When do we use ' That Pbai' and when do we use 'Naa' . I have read examples of 'That Pbai', used on flights. For example, 'Thiaao Bin That Pbai Gee Mong?' Then, 'Naa' is used when the object is physically next in distance. For example, 'Saa Thaa Nee Dteerm Nam Man Naa Yoo Tee Nai ?'

i think do u mean " naa ja" which is "maybe"

That's a good question - and you could add ต่อไป /dtor bpai/ to the list of 'next' phrases too.

I normally see ถัดไป /that bpai/ on signs at the closed checkout in a supermarket, indicating you should use the 'next checkout'. I always took it to mean 'next' in the sense of 'adjacent', whereas I take ต่อไป /dtor bpai/ and หน้า /naa/ to mean 'following' in time or space (so I'm surprised by your flights example, I wouldn't have expected ถัดไป /that bpai/ there).

However, these are just inferences I've made from the slice of Thai I've picked up and used. I'd be interested to hear what those of greater experience have to say.

Edited November 29, 201015 yr by SoftWater

I would say that in the examples given หน้า would mean something like 'ahead' or 'in front' in space in the direction you are already going.

Chaos87's example of the next petrol station makes sense in this case. And in terms of opportunities or occasion it works just as well, for example: โอกาสหน้าเชิญใหม่

It is inevitable that the thing will come to you if you carry on doing what you are doing.

Would ถัดไป be more akin to 'adjacent to' in line but not inevitable. i.e. you could choose to go to the next check out counter, or just leave your shopping behind and go home.

That sounds right to me, but I'm not sure its fine-grained enough to capture all the distinctions.

For one thing, หน้า is also used to talk about time - as in expressions such as ล่วงหน้า. Does it make sense to talk about 'inevitability' here? (But I do like the concept, which I'd never thought of!).

For another, in English, 'what is the next flight?' is ambiguous. It could mean either

a. What is the next flight that leaves after this one (to anywhere); or

b. What is the next available flight to my destination?

(You can imagine a. in the context of one air traffic controller to another, for example, or someone saying 'I just wanna catch the next flight out of here, I don't care where!').

I have no idea, but would be interested to know, whether in Thai a. and b. would occasion a difference in expression for 'next'.

Anyone?

Edited November 29, 201015 yr by SoftWater

If you were in a travel agent and were inquiring about flights, and the flight they suggest is not quite right for you, you might say something like "When is the next (available) flight? Or in the words of the OP 'Thiaao Bin That Pbai Gee Mong?'

I cannot really think of an occasion when you might say this at the airport, unless you are actually trying to book a ticket while there, or the particular destination has a number of flights on the same day.

You could actually use "tat pbai" with gas stations in certain instances. For example, if you are on your way somewhere and deciding where to stop. One person may suggest a particular gas station, but you suggest the one after that (perhaps better facilities). The counter suggestion could correctly apply "tat pbai". "Pam naman tat bpai dee kwa + reason such as they have cleaner toilets, a restaurant, etc". (Please excuse the Romanization)

Edited November 30, 201015 yr by GarryP