กี่

Explanation

The most important use is as an interrogative numeral. The basic pattern is กี่ followed by a classifier or unit. For example, กี่คน means “how many people,” กี่เล่ม “how many volumes,” กี่ครั้ง “how many times,” กี่วัน “how many days,” and กี่โมง “what time.” When the counted noun is stated, the usual order is noun + กี่ + classifier, as in หนังสือกี่เล่ม, “how many books.” It also appears outside direct questions. ไม่กี่ followed by a classifier or unit means “a few” or “not many.” Patterns such as กี่…ก็ได้ mean “any number is fine,” while กี่…ก็… can mean “no matter how many.” As an unrelated noun, กี่ means a loom. Context and sentence structure clearly distinguish this noun from the word used to ask about numbers.

Usage

It is extremely common when asking about counts, including numbers of people or items, days, years, occurrences, and clock time. Typical settings include shopping, planning a trip, and asking about someone's experience. The noun meaning “loom” occurs when discussing weaving, textiles, or traditional crafts.

Caution

กี่ is normally followed by an appropriate classifier such as คน, เล่ม, or อัน, or by a unit such as วัน, ปี, or ครั้ง. A price can be requested with กี่บาท when the currency unit is explicit, but เท่าไหร่ is more natural for a general “How much?” Age is also commonly asked with อายุเท่าไหร่. Do not move กี่ to the end merely because the sentence is a question. It keeps its position in the noun + กี่ + classifier pattern.

1 how many synonyms

• เท่าไหร่

  thâw rày how much

  เท่าไหร่ asks about an amount, price, degree, or measurement more broadly. กี่ normally combines with a classifier or unit to ask for a count or number.

2 loom synonyms

• หูก

  hùuk loom

  หูก also refers to a traditional loom, though its use can vary by region and context. กี่ is a general term for a loom.