“รู้ [rúu]” is a Thai word for “to know.” “ทราบ [sâap]” has the same meaning but is more polite and formal. Therefore, “ไม่ทราบ [mâi sâap]” means “I don’t know.” It’s used as a response to a question you don’t know the answer to and used with older people or people of a higher status as it’s more polite than saying “ไม่รู้ [mâi rúu].” It’s also always followed by a polite particle, ครับ [kráp] (for males) and ค่ะ [kâ] (for females).

However, this expression has another common use that most Thai learners don’t know about as it’s usually not taught in textbooks. Thai people do use this phrase in front of a question just to express politeness when they talk to strangers or someone that they’re not close to. It’s also used when the speaker feels some level of discomfort in asking the question they want to ask. In this case, it doesn’t mean “I don’t know.” It doesn’t carry any meaning and it’s there just to add politeness or introduction to the question. If needed to be translated, the closest translation could be “May (please) I ask…?” It’s also often used after “ขอโทษนะคะ” [kǎw tôte ná kâ] “ขอโทษนะครับ [kǎw tôte ná kráp]” (meaning “excuse me”).

Examples

1.) ไม่ทราบ ห้องน้ำอยู่ไหนครับ
[mâi sâap hâwng náam yuu nǎi kráp]
(Excuse me) where are the restrooms please?

2.) ไม่ทราบ ห้างเปิดหรือยังคะ
[mâi sâap hâang pèrd rěu yang ká]
(Excuse me) is the mall open?

3.) ไม่ทราบ คุณแต่งงานหรือยังครับ
[mâi sâap khun tàeng ngaan rěu yang kráp]
(May I ask) are you married?

4.) ไม่ทราบ คุณพ่อชื่ออะไรคะ
[mâi sâap khun pâw chêu arai ká]
(May I ask) what is your father’s name?

5.) ไม่ทราบ ตอนนี้กี่โมงแล้วครับ
[mâi sâap tawn níi gìi mong láew kráp]
(Excuse me), what time is it?

6.) ไม่ทราบ กรอกที่อยู่เสร็จแล้วหรือยังคะ
[mâi sâap gràwk tîi yùu láew rěu yang ká]
Have you finished filling out your address (sir)?

7.) ไม่ทราบ จองไว้กี่ท่านครับ
[mâi sâap jawng wái gìi tâan kráp]
(May I ask) how many people have you made the reservation for?

8.) ไม่ทราบ รถจะมารับกี่โมงคะ
[mâi sâap rót ja maa ráp gîi mong ká]
What time will the shuttle be here to pick me up (please)?

9.) ไม่ทราบ ตรงนี้มีคนนั่งไหมครับ
[mâi sâap trong níi mii kon nâng mái kráp]
(Excuse me) is this seat taken?

10.) ไม่ทราบ ที่นี่มีห้องเปลี่ยนผ้าอ้อมไหมคะ
[mâi sâap tîi nîi mii hâwng plìan pâa âwm mái ká]
(Excuse me) is there a baby care room here?

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