Regular features from April 2002 76th Issue

Confused when shopping in the market? Get a fried rice when you order a cheese sandwich? Want to catch a train but you’ve no idea where its going? Then this section is for you, every month we will bring you a language guide with some of those essential phrases and a few tips that will make your stay in Thailand a little less frustrating! I am not running a language course here nor do I claim to teach you how to speak fluent Thai but just a basic guide to getting by without getting mad! Thai is a tonal language with five distinct tones so the same word could theoretically have five different meanings if pronounced with five different tones. Thai script is even more of a problem to westerners, with 44 consonants and 32 vowels. As there is no standard of romanisation the translations here may differ from those in a phrase book, the romanised script here is my interpretation of how a Thai word should be spelt in English, it should not be taken as law. The only true way to pronounce it correctly is to learn how to read and write Thai.

Hello sawat dee krap/ka สวัสดีครับ / คะ
Goodbye la gorn, pop gun mai (literally ‘see you again’) ลาก่อน / พบกันใหม่
How are you? sabai dee mai (literally ‘are you fine?’) สบายดีไหม
I’m fine thanks sabai dee krap/ka สบายดีครับ / คะ
Thank you korp khun krap/ka ขอบคุณครับ / คะ
Sorry/excuse me kor toht krap/ka ขอโทษครับ / คะ
Yes chai, krap/ka ใช่, ครับ / คะ
No mai chai (is not), bplao, mai ไม่ใช่, เปล่า, ไม่
Please kor (asking), garunah (used more in written Thai) ขอ, กรุณา
I pom(m), chun(f) ผม, ฉัน
You tan(formal), khun (polite), ter(familiar) ท่าน, คุณ, เธอ
Us/we rao เรา
He/she/him/her kao เขา
Nevermind mai bpen rai (can also mean ‘you’re welcome’) ไม่เป็นไร
Where are you going? bpai nai (often used as a greeting) ไปไหน
Where have you been? bpai nai mar ไปไหนมา
I don’t understand mai kao jai ไม่เข้าใจ
I would like ... kor ...(can I have ...) , ao ... ขอ ..., เอา ...
No thank you mai ao krap/ka (use when you’re refusing something) ไม่เอาครับ / คะ
Tasty aroi (when refering to food) อร่อย
I don't know mai sahp (polite), mai roo (informal) ไม่ทราบ, ไม่รู้

Whenever speaking to a stranger in Thailand you should always use the polite particles krap (if your are male) and ka (if you are female) at the end of your sentences. These will gain respect from your listeners even if you can only manage a few sentences. For example saying hello, sawat dee, would become sawat dee krap/ka. You will learn when it is appropriate to use these as you progress but to start with, it’s best to use them as often as possible. Mastering the tones is probably the most difficult part of learning Thai for a westerner. The only way to truly get it, is to listen to natives speak and gradually build up an understanding of the language. Five different tones used are low, middle, high, falling, and rising, the word mai can mean new, wood, silk, not, burn or question depending on the tone. As well as tones, you’ll find there are many unfamiliar vowel and consonant sounds that there is no direct English equivalent of. The best way to learn it is to listen to the locals and don’t be afraid to practise, even if you do get the occasional odd look or get it wrong, Thai’s will appreciate the effort you have made to learn their language.
Next month will be numbers, directions, and a few verbs. If you have any language questions, would like translations, or are interested in learning to read and write Thai email me at webmaster@observergroup.net

Hua Hin rotarians enjoy a family night, and the linking of Swedish club from Sunne

Wolfgang and Bua celebrate the grand opening of their 'Lotus' bar in Cha-am

Hua Hin rotary president gratefully accepts a bicycle from Webster University to help a young disadvantaged child get to school

Harry's Birthday...it's great being three!

Martin and Shane's birthday party ... Glastonbury in the tropics

Features April 2002

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