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VerbsShopping and money

Spend in Thai

“Spend” in Thai is ใช้chái; you'll also hear ใช้จ่ายchái-jàai (spending (formal)).

ใช้ chái

to spend (money, time); to use verb

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

High tone. With a falling tone, ใช่châi means yes, that's right.

ใช้จ่าย chái-jàai

to spend (money); spending verb spending (formal)

  • chái high
  • jàai low
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

Taught in Unit 6 · Lesson 1: Question words of the free course.

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How to use it

Spending is just ใช้chái, to use: ใช้เงินchái ngoen, use money, and ใช้เวลาchái wee-laa, use time. Someone who spends freely ใช้เงินเก่งchái ngoen gèng, "is good at using money". Living costs are ค่าใช้จ่ายkâa chái-jàai, and a budget is a งบngóp.

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:

  • chai ngoen

More verbs in Thai

All verbs
  • เป็น bpen Be

    to be (a nationality, a job, a role)

  • มี mii Have

    to have

  • ไป bpai Go

    to go

  • มา maa Come

    to come

  • กิน gin Eat

    to eat

  • ดื่ม dùuem Drink

    to drink

Learn this word in Unit 6, free

Unit 6 · Questions, questions · Question words. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 6

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