Which one should you use?
While ฉันเหนื่อย is a standard way to express the feeling, you can use เหนื่อยมาก to intensify the statement to mean "very tired".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form of "I" changes based on the speaker's gender and social context. Male speakers should use ผมเหนื่อย to sound more polite and natural in most social contexts. For young females or those speaking to elders, using หนูเหนื่อย can sound more polite or cute. In very casual or colloquial settings among close friends, one might say กูเพลียจัง to mean "I am really exhausted".
How does it change in a sentence?
The core word เหนื่อย (neuay) functions as an adjective that acts as a predicate. In Thai, you do not need to add a linking verb like "to be" to connect the subject to this adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
chan neuay
Did you know?
- When speaking to someone much older or in a higher position, you can replace the personal pronoun with your own nickname. This makes the statement I am tired sound much softer and more respectful than using standard pronouns.
- The pronoun กู (gu) used in the colloquial phrase กูเพลียจัง was historically a standard word for 'I' but is now considered vulgar or aggressive in most contexts.
- The word เหนื่อย can also be used figuratively to mean 'to be bored' or 'to be fed up' with a repetitive or tedious situation. In this context, it describes emotional weariness rather than just physical fatigue.
Examples in context
- ฉันเหนื่อยและอยากไปนอนI am tired and I want to go to bed.This sentence is useful for practicing how to express being tired and wanting to go to bed using ฉันเหนื่อย.Tatoeba #8728779 by pastelite, translation #261411 by CK
- ขอโทษครับ ฉันเหนื่อยจริงๆ มีที่ไหนที่ฉันสามารถพักผ่อนได้ไหมครับ?Excuse me, I am really tired. Is there a place where I can rest?
- ฉันเหนื่อยมากวันนี้chan nueai mak wan niI am very tired today.
- ตอนนี้ฉันเหนื่อยจนไม่อยากทำอะไรเลยton ni chan nueai jon mai yak tham arai loeiRight now I am so tired that I don't want to do anything.
Example conversation
A couple talking after a long day of work.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritวันนี้ฉันเหนื่อยมากเลยwan ni chan nueai mak loeiI am very tired today.
- พิมล Pimonพักผ่อนบ้างนะคะphak phon bang na khaPlease get some rest.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritขอบคุณครับkhop khun khrapThank you.
- พิมล Pimonฝันดีนะคะfan di na khaGoodnight.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
