ยากกว่า
yaak gwaa
The English phrase 'harder' is translated into Thai as ยากกว่า (yaak gwaa).
ยากกว่า is used to describe something that requires more effort to accomplish than something else.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ยาก (yaak), meaning 'difficult' or 'hard' and กว่า (gwaa), meaning 'more' or 'than'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the comparative 'harder' in Thai, you add กว่า after the adjective instead of using a suffix like '-er' in English. If you want to say 'harder than this' or 'even harder', you can add นี้ (nee), meaning 'this', to the end of the phrase to get ยากกว่านี้.
How do you pronounce it?
yaak gwaa
Did you know?
- In Thai, the word ยาก can be used as a slang term for 'poor' or 'destitute' when paired with other words, such as in คนยาก meaning 'a poor person'.
- Thai has a specific register for 'difficult' used in royal or religious contexts that differs entirely from the common ยาก.
- While ยาก means 'difficult', it is also used to describe a 'hard' or 'tough' person who is stubborn and refuses to cooperate.
Examples in context
- ข้อสอบนี้ยากกว่าเมื่อปีที่แล้วkho sop ni yak kwa muea pi thi laeoThis exam is harder than last year.
- การทำงานที่นี่ยากกว่าที่คิดkan tham ngan thi ni yak kwa thi khitWorking here is harder than I thought.
- วิชานี้ยากกว่าวิชาอื่นwicha ni yak kwa wicha uenThis subject is harder than other subjects.
