may; can [permission]
Native recording
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- 1 may; can [permission]、... is also fine、do not have to [ไม่ + verb + ก็ได้]、any ... is fine [question word + ก็ได้]
- 2 okay、all right、fine
This expression presents an action or choice as acceptable. It is commonly used to give permission, leave a choice open, or agree to a suggestion.
may; can [permission]、... is also fine、do not have to [ไม่ + verb + ก็ได้]、any ... is fine [question word + ก็ได้]
Placed after an action or option, it marks it as permissible or acceptable. After a question word, it indicates that the choice is unrestricted.
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เข้าไปก็ได้ khâw pay kɔ̂ɔ dâay You may go in. เข้าไปก็ได้ details
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ไม่ไปก็ได้ mây pay kɔ̂ɔ dâay You don't have to go. ไม่ไปก็ได้ details
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อันนี้ก็ได้ an níi kɔ̂ɔ dâay This one is fine too. อันนี้ก็ได้ details
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อะไรก็ได้ aray kɔ̂ɔ dâay Anything is fine. อะไรก็ได้ details
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วันไหนก็ได้ wan nǎy kɔ̂ɔ dâay Any day is fine. วันไหนก็ได้ details
okay、all right、fine
Used by itself as a response, it accepts another person's suggestion. Depending on tone, it can sound agreeable or reluctantly yielding.
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ก็ได้ ไปกันเถอะ kɔ̂ɔ dâay pay kan thə̀ Okay, let's go. ก็ได้ ไปกันเถอะ details
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ก็ได้ ๆ kɔ̂ɔ dâay kɔ̂ɔ dâay All right, all right. ก็ได้ ๆ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ก็ได้ consists of ก็ and ได้, but learners will find it useful to treat the combination as a unit meaning that an action or choice is acceptable. The basic pattern is an action or noun phrase followed by ก็ได้. For example, ไปก็ได้ can grant permission to go or accept going as one possible option, depending on context. ไม่ + verb + ก็ได้ means that the action is unnecessary, while a question word + ก็ได้ leaves the choice unrestricted. Common examples include อะไรก็ได้ (“anything is fine”), ใครก็ได้ (“anyone is fine”), and ที่ไหนก็ได้ (“anywhere is fine”). It can also stand alone as a response. For polite speech, add ครับ or ค่ะ: ก็ได้ครับ or ก็ได้ค่ะ.
Usage
It is common in everyday conversation when giving permission, leaving choices such as food, dates, or places open, and accepting a suggestion. Used alone, it often appears as a response after discussing or negotiating what to do.
Caution
Verb + ก็ได้ normally means that doing the action is allowed or acceptable, not that someone has the ability to do it. A short, flat ก็ได้ or อะไรก็ได้ can sound reluctant or dismissive, like “fine” or “whatever.” For clearly enthusiastic agreement, ดีเลย or ตกลง may be more suitable.
Differences from similar words
1 may; can [permission] synonyms
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อนุญาต is an explicit, somewhat formal verb meaning “to permit.” ก็ได้ is a more conversational way to say that doing something is fine.
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ได้ after a verb can indicate ability or possibility. ก็ได้ instead presents the action as permitted or acceptable as one possible choice.