How to say “I don't understand” in Thai

Mai khao jai

ไม่mâi is "not" and เข้าใจkâo-jai is "understand", literally "enter the heart": เข้าkâo (to enter) + ใจjai (heart, mind). So when something "goes into your heart", you've understood it. Three syllables: mâi and kâo both fall, jai is level. Spellings like mai khao jai and mai kao jai mean the same thing.

Keep the conversation going

Saying you don't understand is only half the job; tell people what would help, ideally in Thai. That shows effort, and Thais are wonderfully patient with someone who's trying:

• slower: พูดช้าๆหน่อยpûut cháa-cháa nàwy
• again: พูดอีกทีได้ไหมpûut ìik tii dâi mǎi
• written down: เขียนให้ดูได้ไหมkǐan hâi duu dâi mǎi, great for addresses, times and prices
• a word's meaning: แปลว่าอะไรbplae wâa à-rai

Thai also has a second word for following what's said: รู้เรื่องrúu-rûeang. ฟังไม่รู้เรื่องfang mâi rúu-rûeang means "I can't make sense of what I'm hearing", and someone may check with รู้เรื่องไหมrúu-rûeang mǎi, "are you following?".

The polite nod

Be aware of the nod. Learners often smile and say ครับkráp or ค่ะkâ to be polite while understanding nothing, and many Thais do the same with English, out of เกรงใจgreeng-jai and the wish not to lose face. A yes can mean "I hear you", not "I understand". If something matters, like a time, a price or directions, check it back simply: repeat the key word, or ask them to write it.

Common mistakes

• Asking "understand?" with English intonation. In Thai, the question word does the work: เข้าใจไหมkâo-jai mǎi.
• Switching to loud, fast English. Slower, simpler Thai or English, or writing it down, works far better.
• Saying ไม่เข้าใจmâi kâo-jai and stopping there. Add what you need, and the conversation carries on. For "what do you mean?", try หมายความว่าอะไรmǎai-kwaam wâa à-rai.

Pronunciation tip

Watch the vowel length in เข้าkâo: it's short. Make it long and you get ข้าวkâao, rice. Thais will still understand you from context, but it's a good pair to practise.