สบายดีไหม
sabai di mai/sa˨˩.baːj˧.diː˧.maj˩˩˦/
In Thai, "how are you?" is said as สบายดีไหม (sabai di mai).
สบายดีไหม is a common greeting used to ask someone about their health or general well-being. While it translates directly to "how are you?", it is often used in more formal settings or when speaking with people you have not seen in a while, rather than as a casual daily greeting between close friends.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of สบายดี, which means "to be well" or "to be comfortable" and the particle ไหม, which is a question particle added to the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ไหม functions as a question particle at the end of the sentence to indicate a question.
How do you pronounce it?
sabai di mai
When do people say it?
A common response to this question is สบายดี, meaning "I am well".
Did you know?
- In much of Thailand, people often bypass 'how are you' entirely and instead ask if you have eaten yet by saying กินข้าวหรือยัง.
- A person might respond to สบายดีไหม by saying เรื่อยๆ, which literally means 'continuously' or 'along the line', implying that life is just passing by as usual.
- Because สบายดีไหม is seen as somewhat formal, using it with a very close friend or sibling can sometimes sound jokingly distant or sarcastic.
Examples in context
- สบายดีไหมคะHow are you? (female speaker, polite)This example shows the phrase used by a female speaker to be polite.
- สบายดีไหมครับHow are you? (male speaker, polite)This example shows the phrase used by a male speaker to be polite.
- สบายดีไหมsa-bai di maiHow are you?
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe after a long time.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitกนกวรรณ สบายดีไหมKa-nok-wan sa-bai di maiKanokwan, how are you?
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanสบายดีค่ะ ชลสิทธิ์ล่ะsa-bai di kha Chon-la-sit laI am fine, and you Chonlasit?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมก็สบายดีครับphom ko sa-bai di khrapI am doing well too.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanดีใจที่ได้เจอนะdi-chai thi dai choe naIt is good to see you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry สบายดีไหม, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
