Last night I asked a lady how to say " keep the change " in Thai. I usually write these little snippets down because after a few beers I forget, then until I have used them a few times I remember, hence writing them down. Obvious question, how do I say it?

Thanks.

ไม่ต้องถอนเงิน Mai dtong torn ngern

Actually you could omit the word เงิน (ngern) which just means "currency" or "cash"

Patrick

\

it's ไม่ต้องทอน or ไม่ต้องทอนเงิน

not ถอนเงิน which means withdrawing money (from banks)

it's ไม่ต้องทอน or ไม่ต้องทอนเงิน

not ถอนเงิน which means withdrawing money (from banks)

You're right - sorry, my spelling is rubbish in the mornings!

Patrick

I usually just say, ไม่ต้อง, no need, the same if I am shopping and buying yoghurt, the staff at the checkout always want to give me a pack of plastic spoons.

I usually say ไม่เอา(เงิน)ทอน

They understand me but is it correct to say like that?

Edited February 8, 201313 yr by kikenyoy

ไม่เอาเงินทอน is not quite right actually. You can't say only ไม่เอาทอน which is not correct.

It means "(I) don't want the change" but it's more common to say ไม่ต้องทอน which means "(You) don't need to give me the change"

I usually say ไม่เอา(เงิน)ทอน

They understand me but is it correct to say like that?

ไม่เอา or ไม่รับ is what I sometimes hear.

I usually say ไม่เอา(เงิน)ทอน

They understand me but is it correct to say like that?

sounds pretty incorrect..just say mai pen rai + a smile/nod + walking away would do...

ไม่เอา or ไม่รับ is what I sometimes hear.

Edited February 9, 201313 yr by alvin80

Use what Thais like the most: MAI PEN RAI :)

It's ไม่ต้องทอนเงิน stick with that!

ไม่เอาเงินทอน is not quite right actually. You can't say only ไม่เอาทอน which is not correct.

It means "(I) don't want the change" but it's more common to say ไม่ต้องทอน which means "(You) don't need to give me the change"

How about ไม่ทอนเงินก็ได้?

Edited February 13, 201313 yr by leosmith

It literally means "Not change is OK", which is somewhat clipped to a Thai person . Mole's phrase is the most common of all.

Edited February 13, 201313 yr by Barabbas

It literally means "Not change is OK", which is somewhat clipped to a Thai person . Mole's phrase is the most common of all.

Really? Because I believe that's the exact phrase used in a Becker dialogue...

Sounds more colloquial to my ear, but I'm not Thai.

It literally means "Not change is OK", which is somewhat clipped to a Thai person . Mole's phrase is the most common of all.

Really? Because I believe that's the exact phrase used in a Becker dialogue...

Sounds more colloquial to my ear, but I'm not Thai.

I'm pretty sure I remember the phrase from one of the 2 Becker Books was

ไม่ต้องทอนก็ได้

It literally means "Not change is OK", which is somewhat clipped to a Thai person . Mole's phrase is the most common of all.

Really? Because I believe that's the exact phrase used in a Becker dialogue...

Sounds more colloquial to my ear, but I'm not Thai.

I'm pretty sure I remember the phrase from one of the 2 Becker Books was

ไม่ต้องทอนก็ได้

Adding ก็ได้ to any remark is somewhat un-necessary, indeed it makes the rest of the sentence - and any suggestion in the sentence - sound rather lukewarm or unenthusiastic.

Examples :

ใครก็ได้ - anyone (will do)

อะไรก็ได้ - whatever you want, up to you

Patrick

Edited February 15, 201313 yr by p_brownstone

I'm pretty sure I remember the phrase from one of the 2 Becker Books was

ไม่ต้องทอนก็ได้

Thanks - I stand corrected; page 39 of book2. I think this is a more common/more colloquial choice than ไม่ต้องทอนเงิน.

Adding ก็ได้ to any remark is somewhat un-necessary

I have to disagree with this. Is any grammar unnecessary? The ก็ได้ softens this sentence. Just curious - would you say that ครับ is somewhat un-necessary?

Edited February 17, 201313 yr by leosmith

I'm pretty sure I remember the phrase from one of the 2 Becker Books was

ไม่ต้องทอนก็ได้

Thanks - I stand corrected; page 39 of book2. I think this is a more common/more colloquial choice than ไม่ต้องทอนเงิน.

Adding ก็ได้ to any remark is somewhat un-necessary

I have to disagree with this. Is any grammar unnecessary? The ก็ได้ softens this sentence. Just curious - would you say that ครับ is somewhat un-necessary?

You are confusing Grammar with Vocabulary or word usage.

Adding ก็ได้ to the end of this sentence in no way "softens" it - it quite significantly changes the meaning; from a direct invitation / instruction to "keep the change" to an indifferent "keep the change if you want to".

Adding rather random words to a sentence is unnecessary - adding a polite particle to the end of a sentence is not.

Patrick

Edited February 18, 201313 yr by p_brownstone