What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ทำได้ดีมาก literally breaks down into ทำ (do), ได้ (can/able to), ดี (well) and มาก (very much).
Which one should you use?
Using ทำได้ดี instead of ทำได้ดีมาก makes the praise less intense, changing the meaning from "very good job" to simply "good job". The phrase เก่งมาก is used to convey that someone is "very skilled" or "very good".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal situation, use คุณทำได้ดีมาก to mean "you did very well". For a polite approach, you can use ทำงานดีเลยครับ/ค่ะ to say "you did a good job". In informal daily conversation, ดีมากเลย is used to compliment work or effort and เก่งมาก is a very common and natural way to praise someone's performance or ability. เก่งมาก specifically emphasizes that someone is very clever or skilled.
How does it change in a sentence?
Removing มาก (mak) from the end of the phrase ทำได้ดีมาก changes the meaning from a very high level of praise to a standard "good job".
How do you pronounce it?
tham dai di mak
Did you know?
- In a professional Thai hierarchy, a subordinate would rarely say ทำได้ดีมาก to a superior, as praising a boss can be interpreted as evaluating them, which is culturally inappropriate.
- In Thai culture, praising someone too directly with ทำได้ดีมาก in front of a group can sometimes cause the recipient to feel shy or embarrassed, leading them to modestly deny the praise.
- The word เก่ง used in เก่งมาก can also be used sarcastically to mean 'you think you are so smart' if spoken with a specific condescending tone.
Examples in context
- วันนี้ทำได้ดีมากนะwan ni tham dai di mak naYou did a great job today.
- งานนี้ทำได้ดีมากเลยngan ni tham dai di mak loeiThis work was done very well.
Example conversation
A manager is praising his employee after a successful presentation.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitวันนี้คุณทำได้ดีมากครับwan ni khun tham dai di mak khrapYou did a very good job today.
- ณิชา Nichaขอบคุณมากค่ะคุณชลสิทธิ์khop khun mak kha khun chonlasitThank you very much, Mr. Chonlasit.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมภูมิใจในตัวคุณนะphom phum chai nai tua khun naI am proud of you.
- ณิชา Nichaจะตั้งใจทำงานต่อไปค่ะcha tang chai tham ngan tor pai khaI will continue to work hard.
