Jingjok
How to say I'm not that good
in Thai
ไม่เก่งหรอก
mâi gèng ràawk
I'm not that good
Add ครับ (kráp) if you are a man or ค่ะ (kâ) if you are a woman. It makes the sentence polite, and Thais always use it.
The standard reply to พูดไทยเก่ง. หรอก softens a denial: 'not really'.
- Where
- social
- Register
- polite
What they will say back
- เก่งแล้วgèng láeoYou're good already!
The culture behind it
CULTURE
"Not that good": the modesty script
Words inside it
From the same situation: Making friends
- เงินเดือนsalary
- เลี้ยงto treat (pay for someone); to raise, look after
- แชร์to share; to split (the bill)
- ด้วยกันtogether
- หรือเปล่าor not? (yes/no question)
- เหรอreally? (checking, surprise)
- ล่ะwhat about…? (follow-up question)
- ศาสนาreligion
All 70 words and phrases in “Making friends” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok drills ไม่เก่งหรอก until you can say it without thinking, then shows you where to use it today. Handle personal questions with ease, invite and be invited, give and take compliments, and sort out who pays.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.