ไหน
where
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 where
- 2 which one、which
- 3 let me see、show me
- 4 now that、since … anyway
- 5 not to mention、on top of that、and there is also
- 6 didn’t you say …?、I thought you said …
This word asks someone to identify a place or choose one option from a set. In several common patterns, it can also mean “any,” “now that,” or introduce an additional point.
where
Asks about a location, destination, or point of origin.
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ตอนนี้อยู่ไหน tɔɔn níi yùu nǎy Where are you now? ตอนนี้อยู่ไหน details
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จะไปไหน cà pay nǎy Where are you going? จะไปไหน details
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ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน hɔ̂ŋ náam yùu thîi nǎy Where is the restroom? ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน details
which one、which
Asks which person or thing is meant among several possibilities, normally following a noun or classifier.
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ชอบอันไหน chɔ̂ɔp an nǎy Which one do you like? ชอบอันไหน details
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คนไหนเป็นครู khon nǎy pen khruu Which person is the teacher? คนไหนเป็นครู details
Show more (1)
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เอาเล่มไหน aw lêm nǎy Which book do you want? เอาเล่มไหน details
let me see、show me
A conversational prompt used when asking to see something or preparing to check it yourself.
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ไหน ขอดูหน่อย nǎy khɔ̌ɔ duu nɔ̀ɔy Let me see it. ไหน ขอดูหน่อย details
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ไหน มีอะไร nǎy mii aray Let’s see—what is it? ไหน มีอะไร details
now that、since … anyway
The repeated form ไหนๆ treats an existing situation as a reason for the action or suggestion that follows.
not to mention、on top of that、and there is also
In the pattern ไหนจะ…, it adds another burden, problem, or supporting point to what has already been mentioned.
didn’t you say …?、I thought you said …
In the pattern ไหนว่า…, it challenges a previous statement because the present situation appears to contradict it.
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ไหนว่าพรุ่งนี้จะมา nǎy wâa phrûŋníi cà maa Didn’t you say you were coming tomorrow? ไหนว่าพรุ่งนี้จะมา details
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ไหนว่าจะไม่นอกใจ nǎy wâa cà mây nɔ̂ɔk cay I thought you said you wouldn't cheat on me. ไหนว่าจะไม่นอกใจ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of ไหน is that a place or option has not yet been identified and the speaker wants it specified. For locations, it commonly follows a verb, as in อยู่ไหน “where are you?” and ไปไหน “where are you going?” The fuller form ที่ไหน is also extremely common. For choices, it follows a noun, pronoun, or classifier: อันไหน means “which one,” and คนไหน means “which person.” It also forms indefinite patterns. ไหน…ก็ได้ means “anywhere” or “whichever,” while ไหน in a negative construction can mean “not any” or “not a single one.” The patterns ไหนๆ, ไหนจะ, and ไหนว่า are best learned as fixed conversational constructions. Some dictionaries also list ไหน as the name of a fruit, but that uncommon sense is not useful for most beginning learners and is omitted here.
Usage
ไหน is extremely common in everyday conversation. Typical situations include checking someone’s location, asking about a destination, and choosing between products or other options. It is also used when asking to see something, saying that any option is acceptable, making a suggestion based on an existing situation, or questioning an earlier statement. Add ครับ or คะ at the end when politeness is needed.
Caution
Do not place ไหน before a noun as English places “which” before a noun. Thai normally uses noun + ไหน, as in ร้านไหน “which shop” and หนังสือเล่มไหน “which book.” ไหน does not normally mean “when” by itself; use เมื่อไหร่. Also distinguish it from อะไร “what” and ใคร “who.”