This upper-intermediate exercise is about something every busy person struggles with: fitting everything into 24 hours. The speaker talks about feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks, then discovering a simple habit that helped her stay on track. If you have ever written a to-do list at midnight, this one will feel familiar.
Watch the YouTube video first without reading the script. Try to catch the main idea on your first listen, then scroll down and follow along with the romanization. The vocabulary and grammar sections at the end will help you talk about your own routines and priorities in Thai.
Romanization
Sǎm-ràb chán, gaan-jàd-gaan-way-laa bpen sìng thîi sǎm-khan mâak khà.
Chán mák-jà tham baang-yàang mâi than way-laa, rěue rúu-sèuk khrîad rěue rúu-sèuk wâa mii way-laa mâi phaw sǎm-ràb tham thúk-yàang nai nèung wan.
Dtàe-mêua-way-laa-phàan-bpai, chán rêrm rian gìao-gàb gaan-jàd-gaan-way-laa khǎwng dtua-eng hâi dii khêun khà.
Chán khǐan Diary wâa dtâwng tham arai bâang nai nèung wan, fang duu tham-ma-daa dtàe man chûay hâi chán hěn wâa arai sǎm-khan thîi sùd.
Arai dtâwng tham gàwn, rěue arai thîi tham thii-lǎng dâi. Wí-thii níi chûay hâi chán Focus gàb sìng thîi sǎm-khan láe mâi wâwk-wâek gàb sìng èuun chên, lên tho-rà-sàp jon leum way-laa.
English Translation
“For me, time management is a very important thing.”
“I often don't finish some things on time, or I feel stressed, or I feel like there isn't enough time to do everything in one day.”
“But as time passed, I started learning about managing my own time better.”
“I write in a diary what I need to do each day. It sounds ordinary, but it helps me see what is most important.”
“What needs to be done first, or what can be done later. This method helps me focus on what matters and not get distracted by other things, like playing on the phone until I lose track of time.”
Vocabulary Focus
| Thai | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| การจัดการเวลา | gaan-jàd-gaan-way-laa | time management |
| สำคัญ | sǎm-khan | important |
| เครียด | khrîad | stressed |
| เขียนไดอารี่ | khǐan Diary | write a diary |
| ธรรมดา | tham-ma-daa | ordinary, basic |
| โฟกัส | Focus | focus (loanword from English) |
การจัดการเวลา
gaan-jàd-gaan-way-laa
time management
สำคัญ
sǎm-khan
important
เครียด
khrîad
stressed
เขียนไดอารี่
khǐan Diary
write a diary
ธรรมดา
tham-ma-daa
ordinary, basic
โฟกัส
Focus
focus (loanword from English)
Grammar Focus: “สำหรับฉัน” (sǎm-ràb chán) for Personal Statements
The phrase “สำหรับฉัน” (sǎm-ràb chán) means “for me.” It personalizes a statement, making it clear the sentence reflects the speaker's own opinion or experience. You place it at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the topic and then “เป็นสิ่งที่” (bpen sìng thîi, “is a thing that”) plus an adjective like “สำคัญ” (sǎm-khan, “important”). Here are three examples:
สำหรับฉัน การจัดการเวลาเป็นสิ่งที่สำคัญสำหรับฉันมากค่ะ
Sǎm-ràb chán, gaan-jàd-gaan-way-laa bpen sìng thîi sǎm-khan mâak khà.
For me, time management is a very important thing.
สำหรับฉัน การเขียนไดอารี่เป็นสิ่งที่ช่วยให้ฉันโฟกัสค่ะ
Sǎm-ràb chán, gaan-khǐan Diary bpen sìng thîi chûay hâi chán Focus khà.
For me, writing a diary is something that helps me focus.
สำหรับฉัน การวางแผนเป็นสิ่งสำคัญมากค่ะ
Sǎm-ràb chán, gaan-waang-phǎen bpen sìng sǎm-khan mâak khà.
For me, planning is very important.
Practice Tips
- Watch the YouTube video once without reading. Can you pick out the word “สำคัญ” each time it appears?
- On a second listen, follow along with the romanization and pause after each sentence to repeat it out loud.
- Write three sentences about your own daily routine using the “สำหรับฉัน ... เป็นสิ่งที่ ...” pattern from this exercise.
- Try explaining your time management habits in Thai to a friend or language partner. Use the vocabulary from this lesson.
Want more structured Thai practice? Nariss's video courses cover listening, speaking, and reading at every level. Or keep practicing with the next listening exercise: Working from Home.
