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John:

khaw suue tua bai nueng khrap

 

ขอซื้อตั๋วใบหนึ่งครับ

Can I have one ticket, please?

Clerk:

pai nai kha

 

ไปไหนคะ

Where to?

John:

pai Krungthep

 

ไปกรุงเทพ

Bangkok, please.

Clerk:

thiew nai kha  thiew thum nueng tem laew

 

เที่ยวไหนคะ เที่ยวทุ่มหนึ่งเต็มแล้ว

Which trip? The 7am one is full.

John:

mii thiew nai waang baang khrap

 

มีเที่ยวไหนว่างบ้างครับ

Which ones have seats available?

Clerk:

mii thiew sawng thum khrueng luuea yuu sii thii

 

มีเที่ยวสองทุ่มครึ่งเหลืออยู่สี่ที่

We have four seats left on the 8:30.

John:

ja thueng Krungthep kii moong

 

จะถึงกรุงเทพฯกี่โมง

What’s the arrival time in Bangkok?

Clerk:

pramaan jet moong chaao pen yaang chaa

 

ประมาณเจ็ดโมงเช้าเป็นอย่างช้า

Around 7 at the latest.

John:

phom suue bai nueng  raakhaa thaorai khrap

 

ผมซื้อใบหนึ่ง ราคาเท่าไรครับ

Can I have one, please? How much is it?

Clerk:

paet roy yiisiphaa baat kha nii kha tua lae ngoenthawn

 

แปดร้อยยี่สิบห้าบาทค่ะ … นี่ค่ะตั๋วและเงินทอน

It’s 824 baht. ... Here is the ticket and your change.

John:

phom ja khoen rot trong nai khrap

 

ผมจะขึ้นรถตรงไหนครับ

Where can I get on the coach?

Clerk:

trong chaanchaalaa thii saam thangnoon na kha

 

ตรงชานชาลาที่สาม ทางโน้นนะคะ

At platform 3, over there.

John:

rot ja yut thiinai baang khrap

 

รถจะหยุดที่ไหนบ้างครับ

Is the coach going to stop anywhere?

Clerk:

rao ja wae thaan khaaotom thii Khooraat yuusip naathii  pramaan thiangkhuuen

 

เราจะแวะทานข้าวต้มที่โคราชยี่สิบนาที ประมาณที่ยงคืน

We’ll stop for a late light meal in Korat for 20 minutes around midnight.

John:

khawpkhun khrap

 

ขอบคุณครับ

Thanks.


Classifier check:

It's OK to say, "Can I have one ticket, please?" in Thai with the correct classifier. However, in this context, there's another key classifier for "a trip, a journey, a flight, a cruise, etc." That classifier is thiew  — with the same spelling and pronunciation as pai thiew  (to go out for fun or for some leisure activity). Some example sentences are:

  • wannii thiew chaao tem mot laew kha (Today's morning flight is already full.)
  • thiew baai yaang mai tem kha (There are still some seats on the afternoon flight.)
  • pai thiew baai dai mai kha (Would you like to fly in the afternoon?)
  • What about answering this question in Thai:
    — "We have four seats left. How many do you want?"
    If you're traveling alone, the answer is: "thii diew khrap.".

    For two, it would be: "sawng thii khrap".

    Here, we see another classifier for "seat" — the seating arrangement in a trip, a journey, a flight, a cruise, etc. This classifier is also used when reserving seats in a restaurant as well as ordering dishes in a restaurant or serving sets from catering services.

    Let's look at some examples:

  • phom khaw thiinang khaang thaangdoen sawng thii khrap
    (Can I have two seats by the aisle, please?
  • dichan khaw jawng toh sii thii na kha welaa thum trong kha
    (Can I have one tomyam kung and one chicken in panama leaves?)
  • khaw tom yam kung thii nueng lae kai-haw-baitoey thii nueng
    (Today's morning flight is already full.)
  • khaw sang breykbaai haasip thii na kha
    (We'd like to order 50 sets for the afternoon break, please.)
  • Classifier check:

    Fill in the correct classifiers:

    1. khaw suue tua ______ thum khrueng sawng ______
      (Can I have two tickets for the 7:30 trip, please?)
    2. dichan khaw jawng toh samrap saam ______ kha
      (Ca n I reserve a table for three, please?)
    3. khun tawngkaan sang khaaophat kii ______ kha
      (How many khaaophat would you like to order?)
    Answer key:
    1. th iew, thii 2. thii 3. thii


  • This lesson was prepared by Acharn Sunee Siidao, Educational Specialist.

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    Last modified: July 25, 2005
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  • Phuut Phaasaa Thai gives you useful topical and seasonal Thai words and phrases used in daily-life conversations. The column will give you some instant Thai language to help you out in common situations.

    ๒๖ karakadaakhom ๒๕๔๘  ( 26 July 2005)     

    tua bai nueng khrap

    For the majority of people in Thailand, travelling by coach is more pleasant and convenient to travelling by train. It's easier to get tickets for relatively comfortable air-conditioned buses than trains. Also, each route offers more trips per day and the travelling time is also shorter. Besides, the fare usually includes a meal depending on the length of the trip. This week conversation is based around a typical scene at a bus terminal.