not entirely [with a negative]
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- 1 not entirely [with a negative]、not exactly [with a negative]
A conversational intensifier used to emphasize degree. In affirmative statements it often means “quite” or “indeed,” while after a negative it commonly means “not entirely” or “not exactly.”
not entirely [with a negative]、not exactly [with a negative]
It marks a strong or complete degree; with a negative, it limits that negation to mean that something is not entirely the case.
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เขาไม่ได้ปฏิเสธซะทีเดียว khǎw mây dâay pàtìsèet sá thii diaw He did not reject it entirely. เขาไม่ได้ปฏิเสธซะทีเดียว details
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ฉันไม่เห็นด้วยซะทีเดียว chǎn mây hěn dûay sá thii diaw I do not entirely agree. ฉันไม่เห็นด้วยซะทีเดียว details
Learning notes
Explanation
ซะทีเดียว is the conversational counterpart of the standard form เสียทีเดียว. Here, ซะ and ทีเดียว work together as an intensifying expression. After an adjective or an evaluative phrase, it emphasizes a fairly high degree and may suggest that the speaker finds something better, stronger, or more noticeable than expected. When used with ไม่ or ไม่ได้, it usually limits the negative: the statement is not completely true, but it is not wholly false either.
Usage
It is used in everyday conversation when evaluating someone’s ability, food, prices, weather, or other noticeable qualities. It is also useful when giving a qualified opinion or leaving room for exceptions instead of making an absolute negative statement.
Caution
Pay close attention to negation: ไม่…ซะทีเดียว normally means “not entirely” or “not exactly,” rather than an emphatic “not at all.” Do not confuse ซะทีเดียว with ซะที, which is used in expressions meaning “finally” or urging something to happen at last. In formal writing, เสียทีเดียว is preferable.
Differences from similar words
1 not entirely [with a negative] synonyms
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มาก is the ordinary, direct way to say “very.” ซะทีเดียว can add a sense of personal assessment or mild surprise, and after a negative it can mean “not entirely.”