Learning Thai by Something Easy Easy…คุยอะไรง่ายๆกันเถอะ

By Jang

Wan-née-ao-rûehng-bao-bao-bòr-bòr-láew-gan-ná    maa-doo-tao-long-tháai-gan    chên    tham-mai-ná    a-rai-gan-já    bpai-mái    jà-wâa-ngai-là    pra-maan-née    an-née-khŏrr-bòrg-wâa-bpen-gan-ehng-yàang-lŭeh-chûeh    gôrr-bpen-gaan-chái-pa-săa-nai-mòo-khon-sa-nìt-sa-nŏm-gan   mâi-bpen-thaang-gaan-yàang-yîng-tàeh-bpen-gan-ehng

วันนี้เอาเรื่องเบา  ๆ เบาะ ๆ แล้วกันนะ มาดูตัวลงท้ายกัน เช่น ทำไมนะ อะไรกันจ๊ะ ไปมั๊ย จะว่าไงล่ะ ประมาณนี้ อันนี้ขอบอกว่าเป็นกันเองอย่างเหลือเชื่อ ก็เป็นการใช้ภาษาในหมู่คนสนิทสนมกัน ไม่เป็นทางการ(อย่างยิ่ง)แต่เป็นกันเอง

Today I think I am going to talk about some easy stuff. Let’s see the ending words such as “Why’s that?”, “What’s going on?”, “Wanna come?”, “What ya gonna say?”, etc. I can tell you that it is the way how we talk to our close friends or confidants or familiars or acquaintances showing our closeness. And that will be totally informal.

Mái (มั๊ย) = măi (ไหม) (we put at the end of questions which are required “yes/no” answers.)
năi (ไหน) = thêe-năi (ที่ไหน) means where

Thâa-khon-thai-phûhd-wâa-bpai-năi-maa-gôrr-maa-jàag-pra-yòhk-khun-bpai-thêe-năi-maa-khá/kráb    láew-thâa-thăm-wâa-tham-a-rai-gan-já-yàang-bpen-thaang-gaan-gôrr-kuh-pûag-khun-tham-a-rai-gan-yòo-khá/kráb    hàag-pûag-rao-gam-lang-jà-bpai-thêe-năi-sàg-hàeng-láew-òey-wâa-bpai-mái    gôrr-măai-kwam-wâa-rao-chuan-khun-hâi-bpai-dûay-gan    pra-yòhk-săehn-sù-phâap-gôrr-nâa-jà-bpen-khun-yàag-bpai-dûay-gan-măi-khá/kráb    ao-bpen-wâa-khon-thai-yîng-phûhd-yîng-sân    pró-rao-pra-yàt-kham-phûhd-jing-jing-rao-khêe-gìet-phûhd-tàang-hàag    ao-nâ-pa-săa-năi-gôrr-mŭehn-gan-mee-pa-săa-glùm-pa-săa-thìn-pa-săa-ta-làad    yohm-ráb-dtrong-dtrong-wâa-way-laa-wai-rûn-thai-phûhd-a-rai-baang-thee-gôrr-mâi-khâo-jai    láew-thêe-phûhd-gan-thúg-kham-bpen-kham-yàab-gôrr-mâi-khâo-jai-èeg-mŭehn-gan    Porr-gòhn-ná-láew-jeu-gan-mài

ถ้าคนไทยพูดว่า “ไปไหนมา” ก็มาจากประโยค “คุณไปที่ไหนมาคะ/ครับ” แล้วถ้าถามว่า “ทำอะไรกันจ๊ะ” อย่างเป็นทางการก็คือ “(พวก)คุณทำอะไรกันอยู่คะ/ครับ” หากพวกเรากำลังจะไปที่ไหนสักแห่งแล้วเอ่ยว่า “ไปมั๊ย” ก็หมายความว่าเราชวนคุณให้ไปด้วยกัน ประโยคแสนสุภาพก็น่าจะเป็น “คุณอยากไปด้วยกันไหมคะ/ครับ” เอาเป็นว่าคนไทยยิ่งพูดยิ่งสั้น เพราะเราประหยัดคำพูด (จริง ๆ เราขี้เกียจพูดต่างหาก) เอาน่ะภาษาไหนก็เหมือนกันมีภาษากลุ่ม ภาษาถิ่น ภาษาตลาด ยอมรับตรง ๆ ว่าเวลาวัยรุ่นไทยพูดอะไรบางทีก็ไม่เข้าใจ แล้วที่พูดกันทุกคำเป็นคำหยาบก็ไม่เข้าใจอีกเหมือนกัน พอก่อนนะ แล้วเจอกันใหม่

If Thai people say “Where’d ya go?”, actually it is “Where did you go, sir/maám?”. Then if they ask you “What ya doing?”, the polite one is “What are you doing sir/maám?” If we are going somewhere then say “Wanna come?”, it means we would like you to join us and the perfect sentence should be “Would you like to come with us sir/maám?” Let just say Thai people make it short just because we save some words (actually we are lazy to say the whole thing). Well, any languages are the same, there are dialect, colloquialism and slang. To be honest with you, I never get it when teenagers use slang. They use more slang than normal words. That’s enough for today. Till next time!!!

Khru May Thai Teacher

Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School 
www.thailanguagehut.com

Reading Exercise to help you learning Thai : Engagement…what is it to you? การหมั้น…สำคัญไฉน

By Jang

Getting engaged is the one of the happiest and thrilling moments of your life. Many of us put a lot of effort into making this day memorable. An engagement ring is a promise to strengthen a relationship and lets others know of your significant other. Diamond Engagement Rings can be in gold, silver and platinum. A prized diamond ring will definitely bring a smile on her charming face and will be cherished by her forever. An engagement ring is a symbol of emotions such as love, commitment, eternity, honor, loyalty and promise. Gifting a ring in honor of a union, engagement has been very ancient and it holds the motion of eternal togetherness. A dream to live together forever is the commitment you offer with an engagement ring.

Gaan-mân-bpen-kwam-sùk-yàang-thêe-sùd-yàang-nùng    láe-bpen-chûang-way-laa-thêe-nâa-tùen-tên-khŏng-chee-wít-khun-thee-diew    pûag-rap-lăai-lăai-khon-pa-yaa-yam-thêe-jà-tham-wan-née-hâi-bpen-wan-thêe-nâa-jòt-jam    wăen-mân-bpen-sa-mŭehn-kham-mân-săn-yaa-wâa-kwam-săm-phan-née-jà</spa

One Night on the Cruise… an Exercise to learn Thai

By Jang

What numbers should you call when you need help?? : Learn Thai with Useful Telephone Numbers

By Jang

“Hello…This is an emergency!” for Emergency….call 191

The phrase ‘Hèd-duàn Hèd-raaí Jaêng 191  เหตุด่วน เหตร้าย แจ้ง 191’ literally means ‘urgent matter….bad matter…inform 191’  which commonly means ‘Emergency call 191’ The number 191 is a phone number operated in Thailand when people want some help or want to report something to the police. It is pronounced as ‘neùng-gaô-neùng’.

When should you call 191?

When you need help or something bad is happening to you.  But one thing you have to remember is ‘Help might not be there for you right away’.  It usually gets to you when it is a little too late. You might need to wait about 30 minutes or longer…and sometimes you might need to call again. I would recommend you to fight for yourself and act like a cop!

Oh…one more thing…when you call 191 please make sure that you really dial 191 Not 911 because you might get used to it from watching American movies too much! J

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“Oh…where am I? I get lost!  How can I get to this place? What can I do when I lost my passport? What if I am cheated by bad people?” Please call 1155…any helps that you might need…Let the Tourist Police help you out!

1155 is the phone number of Tourist Police or in Thai we say ‘dtam-ruàd tâwng-tiâw  ตำรวจท่องเที่ยว’. For any tourists who need help please call 1155 or if you walk pass the 1155 Police Booth you can also ask for help too. Please note that most of the tourist police they can speak only Thai and English and sometimes their English is not so perfect…you might need to move your hands or use body language when explaining things to them…this might help! But don’t worry we are happy to help you J

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Fire! Please call…199

199 is the number to call when your place is on fire or you want to report the fire. Usually 199 or Fire Police ‘dtam-ruàd dàp-ploeng  ตำรวจดับเพลิง’ here work quite fast so you can be sure that help will come to you or your neighbours.

Also, if you need to warn the people or your neighbours  or puên-baân เพื่อนบ้าน when you see the fire, just shout ‘Fai-maî…Fai-maî   ไฟไหม้…ไฟไหม้’  which means ‘Fire…Fire’. This phrase works very well…Thai people will be very alert once they hear this phrase! If your bath tub is still filled with water…grab your bucket and scoop some water…then go out to be a hero (wee-rá-bù-rùd วีรบุรุษ)!

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Need to be Rescued?? Here are the numbers 02 – 751-0951 or 02-226-4444

02 – 751-0951 is the number of ‘Ruâm-Gà-dtan-yoo ร่วมกตัญญู’ Foundation or you can call

02-226-4444 which is the number of ‘Bpor-dték-dteúng ปอเต็กตึ๊ง’ Foundation.

When you see the car accident…or even if your leg is stuck in the drainpipe or manhole somewhere in Bangkok and no one around can help you out…you will need to be rescued…call them up 02-751-0951 or 02-226-4444 and help will be on the way…these staff they are very helpful and they don’t like to wait…you can be sure that soon they will come to take your leg out of the hole! They are very brave since they have to deal with the dead bodies on the road almost everyday…don’t be scared if you get in their truck and see the dead body lies next to you

Let’s cook Thai food…maa-tam-aa-haăn-Thai-gan-toèrh มาทำอาหารไทยกันเถอะ

By Jang

Sà-wàd-dee kâ! Last blog I taught you the vocabulary about Thai cooking…for this blog let’s cook a simple Thai dish! Here are the ingredients we need for stir-fried vegetables with shrimps and oyster sauce (pàd-pàk-ruam- nám-man-hoĭ-saì-gûng = ผัดผักรวมน้ำมันหอยใส่กุ้ง).

**I hope you still remember the shopping list from the last blog…if you don’t remember please go back to the last blog first J **

Dàwk-gà-làm  ดอกกะหล่ำ                     2          tuây-dtuang (ถ้วยตวง = measuring cup)

Kae-ròd           แครอท                                1          tuây-dtuang (ถ้วยตวง = measuring cup)

Bróg-koh-leê   บร็อคโคลี่                               2          tuây-dtuang (ถ้วยตวง = measuring cup)

Gûng                กุ้ง                               2          keèd  (ขีด = gram)

Grà-tiam         กระเทียม                           5-6       gleèb  (กลีบ = clove)

Nám-man-peûd           น้ำมันพืช              2          cháwn-dtoéh  (ช้อนโต๊ะ = tablespoon)

Nám-dtaan-saai          น้ำตาลทราย        2.5       cháwn-chaa     (ช้อนชา = teaspoon)

Nám-bplaa                  น้ำปลา              1          cháwn-chaa     (ช้อนชา = teaspoon)

Sáwd-hoĭ-naang-rom  ซอสหอยนางรม    3          cháwn-dtoéh  (ช้อนโต๊ะ = tablespoon)

Intructions  (wí-tee-tam วิธีทำ)

1.      Gaèh gûng laéw nam-bpai laâng, jaàk-nán…laâng pàk laéw hàn bpen chín-chín

(แกะกุ้งแล้วนำไปล้าง จากนั้นล้างผักแล้วหั่นเป็นชิ้นๆ…Remove the shell from the shrimps, then get them washed, after that, wash the vegetables and cut into pieces)

2.      Saì nám-man-peûd lohng nai grà-tá 

(ใส่น้ำมันพืชลงในกระทะ….Put the vegetable oil in the pan)

3.      Saì grà-tiam tee túb laéw lohng nai nám-man

(ใส่กระเทียมที่ทุบแล้วลงในน้ำมัน….Put the pounded garlic in the oil)

4.      Jiaw grà-tiam jon àwk seě-leŭrng

(เจียวกระเทียมจนออกสีเหลือง….Fry the garlic until it turns yellow)

5.      Jaàk-nán…saì gûng lohng nai grà-tá

(จากนั้น ใส่กุ้งลงในกระทะ… After that, put the shrimps in the pan)

6.      Pàd jon gûng guèrb sùk

(ผัดจนกุ้งเกือบสุกทั้งหมด….Stir-fry until the shrimps are almost completely cooked)

7.      Laéw saì dàwk-gà-làm, bróg-koh-leê laéw-gôr kae-ròd lohng bpai

(แล้วใส่ดอกกะหล่ำ  บร็อคโคลี่ แล้วก็แครอทลงไป…Then put the sliced cauliflower, sliced broccoli and sliced carrot in)

8.      Saì nám-dtaan-saai, nám-bplaa laéw-gôr sáwd-hoĭ-naang-rom lohng bpai

(ใส่น้ำตาลทราย น้ำปลา แล้วก็ ซอสหอยนางรม Add some sugar, fish sauce and oyster sauce in)

9.      Saì nám lohng bpai níd-noì

(ใส่น้ำลงไปนิดหน่อย …add some water in – just a little)

10.  Pàd jon sùk      (ผัดจนสุก….Stir-fry until it is cooked)

11.  Sèt laéw!         (เสร็จแล้ว.…Done!)

12.  Make sure you don’t burn the food!

Now…the food is ready to serve….aa-haăn-práwm-soèrb-laéw อาหารพร้อมเสิร์ฟแล้ว

Oh… one more tip about cooking Thai food… ‘Don’t forget to taste your food while you’re cooking it to see if the flavor is right for you’ …yaà-leum-chim-aa-haăn (อย่าลืมชิมอาหาร)!

It’s time to enjoy your food…daî-weh-laa-àroì-gàb-aa-haăn-laéw ได้เวลาอร่อยกับอาหารแล้ว

Kru MulanJ

Want to learn more Thai…then come to have a look at our Thai Language School

www.thailanguagehut.com

Learning Thai by Thai cooking…tam-aa-haăn-Thai ทำอาหารไทย

By Jang

Today we will learn about Thai cooking…the first thing that you have to know is the Thai ingredients or ‘kruêng-bprung Thai เครื่องปรุงไทย’.

Get…set…Go!

Kaà                                          ข่า                                           Galangal

Kĭng                                         ขิง                                            Ginger

Dtà-kraí                                   ตะไคร้                                     Lemongrass

Grà-tiam                                 กระเทียม                                Garlic

Prík                                          พริก                              Chili

Prík-sòd                                   พริกสด                          Fresh chili

Prík-haêng                               พริกแห้ง                                 Dried chili

Prík-tai                                    พริกไทย                         Pepper

Prík-gaeng                               พริกแกง                                 Curry paste

Huă-hăwm-daeng                   หัวหอมแดง                     Shallot

Huă-hăwm-yaì                           หัวหอมใหญ่                           Onion

Pàk-chee                                 ผักชี                              Cilantro

Raâk-pàk-chee                       รากผักชี                                 Cilantro root

Dtôn-hăwm                             ต้นหอม                                   Green onion/ spring onion

Bai-má-groòd                          ใบมะกรูด                               Kaffir-lime leaf

Bai-gà-prao                             ใบกะเพรา                              Basil leaf

Bai-hŏ-rá-paa                          ใบโหระพา                             Sweet basil leaf

Má-naao                                 %

Do you like to watch the soap opera? Khun châwp doo lá-kawn maí? : Learning Thai Through Thai Soap Opera

By Jang

“Lá-kawn ละคร” in Thai means “soap opera”. I am not a big fan of the Thai soap opera (faen lá-kawn แฟนละคร). I don’t like watching it much…maî koî châwp doo taô-raì ไม่ค่อยชอบดูเท่าไหร่ because I find it boring or naâ-buèh น่าเบื่อ. Many Thai people are really addicted to the Lá-kawn (dtìd lá-kawn ติดละคร) and if you look at the T.V. programs  (raai-gaan-toe-rá-tát  รายการโทรทัศน์) of each channel (châwng ช่อง) you will see that there are plenty of soap opera queue up for being on-air (àwk-aa-gaàd ออกอากาศ). The highlight one is the one after the evening news (kaào-paâk-kâm  ข่าวภาคค่ำ)  about 8.20pm.

In the Lá-kawn Thai, it is important to have these roles as follows:

1.      Prá-aìk            พระเอก is a man who plays a main character among the male characters and in Lá-kawn Thai you can easily notice who is the ‘Prá-aìk พระเอก’ by the way he looks…usually handsome (lòr หล่อ), rich (ruay รวย), smart (gêng  เก่ง) and a nice person (kon-dee  คนดี)

2.      Naang-aìk  นางเอก  is a woman who plays the main character among the female characters. In Lá-kawn Thai you can easily notice who is the ‘Naang-aìk นางเอก’ by the way she looks…usually pretty (naâ-rák  น่ารัก) or beautiful (suăy  สวย), smart (gèng   เก่ง). A typical Naang-aìk is usually poor (jon  จน) and lives her life in a hardship (kwaam lam-baàk  ความลำบาก)

3.      Prá-rawng  พระรอง  is a man who plays a supporting role apart from the Prá-aìk พระเอก. Prá-rawng พระรอง is usually a nice and good-looking person and on the same side as Prá-aìk พระเอก or Naang-aìk นางเอก.

4.      Naang-rawng  นางรอง is a woman who plays a supporting role apart from the Naang-aìk นางเอก. ‘Naang-rawng  นางรอง’  is usually a nice person and pretty and also is on the same side as Naang-aìk นางเอก or Prá-aìk พระเอก.

5.      Naang-raái  นางร้าย is a woman who plays a supporting role and acts like a jealous woman who falls in love with the Prá-aìk พระเอก and tries to steal the Prá-aìk  พระเอก away from the Naang-aìk นางเอก. You can easily notice who is the ‘Naang-raái นางร้าย’  by the way she acts…usually screaming, pretending, slapping Naang-aìk’s face.

6.      Dtua-gohng  ตัวโกง is a man who plays a supporting role and acts like a bad guy or mafia and tries to eliminate or hurt the Prá-aìk พระเอก.

7.      Dtua-dtà-lòk ตัวตลก is a man or a woman who plays a supporting role and acts in a funny way or say something funny.

8.      Dtua-bprà-gàwb  ตัวประกอบ are the rest of the characters in the story that are less important than the other 7 as mentioned above.

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Now you can understand more about Lá-kawn Thai when you watch it on the Thai T.V.  It is a good way to practice your Thai skills through the Lá-kawn!  J

 Hope you enjoyed watching lá-kawn Thai & learning Thai kâ 

Kru MulanJ

Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Home Appliance: kruêng-chaí-nai-baân เครื่องใช้ในบ้าน

By Jang

“Chán chuêh-waâ” which means “I believe” that nowadays people cannot live without home appliances.  They are like one part of our body   (muěn-bpen-suàn-neùng-kŏng-raâng-gaai  เหมือนเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของร่างกาย).…without them we’ll feel like (roó-seùk-muěn-gàb-waâ   รู้สึกเหมือนกับว่า) something is missing or ‘àrai-baang-yaàng-haaĭ-bpai  อะไรบางอย่างหายไป’

** First of all…let’s take a look at the vocabulary about the home appliances**

Air-conditioner            =          air / kruêng-bpràp-aa-gaàt    = แอร์   / เครื่องปรับอากาศ

Television/TV              =          toe-rá-tát / tee-wee                = โทรทัศน์ / ทีวี

DVD player                  =          kruêng-lên-dee-wee-dee        = เครื่องเล่นดีวีดี

 Radio                          =          wíd-tá-yú                                 = วิทยุ

CD player                    =          kruêng-lên-see-dee                 = เครื่องเล่นซีดี

Computer                    =          kom-píw-dtoêr                        = คอมพิวเตอร์

Speaker                       =          lam-pohng                               = ลำโพง

Microphone                =          mai-kro-fohn                           = ไมโครโฟน

Adapter                       =          adáptôr / kruêng-bplaing-fai-faá       = อแด๊ปเตอร์ / เครื่องแปลงไฟฟ้า

MP3 player                 =          kruêng-lên-em-pee-saăm       = เครื่องเล่นเอ็มพีสาม

Digital camera            =          glông-taài-roôp-dí-ji-dtâwn    = กล้องถ่ายรูปดิจิตอล

Video camera             =          glông-taài-wee-dee-oh           = กล้องถ่ายวีดีโอ

Cell phone                   =          toe-rá-sàp-meuh-teŭh            = โทรศัพท์มือถือ

Remote control           =          ree-mòhd                                = รีโมท

Refrigerator                =          dtoô-yen                                  = ตู้เย็น

Microwave                  =          dtao-mai-kro-waíb                  = เตาไมโครเวฟ

Gas cooker                  =          dtao-gaêd                                = เตาแก๊ส

Rice cooker                 =          môr-hŭng-kaaô                       = หม้อหุงข้าว

Electric kettle              =          grà-dtìk-nám-ráwn                 = กระติกน้ำร้อน

Washing machine       =          kruêng-sák-paâ                       = เครื่องซักผ้า

Electric fan                  =          pád-lom                                   = พัดลม

Electric iron                =          dtao-reêd                                = เตารีด

To turn on/ switch on  =          bpoèrd                                     = เปิด   

To turn off/ switch off =          bpìd                                         = ปิด

To turn down               =          bao                                          = เบา

To turn up                   =          poêrm                                     = เพิ่ม

Not working/ not functioning = siă / maî-tam-ngaang             = เสีย / ไม่ทำงาน

Now when your home appliance equipment is not working you can send it back to the service center or ‘soŏn-bor-rí-gaan  ศูนย์บริการ’ to get it fixed or mended. To ask if it can be fixed you have to say ‘sâwm daî-maí? (ซ่อมได้มั้ย)’ which means ‘Can you fix it?’. If it can’t be fixed or mended (sâwm maî-daî  ซ่อมไม่ได้) then it is time to say ‘goodbye or laa-gàwn (ลาก่อน)’ to your equipment and buy a new one  or ‘seúh-maì ซื้อใหม่’

Warranty?  Ráp-bprà-gan     รับประกัน

Usually when you buy home appliance equipment you will also get the warranty card or bai-ráp-bprà-gan (ใบรับประกัน) so that when your equipment has a problem or ‘mee-bpan-haă มีปัญหา’ you can get it fixed or mended for free. But when the warranty is expired or ‘mòhd-aa-yú หมดอายุ’ you will need to pay for the repair.

Where to buy?     Seúh teê-naĭ dee?      ชื้อที่ไหนดี

In Bangkok and big cities we usually go to the department stores or shopping malls (haâng-sàp-pá-sĭn-kaá ห้างสรรพสินค้า) there are many brands (yeê-hôr  ยี่ห้อ) and models (roôn  รุ่น) for you to select (luêrk เลือก) and you can be sure that you will not be cheated. When you have a problem with the merchandise that you buy you can bring it back or ‘ao-glàb-maa เอากลับมา’ to the department stores and they will send it to the service center for you.

Hope you to enjoy learning Thai kâ!!!

Kru MulanJ

Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Learn to Speak Thai : Conversations in Daily Life

By Jang

Right here I will tell you about present simple and future simple the way Thai people like to say it.  

Thais might say “What do you do in winter?/ nâa-năaw-ther-tham-a-rai/หน้าหนาวเธอทำอะไร” but “What will you do this winter?/ nâa-năaw-née-ther-jà-tham-a-rai/ หน้าหนาวนี้เธอจะทำอะไร” You will see that the first question is about something someone does regularly then the second question is about something someone will do by the time mentioned. So the answers might be “Well, I normally go to America visiting my boyfriend. /ŏrr-pa-ga-tì-chan-bpai-hăa-faen-thêe-a-may-rí-gaa-nâ./ อ๋อ ปกติฉันไปหาแฟนที่อเมริกาน่ะ” or “I think I will go to see my ex-boyfriend this winter./chan-kíd-wâa-nâa-năaw-bpee-née-chan-jà-bpai-yîem-faen-gào. /ฉันคิดว่าหน้าหนาวปีนี้ฉันจะไปเยี่ยมแฟนเก่า” Let’s check this out, some questions and answers:
Q: What do you do?/ ther-tham-ngaan-a-rai /เธอทำงานอะไร
A: Well, I am a teacher./ŏrr-chăn-bpen-khruh-jâ/อ๋อ ฉันเป็นครูจ้ะ
Q: Will you be a translator?/láew-ther-jà-bpen-nág-plae-mái/แล้วเธอจะเป็นนักแปลมั๊ย
A: Maybe I will./chăn-aaj-jà-bpen-gôrr-dâi-ná/ฉันอาจจะเป็นก็ได้นะ
Q: Are you free?/ther-wâang-mái/ เธอว่างมั๊ย
A: Not at all./mâi-wâang-loey/ไม่ว่างเลย
Q: What about tonight?/láew-khuen-née-lâ/แล้วคืนนี้ล่ะ
A: Sure, I will be free tonight. /ngăeh-la-khuen-née-la-gôrr-wâang/แหง๋ละคืนนี้ละก็ว่าง

When it comes to making and taking phone calls just do it politely.
For example:
A: May I speak to David, please?/khŏrr-săai-day-wít-nòi-khâ/ขอสายเดวิดหน่อยค่ะ
B: May I ask who is calling, please?/mâi-sâab-krai-jà-rien-săai-duây-khá/ไม่ทราบใครจะเรียนสายด้วยคะ
A: My name is May. I am calling from Chicago./di-chăn-chûeh-may-khâ-thoh-maa-jàag-chík-kaa-gôh/ดิฉันชื่อเมย์ค่ะ โทรมาจากชิคาโก
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Let’s go to the cinema – bpai doo năng gan tòerh!

By Jang

To say “go to the cinema” in Thai is “bpai doo năng” The word ‘năng’ is a colloquial word which means “movie” and the word ‘cinema’ in Thai is ‘rong-năng’.  The most recognized cinemas in Thailand are SF Cinema, Major Cineplex and EGV.  One good thing when you buy the ticket or ‘dtuă-năng’ in Thai is that you can select the seat and you can also call to book the ticket and pick it up about 30 minutes – 1 hour before the movie starts.

In Thailand there is not only Thai movie but also international movies too…mostly from Hollywood, Korea and Hong Kong.

Let’s take a look at the words relating to the movie!

1. Type of movies

• Thai movie         = năng-Thai                     หนังไทย
• Western movie   = năng fá-ràng                 หนังฝรั่ง    
• Chinese movie    = năng jeen                       หนังจีน 
• Korean movie     = năng gao-leě                 หนังเกาหลี 
• Japanese movie  = năng yeê-pùn           หนังญี่ปุ่น

2. Genre of movies

• Action movie     = năng boó                                          = หนังบู๊             
• Sci-Fi movie       = năng (naew) wíd-tá-yaa-saàd          = หนัง(แนว)วิทยาศาสตร์        
• Romantic movie = năng rák                                           = หนังรัก
• Comedy movie   = năng dtà-lòk                                     = หนังตลก 
• Drama movie      = năng chee-wít                                  = หนังชีวิต
• Investigation movie= năng (naew) seùb-suăn-sàwb-suăn= หนัง(แนว)สืบสวนสอบสวน 
• Horror movie      = năng sà-yăwng-kwăn                       = หนังสยองขวัญ
• Ghost movie       = năng peě                                           = หนังผี
• Animation movie= năng gaa-dtoon                               = หนังการ์ตูน
• Period movie      = năng (naew) yáwn-yúk                    = หนัง(แนว)ย้อนยุค 
• Historic movie    = năng (naew) bprà-wàd-dtì-saàd       = หนัง(แนว)ประวัติศาสตร์ 
• War movie          = năng sŏng-kraam                            = หนังสงคราม
• Criminal movie   = năng aàd-chá-yaa-gam                    = หนังอาชญากรรม     

3. Characters in the movie

• Main actor                      = prá-aìk                      = พระเอก
• Main actress                   = naang-aìk                  = นางเอก
• Supporting actor             = prá-rawng                 = พระรอง
• Supporting actress          = naang-rawng              = นางรอง
• Bad guy                         = dtua gohng                 = ตัวโกง
• Bad woman                    = naang-raaí                 = นางร้าย

Now I guess you can talk with your Thai friends about the movie that you’ve seen and also to ask your friends out to the cinema.

Oh one more thing, please don’t forget to pay respect to His Majesty the King by standing up when the Royal Anthem (Pleng Săn-soěrn-prá-baa-rá-mee  เพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี ) plays before the movie.

Kru MulanJ

Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School  www.thailanguagehut.com