Mean (unkind) in Thai

“Mean (unkind)” in Thai is ใจร้ายjai-ráai; you'll also hear ใจดำjai-dam (heartless).

ใจร้าย jai-ráai

mean, unkind, cruel adjective

jai mid
ráai high

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

Parts: ใจjai heart ร้ายráai wicked, bad

ใจดำ jai-dam

heartless, cold-hearted adjective

jai mid
dam mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

Parts: ใจjai heart ดำdam black

How to use it

ใจร้ายjai-ráai, "a wicked heart", is mean or unkind, and it's often playful: ใจร้ายจังjai-ráai jang, "you're so mean!", when a friend won't share their mango sticky rice. ใจดำjai-dam, "a black heart", is colder: someone who won't lift a finger for anyone. The opposite of both is ใจดีjai-dii, kind.

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:

jai rai
jairai
chai rai

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