Language/Thai/Vocabulary/Time-Expressions
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| ◀️ Daily Routine — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Days of the Week and Months ▶️ |
Welcome to today’s lesson on Time Expressions in Thai! This topic is not just crucial for everyday conversation; it helps you connect with the rich culture and rhythm of Thai life. Imagine being in a bustling market or enjoying a sunset by the beach, and being able to ask, “What time is it?” or “When do we eat?” Mastering time expressions enables you to engage more meaningfully in conversations and understand the flow of daily activities in Thailand.
In this lesson, we will cover:
- Basic Vocabulary for Time
- How to Ask and Tell Time
- Expressions Related to Daily Schedules
- Cultural Context and Usage
By the end of this lesson, you will be well-equipped to handle time-related conversations in Thai!
Basic Vocabulary for Time[edit | edit source]
First, let’s dive into some essential vocabulary that will help you express time in Thai. Here are some key words and phrases:
| Thai | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ชั่วโมง | chûamóng | hour |
| นาที | naa-thii | minute |
| วินาที | wi-naa-thii | second |
| เช้า | cháo | morning |
| เที่ยง | thîang | noon |
| บ่าย | bàai | afternoon |
| เย็น | yen | evening |
| กลางคืน | glaang-khuen | night |
| วัน | wan | day |
| สัปดาห์ | sàp-daa | week |
| เดือน | deuan | month |
| ปี | bpii | year |
Understanding these words is fundamental. You’ll notice that time in Thai is often discussed in relation to the parts of the day, so it’s essential to memorize these terms.
How to Ask and Tell Time[edit | edit source]
Now that we have the vocabulary, let's learn how to ask and tell time. Here’s a simple structure to get you started:
1. To ask for the time:
- Thai: ตอนนี้กี่โมง?
- Pronunciation: ton-níi kìi móng?
- English: What time is it now?
2. To tell the time:
- Thai: ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา [number] โมง
- Pronunciation: ton-níi bpen we-laa [number] móng
- English: It is [number] o'clock now.
For example:
- Thai: ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สอง โมง
- Pronunciation: ton-níi bpen we-laa sǒng móng
- English: It is two o'clock now.
Let’s look at some more examples of telling the time:
| Thai | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา หนึ่ง โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa nùeng móng | It is one o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สี่ โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa sìi móng | It is four o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา ห้า โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa hâa móng | It is five o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา หก โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa hòk móng | It is six o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา เจ็ด โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa jèt móng | It is seven o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา แปด โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa bpàaet móng | It is eight o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา เก้า โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa gâao móng | It is nine o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สิบ โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa sìp móng | It is ten o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สิบเอ็ด โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa sìp-èd móng | It is eleven o'clock now. |
| ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สิบสอง โมง | ton-níi bpen we-laa sìp-sǒng móng | It is twelve o'clock now. |
In Thai, when referring to minutes or seconds, we add "นาที" (naa-thii) or "วินาที" (wi-naa-thii) after the hour. For example:
- Thai: ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สอง โมง กับ สิบ นาที
- Pronunciation: ton-níi bpen we-laa sǒng móng kàp sìp naa-thii
- English: It is two o'clock and ten minutes now.
[edit | edit source]
Thai culture emphasizes punctuality, and understanding these expressions will help you navigate social situations:
- Before noon: ก่อนเที่ยง (kàawn thîang) - before noon
- After noon: หลังเที่ยง (lǎng thîang) - after noon
- At night: ตอนกลางคืน (ton glaang-khuen) - at night
Using Time in Daily Conversations[edit | edit source]
Let’s now look at some common phrases that involve time expressions in daily conversations:
| Thai | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| วันนี้วันอะไร? | wan-níi wan à-rai? | What day is it today? |
| ฉันจะไปที่นั่นตอนเย็น | chán jà bpai thîi nân ton yen | I will go there in the evening. |
| เรามีนัดตอนบ่าย | rao mii nát ton bàai | We have an appointment in the afternoon. |
| เขามาถึงตอนเช้า | khǎo maa thǔeng ton cháo | He/She arrives in the morning. |
| คุณทำการบ้านเสร็จเมื่อไหร่? | khun tham gaan-bâan sèt mêuà-rài? | When will you finish your homework? |
Cultural Context and Usage[edit | edit source]
In Thailand, time is often viewed more flexibly compared to Western standards. While punctuality is appreciated, being late is sometimes not seen as a significant issue in social settings. However, for business meetings and important appointments, it's advisable to be on time.
Practice Scenarios[edit | edit source]
Now that you’ve learned the vocabulary and structures, it’s time to practice! Here are ten scenarios for you to apply what you’ve learned:
1. Scenario: You're meeting a friend for lunch. Ask them, “What time shall we meet?”
- Answer: คุณจะมาที่ไหนตอนกี่โมง? (khun jà maa thîi nǎi ton kìi móng?)
2. Scenario: You want to know when the next bus leaves. Ask, “When does the bus leave?”
- Answer: รถบัสออกเมื่อไหร่? (rót-bát àawk mêuà-rài?)
3. Scenario: You're at a restaurant and want to know when the food will arrive. Ask, “When will the food come?”
- Answer: อาหารจะมาเมื่อไหร่? (aa-hǎan jà maa mêuà-rài?)
4. Scenario: You just woke up and want to know what time it is. Ask someone, “What time is it?”
- Answer: ตอนนี้กี่โมง? (ton-níi kìi móng?)
5. Scenario: You want to ask your colleague about a meeting scheduled for next week. Ask, “When is the meeting?”
- Answer: การประชุมวันไหน? (gaan bprà-chum wan nǎi?)
6. Scenario: You’re planning a trip and need to know how many days you will be there. Ask, “How many days will you stay?”
- Answer: คุณจะอยู่ที่นี่กี่วัน? (khun jà yùu thîi nîi kìi wan?)
7. Scenario: You want to invite a friend to a concert at night. Say, “Let’s meet at night.”
- Answer: เจอกันตอนกลางคืนเถอะ (jer gan ton glaang-khuen thòe)
8. Scenario: You need to set an alarm for 6 AM. Say, “Set the alarm for six o'clock.”
- Answer: ตั้งนาฬิกาปลุกตอนหกโมง (tâng naa-lí-gà bplùk ton hòk móng)
9. Scenario: You want to know if your friend is free this weekend. Ask, “Are you free this weekend?”
- Answer: คุณว่างวันสุดสัปดาห์นี้ไหม? (khun wâang wan sùt sàp-daa nîi mái?)
10. Scenario: You want to know when the movie starts. Ask, “What time does the movie start?”
- Answer: หนังเริ่มกี่โมง? (nǎng rêrm kìi móng?)
Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that we’ve covered a lot of material, let’s test your knowledge with some exercises!
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Complete the sentences using the correct time vocabulary.
1. ตอนนี้ ________ (six) โมง.
2. ________ (what time) เป็นเวลา?
3. เรามีนัดตอน ________ (afternoon).
Solutions:
1. หก (hòk)
2. กี่โมง (kìi móng?)
3. บ่าย (bàai)
Exercise 2: Translate the Sentence[edit | edit source]
Translate the following sentences from English to Thai.
1. What time is it now?
2. I will go in the evening.
Solutions:
1. ตอนนี้กี่โมง? (ton-níi kìi móng?)
2. ฉันจะไปตอนเย็น (chán jà bpai ton yen).
Exercise 3: Match the Time with the Phrase[edit | edit source]
Match the Thai phrases with their meanings.
- A. เช้า
- B. บ่าย
- C. เย็น
1. Afternoon
2. Morning
3. Evening
Solutions:
A-2, B-1, C-3
Exercise 4: Create Your Questions[edit | edit source]
Write two questions in Thai asking for the time or about daily activities.
Example Answers:
1. ตอนนี้กี่โมง? (What time is it now?)
2. คุณไปที่นั่นเมื่อไหร่? (When will you go there?)
Exercise 5: Role Play[edit | edit source]
Pair up with a friend and practice asking and telling time using the phrases learned in class.
Solution: Act out scenarios where you ask about time and plan activities together.
Exercise 6: Listening Comprehension[edit | edit source]
Listen to a Thai speaker tell the time and write down what they said.
Solution: Write down the time phrase and practice repeating it.
Exercise 7: Write a Short Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Create a short dialogue involving two people discussing their plans for the day, including time expressions.
Example Dialogue:
A: ตอนนี้กี่โมง? (What time is it now?)
B: สี่โมงครับ (It’s four o'clock).
A: เราจะไปที่นั่นตอนห้าโมง (We’ll go there at five o'clock).
Exercise 8: Change the Time[edit | edit source]
Take the sentence “ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สอง โมง” and change it to different times.
Example Solutions:
1. ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สาม โมง (It’s three o'clock now).
2. ตอนนี้เป็นเวลา สี่ โมง (It’s four o'clock now).
Exercise 9: Group Discussion[edit | edit source]
In small groups, discuss your daily routines and the times you do each activity.
Solution: Share your routines using Thai time expressions.
Exercise 10: Quiz Yourself[edit | edit source]
Write down five sentences about what you learned in this lesson and quiz a partner.
Solution: Each partner takes turns asking and answering the questions.
By completing these exercises, you will reinforce your understanding of time expressions in Thai and become more comfortable using them in conversation. Remember, practice makes perfect!
As we wrap up this lesson, embrace the beauty of the Thai language and the rhythm of time in Thai culture. With these skills, you’re one step closer to fluency. Keep practicing, and see you in the next lesson!
Videos[edit | edit source]
Thai Language Phrases Lesson 4: Time - YouTube[edit | edit source]
USEFUL THAI PHRASES: Long Time No See - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Thai lessons: Time expressions
- Thai Language Lessons and Examples - speak like a local
- Time Concepts in Thai Language | Learn Thai Style
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Basic Colors
- How to say I
- Fruits
- Thai Proverbs
- Common Animals
- How to say “to know” in Thai
- List of nouns
- Typing Thai
- Numbers 1 10
- Count from 1 to 10
| ◀️ Daily Routine — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Days of the Week and Months ▶️ |