Daily Thai Confidence — Using แพง (phāeng)

Adjective: แพง (p^hāeng)
Meaning: is expensive / is costly

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the adjective แพง (p^hāeng), which means ‘is expensive’ or ‘is costly.’ It is used to describe something that costs a lot of money or has a high price.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: noun + แพง (p^hāeng).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

โทรศัพท์เครื่องนี้แพง

t^hōo-rá-sàb k^hrêuang née p^hāeng
Literal: Telephone machine this expensive.
This phone is expensive.

In this sentence, the noun เครื่อง (k^hrêuang) functions as a classifier used when counting machines, appliances, electronic devices, and certain other objects. Thai also uses classifiers when referring to a particular noun with a demonstrative adjective such as ‘this’ or ‘that.’ In this structure, the appropriate classifier comes between the noun and the demonstrative adjective, following the pattern: noun + classifier + demonstrative adjective. For example: บ้านหลังนั้นใหญ่มาก (bâan ^hlǎng nán ^hyài mâak = That house is very big.); รถคันนี้สีสวยมาก (ród k^hān née sěe sǔay mâak = This car is a beautiful colour.); อาหารจานนี้อร่อยมาก (āa-hǎan jāan née à-^hròi mâak = This dish is very delicious.), etc.

อาหารที่ร้านนี้แพงมาก

āa-hǎan t^hêe ráan née p^hāeng mâak
Literal: Food at shop this expensive very.
The food at this restaurant is very expensive.

The noun ร้าน (ráan) means ‘shop,’ ‘store,’ or ‘establishment.’ It is used for a wide range of places where goods or services are solid, and it is also commonly used for restaurants and food establishments.

บ้านในกรุงเทพฯแพงมาก

bâan nāi grūng-t^hâeb p^hāeng mâak
Literal: House in Bangkok expensive very.
Houses in Bangkok are very expensive.

The preposition ใน (nāi) means ‘in,’ ‘inside,’ or ‘within.’ It is used to show that someone or something is inside a place, within an area, or within a period of time — ใน (nāi) + noun. For example: ในบ้าน (nāi bâan = in the house); ในห้อง (nāi hâwng = in the room); ในบริษัท (nāi bāw-rí-sàd = in the company), etc.

เสื้อตัวนี้ไม่แพง

sêua dtūa née mâi p^hāeng
Literal: Shirt item this not expensive.
This shirt is not expensive.

In this sentence, the noun ตัว (dtūa) functions as a classifier used when counting animals, insects, and some objects associated with the body or clothing. Thai also uses classifiers when referring to a particular noun with a demonstrative adjective such as ‘this’ or ‘that.’ In this structure, the appropriate classifier comes between the noun and the demonstrative adjective, following the pattern: noun + classifier + demonstrative adjective. For example: แมวตัวนี้ใหญ่มาก (māew dtūa née ^hyài mâak = This cat is very big.); หมาตัวนั้นน่ารักมาก (^hmǎa dtūa nán nâa-rák mâak = That dog is very cute.); กางเกงตัวนั้นหลวมมาก (gāang-gāeng dtūa nán ^hlǔam mâak = Those trousers are very loose.), etc.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

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

1. The food at the market isn’t expensive.
2. This hotel is the most expensive in the city.
3. I want to buy a house, but houses are very expensive.
4. This shop is more expensive than that shop.
5. I think this car is too expensive.

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