Grammatic Pattern: ไม่…มากนัก (mâi…mâak nák)
Meaning: not very… / not particularly…
In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the common Thai pattern ไม่…มากนัก (mâi…mâak nák), which can be translated to ‘not very…’ or ‘not particularly…’ It is a common Thai pattern used to soften a negative statement, making it sound more polite and less direct than simply saying ไม่… (mâi… = not…)
It made up of three words:
- ไม่ (mâi) = not
- มาก (mâak) = very / much / very much
- นัก (nák) = an intensifier or degree marker which is used to increase the degree or intensity of an adjective, verb, or expression, meaning ‘very,’ ‘greatly,’ ‘extremely,’ or ‘particularly.’ When มาก (mâak = very / much / very much) is followed by นัก (nák), the two words work together as an intensified expression — มากนัก (mâak nák) forms ‘very much,’ ‘so much,’ or ‘particularly.’ However, in the negative pattern ไม่…มากนัก (mâi…mâak nák), the meaning changes naturally to ‘not very…’ or ‘not particularly…’
The typical structure usually follows the pattern: ไม่ (mâi) + adjective + มากนัก (mâak nák)
For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-awyàang chên)
อาหารไม่เผ็ดมากนัก
āa-hǎan mâi phèd mâak nák
Literal: Food not spicy so much.
The food isn’t very spicy.
The adjective เผ็ด (phèd) means ‘is spicy,’ ‘is hot,’ or ‘is fiery.’ It is used to describe the spiciness of food, especially food containing chillies. For describing temperature being ‘hot’, use ร้อน (ráwn).
เขาพูดภาษาไทยได้ไม่คล่องมากนัก
khǎo phûud phāa-sǎa Thāi dâi mâi khlâwng mâak nák
Literal: He speak language Thai able to not fluent so much.
He doesn’t speak Thai very fluently.
The word คล่อง (khlâwng) means ‘fluent,’ ‘proficient,’ or ‘skilful.’ It describes someone who can do something easily, smoothly, and confidently, especially when speaking a language or performing a skill.
ภาษาไทยไม่ยากมากนักถ้าคุณฝึกทุกวัน
phāa-sǎa Thāi mâi yâak mâak nák thâa khūn fèuk thúk wān
Literal: Language Thai not difficult so much if you practise every day.
Thai language isn’t very difficult if you practise every day.
The adjective ยาก (yâak) means ‘is difficult,’ ‘is hard,’ or ‘is challenging.’ It describes something that requires effort, skill, time, or knowledge to do or understand.
ร้านนี้ไม่แพงมากนัก
ráan née mâi phāeng mâak nák
Literal: He hear that school will shut.
This restaurant isn’t very expensive.
The adjective แพง (phāeng) means ‘is expensive,’ ‘is high-priced,’ or ‘is costly.’ It describes something that costs a lot of money or is considered expensive compared with what is normal or expected.
Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)
Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.
- The weather is not very hot today.
- This job is not very difficult for him.
- Our house is not very far from the train station.
- The two shops aren’t very different.
- This matter isn’t particularly important.
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