สวัสดีตอนบ่าย
sawatdi ton bai
สวัสดีตอนบ่าย (sawatdi ton bai) is the Thai way to say good afternoon.
สวัสดีตอนบ่าย is a greeting used specifically in the afternoon. However, in natural spoken Thai, people more commonly use the general greeting สวัสดี regardless of the time of day.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of สวัสดี (hello), ตอน (time/period) and บ่าย (afternoon).
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the greeting polite, you can use the form สวัสดีตอนบ่ายครับ/ค่ะ by adding the appropriate gender particle at the end.
How do you pronounce it?
sawatdi ton bai
When do people say it?
When using a greeting like สวัสดี, it is polite to place your hands together in a prayer-like gesture called a 'wai' and slightly bow your head.
Did you know?
- Although สวัสดี is the standard greeting, friends often skip it entirely and instead ask กินข้าวหรือยัง meaning 'Have you eaten rice yet?'
- The greeting สวัสดี was not used as a general hello until the 1930s. It was coined by the government to modernize the language and create a national identity.
- If you are greeting someone much older or of higher status, the 'wai' gesture used with สวัสดี should involve your fingertips reaching closer to your nose or forehead.
Examples in context
- สวัสดีตอนบ่ายGood afternoon.This example shows the use of สวัสดีตอนบ่าย.Tatoeba #8675745 by pastelite, translation #499689 by CK
- สวัสดีตอนบ่ายค่ะทุกคนsawatdi ton bai kha thuk khonGood afternoon, everyone.
Example conversation
Pimon and Chonsit meet at the office in the afternoon.
- พิมล Pimonสวัสดีตอนบ่ายค่ะ คุณชลสิทธิ์sawatdee ton bai kha khun chonsitGood afternoon, Mr. Chonsit.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitสวัสดีตอนบ่ายครับ คุณพิมลsawatdee ton bai krap khun phimonGood afternoon, Ms. Pimon.
- พิมล Pimonวันนี้งานยุ่งไหมคะwan nee ngan yung mai khaAre you busy with work today?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitไม่ค่อยยุ่งครับmai koy yung krapNot really.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
