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Thai · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 42

คุณว่ายน้ำเป็นไหมCan you swim?

nʉ̀ŋ wâai-náam pen pen

We talk about technology and ability ("เป็น" and "ได้"). Vocabulary: sà-máat-fohn, khɔmphíutə̂ə, ɛ́ɛp, in-thoe-nét, rá-hàt-phàan, ban-chii, khɔ̂ɔ-khwaam, soo-chîan-mii-dia, chái, daao-lòht, sà-dùak, khàp-rót. Key grammar: Thai has two ability words, placed AFTER the verb. "verb + เป็น" = to know how to do a learned skill, e.g. "ว่ายน้ำเป็น" (can swim), "ขับรถเป็น" (can drive), "พูดภาษาไทยเป็น" (can speak Thai). "verb + ได้" = to be able in a situation or allowed, e.g. "วันนี้ไปได้" (I can go today), "ใช้แอปนี้ได้" (you can use this app). Negatives: "ไม่เป็น" (don't know how yet), "ไม่ได้" (can't / not allowed). Note: English has one word "can" for both, so English speakers tend to use "ได้" for a skill: "ว่ายน้ำได้" △ → for a learned skill, use "ว่ายน้ำเป็น" ✓. Culture corner (§6): technology in Thailand. Tone corner: "เป็น" (pen) and "ได้" (dâai).

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ไปทะเลเสาร์นี้— Going to the sea this Saturday

  1. Somchaiเจมส์Jamesเสาร์sǎoนี้níiเราraoไปpaiทะtháเลleeกันkanไหมmǎiครับkrápJames, shall we go to the sea this Saturday?
  2. Jamesดีdiiเลยloəəiครับkráp!แต่tɛ̀ɛผมphǒmว่ายwâaiน้ำnáamได้dâaiนิดหน่อยnítnɔ̀iSounds great! But I can swim a little. (slip: for a learned skill use เป็น, not ได้: ว่ายน้ำเป็น)
  3. Somchaiอ๋อɔ̌ɔทักthákษะsàที่thîiเรียนrianมาmaaอย่างyàaŋว่ายwâaiน้ำnáamใช้chái"เป็นpen"ครับkráp"ได้dâai"ใช้cháiกับkàpสถานการณ์sà-thǎa-ná-kaanพูดphûutว่าwâa"ว่ายwâaiน้ำnáamเป็นpenนิดหน่อยnítnɔ̀i"Ah, for a learned skill like swimming, use "เป็น". "ได้" is for a situation. Say "ว่ายน้ำเป็นนิดหน่อย".
  4. Jamesอ๋อɔ̌ɔเข้าใจkhâocaiแล้วlɛ́ɛwครับkráp"ผมphǒmว่ายwâaiน้ำnáamเป็นpenนิดหน่อยnítnɔ̀i"แล้วlɛ́ɛwคุณkhunล่ะlâครับkrápAh, I get it. "ผมว่ายน้ำเป็นนิดหน่อย" (I can swim a little). And you?
  5. Somchaiผมphǒmว่ายwâaiน้ำnáamเป็นpenดีdiiครับkrápและlɛ́ผมphǒmขับkhàpรถrótเป็นpenด้วยdûaiเสาร์sǎoนี้níiผมphǒmขับkhàpรถrótไปpaiทะtháเลleeได้dâaiI can swim well. And I can drive too. This Saturday I can drive to the sea.
  6. Jamesเยี่ยมyîamครับkráp!งั้นngánผมphǒmดาวน์daaoโหลดlòhtแอɛ́ɛpปแผนที่phɛ̌ɛn-thîiได้dâaiGreat! Then I can download a map app.

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แอปที่สะดวก— A convenient app

  1. Maleeเจมส์Jamesคุณkhunใช้cháiแอปɛ́ɛpนี้níiเป็นpenไหมmǎiคะkháJames, do you know how to use this app?
  2. Jamesเป็นpenครับkrápใช้cháiง่ายngâaiมากmâakส่งsòŋข้อkhɔ̂ɔความkhwaamฟรีfriiได้dâaiด้วยdûaiYes, I do. It's very easy to use. You can send messages for free too.
  3. Maleeสะsàดวกdùakจังcaŋค่ะkâ!ฉันchǎnดาวน์daaoโหลดlòhtตอนtɔɔnนี้níiได้dâaiไหมmǎiคะkháSo convenient! Can I download it now?
  4. Jamesได้dâaiครับkrápแต่tɛ̀ɛคุณkhunต้องtɔ̂ŋมีmiiบัญbanชีchiiและlɛ́รráหัสhàtผ่านphàanYes. But you need an account and a password.
  5. Maleeฉันchǎnสร้างsâaŋบัญbanชีchiiเป็นpenค่ะkâที่thîiไทยthaiทุกthúkkhonคนใช้cháiโซsooเชียลchîanมีmiiเดียdiaเยอะyóeI know how to create an account. In Thailand, everyone uses social media a lot.
  6. Jamesจริงciŋครับkráp!เทคthékโนnooโลlooยีyiiในnaiไทยthaiสะsàดวกdùakมากmâakTrue! Technology in Thailand is very convenient.

Vocabulary

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สมาร์ตโฟนsà-máat-fohn

nounsmartphone

คอมพิวเตอร์khɔmphíutə̂ə

nouncomputer

แอปɛ́ɛp

nounapp

อินinเทอร์thoeเน็ตnét

nouninternet

รráหัสhàtผ่านphàan

nounpassword

บัญbanชีchii

nounaccount

ข้อkhɔ̂ɔความkhwaam

nounmessage

โซsooเชียลchîanมีmiiเดียdia

nounsocial media

ใช้chái

verbto use

ดาวน์daaoโหลดlòht

verbto download

สะsàดวกdùak

adjectiveconvenient

ขับkhàpรถrót

verbto drive

Grammar

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Ability: "เป็น" and "ได้"

Explanation

Thai has two words for "ability", placed AFTER the verb (not before, like English "can"). (1) "verb + เป็น" = to do a learned "skill": "ผมว่ายน้ำเป็น" (I can swim), "เธอขับรถเป็น" (she can drive), "ผมพูดภาษาไทยเป็น" (I can speak Thai). These are things you have learned and can do. (2) "verb + ได้" = to be able in a situation, or allowed: "วันนี้ผมไปได้" (I can go today — I'm free), "คุณใช้แอปนี้ได้" (you may use this app). Negatives: "verb + ไม่เป็น" (can't do it yet), "verb + ไม่ได้" (can't / not allowed). Note: English uses one word "can" for both skill and situation, so English speakers often say "ว่ายน้ำได้" for a skill. For a learned skill, Thai people say "ว่ายน้ำเป็น" ✓ ("เป็น" stresses "know how to").

Examples

  • ผมว่ายน้ำเป็นI can swim (I know how to swim).
  • เธอขับรถเป็นShe can drive (knows how to).
  • คุณใช้แอปนี้ได้You can use this app.
  • วันนี้ผมไปได้I can go today.
  • ผมพูดภาษาฝรั่งเศสไม่เป็นI can't speak French (I never learned).

Culture

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เทคโนโลยีในไทยTechnology in Thailand

Thailand is very "online". Most Thai people have a smartphone, internet is cheap, and they spend many hours a day on their phones. From big malls in Bangkok to roadside shops, people use their phones to chat, pay and shop. Knowing a few technology words makes life in Thailand much easier.

Chatting with LINE

The most popular chat app in Thailand is "LINE". Almost everyone uses LINE to talk with family, friends and work. Shops, schools and government offices also have a "LINE Official Account" to send news and answer questions. Thai people love sending cute "stickers" instead of words. When they meet someone new, many ask "Do you have LINE?" instead of asking for a phone number.

Paying with QR

In Thailand you scan a "QR code" to transfer money via "PromptPay" very easily. Even a curry-rice stall or a fruit cart has a QR code to scan. There are also phone wallets like "TrueMoney". Cash is still used too, especially at small shops, so it is good to carry a little. QR transfers are fast and free, so Thai people love them.

Digital life and 7-Eleven

In Thailand there is a "7-Eleven" on almost every street corner, and it does many things, such as paying bills, topping up phone credit, or receiving parcels. Thai people call rides and order food with "Grab", shop online at "Shopee" and "Lazada", and many sell things through Facebook or LINE. Technology is woven naturally into daily life. Knowing words like "app", "account" and "password" helps you adapt faster.

Technology has naturally become a part of everyday life in Thailand. Once you know words like "app", "internet" and "password", life here becomes much more convenient. Try downloading a Thai app and giving it a go.

Script & tones

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เสียงของ "เป็น" และ "ได้"— The sounds of "เป็น" and "ได้"

Read aloud, keeping "เป็น" flat and "ได้" falling:

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