นานแค่ไหน
nan khae nai
The Thai phrase for "how long?" is นานแค่ไหน (nan khae nai).
นานแค่ไหน is a question used to ask about the duration of time. It is typically placed at the end of a sentence or clause to ask about the duration of an action or state.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of นาน (nan) meaning 'long (time)', แค่ (khae) meaning 'only/just' and ไหน (nai) meaning 'where/which', literally translating to 'how much long'.
Which one should you use?
If you want to be specific about the unit of time, you can use the following forms: กี่นาที for 'how many minutes?', กี่ชั่วโมง for 'how many hours?', กี่วัน for 'how many days?', กี่เดือน for 'how many months?' and กี่ปี for 'how many years?'
How do you pronounce it?
nan khae nai
Did you know?
- While นาน refers to length of time, the word for physical length is ยาว. An English speaker cannot use นาน to ask how long a piece of string is.
- The word ไหน in the phrase นานแค่ไหน is actually the same word used for 'where'. In this context, it shifts from a spatial question to one of degree, meaning 'which extent'.
- The particle แค่ functions as a linguistic 'buffer'. By including 'only' in the phrase, the speaker avoids sounding like they are conducting a cold or clinical interrogation.
Examples in context
- วิ่งไปมาทั้งหมดกี่นาที?How many minutes did you run?
- คุณต้องรอนานแค่ไหนkhun tong ror nan khae naiHow long do you have to wait?
- เขาพักที่นี่นานแค่ไหนkhao phak thi ni nan khae naiHow long has he stayed here?
- ใช้เวลาเดินทางนานแค่ไหนchai wela doen thang nan khae naiHow long does the journey take?
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a project deadline.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatงานนี้ ต้องทำ นานแค่ไหน ครับngan ni tong tham nan khae nai khrapHow long will this task take?
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanน่าจะ ใช้เวลา สอง วัน ค่ะna cha chai we-la song wan khaIt should take about two days.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatงั้น เดี๋ยว ผม ช่วย ทำ ครับngan diao phom chuay tham khrapIn that case, I will help you.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอบคุณ มาก ค่ะ คุณธีรภัทรkhop khun mak kha khun thiraphatThank you very much, Teeraphat.
