B Level 2.14: Too Much in Thai

Study Focus: Too and Too Much

• The word ไป (bpai) is usually the verb "to go," but when it comes directly after an adjective or adverb, it means "too," as in "too much."

  • For example, ร้อน (ráawn) means "hot," so ร้อนไป (ráawn bpai) means "too hot."

  • วันนี้อากาศร้อนไป (wan-níi aa-gàat ráawn bpai) ➤ "The weather is too hot today."

• To add extra emphasis, we can include the preposition เกิน (gooen), which means "past," to make เกินไป (gooen-bpai), which becomes an adverb meaning "exceedingly" or "too."

  • ผมมีปัญหาเยอะเกินไป (phǒm mii bpan-hǎa yóe gooen-bpai) ➤ "I have way too many problems."

• We can additionally use these phrases with verbs by including มาก (mâak) after the verb and before ไป (bpai) or เกินไป (gooen-bpai).

  • ไม่ต้องห่วง คุณคิดมากไป (mâi dtâwng hùuang. khun khít mâak bpai.) ➤ "Don't worry. You think too much."

Vocabulary & Phrases

• งั้น (ngán)

  • This is an abbreviated version of the phrase ถ้าอย่างนั้น (thâa yàang nán), which means "in that case..."

  • The shortened form is more common in everyday conversation, and we could translate it simply as "then...," "so...," or "well then..."

  • We use this phrase to begin a sentence.

• สมน้ำหน้า (sǒm-nám-nâa)

  • This phrase means something like "It serves you right." or "That's what you get."

  • We use this expression to chastise or taunt someone when anything negative occurs due to the person's own conduct.

  • For instance, you might say this to someone who went out of their way to kick a stray dog and was then bitten by the same animal.

  • Or you might say it to a friend whose mouth is on fire after he tried to show off by adding excessive amounts of hot sauce to his food.

  • We can also use สมน้ำหน้า to talk about a third person. In every case, the phrase makes up a complete statement that is separate from other sentences.

• อย่างนี้แหละ (yàang níi làe)

  • This phrase means "like this" or "in this way."

  • อย่าง (yàang) is a noun that means "kind" or "type," and นี้ (níi) is the adjective "this."

  • So together, อย่างนี้ (yàang níi) means "this kind," but it also means "in this manner."

  • The last word, แหละ (làe), is a particle that we use for emphasis.

All About Thai Chili Sauce

• น้ำพริก (nám-phrík) is a very popular spicy dipping sauce, especially in the north.

• It has a consistency similar to guacamole and other dips.

• There are numerous varieties with various components, but they all contain at least one variety of chili pepper.

• Often, they are served with steamed or fresh veggies. Similarly to chips and salsa, you use the vegetables to scoop up some chili sauce.

• น้ำพริกหนุ่ม (nám-phrík-nùm) is made from pounded roasted green chilies, shallots, garlic, and coriander leaves.

• น้ำพริกอ่อง (nám-phrík-àawng) contains dried chilies, minced pork, and tomatoes.