Daily Thai Confidence — Using ค่อนข้าง (khâwn-khâang)

Adverb: ค่อนข้าง (k^hâwn-k^hâang)
Meaning: quite / rather / fairly

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the adverb ค่อนข้าง (k^hâwn-k^hâang), which is commonly translated as ‘quite,’ ‘rather,’ or ‘fairly’. It is used to describe a moderate degree of something. It is used to modify adjectives (words that describe or give more information about a noun — a person, thing, place, or idea), such as ดี (dēe = is good), แย่ (yâe = is terrible), แพง (p^hāeng = is expensive), ถูก (t^hùuk = is cheap), เหนื่อย (^hnèuay = is tired / is exhausted), ง่วงนอน (ngûang-nāwn = is sleepy / is tired), ยาก (yâak = is difficult), ง่าย (ngâai = is easy), ซับซ้อน (sáb-sáwn = is complex), สะดวก (sà-dùak = is convenient), หวาน (^hwǎan = is sweet), เผ็ด (p^hèd = is spicy), ใหญ่ (^hyài = is big), เล็ก (lék = is small), etc.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: subject + ค่อนข้าง (k^hâwn-k^hâang) + adjective (+ complement — a word, phrase, or clause that give extra information)

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

hâwng née k^hâwn-k^hâang lék dtàe òb-ùn
Literal: Room this quite small but warm and cosy.
This room is quite small, but warm and cosy.

The main clause ห้องนี้ค่อนข้างเล็ก (hâwng née k^hâwn-k^hâang lék = this room is quite small) is structurally complete on its own. Here, ค่อนข้าง (k^hâwn-k^hâang) modifies the adjective เล็ก (lék = small), showing that the room is small to a moderate degree. The phrase แต่อบอุ่น (dtàe òb-ùn = but warm and cosy) adds additional information by presenting a positive contrasting quality. Even though the room is small, it still feels warm and comfortable. Please note: The adjective อบอุ่น (òb-ùn) means ‘is warm,’ ‘is cosy,’ or ‘is warm and loving’. It can be used to describe physical warmth (temperature) or emotional warmth (feeling, relationships, or atmosphere). When it is used to describe emotional warmth, it suggests comfort, care, closeness, and emotional safety.)

chǎn k^hâwn-k^hâang ^hnèuay wān-nēe
Literal: I quite tired day-this.
I’m quite tired today.

The main clause ฉันค่อนข้างเหนื่อย (chǎn k^hâwn-k^hâang ^hnèuay = I’m quite tired) is structurally complete on its own. Here, ค่อนข้าง (k^hâwn-k^hâang) modifies the adjective เหนื่อย (^hnèuay = tired / exhausted), showing that the speaker feels tired to a moderate degree, not extremely tired. The time adverb วันนี้ (wān-nēe = today) is added to give extra information about when this state applies. Please note: The adjective เหนื่อย (^hnèuay = tired / exhausted) is used to describe a physical (from work, exercise, or travel) or mental state of tiredness (from stress, thinking, or emotional effort. To describe the feeling of wanting to sleep because the body wants rest, use ง่วงนอน (ngûang-nāwn).

gāan-rīan àan láe k^hǐan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi k^hâwn-k^hâang yâak láe dtâwng chái wāy-lāa sèuk-sǎa t^húk wān
Literal: The act of learning to read and write language Thai quite difficult and must use time study every day.
Learning to read and write Thai is quite difficult and requires time to study every day.

The main clause การเรียนอ่านและเขียนภาษาไทยค่อนข้างยาก (gāan-rīan àan láe k^hǐan p^hāa-sǎa Thāi k^hâwn-k^hâang yâak = learning to read and write Thai is quite difficult) is structurally complete on its own. Here, ค่อนข้าง (k^hâwn-k^hâang) modifies the adjective ยาก (yâak = hard / difficult), indicating that the difficulty is moderate but noticeable, not extreme. The phrase และต้องใช้เวลาศึกษาทุกวัน (láe dtâwng chái wāy-lāa sèuk-sǎa t^húk wān = and requires time to study every day) adds further information by explaining what is required as a result of this difficulty. Please note: The verb ศึกษา (sèuk-sǎa = to study / to learn / to examine carefully) is more formal than เรียน (rīan = to learn / to study). It emphasises deep, careful, or systematic learning, often in academic, professional, or research contexts. In contrast, เรียน (rīan = to learn / to study) is the more common, general word for ‘to learn’ or ‘to study’, focusing on attending classes, taking lessons, or learning a subject.

āa-gàad k^hâwn-k^hâang yâe nāi chûang dēuan dtù-lāa-k^hōm t^hěung mók-gà-rāa-k^hōm
Literal: Weather quite terrible in period month October to January.
The weather is quite bad during the months of October to January.

The main clause อากาศค่อนข้างแย่ (āa-gàad k^hâwn-k^hâang yâe = the weather is quite bad) is structurally complete on its own. Here, ค่อนข้าง (k^hâwn-k^hâang) modifies the adjective แย่ (yâe = bad / terrible), showing that the weather is moderately bad, not extremely bad. The time adverbial phrase ในช่วงเดือนตุลาคมถึงมกราคม (nāi chûang dēuan dtù-lāa-k^hōm t^hěung mók-gà-rāa-k^hōm = during the months of October to January) adds extra information when this condition occurs. Please note: The prepositional phrase ในช่วง (nāi chûang = during / in the period of) is used to indicate a specific period of time or duration when something happens. It is often followed by a time expression, such as a month, season, or rang of dates — ในช่วง (nāi chûang = during / in the period of) + time expression.

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

1. The movie is quite interesting.
2. The hotel room is quite big.
3. This curry is quite spicy.
4. The weather was quite cold yesterday.
5. Her Thai pronunciation is quite good.

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Urai Khomkham

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