Daily Thai Confidence: Using เจ้านาย (jâo-nāai)

Noun: เจ้านาย (jâo-nāai)
Meaning: boss / supervisor / employer

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the noun เจ้านาย (jâo-nāai), which means ‘boss,’ ‘supervisor,’ or ‘employer’. It refers to a person who has authority over others in a workplace or organisation. The word is commonly used in everyday Thai when talking about somone’s superior at work.

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

k^hǎo bpēn jâo-nāai k^hǎwng-p^hǒm
Literal: He to be boss belonging to-me.
He is my boss.

The linking verb เป็น (bpēn) means ‘to be’ and is when describing identity, role, or status — subject + เป็น (bpēn) + noun. For example: เขาเป็นครู (k^hǎo bpēn k^hrūu = He is a teacher.); ฉันเป็นนักเรียน (chǎn bpēn nák-rīan = I am a student.); พี่ชายของฉันเป็นหมอ (p^hêe-chāai k^hǎwng-chǎn bpēn ^hmǎw = My older brother is a doctor.), etc.

jâo-nāai k^hǎwng-p^hǒm bpēn chāow-dtàang-châad
Literal: Boss belonging to-me to be person-different-nation.
My boss is a foreigner.

The noun ชาว (chāow) is often used before places, countries, or groups of people to mean ‘people from’ or ‘inhabitants of’. For example: ชาวต่างชาติ (chāow-dtàang-châad = foreigner / people from other nations); ชาวไทย (chāo Thāi = Thai people); ชาวยุโรป (chāow yú-rôob = Europeans); ชาวบ้าน (chāow-bâan = villagers), etc.

chǎn dtâwng sòng rāai-ngāan hâi jâo-nāai
Literal: I have to send report for boss.
I have to send the report to the boss.

The modal verb ต้อง (dtâwng) means ‘must,’ ‘have to,’ or ‘need to’. It is used to express necessity, obligation, or something that is required to happen. It appears before the main verb and indicates that the action is necessary or required — subject + ต้อง (dtâwng)  + main verb. For example: ฉันต้องไปทำงาน (chǎn dtâwng bpāi t^hām-ngāan = I have to go to work.); เขาต้องเรียนภาษาไทย (k^hǎo dtâwng rīan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi = He has to learn Thai.); พวกเราต้องรีบ (p^hûak-rāo dtâwng rêeb = We have to hurry.), etc.

jâo-nāai gām-lāng p^hûud gàb p^há-nák-ngāan
Literal: Boss in the process of speaking with employee.
The boss is talking to the employees.

The helping verb กำลัง (gām-lāng) is used before the main verb to indicate an action that is in progress. It functions similarly to the present continuous tense in English — subject + กำลัง (gām-lāng) + main verb. For example: เขากำลังกินข้าว (k^hǎo gām-lāng gīn-k^hâow = He is eating.); ฉันกำลังอ่านหนังสือ (chǎn gām-lāng àan ^hnǎng-sěu = I am reading a book.); พวกเขากำลังทำงาน (p^hûak-k^hǎo gām-lāng t^hām-ngāan = They are working.), etc.

Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.

1. He doesn’t like his boss.
2. I have to report this matter to the boss.
3. She is talking to the boss in the meeting room.
4. I have to ask the boss for permission before going home.
5. The boss gave advice about the new project.

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