Describing things ขยัน kà-yǎn
hard-working, diligent adjective
- kà low
- yǎn rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
How to use it
ขยันkà-yǎn is hard-working or diligent, and it goes before the verb: ขยันเรียนkà-yǎn rian, to study hard, ขยันทำงานkà-yǎn tam-ngaan, to work hard. It's a common compliment for students, staff, and Thai learners who practise every day. The opposite is ขี้เกียจkîi-gìat, lazy.
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:
- khayan
- kha yan
More describing things in Thai
All describing things
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones