The words More (ขึ้น) and More than (กว่า) in Thai Language

Let’s simply start with how do you say ‘more beautiful’ in Thai language? Well, you can say either ‘sǔay khɨ̂n’ (สวยขึ้น) or ‘sǔay kwàa’ (สวยกว่า). But when will you use khɨ̂n (ขึ้น) and when will you use kwàa (กว่า)? This lesson will help you understand the difference between the words more (ขึ้น) and more than (กว่า) in Thai Language.

The word khɨ̂n (ขึ้น) as the word more

You use this word after the adjective word to compare the quality or condition of the same thing on the different period of time. You can see the structure below.

For example:

This example compares the condition of a person between now and then.
This example compares the price of thing between now and the future.

From the above example sentences, you can see that the adjectives in the sentence are used to compare the quality or condition or the same thing in the different time. On the other hand, if you want to compare two or more things, you will need to use the different word before the adjective which is kwàa (กว่า).

The word kwàa (กว่า) as the word more than in English

You use this word after the adjective when you want to compare two or more things, factors, qualities, conditions, etc. You can see the structure as in below and followed by the example sentences to make it easier to understand.

For example:

This example compares the size of two houses.
This example compares the price of the things in two places (here and there).
This example compares the weather condition of two countries (Thailand and Sweden).

However, you can use the word kwàa (กว่า) to compare the quality or condition of the same thing on the different period of time just as the word khɨ̂n (ขึ้น) but it is necessary to indicate the two different period of time clearly. Below we will use the exactly same example sentences from khɨ̂n (ขึ้น) section above but we will replace it with kwàa (กว่า).

For example:

Moreover, you may sometimes see both words are used together in the same sentence. In those cases, khɨ̂n (ขึ้น) means more and kwàa (กว่า) means than. To omit the word khɨ̂n (ขึ้น) in such sentence will not affect the meaning of the sentence.

For example:

1.
– thammay dǐaw-níi khun khàp rót rew khɨ̂n kwàa tæ̀æ-kɔ̀ɔn
– ทำไม เดี๋ยวนี้ คุณ ขับ รถ เร็ว ขึ้น กว่า แต่ก่อน
– Why lately you drive faster than before?

---

– thammay dǐaw-níi khun khàp rót rew kwàa tæ̀æ-kɔ̀ɔn
– ทำไม เดี๋ยวนี้ คุณ ขับ รถ เร็ว กว่า แต่ก่อน
– Why lately you drive faster than before?

The meaning of both sentences is the same. You can say the first one is more emphasizing the speed of the car than the latter one.

2.
– mææw chán ʔûan khɨ̂n kwàa tæ̀æ-kɔ̀ɔn
– แมว ฉัน อ้วน ขึ้น กว่า แต่ก่อน
– My cat is fatter than before.

---

– mææw chán ʔûan kwàa tæ̀æ-kɔ̀ɔn
– แมว ฉัน อ้วน กว่า แต่ก่อน
– My cat is fatter than before.

The meaning of both sentences is the same. The first sentence is emphasizing the size of the cat than the second one.

Let’s check your understanding between the words more (ขึ้น) and more than (กว่า) in Thai Language

Exercise

• choose the right word to fill in the blanks

1.
– phǒm rúusɨ̀k dii ________ lǎŋ càak pay hǎa mɔ̌ɔ
– ผม รู้ สึก ดี ________ หลัง จาก ไป หา หมอ
– I feel better after seeing doctor.

Answer

– phǒm rúusɨ̀k dii khɨ̂n lǎŋ càak pay hǎa mɔ̌ɔ
– ผม รู้ สึก ดี ขึ้น หลัง จาก ไป หา หมอ

2.
– nɔ́ɔŋ-chaay chán phûut cháa ________ chán
– น้องชาย ฉัน พูด ช้า ________ ฉัน
– My younger brother speaks slower than I do.

Answer

– nɔ́ɔŋ-chaay chán phûut cháa kwàa chán
– น้องชาย ฉัน พูด ช้า กว่า ฉัน

3.
– phǒm kæ̀æ ________ khun
– ผม แก่ ________ คุณ
– I am older than you.

Answer

– phǒm kæ̀æ kwàa khun
– ผม แก่ กว่า คุณ

4.
– lûuk-sǎaw khun duu sǔuŋ ________ mâak
– ลูกสาว คุณ ดู สูง ________ มาก
– Your daughter looks a lot taller.

Answer

– lûuk-sǎaw khun duu sǔuŋ khɨ̂n mâak
– ลูกสาว คุณ ดู สูง ขึ้น มาก

5.
– phǒm chɔ̂ɔp rót khan níi mâak ________ khan nán
– ผม ชอบ รถ คัน นี้ มาก ________ คัน นั้น
– I like this car more than that one.

Answer

– phǒm chɔ̂ɔp rót khan níi mâak kwàa khan nán
– ผม ชอบ รถ คัน นี้ มาก กว่า รถ คัน นั้น

Hope this lesson can more or less help you to understand the difference between the words More (ขึ้น) and More than (กว่า) in Thai Language. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave your message in the comment box.

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