not ... at all
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- 1 not ... at all、it's not like ...
- 2 do something for a bit、just do something、please do something briefly
A conversational expression used to mean “a little” after an action, or to push back against an assumption in negative statements, much like “not ... at all” or “it’s not like ...”
not ... at all、it's not like ...
Used after a negative expression to reject another person's assumption, often with a defensive or mildly annoyed tone.
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ฉันไม่ได้โกรธซะหน่อย chǎn mây dâay kròot sánɔ̀y I'm not angry at all. ฉันไม่ได้โกรธซะหน่อย details
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ไม่ยากซะหน่อย mây yâak sánɔ̀y It's not difficult at all. ไม่ยากซะหน่อย details
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ฉันไม่ใช่เด็กซะหน่อย chǎn mây chây dèk sánɔ̀y It's not like I'm a child. ฉันไม่ใช่เด็กซะหน่อย details
do something for a bit、just do something、please do something briefly
Placed after an action to present it as brief or limited. It is also common in casual requests, suggestions, and prompts.
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ขอนอนซะหน่อย khɔ̌ɔ nɔɔn sánɔ̀y Let me sleep for a bit. ขอนอนซะหน่อย details
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พักซะหน่อยนะ phák sánɔ̀y ná Why don't you rest for a bit? พักซะหน่อยนะ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ซะหน่อย combines the colloquial form ซะ, derived from เสีย, with หน่อย, whose basic meaning is “a little.” In affirmative contexts, it follows a verb and presents the action as brief or limited. It is common in casual requests and suggestions, though its urging quality means that tone can make it sound mildly impatient. After negatives such as ไม่, ไม่ได้, and ไม่ใช่, it does not literally mean “a little.” Instead, it rejects an assumption or accusation, similar to “not ... at all” or “it’s not like ...” in conversational English.
Usage
It is common in everyday conversation when asking friends or family to do something briefly, suggesting that someone rest or try something, or saying that you will do something for a while. It is also frequently used when informally rejecting an assumption about you or the situation.
Caution
ซะหน่อย does not automatically make a request polite. With forceful intonation, it can sound impatient or demanding. For a respectful request, especially to a senior, a form such as ช่วย...หน่อยได้ไหมครับ/คะ is safer. In negative statements, do not translate หน่อย literally as “a little.”
Differences from similar words
1 not ... at all synonyms
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เลย intensifies a negative statement to mean “not at all.” ซะหน่อย more specifically pushes back against an assumption and often sounds defensive.
2 do something for a bit synonyms
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หน่อย is the more general word for “a little” and is widely used to soften requests. ซะหน่อย is more conversational and can add a stronger sense of urging someone to actually perform the action.