Passive Voice in Thai

Overview

Thai passive voice works differently from English passive. The main passive markers are ถูก [thùuk] and โดน [doon], which originally carry a sense of something undesirable happening to the subject. This means that in traditional Thai grammar, passive voice is primarily used for adverse or negative situations. The topic is studied at the CEFR B1 (intermediate) level.

The pattern is: Subject + ถูก/โดน + (agent) + verb. For example: เขาถูกตี (he was hit), บ้านถูกขาย (the house was sold), โดนดุ (got scolded). โดน is more colloquial than ถูก but follows the same pattern. When the agent is mentioned, it appears between the passive marker and the verb: เขาถูกเพื่อนหลอก (he was tricked by a friend).

For positive or neutral passive situations, Thai uses ได้รับ [dâi ráp] (to receive): ได้รับเลือก (was elected), ได้รับรางวัล (received an award). In modern Thai, especially in news and formal writing, ถูก is increasingly used for neutral passive as well, expanding beyond its traditionally negative connotation.

How It Works

Key Patterns

• Passive with ถูก [thùuk] (for adverse events) or โดน [doon] (colloquial)
• ได้รับ [dâi ráp] for positive/neutral passive.

Pattern Examples

Thai	English	Pattern
เขาถูกตี	He was hit.	Core pattern
บ้านถูกขาย	The house was sold.	Core pattern
ได้รับเลือก	was selected/elected	Core pattern
โดนดุ	got scolded (colloquial)	Core pattern

How to Form Sentences

At this level, passive voice patterns begin to combine with other grammatical structures you have already learned. You can nest these constructions within larger sentences, combine them with tense markers, and use them alongside conditional or comparative structures.

The flexibility of Thai grammar means these patterns can often be rearranged for emphasis or stylistic effect. In formal writing, certain word orders are preferred, while casual speech allows more variation. Pay attention to how native speakers deploy these structures in different contexts.

Tip: When reading Thai texts at this level, identify instances of these patterns and note the surrounding context. This helps you understand not just the grammar but also when and why Thai speakers choose particular constructions.

Examples in Context

Thai	English	Note
เขาถูกตี	He was hit.
บ้านถูกขาย	The house was sold.
ได้รับเลือก	was selected/elected
โดนดุ	got scolded (colloquial)
เขาถูกตี	He was hit.	Common usage
บ้านถูกขาย	The house was sold.	Everyday context
ได้รับเลือก	was selected/elected	Practice this pattern
โดนดุ	got scolded (colloquial)	Frequently heard

Common Mistakes

Applying English grammar patterns to Thai

• Wrong: Directly translating English sentence structure for passive voice
• Right: Follow the Thai word order as shown in the examples above
• Why: Thai has its own structural logic. Word order, particles, and context work differently than in English.

Omitting required elements

• Wrong: Leaving out key markers or particles when forming passive voice patterns
• Right: Include all the structural elements shown in the formation rules
• Why: While Thai is flexible in many ways, certain structural elements are required for the sentence to sound natural and be understood correctly.

Using the wrong register

• Wrong: Using casual forms in formal settings or vice versa
• Right: Match the formality level to the context
• Why: Thai has strong register distinctions. Using overly casual language in formal situations or overly formal language with friends can create awkward impressions.

Usage Notes

In formal spoken and written Thai, passive voice patterns may appear with additional polite language, formal vocabulary, or adjusted word order. News broadcasts, academic texts, and official documents often prefer more elaborate versions of these structures, while casual conversation uses streamlined alternatives.

Regional variations exist across Thailand. Central Thai (the standard) is what is taught here, but speakers from the Northeast (Isan), North (Lanna), and South may use slightly different forms or vocabulary for the same grammatical function. As you encounter Thai speakers from different regions, you may notice these variations.

Register awareness is important at this level. The same grammatical concept might be expressed differently in a text message to a friend versus a business email versus a news article. Practice recognizing and producing passive voice patterns across multiple registers to build versatility.

Practice Tips

1. Read Thai content at your level. Simple news articles, graded readers, and Thai social media posts provide natural examples of passive voice in context.
2. Practice transforming sentences. Take simple sentences and add complexity using passive voice patterns. This builds your ability to express more nuanced ideas.
3. Record yourself and compare. Record yourself using these patterns and compare with native speaker recordings to refine your usage.

Related Concepts

• Basic Verb Structure
• Advanced Passive Constructions
• Formal Passive and Impersonal