Making a Request with 'สิ' — Thai Grammar

The particle (sì) is a versatile sentence-ending word used to modify the mood of a verb. It is pronounced with a low tone. Depending on the context, it functions as a way to urge someone to do something, to give permission, or to emphasize that a statement is obvious.

Urging or Suggesting Action

When placed after a verb, (sì) functions as a mild imperative. It turns a verb into a command, but softens it so it sounds more like a suggestion, an invitation, or an encouragement. It translates roughly to "go ahead," "come on," or "just do it" in English.

This usage implies that the speaker wants the listener to perform the action immediately or that the action is the logical thing to do in that moment.

กินสิ
gin sìkin sìkin sì
Go ahead and eat.
เข้ามาสิ
kâo maa sìkhâo ma sìkhâo ma sì
Come on in.
ดูสิ
duu sìdu sìdu sì
Look at this.

Expressing Certainty or "Of Course"

(sì) is frequently used when answering questions to indicate certainty or agreement. In this context, it adds the meaning of "of course," "obviously," or "sure." It suggests that the answer should be clear or expected.

For example, if someone asks "Can I do this?", answering with (sì) implies "Yes, of course you can (why wouldn't you be able to?)."

ไปสิ
pai sìphai sìphai sì
Of course I'm going.
ได้สิ
dâi sì
Sure / Of course you can.
จริงสิ
jing sìching sìčing sì
It is true / Of course it's true.

Politeness and Word Order

On its own, (sì) is casual. It is acceptable to use with friends, family, or people of lower status. However, it is not inherently rude.

To make a request or suggestion polite while still using the urging nature of (sì), you must add the polite particles (krápkhrápkhráp) (for males) or (kâkhâkhâ) (for females) after (sì).

เชิญนั่งสิครับ
chəən nâng sì krápchoen nâng sì khrápčơn nâng sì khráp
Please, go ahead and sit down.
ทานสิคะ
taan sì kâthan sì khâthan sì khâ
Please, go ahead and eat.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Thai course

10 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 23. A few of them, with the words “Making a Request with 'สิ'” is about in bold:

รู้จักสิ กินอาหารจีนกันเถอะ
rúu·jàk sì · gin aa·hǎan jiin gan tə̀rú·chàk sì · kin a·hǎn chin kan thòerú·čàk sì · kin a·hǎn čin kan thờ
Yes. Let's eat Chinese food.
Lesson 127

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