เวลากดเงินนี่อย่ามายืนใกล้ๆได้ป่ะ
[welaa gòt ngern nîi yàa maa yeun glâi glâi dâai pà]
Can you not stay too close to me when I’m withdrawing cash from the ATM?

ไม่ได้กลัวจะรู้รหัสอะไรนะ
[mâi dâai glua ja rúu rahàt arai ná]
It’s not that I’m afraid that you would see my passcode or anything.

แต่กูอายยอดเงินคงเหลือ
[tàe guu aai yâwd ngern kong lěua]
It’s just that I feel embarrassed of my balance.

– – – – – – – – – – – G r a m m a r T i m e

ไม่ได้ [mâi dâai] doesn’t always carry the meaning of “cannot”. It means “cannot” only when it goes at the end of the sentence (after a verb). When it is placed in front of a verb, it simply conveys a sense of negation. It is generally used to deny a statement or to prevent or correct misunderstanding.

More examples:

ฉันไม่ได้เป็นคนอังกฤษ
[chán mâi dâai pen kon angkrìt]
I am not British. (You thought I was and you’re wrong.)

ผมไม่ได้เป็นแฟนเมแกนฟอกซ์
[phǒm mâi dâai pen fan Megan Fox]
I am not Megan Fox’s boyfriend. (You misunderstood)

ผมไม่ได้อยากให้คุณไป
[phǒm mâi dâai yàak hâi khun pai]
I don’t want you to leave./ I didn’t mean that I wanted you to leave./ I am not saying that I want you to leave./ It’s not that I want you to leave! (don’t get me wrong).

ฉันไม่ได้มาที่นี่เพื่อหาแฟน
[chán mâi dâai maa tîi nîi pêua hǎa fan]
I didn’t come here to look for a boyfriend. (You misunderstood my intention).

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