เท่าไร
how much
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 how much、how many
- 2 how long
- 3 no matter how much、however much、as much as one likes
- 4 not very、not much
This word asks about an unknown amount, number, price, or degree. It also appears in patterns meaning “no matter how much” and, with a negative, “not very” or “not much.”
In colloquial speech, it is often pronounced thâw rày.
how much、how many
Asks for an unknown amount, number, price, age, or other numerical value.
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อันนี้เท่าไร an níi thâw ray How much is this? อันนี้เท่าไร details
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คุณอายุเท่าไร khun aayú thâw ray How old are you? คุณอายุเท่าไร details
how long
Asks to what extent or degree a quality, state, or action applies.
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ต้องรอนานเท่าไร tɔ̂ŋ rɔɔ naan thâw ray How long do we have to wait? ต้องรอนานเท่าไร details
no matter how much、however much、as much as one likes
Used with ก็ and related patterns to leave an amount or degree unrestricted: “however much” or “no matter how much.”
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กินเท่าไรก็ไม่อิ่ม kin thâw ray kɔ̂ɔ mây ìm No matter how much I eat, I don't get full. กินเท่าไรก็ไม่อิ่ม details
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เอาเท่าไรก็ได้ aw thâw ray kɔ̂ɔ dâay You can take as much as you like. เอาเท่าไรก็ได้ details
not very、not much
In negative expressions, indicates that something is not very great in degree or amount.
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ไม่แพงเท่าไร mây phɛɛŋ thâw ray It isn't very expensive. ไม่แพงเท่าไร details
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วันนี้ไม่หนาวเท่าไร wan níi mây nǎaw thâw ray It isn't very cold today. วันนี้ไม่หนาวเท่าไร details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of เท่าไร is an unspecified amount or degree: “how much?” or “to what extent?” It normally follows the thing or quality being measured. For example, ราคาเท่าไร asks a price, อายุเท่าไร asks an age, and นานเท่าไร asks a length of time. The spelling เท่าไหร่ is extremely common in everyday Thai and has the same meaning. เท่าใด is a more formal equivalent. In the เท่าไรก็… pattern, the word is no longer a direct question; it means “no matter how much” or “as much as one likes.” The common negative pattern ไม่…เท่าไร means “not very” or “not much.”
Usage
It is common when asking prices while shopping and when checking age, quantity, distance, duration, or degree. The fixed patterns เท่าไรก็… and ไม่…เท่าไร are also frequent in everyday conversation.
Caution
When asking for a count with a classifier, Thai normally uses กี่, as in หนังสือกี่เล่ม “how many books?” For clock time, use กี่โมง “what time?” rather than เท่าไร.