not good
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 not good
Describes something as falling short of a desirable standard or condition. It can evaluate quality, circumstances, health, or behavior as “not good” or “bad,” and can also describe an action as being done poorly.
not good
Describes a thing, condition, person, or behavior as undesirable or below an expected standard.
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เศรษฐกิจไม่ดี sèetthakìt mây dii The economy is doing poorly. เศรษฐกิจไม่ดี details
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เขาเป็นคนไม่ดี khǎw pen khon mây dii He is a bad person. เขาเป็นคนไม่ดี details
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วันนี้รู้สึกไม่ดี wan níi rúusʉ̀k mây dii I don't feel well today. วันนี้รู้สึกไม่ดี details
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ทำแบบนี้ไม่ดีนะ tham bɛ̀ɛp níi mây dii ná You shouldn't do it like this. ทำแบบนี้ไม่ดีนะ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ไม่ดี consists of ไม่, the standard negator, and ดี, meaning “good.” Its central idea is that something does not meet a desirable condition or expected standard. It can serve directly as a predicate, as in อันนี้ไม่ดี (“This isn't good”), without เป็น. After a noun, it describes that noun: อากาศไม่ดี can mean bad weather or poor air quality, while คนไม่ดี means a bad person. After an action, it comments on how well that action is performed or how well something functions, as in ทำงานไม่ดี (“doesn't work well”). Because it literally negates “good,” its strength varies with context. It may mean anything from “not very good” to “bad.” Calling someone คนไม่ดี, however, can strongly criticize their character or conduct.
Usage
This is a very common everyday expression. It is used to give a negative assessment of product quality, work results, the economy, weather, machinery, health, and many other things. It also appears in advice or criticism, such as ทำแบบนี้ไม่ดีนะ (“You shouldn't do it like this”).
Caution
Use ไม่ค่อยดี for the softer “not very good.” When talking specifically about a lack of skill, ไม่เก่ง is usually clearer. รู้สึกไม่ดี is ambiguous: it may refer to feeling physically unwell, emotionally upset, uncomfortable, or uneasy. Use ไม่สบาย when you specifically mean that someone is unwell.
Differences from similar words
1 not good synonyms
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แย่ often gives a stronger negative judgment, such as “awful” or “terrible.” ไม่ดี is the more basic “not good” and can sound milder depending on context.