Small wordsthis much adverb
- tâo falling
- níi 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.
แค่เท่านี้kâe tâo-níi = just this much; เท่านั้นtâo-nán = only (that).
You'll hear it in Lom Plian Thit (ลมเปลี่ยนทิศ).
How to use it
เท่านี้tâo-níi, "as much as this", measures something against what's in front of you: แค่เท่านี้kâe tâo-níi, just this much, that's all, and พอเท่านี้paw tâo-níi, this is enough, the way a teacher ends a class. With a feeling it means "this…": ไม่เคยเหนื่อยเท่านี้mâi koei nùeay tâo-níi, I've never been this tired. Only is เท่านั้นtâo-nán, and the casual way to say just this is แค่นี้kâe níi.
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:
- tao nee
- thao ni
- taonee
Read more
- Song Lom Plian Thit (ลมเปลี่ยนทิศ) A rock ballad about letting go: you can't stop the wind from changing direction, and you can't stop someone you love from leaving. Its lines teach doing your best, in the end, giving up, not knowing how to, this far, it's time to accept the truth and not any more, with the Buddhist idea that nothing lasts behind them.
- Song Nicotine (นิโคติน) The song that made Mirrr: sung by someone who is only ever a comfort, always there when the one they love is lonely or let down, though they know they'll be dropped in the end, like a cigarette. Its lines teach never going anywhere, beyond your reach, that's all I get, it's okay, whenever, even though, getting better and caring about someone.
More small words in Thai
All small words- คุณ kun You in Thai
- เขา kǎo He, she in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones