ให้ (hâi): the word that passes things on

Grammar Beginner

ให้ means give, but it also means let, for someone, have someone do it, make, and wish. Where it sits and what is on each side tells you which one. Swipe through the formula, the eight meanings, compounds and the reading trap.

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Cover. One small word, many jobs. The Thai word ให้ (hâi). Give, let, for, make... the word that passes things on.

The formula. Where ให้ sits tells you what it means. ให้ + thing = give: ให้เงิน (hâi ngern), give money. ให้ + person + verb = let: ให้ฉันช่วย (hâi chǎn chûai), let me help. verb + ให้ + person = for: ซื้อให้แม่ (súe hâi mâe), buy it for Mum. บอก + ให้ + verb = tell to: บอกให้รอ (bòk hâi ror), told me to wait. ทำ + ให้ + result = make: ทำให้เศร้า (tham hâi sâo), makes me sad. Look at what's on each side of ให้.

Meaning 1: give. แม่ให้เงินฉัน (mâe hâi ngern chǎn), Mum gave me money. เขาให้ดอกไม้แฟน (khǎo hâi dòk-máai faen), He/she gave their partner flowers. ให้ + thing + person. No word for "to" needed.

Meaning 2: let, allow. แม่ไม่ให้ไป (mâe mâi hâi bpai), Mum won't let me go. ให้ฉันช่วยนะ (hâi chǎn chûai ná), Let me help. ไม่ให้ = won't let. A very common complaint.

Meaning 3: have someone do it. บอก (tell) + ให้ (so that someone) + ทำ (does it). แม่บอกให้กลับบ้าน (mâe bòk hâi glàp bâan), Mum told me to come home. หัวหน้าให้ฉันทำงานนี้ (hǔa-nâa hâi chǎn tham ngaan níi), My boss had me do this job.

Meaning 4: for someone. ทำอาหารให้แม่ (tham aa-hǎan hâi mâe), I cooked for Mum. ซื้อให้หน่อยได้ไหม (súe hâi nòi dâi mǎi), Could you buy it for me? Verb + ให้ + person = doing it for them.

Meaning 5: asking a favour. ช่วยถ่ายรูปให้หน่อยได้ไหม (chûai thàai rûup hâi nòi dâi mǎi), Could you take a photo for me? เปิดประตูให้หน่อย (bpòet bprà-dtuu hâi nòi), Could you open the door for me? Add ให้หน่อย to any request and it instantly sounds polite and friendly.

Meaning 6: make, cause. ทำ (do) + ให้ (so that) + result. เพลงนี้ทำให้คิดถึงบ้าน (phleeng níi tham hâi khít-thǔeng bâan), This song makes me miss home. กาแฟทำให้นอนไม่หลับ (gaa-fae tham hâi non mâi làp), Coffee keeps me up at night.

Meaning 7: make it... (the result you want). กินให้หมดนะ (gin hâi mòt ná), Eat it all up! พูดให้ชัดๆ (phûut hâi chát chát), Say it clearly. Verb + ให้ + result = do it until it's like that.

Meaning 8: wishes. ขอให้โชคดี (khǒr hâi chôok dii), Good luck! ขอให้มีความสุขมากๆ (khǒr hâi mii khwaam-sùk mâak mâak), Wishing you lots of happiness. ขอให้ = "may you...". Perfect for birthdays, New Year and goodbyes.

Compounds: kind words. ให้กำลังใจ (hâi gam-lang-jai), to encourage. Literally: "give heart-strength". ขอบคุณที่ให้กำลังใจ (khòp-khun thîi hâi gam-lang-jai), Thanks for the encouragement. ให้อภัย (hâi à-phai), to forgive. Literally: "give pardon". ฉันให้อภัยเธอ (chǎn hâi à-phai thoe), I forgive you.

Compounds: letting go. ปล่อยให้ (bplòi hâi), to let it be, leave to. Literally: "release + let". ปล่อยให้เขาไป (bplòi hâi khǎo bpai), Let him/her go. ยอมให้ (yom hâi), to finally allow. Literally: "give in + let". แม่ยอมให้ไปแล้ว (mâe yom hâi bpai láew), Mum finally let me go.

Reading trap. Why ใ and not ไ? The vowel ใ, not ไ: the same "ai" sound, but only 20 words use ใ. The tone: hâi, falling. High class ห + ไม้โท. ให้ is one of the 20 ใ words: ใจ, ใช่, ใหม่, ใคร... Learn it once and you'll spell it right forever.

Quick recap. ให้ in one slide. ให้ + thing = give. ไม่ให้... = not let. บอกให้... = tell someone to. verb + ให้ = for someone. ...ให้หน่อย = for me, please. ทำให้ = make, cause. verb + ให้ + result = make it... ขอให้... = I wish you... ให้กำลังใจ = encourage. ให้อภัย = forgive. ปล่อยให้ = let it be. ยอมให้ = give in, allow.

Your turn. Which ให้ did you not know? Tell me in the comments. Save this. Want to learn Thai? Comment or DM me if you're interested in lessons. Reading Thai from lesson one, from someone who grew up here. Comment or DM.

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Cover. One small word, many jobs. The Thai word ให้ (hâi). Give, let, for, make... the word that passes things on.
The formula. Where ให้ sits tells you what it means. ให้ + thing = give: ให้เงิน (hâi ngern), give money. ให้ + person + verb = let: ให้ฉันช่วย (hâi chǎn chûai), let me help. verb + ให้ + person = for: ซื้อให้แม่ (súe hâi mâe), buy it for Mum. บอก + ให้ + verb = tell to: บอกให้รอ (bòk hâi ror), told me to wait. ทำ + ให้ + result = make: ทำให้เศร้า (tham hâi sâo), makes me sad. Look at what's on each side of ให้.
Meaning 1: give. แม่ให้เงินฉัน (mâe hâi ngern chǎn), Mum gave me money. เขาให้ดอกไม้แฟน (khǎo hâi dòk-máai faen), He/she gave their partner flowers. ให้ + thing + person. No word for "to" needed.
Meaning 2: let, allow. แม่ไม่ให้ไป (mâe mâi hâi bpai), Mum won't let me go. ให้ฉันช่วยนะ (hâi chǎn chûai ná), Let me help. ไม่ให้ = won't let. A very common complaint.
Meaning 3: have someone do it. บอก (tell) + ให้ (so that someone) + ทำ (does it). แม่บอกให้กลับบ้าน (mâe bòk hâi glàp bâan), Mum told me to come home. หัวหน้าให้ฉันทำงานนี้ (hǔa-nâa hâi chǎn tham ngaan níi), My boss had me do this job.
Meaning 4: for someone. ทำอาหารให้แม่ (tham aa-hǎan hâi mâe), I cooked for Mum. ซื้อให้หน่อยได้ไหม (súe hâi nòi dâi mǎi), Could you buy it for me? Verb + ให้ + person = doing it for them.
Meaning 5: asking a favour. ช่วยถ่ายรูปให้หน่อยได้ไหม (chûai thàai rûup hâi nòi dâi mǎi), Could you take a photo for me? เปิดประตูให้หน่อย (bpòet bprà-dtuu hâi nòi), Could you open the door for me? Add ให้หน่อย to any request and it instantly sounds polite and friendly.
Meaning 6: make, cause. ทำ (do) + ให้ (so that) + result. เพลงนี้ทำให้คิดถึงบ้าน (phleeng níi tham hâi khít-thǔeng bâan), This song makes me miss home. กาแฟทำให้นอนไม่หลับ (gaa-fae tham hâi non mâi làp), Coffee keeps me up at night.
Meaning 7: make it... (the result you want). กินให้หมดนะ (gin hâi mòt ná), Eat it all up! พูดให้ชัดๆ (phûut hâi chát chát), Say it clearly. Verb + ให้ + result = do it until it's like that.
Meaning 8: wishes. ขอให้โชคดี (khǒr hâi chôok dii), Good luck! ขอให้มีความสุขมากๆ (khǒr hâi mii khwaam-sùk mâak mâak), Wishing you lots of happiness. ขอให้ = "may you...". Perfect for birthdays, New Year and goodbyes.
Compounds: kind words. ให้กำลังใจ (hâi gam-lang-jai), to encourage. Literally: "give heart-strength". ขอบคุณที่ให้กำลังใจ (khòp-khun thîi hâi gam-lang-jai), Thanks for the encouragement. ให้อภัย (hâi à-phai), to forgive. Literally: "give pardon". ฉันให้อภัยเธอ (chǎn hâi à-phai thoe), I forgive you.
Compounds: letting go. ปล่อยให้ (bplòi hâi), to let it be, leave to. Literally: "release + let". ปล่อยให้เขาไป (bplòi hâi khǎo bpai), Let him/her go. ยอมให้ (yom hâi), to finally allow. Literally: "give in + let". แม่ยอมให้ไปแล้ว (mâe yom hâi bpai láew), Mum finally let me go.
Reading trap. Why ใ and not ไ? The vowel ใ, not ไ: the same "ai" sound, but only 20 words use ใ. The tone: hâi, falling. High class ห + ไม้โท. ให้ is one of the 20 ใ words: ใจ, ใช่, ใหม่, ใคร... Learn it once and you'll spell it right forever.
Quick recap. ให้ in one slide. ให้ + thing = give. ไม่ให้... = not let. บอกให้... = tell someone to. verb + ให้ = for someone. ...ให้หน่อย = for me, please. ทำให้ = make, cause. verb + ให้ + result = make it... ขอให้... = I wish you... ให้กำลังใจ = encourage. ให้อภัย = forgive. ปล่อยให้ = let it be. ยอมให้ = give in, allow.
Your turn. Which ให้ did you not know? Tell me in the comments. Save this. Want to learn Thai? Comment or DM me if you're interested in lessons. Reading Thai from lesson one, from someone who grew up here. Comment or DM.

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ให้ (hâi): the word that passes things on

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