not ... at all
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 not ... at all、never ... at all [depending on context]
This pattern strengthens a negative statement and means that something is not true, does not happen, or does not exist to any degree at all.
not ... at all、never ... at all [depending on context]
ไม่ negates the predicate, while เลย follows it to emphasize a complete absence of the action, state, quality, or occurrence.
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ไม่เผ็ดเลย mây phèt ləəy It isn't spicy at all. ไม่เผ็ดเลย details
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ฉันไม่เข้าใจเลย chǎn mây khâwcay ləəy I don't understand at all. ฉันไม่เข้าใจเลย details
Learning notes
Explanation
The basic pattern is “subject + ไม่ + predicate + เลย.” ไม่ alone makes a negative statement, and adding เลย emphasizes that the action, state, or quality does not apply to any degree. For example, ไม่รู้ means “don't know,” while ไม่รู้เลย means “don't know at all.” The pattern also works with descriptions: ไม่ยากเลย means “not difficult at all.” It can indicate that something never happened, but ไม่เคย...เลย is the standard pattern when explicitly talking about never having had an experience. เลย has other uses in Thai, but within this pattern it strengthens the negative.
Usage
This pattern is common in everyday conversation when strongly saying that you do not understand or like something, that something does not hurt, or that there is no time. Depending on context, it can also convey surprise, relief, or frustration.
Caution
ไม่ normally comes before the predicate being negated, while เลย follows it. Because the pattern expresses a strong negative, statements about a person's ability, such as ไม่เก่งเลย (“not good at it at all”), may sound harsh. Use ไม่เคย...เลย when clearly stating that someone has never had a particular experience.