ชี
female religious renunciant
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 female religious renunciant、nun
- 2 she [slang]、they [singular, slang]
This word mainly refers to a female religious renunciant, especially a white-robed Buddhist practitioner. In contemporary slang, it can also be a playful or dramatic third-person pronoun for someone being talked about.
female religious renunciant、nun
A woman who follows religious precepts and lives a renunciant or devotional life, especially a white-robed Buddhist practitioner. The fuller form แม่ชี is more common in everyday use.
-
แม่ชีกำลังนั่งสมาธิ mɛ̂ɛ chii kamlaŋ nâŋ samaathí The female religious practitioner is meditating. แม่ชีกำลังนั่งสมาธิ details
she [slang]、they [singular, slang]
A highly informal pronoun derived from English “she,” used to spotlight someone in a playful, dramatic, or gossipy way. It may also be used regardless of the person’s gender.
-
ชีมาแล้ว! chii maa lɛ́ɛw Here she comes! ชีมาแล้ว! details
-
วันนี้ชีสวยมาก wan níi chii sǔay mâak She looks gorgeous today. วันนี้ชีสวยมาก details
Show more (1)
-
ดูชีสิ duu chii sì Look at her. ดูชีสิ details
Learning notes
Explanation
In its traditional sense, ชี refers to a woman living a religious or renunciant life. In Thai Buddhist contexts, it particularly evokes a woman in white robes who observes religious precepts and practices at a temple. Although it is often translated as “nun,” her ordination and institutional status are not necessarily equivalent to those of a male monk, or พระภิกษุ. The fuller form แม่ชี is the normal everyday term, and รูป is commonly used as its classifier. The contemporary pronoun ชี is a separate slang use derived from English “she.” It spotlights the person being discussed and can convey affection, excitement, teasing, or a gossipy tone. While it originally referred mainly to women or feminine-presenting people, it may now be used for people of any gender in some social circles.
Usage
In its religious sense, it appears in discussions of temple life, precepts, meditation, and entering a renunciant life. แม่ชี is the natural form when referring to or addressing an individual practitioner. As a pronoun, it is found in casual conversations, social media, and playful commentary about celebrities, beauty, or someone’s noticeable behavior.
Caution
Using ชี alone to address a religious practitioner may sound abrupt; แม่ชี is the safer and more respectful form. The slang pronoun is unsuitable for formal writing, professional settings, or respectful references to senior people. Depending on tone, it can sound mocking or gossipy. Do not confuse it with ชี้, meaning “to point out.” Also, although ผักชี means “coriander,” learners should not normally shorten the plant name to ชี.
Differences from similar words
1 female religious renunciant synonyms
2 she [slang] synonyms
-
เขา is a common, relatively neutral third-person pronoun that can refer to any gender. ชี is much more informal and gives the person being discussed extra playful or dramatic emphasis.
-
เธอ is an ordinary pronoun meaning “she” and can also mean “you” when addressing someone familiar. Slang ชี is specifically used to talk about someone with a more playful, dramatic, or performative tone.