ขอ

May I Have

Level 1

Use ขอ (khɔ̌ɔ) to ask for things or permission. The examples show requests such as 'May I have...' and 'May I...'.

How It Works

ขอ (rising tone) can frame an utterance as a request. Its meaning depends on what follows and who is expected to act; it does not guarantee politeness by itself.

1. Requesting Objects:
The structure is [ขอ + Noun]. In an item request, a softening particle like หน่อย and a polite particle like ครับ or ค่ะ can help frame the request politely. They are not both required in every situation.
Example: ขอน้ำหน่อยครับ (May I have some water, please?)

2. Requesting Permission:
The structure is [ขอ + Verb]. In a permission request, the speaker asks to perform the action. Other requests can concern an action by someone else, so read the complete sentence and situation.
Example: ขอไปข้างนอก (May I go outside?)

3. Fixed Expressions:
Treat fixed expressions with ขอ as whole phrases. For example, ขอโทษ (khɔ̌ɔ-thôot) literally means 'request punishment' and is used to say 'I'm sorry' or 'Excuse me.'

Examples (5)

  1. ขอน้ำหน่อยครับ

    May I have some water, please?

    Word by Word: Request water a little [polite male]

    This sentence requests water. Its final particles help frame the request politely.

  2. ขอเมนูด้วยค่ะ

    May I have the menu too, please?

    Word by Word: Request menu also [polite female]

    Here, 'ด้วย' adds an 'also/too' meaning to the 'ขอ' request for a menu.

  3. ขอเข้าห้องน้ำได้ไหมคะ

    May I go to the bathroom?

    Word by Word: Request enter room-water can [question] [polite female]

    In this sentence, 'ขอ' frames a request and 'ได้ไหม' asks whether the speaker may perform the action.

  4. ขอโทษครับ

    I'm sorry / Excuse me.

    Word by Word: Request punishment [polite male]

    A fixed expression used for apologizing or getting someone's attention.

  5. ขอเช็คบิลหน่อยค่ะ

    May I have the bill, please?

    Word by Word: Request check bill a little [polite female]

    This sentence requests the bill at the end of a meal, with particles that help frame the request politely.

Common Mistakes

  • Assuming 'เอา' (ao) and 'ขอ' (khɔ̌ɔ) express the same kind of request in every setting.

    เอาน้ำครับ
    ขอน้ำหน่อยครับ

    'เอา' can express wanting or choosing an item; it is not automatically rude. 'ขอ' explicitly frames the supplied correction as a request. The full wording, intonation, and situation affect how it is received.

  • Assuming 'ขอ' always asks permission for the speaker and 'ช่วย' always has only its literal 'help' meaning.

    ขอปิดประตูหน่อยครับ
    ช่วยปิดประตูหน่อยครับ

    'ช่วย' makes the intended request for the other person's help explicit in the supplied correction. The 'ขอ' sentence does not by itself settle who is to close the door; read it with the intended situation instead of applying a speaker-only rule.

  • Assuming every request must contain the same softening particles.

    ขอน้ำ
    ขอน้ำหน่อยครับ

    A bare 'ขอ' + noun can be brief without necessarily being rude or childish. 'หน่อย' can soften the supplied request, and a polite particle can suit the speaker and setting. Adding 'หน่อย' is one option rather than an obligation; the full wording and delivery matter.

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ขอLevel 1May I Have

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