proceed without objecting?
เรื่องราวrʉ̂ʉang-raaoที่tîiควรkuuanเป็นbpenความkwaamลับสุดยอดláp-sùt-yɔ̂ɔtไยyaiจึงjʉngแพร่งพรายprɛ̂ɛng-praaiไปถึงbpai-tʉ̌ngหูhǔuของkɔ̌ɔngศัตรูsàt-dtruuได้dâai
A matter that should have been a top secret, how is it that it leaked to the enemy's ears?
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ไ hides a final -ย, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
yai
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
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 | — | — |