Like this (formal) in Thai

“Like this (formal)” in Thai is เช่นนี้chên-níi; you'll also hear เช่นนั้นchên-nán (written).

เช่นนี้ chên-níi

like this, such (formal) adverb written

chên falling
níi high

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

เช่นนั้น chên-nán

like that, so (formal) adverb written

chên falling
nán high

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

How to use it

เช่นนี้chên-níi, "like this", and เช่นนั้นchên-nán, "like that", are the formal forms of everyday แบบนี้bàep níi and แบบนั้นbàep nán. ถ้าเช่นนั้นtâa chên-nán, "if that's so", is a formal "then".

In conversation Thais say งั้นngán for that: งั้นไปกันngán bpai gan, let's go, then.

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:

chen nee
chen ni

More formal words in Thai

All formal words

การ gaan Kaan (prefix)
-ing, -tion: turns a verb into a noun (the act of …)
ความ kwaam Kwaam (prefix)
-ness (turns a verb or adjective into a noun)
ผู้ pûu Phu (prefix)
person (who …): makes words for people, like -er
นัก nák Nak (prefix)
-er, -ist: someone who does it (as a job or a passion)
ซึ่ง sûeng Who, which (formal)
which, who (adds information; formal, written)
เมื่อ mûea When (formal)
when, once (formal)

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