ไม่เอาข้าว
In Thai, "no rice" is said as ไม่เอาข้าว.
The phrase ไม่เอาข้าว is used when ordering food to indicate that you do not want rice included with your meal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ไม่ (not), เอา (to want/to take) and ข้าว (rice).
Which one should you use?
While ไม่เอาข้าว means "I don't want rice", the phrase ไม่ใส่ข้าว is more specifically used to mean "don't put rice in [the dish/container]".
Did you know?
- While ข้าว means 'rice', it is also used as a general term for 'food' or 'a meal'. In some contexts, saying you do not want ข้าว could be interpreted as not wanting any food at all.
- In Thailand, rice is so central to the diet that asking for ไม่เอาข้าว might prompt a server to ask if you would like 'sticky rice' ข้าวเหนียว instead, which is viewed as a different category of food.
- The word เอา in ไม่เอาข้าว literally means 'to take'. In Thai culture, this is the standard way to express desire or preference when ordering, rather than using a verb specifically for 'wanting'.
Examples in context
- ไม่ใส่ข้าวค่ะNo rice, please.
- ฉันไม่กินข้าวนะคะI don't eat rice, thank you.
- ไม่เอาข้าวนะครับ มีข้าวโอ๊ตไหมครับNo rice, please. Do you have oatmeal?
- สั่งกับข้าว แต่ไม่เอาข้าวsang kap khao tae mai ao khaoOrdering side dishes, but no rice.
- วันนี้ผมไม่เอาข้าวwan ni phom mai ao khaoToday, I don't want rice.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are ordering food at a street stall.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitขอสั่งแกงเผ็ดหนึ่งที่ครับkho sang kaeng phet nueng thi khrapI'd like to order one portion of red curry.
- พิมล Pimonรับข้าวสวยเพิ่มด้วยไหมคะrap khao suai phoem duai mai khaWould you like some steamed rice with that?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitไม่เอาข้าวครับmai ao khao khrapNo rice, please.
- พิมล Pimonได้ค่ะ เดี๋ยวจัดให้ค่ะdai kha diao chat hai khaOkay, I will prepare that for you.
