ใช่เลย
chai loei
The Thai word for "exactly" is ใช่เลย (chai loei).
ใช่เลย is used as an interjection to express strong agreement with a statement someone else has just made.
Meaning: in an exact manner (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The word ใช่เลย consists of ใช่, which means "yes" or "correct" and the intensive particle เลย, which in this context means "completely" or "at all". Literally, it translates to "yes indeed" or "that's it".
Which one should you use?
While ใช่เลย is used to express precise agreement, you might also encounter แน่นอน, which means "certainly" or "definitely". In informal settings, you may hear the word จริงๆ used repetitively to emphasize correctness or agreement.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ใช่เลย is commonly used in spoken, informal contexts and may sound too casual for highly formal or professional settings.
How do you pronounce it?
chai loei
Did you know?
- To express 'exactly' in a more poetic or royal context, Thai uses a completely different set of vocabulary known as 'Rachasap', making ใช่เลย entirely inappropriate for the monarchy.
- The word เลย can also function as a preposition meaning 'past' or 'beyond', such as 'walking past the house', showing how one word carries many different grammatical roles.
- If a speaker says ใช่เลย with a rising tone at the end, it can shift from a statement of agreement to a question, effectively asking 'Is that exactly it?'
Examples in context
- ทำเช่นนั้นดี ถูกต้องมากDo it like that, it's exactly right!
- ใช่เลย เราคิดเหมือนกันchai loei rao khit muean kanExactly, we think the same thing.
- ใช่เลย มันเป็นแบบนั้นจริงๆchai loei man pen baep nan ching chingExactly, it is really like that.
Example conversation
Witthawat and Sirin are discussing a movie they both watched.
- วิทวัส Witthawatหนังเรื่องนี้สนุกมากเลยนะnang rueang ni sanuk mak loei naThis movie is very fun, isn't it?
- สิรินทร์ Sirinใช่เลย ฉันชอบตอนจบมากchai loei chan chop ton chop makExactly, I loved the ending very much.
- วิทวัส Witthawatคุณชอบตัวเอกเหมือนกันใช่ไหมkhun chop tua ek muean kan chai maiYou liked the main character too, right?
- สิรินทร์ Sirinใช่เลย เขาเท่มากจริงๆchai loei khao the mak ching chingExactly, he was really cool.
