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Feelings

Embarrassed in Thai

“Embarrassed” in Thai is อายaai; you'll also hear ขายหน้าkǎai-nâa (humiliated).

อาย aai

shy, embarrassed; ashamed adjective

  • aai mid
  • Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
ขายหน้า kǎai-nâa

humiliated, to lose face (literally 'sell face') adjective

  • kǎai rising
  • nâa falling
  • Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Parts: ขายkǎai to sell หน้าnâa face

How to use it

อายaai covers shy, embarrassed and ashamed: tripping in the street, singing karaoke in front of colleagues, being caught out. Stronger is ขายหน้าkǎai-nâa, "to sell face", being publicly humiliated, or bringing shame on your family. Embarrassment is tied to face, หน้าnâa, one of the big ideas of Thai social life: see saving face.

Other spellings you'll see

There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:

  • ai
  • aay
  • khai na
  • kai naa

Read more

More feelings in Thai

All feelings
  • มีความสุข mii kwaam-sùk Happy

    to be happy

  • เสียใจ sǐa-jai Sad
  • ซึมเศร้า suem-sâo Depressed
  • เหงา ngǎo Lonely
  • คิดถึงบ้าน kít-tǔeng bâan Homesick

    homesick (literally 'miss home')

  • ร้องไห้ ráwng-hâai Cry

    to cry

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones