Feelingsto tremble, to be shaken (by feelings) verb
- wàn low
- wǎi rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
You'll hear it in 9 O'Clock (9 นาฬิกา).
How to use it
หวั่นไหวwàn-wǎi is being shaken inside: your heart wavering when someone charming pays you attention, or your resolve weakening under pressure. It's a word of love songs and dramas, where the heart, ใจjai, does the trembling. Its negative is praise for a steady mind: ไม่หวั่นไหวmâi wàn-wǎi, unshaken. The same quiver shakes the ground in แผ่นดินไหวpàen-din-wǎi, an earthquake. Nervous excitement before something is ตื่นเต้นdtùuen-dtên.
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:
- wun wai
- warn wai
Read more
More feelings in Thai
All feelings- เสียใจ sǐa-jai Sad in Thai
- ซึมเศร้า suem-sâo Depressed in Thai
- เหงา ngǎo Lonely in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones