ใช่และไม่ใช่
chai lae mai chai
The Thai phrase for "yes and no" is ใช่และไม่ใช่ (chai lae mai chai).
This phrase is used to indicate that there is no simple "yes" or "no" answer to a question. While ใช่และไม่ใช่ is a literal translation, Thai speakers more frequently use the more natural phrase ก็ใช่ก็ไม่ใช่ to express that a situation is nuanced or complicated, effectively saying "it's both yes and no."
Meaning: indicating there is no simple "yes" or "no" answer (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ใช่ (yes/correct), และ (and) and ไม่ใช่ (not yes/no/incorrect).
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the expression sound more natural when describing a situation that is simultaneously true and false, you can add the particle ก็…ก็… around the phrase to form ก็ใช่ก็ไม่ใช่.
How do you pronounce it?
chai lae mai chai
Did you know?
- In Thai culture, giving a direct 'no' can be seen as too blunt or impolite. Phrases like ก็ใช่ก็ไม่ใช่ allow speakers to soften a disagreement by avoiding a hard 'no'.
- While ใช่ means 'yes', it specifically means 'that is correct'. To answer 'yes' to a question about doing something, Thai speakers often repeat the verb instead of using a single word for 'yes'.
- Thai does not have a single universal word for 'no'. While ไม่ใช่ is used in ใช่และไม่ใช่ to mean 'not correct', a different word ไม่ is used to negate actions or adjectives.
Examples in context
- Chai khrap/ka (ใช่ครับ/ค่ะ)Yes, sir/madam.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing if a movie is scary.
- วิทวัส Witthawatหนังเรื่องนี้สยองขวัญไหมnang rueang nee sa-yong khwan maiIs this movie a horror movie?
- ณิชา Nichaมันก็ใช่และไม่ใช่ค่ะman ko chai lae mai chai khaIt's yes and no.
- วิทวัส Witthawatหมายความว่ายังไงครับmai khwam wa yang ngai krapWhat do you mean?
- ณิชา Nichaมีฉากน่ากลัวแต่เน้นตลกมากกว่าmee chark na klua tae nen talok mak kwaThere are scary scenes, but it's more of a comedy.
