ยาก
yâak/jaːk̚˥˩/
The Thai word for hard, meaning requiring a lot of effort to do or understand, is ยาก (yâak). If unsure, use ยาก. Wiktionary also lists ลำบาก (lam-bàak).
Meaning: requiring a lot of effort to do or understand (adj)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ยาก | yâak | /jaːk̚˥˩/ |
| ลำบาก | lam-bàak | /lam˧.baːk̚˨˩/ |
ยาก describes a task, subject or question that is difficult. It is the word for chess is hard or a test that is hard.
Which one should you use?
ลำบาก (lam-bàak) also translates as hard, but it leans toward a hard life or a situation full of hardship rather than a problem that is difficult to solve.
How do you pronounce it?
ยาก is said yâak, /jaːk̚˥˩/. It is one syllable with a long a sound, a falling tone and a final k that is not released.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use ยาก to mean hard in the sense of a solid texture, like a hard rock or hard bread. For that meaning Thai uses a different word, khǎeng.
Did you know?
- The Thai term for hardship, ลำบาก, actually has its roots in Old Khmer, the language of the ancient Khmer Empire.
- When describing a 'hard' person in terms of character or stubbornness, Thai speakers use แข็ง rather than ยาก.
- When pronouncing ยาก, the final 'k' sound is unreleased. This means you prepare your mouth to make the 'k' sound, but you do not actually let the puff of air out.
Examples in context
- มันไม่ยากสําหรับผมIt isn't hard for me.ไม่ยาก puts the word for not in front of ยาก, giving isn't hard.Tatoeba #10176459 by Somsak, translation #7197788 by CK
- ฉันรู้ว่ามันไม่ยากI know it's not hard.Again ไม่ยาก means not hard, here after I know.Tatoeba #10736713 by Somsak, translation #6118466 by CK
- หมากรุกเป็นเรื่องยากChess is hard.ยาก comes at the end, describing chess as hard.Tatoeba #10220400 by Somsak, translation #5955959 by mailohilohi
- การเรียนการสอนในมหาวิทยาลัยนี้เป็นเรื่อง ยากStudying at this university is hard
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a homework assignment.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitการบ้านวิชานี้ยากมากเลยนะkan-ban wi-cha ni yak mak loei naThe homework for this subject is very hard.
- พิมล Pimonใช่ค่ะ ฉันทำไม่ได้เลยchai kha chan tham mai dai loeiYes, I can't do it at all.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitเราลองช่วยกันทำดูไหมrao long chuay kan tham du maiShall we try doing it together?
- พิมล Pimonดีค่ะ เพราะมันยากเกินไปสำหรับฉันdi kha phro man yak koen pai sam-rap chanThat's good, because it is too hard for me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hard” translations and entries ยาก, ลำบาก, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ยาก, ลำบาก, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
