ไหน
nǎiMeanings
1determinerA1
which (asking to choose)
Used after a noun or classifier to ask for a choice among people, things, or options.
Examples
เธอtəəเธอtəə1you (informal; familiar)2she; herอยากyàakอยากyàak1[to] want; desire2to crave; to long forกินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] consume; use up4[to] corrode; erode; eat into5[to] take (a bribe); pocketเมนูmee-nuuเมนูmee-nuu1menu; dish; menu item2menu (software interface)ไหนnǎiไหนnǎi1which (asking to choose)2which one; which person/thing3where (question)4any; whichever (in indefinite constructions)ระหว่างrá-wàangระหว่างrá-wàang1between; among2during3interval; in-between timeก๋วยเตี๋ยวgǔuai-dtǐiaoก๋วยเตี๋ยวgǔuai-dtǐiaorice noodles; noodle dishกับข้าวgàp-kâaoกับข้าวgàp-kâao1side dishes; viands2food (colloquial, esp. home meals)ผัดpàtผัดpàt1[to] stir-fry [sth]2stir-fry; stir-fried dish3[to] postpone; put off; delay
Which menu item do you want between noodles and fried rice?
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Which movie will we watch tonight?
Which color should I buy for the living room wall?
Which type of ticket is discounted for students?
2PronounA1
which one; which person/thing
used as a pronoun to ask which specific person or thing
Examples
รูปrûupรูปrûup1picture; photo; image2shape; form; figure3physique; body shape4statue; sculpted image; figure5grammatical formนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ของkɔ̌ɔngของkɔ̌ɔng1of; belonging to2thing; item; stuff3property; goodsใครkraiใครkrai1who2anyone; whoeverอันไหนan-nǎiอันไหนan-nǎi1which one? (things)2whichever (one); any thatคือkʉʉคือkʉʉ1to be (definition/identification)2namely; that is; i.e.ของkɔ̌ɔngของkɔ̌ɔng1of; belonging to2thing; item; stuff3property; goodsเธอtəəเธอtəə1you (informal; familiar)2she; her
Whose photo is this? Which one is yours?
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The teacher asked which student wants to answer the question.
Among all the options, which one did you choose?
3AdverbA1
where (question)
used to ask about a place or location (often as ที่ไหนที่ไหนtîi-nǎi1where?2wherever (with ก็)3no way!; not at all (colloq.))
Examples
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Where are you staying?
Where did you go to eat yesterday?
Where and at what time will we meet next time?
4ParticleB1
any; whichever (in indefinite constructions)
Used in constructions expressing an unrestricted choice, such as คนไหนก็ได้ ‘any person’ and ที่ไหนก็ได้ ‘anywhere’.
Examples
ไหนnăiไหนnăi1which (asking to choose)2which one; which person/thing3where (question)4any; whichever (in indefinite constructions)ๆ-ก็gâwก็gâw1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerมาแล้วmaa láewมาแล้วmaa láew[sb/sth] has arrived; is here; here it comes!แวะกินwá ginแวะกินwá gin[to] stop by to eatข้าวkâaoข้าวkâao1rice (cooked)2rice (grain/uncooked)3meal; food (general)4rice plant; paddyกันganกันgan1together; together with2each other; one another (post-verb marker)3[to] prevent; keep [sth] out; ward off; block4protective; resistant to; -proof5I; me (informal, male speech)6[to] set aside; reserve; earmarkก่อนนะgòn náก่อนนะgòn náfirst (polite); used on leaving ('I'll go first')
Since we’re here anyway, let’s stop to eat first.
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Anywhere is fine; I’m ready to go if you want to talk.
วันไหนwan-nǎiก็ได้gɔ̂-dâaiที่tîiเธอtəəว่างwâangแจ้งjɛ̂ɛngมาแล้วmaa-lɛ́ɛoฉันchǎnจะjàปรับbpràpตารางdtaa-raangให้hâi
Any day that you’re free, let me know and I’ll adjust my schedule.
ทำtamแบบไหนbàep năiก็ได้gôr dâaiขอให้kŏr hâiโปร่งใสbpròng săiเพราะpráwไหนnăiๆ-เราraoก็gâwตกลงdtòk longจะjàทำtamร่วมกันrûuam ganแล้วláeo
Do it any way you like as long as it’s transparent, since we’ve already agreed to work together anyway.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh classLeading หA silent ห before น puts this syllable in high class.
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ไ hides a final -ย, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
nǎi
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising
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 | — | — |