Breakdown of เขา ไม่ได้ หยิ่ง หรอก ครับ
ครับ
polite particle (male)
เขา
he, she, they
ไม่
not
ได้
got to (do)
หรอก
particle softening a negative contradiction
หยิ่ง
arrogant / snobbish
Questions & Answers about เขา ไม่ได้ หยิ่ง หรอก ครับ
How does this sentence fit with the lesson's focus on นึกว่า (mistakenly believed) since that word isn't even in the sentence?
This sentence is the typical natural response to a นึกว่า statement. If someone says they mistakenly thought he was arrogant, you use this exact structure to correct them. The combination of ไม่ได้ and the particle หรอก is the standard way to politely contradict a false assumption.
Why is ไม่ได้ used here instead of just ไม่?
While ไม่ได้ often indicates past tense negation with action verbs, when placed before an adjective like หยิ่ง it means that a state is not what someone assumed it to be. Using just ไม่ makes a simple factual statement, whereas ไม่ได้ actively counters the listener's specific belief that he is arrogant.
What exactly does the particle หรอก add here?
หรอก is a conversational particle used in negative sentences to correct a misunderstanding or reassure the listener. It softens the contradiction so you do not sound aggressive or argumentative. In English, we often achieve this by adding phrases like you know, actually, or at all to the end of the sentence.
Is หรอก actually pronounced with a low tone as its spelling suggests?
Officially yes, the spelling dictates a low tone. However, in casual, everyday spoken Thai, it is almost entirely pronounced with a high tone instead. B2 learners should be prepared to hear and use the high tone in conversation.
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