Question Marker 'ไหม' — Thai Grammar

The particle (mǎi) is the primary grammatical tool for creating simple yes/no questions. It is always placed at the very end of a sentence. Unlike English, which requires changing word order or adding auxiliary verbs (like "do" or "are"), Thai keeps the original statement structure intact and simply adds (mǎi) to the end.

Think of it as a spoken question mark that turns a statement of fact into an inquiry.

คุณหิวไหม
kun hǐu mǎikhun hǐu mǎikhun hǐu mǎi
Are you hungry?
เขาเข้าใจไหม
kǎo kâo·jai mǎikhǎo khâo·chai mǎikhǎo khâo·čai mǎi
Does he understand?

Answering 'ไหม' Questions

Thai does not use universal words for "yes" or "no" to answer these specific questions. Instead, the answer depends entirely on the vocabulary used in the question itself.

To say Yes: Repeat the main verb or adjective found in the question.
To say No: Place the negative word (mâi) before the main verb or adjective.

ไปไหม → ไป
pai mǎi → paiphai mǎi → phaiphai mǎi → phai
Are you going? → Yes (going).
ชอบไหม → ไม่ชอบ
chɔ̂ɔp mǎi → mâi chɔ̂ɔpchôp mǎi → mâi chôpčô̦p mǎi → mâi čô̦p
Do you like it? → No (don't like).

Usage with Adjectives

In Thai, adjectives function as stative verbs (words that describe a state of being). Therefore, you do not need a verb "to be" when asking if something has a certain quality. You simply place (mǎi) immediately after the adjective.

อาหารเผ็ดไหม
aa·hǎan pèt mǎia·hǎn phèt mǎia·hǎn phèt mǎi
Is the food spicy?
ไกลไหม
klai mǎikhlai mǎikhlai mǎi
Is it far?

Asking for Confirmation with 'ใช่ไหม'

While (mǎi) is a neutral question marker used when you genuinely do not know the answer, (châi·mǎichâi·mǎičâi·mǎi) is used when you want to confirm something you believe to be true. It translates closely to "right?", "correct?", or "isn't it?".

This is formed by combining (châichâičâi), meaning "to be correct/yes", with (mǎi).

คุณเป็นคนไทยใช่ไหม
kun pen kon tai châi·mǎikhun phen khon thai châi·mǎikhun phen khon thai čâi·mǎi
You are Thai, right?
นี่คือกาแฟใช่ไหม
nîi kʉʉ kaa·fɛɛ châi·mǎinî khue kha·fae châi·mǎinî khư kha·fe̩ čâi·mǎi
This is coffee, isn't it?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Thai course

55 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 1. A few of them, with the words “Question Marker 'ไหม'” is about in bold:

คุณจะกลับมาทำงานพรุ่งนี้ไหม?
kun jà glàp maa tam ngaan prûng·níi mǎi?khun chà klàp ma tham ngan phrûng·ní mǎi?khun čà klàp ma tham ngan phrûng·ní mǎi?
Will you be back tomorrow?
Lesson 258
ส่งข้อความอีกครั้งได้ไหม?
sòng kɔ̂ɔ·kwaam ìik kráng dâi mǎi?sòng khô·kwam ìk khráng dâi mǎi?sòng khô̦·kwam ìk khráng dâi mǎi?
Can you send the message again?
Lesson 426

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