No strings attached in Thai

“No strings attached” in Thai is ไม่มีข้อแม้mâi mii kâw-máe, “there's no condition”; the condition itself, the catch, is ข้อแม้kâw-máe.

ไม่มีข้อแม้ mâi mii kâw-máe

no strings attached, unconditionally phrase

mâi falling
mii mid
kâw falling
máe 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.

ข้อแม้ kâw-máe

a condition, a catch noun the catch

kâw falling
máe 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.

ไม่มีข้อแม้mâi mii kâw-máe = no strings attached.

You'll hear ข้อแม้kâw-máe in Mai Mee Kho Mae (ไม่มีข้อแม้ตั้งแต่เริ่มต้น).

Examples

Tap any Thai word for its meaning.

ไม่มีข้อแม้mâi mii kâw-máe

แม่ mâeรัก rákลูก lûukแบบ bàepไม่มีข้อแม้ mâi mii kâw-máe

A mother loves her children unconditionally.
ให้ hâiฟรี friiไม่มีข้อแม้ mâi mii kâw-máe

It's free, no strings attached.

ข้อแม้kâw-máe

มี miiข้อแม้ kâw-máeอะไร à-raiหรือเปล่า rǔue bplàao

Is there a catch?
ให้ hâiยืม yuuemได้ dâiแต่ dtàeมี miiข้อแม้ kâw-máeข้อ kâwเดียว diaw

You can borrow it, on one condition.

How to use it

ข้อแม้kâw-máe is a condition you attach to something, the catch: มีข้อแม้ข้อเดียวmii kâw-máe kâw diaw, on one condition. Without one, ไม่มีข้อแม้mâi mii kâw-máe, something is given freely, no strings attached, the way love songs promise to love. The small print of a promotion or a contract is เงื่อนไขngûean-kǎi, terms and conditions.