FeelingsShy in Thai
“Shy” in Thai is ขี้อายkîi-aai; you'll also hear อายaai (feeling shy) and เขินkǒen (flustered).
shy (by nature) adjective
- kîi falling
- aai mid
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
shy, embarrassed; ashamed adjective feeling shy
- aai mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
flustered, bashful (blushing at a compliment or a crush) adjective
- kǒen rising
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
How to use it
ขี้อายkîi-aai is a shy person, from อายaai, to feel shy or embarrassed: ไม่ต้องอายmâi dtâwng aai, don't be shy. When a compliment or a crush makes you blush, the word is เขินkǒen, flustered. The prefix ขี้kîi turns a feeling into a trait, like -prone in English: ขี้เกียจkîi-gìat is lazy and ขี้หึงkîi-hǔeng the jealous type.
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:
- khi ai
- kee eye
- kiai
- khi aai
- kern
- khoen
- kheun
More feelings in Thai
All feelings
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones