Shopping

1. เท่าไหร่ครับ / คะ

   Thâo rài khráp / khá

   How much?

   Grammar Note

   The shortest way to ask the price. "Rakha thao rai" adds "rakha" (price) for clarity

2. แพงไปครับ / ค่ะ

   Phaeng pai khráp / khâ

   Too expensive

   Usage

   The opening move in any market negotiation. Always keep a smile

   Grammar Note

   "Phaeng" means expensive. The opposite is "thuk" (cheap). "Thuk mak" (very cheap) is also handy at markets

3. ลดได้ไหมครับ / คะ

   Lót dâi mǎi khráp / khá

   Can you give a discount?

   Usage

   Bargaining is common at markets and stalls but usually not possible in malls

   Grammar Note

   "Dai mai" is a versatile "can you?" pattern. Works with any verb: "chuai dai mai" = can you help?

4. เอาอันนี้ครับ / ค่ะ

   Ao an ní khráp / khâ

   I'll take this

   Grammar Note

   Thai uses classifiers like Japanese counters. "An" is the general object classifier. People use "khon", long things use "thaeng"

5. มีไซส์เล็กกว่า / ใหญ่กว่านี้ไหมครับ / คะ

   Mi sai lék kwà / yài kwà ní mǎi khráp / khá

   Do you have a smaller / larger size?

   Grammar Note

   "Adjective + kwa" forms the comparative. "Lek kwa" (smaller), "yai kwa" (bigger), "di kwa" (better), etc.

6. แค่ดูก่อนครับ / ค่ะ

   Khâe du kòn khráp / khâ

   I'm just looking

   Usage

   A polite response when approached by a shop assistant — just say it with a smile

   Grammar Note

   "Khae (only) + verb + kon (first/for now)" = just doing [verb] for now. "Kon" adds a sense of deferring a decision

7. แคชเชียร์อยู่ที่ไหนครับ / คะ

   Khâet chia yù thî nǎi khráp / khá

   Where is the cashier?

   Grammar Note

   "Yu thi nai" (where is it?) is the standard location question. E.g. "hong nam yu thi nai" (where is the bathroom?)

8. จ่ายด้วยบัตรได้ไหมครับ / คะ

   Chài dûai bàt dâi mǎi khráp / khá

   Can I pay by card?

   Usage

   Small shops and stalls are often cash-only. It helps to keep small change on hand

   Grammar Note

   "Duai" as a preposition means "with/by". "Duai bat" = by card; "duai ngoen sat" = in cash

9. มีสีอื่นไหมครับ / คะ

   Mi sǐ ùen mǎi khráp / khá

   Do you have this in another color?

   Grammar Note

   "Uen" = other / another. Versatile: "khanat uen" (another size), "baep uen" (another style)

10. ขอใบเสร็จด้วยครับ / ค่ะ

    Khǒ bai sèt dûai khráp / khâ

    Receipt please

    Grammar Note

    "Bai" is a classifier for leaf/paper-shaped items; "set" relates to completion. Thai uses "bai" as a classifier for paper documents

11. ขออันนึงครับ / ค่ะ

    Khǒ an nueng khráp / khâ

    One, please

    Usage

    The shortest way to order while pointing at an item. "Nueng" is written หนึ่ง but colloquially spoken/written as นึง. For more, the word order flips: "song an" (two), "sam an" (three) — see the grammar note for why only "one" is inverted

    Grammar Note

    Thai uses classifiers (laksananam) like Japanese counters, normally in the order noun + number + classifier: "kafae nueng kaeo" (one cup of coffee). For a single item, however, colloquial Thai inverts this to classifier + nueng: "kafae kaeo nueng" (a cup of coffee), "nam khuat nueng" (a bottle of water). "An nueng" in this phrase is exactly that singular colloquial form — Thai speakers do not say "kho nueng an". From two upward the normal number + classifier order returns: "song an", "sam an". "An" is the catch-all classifier for general objects, so pointing and saying "an ni" (this one) or "an nueng" (one) always works. Other common ones: "kaeo" (glasses), "chan" (plates), "khuat" (bottles), "tua" (clothes, animals), "khon" (people)

12. รับถุงไหมครับ / คะ

    Ráp thǔng mǎi khráp / khá

    Would you like a bag?

    Usage

    Said by staff. Since 2020 large stores and convenience shops in Thailand no longer give free plastic bags. Answer "ao khrap / kha" (yes) or "mai ao thung khrap / kha" (no bag, thanks)

    Grammar Note

    "Rap + noun + mai" is the standard service pattern for "would you like [noun]?". Because it is a question, female staff use the high-toned "kha" (คะ) rather than "kha" (ค่ะ)

13. หาอะไรอยู่ไหมครับ / คะ

    Hǎ àrai yù mǎi khráp / khá

    Are you looking for something?

    Usage

    Said by staff, usually right as you enter. If you are browsing, answer with "khae du kon khrap / kha" (I'm just looking). To ask for something, reply "ha [item] khrap / kha"

    Grammar Note

    "Yu" after a verb marks ongoing action, like English -ing. "Arai" normally means "what", but inside a yes/no question it shifts to the indefinite "something" — hence "are you in the middle of looking for something?"

14. ลองใส่ดูไหมครับ / คะ

    Long sài du mǎi khráp / khá

    Would you like to try it on?

    Usage

    Said by staff. The fitting room is "hong long". To ask yourself, say "kho long dai mai khrap / kha" (may I try this on?). Many market stalls do not allow trying on clothes

    Grammar Note

    "Long + verb + du" = "give [verb] a try": "long chim du" (try tasting), "long chai du" (try using). The final "du" (to look) has shifted to mark trying something out, mirroring Japanese "-te miru"

15. ไม่เอาใบเสร็จครับ / ค่ะ

    Mâi ao bai sèt khráp / khâ

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    How to decline when staff ask "rap bai set mai khrap / kha" (would you like a receipt?). Same shape as "mai ao thung khrap / kha" (no bag, thanks)

    Grammar Note

    The fixed pattern "mai ao + noun" means "I do not want / need [noun]", built the same way as "mai ao nam khaeng" (no ice). Because this is a statement, women use the low-toned "kha" (ค่ะ), not the high-toned question particle คะ

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