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Apr

7

What does “RED” actually represent in THAILAND?

By pook

“What is your favorite color?”

Mine is GREEN.

In the mean time, What color do people talk about the most?

I bet RED”

But, how many people know about,

” What does “RED” actually represent in THAILAND?”

The red stripes represent the blood spilt to maintain Thailand’s independence.

Like some part of Thai National Anthem below:

“Thailand is the unity of Thai blood and body.
The whole country belongs to the Thai people,

maintaining thus far for the Thai.
All Thais intend to unite together.
Thais love peace but do not fear to fight.
They will never let anyone threaten their independence.
They will sacrifice every drop of their blood to contribute to the nation, will serve their country with pride and prestige full of victory.

If you want to learn more about Thai language, you are very welcome to stop by our website

www.thailanguagehut.com

Pook

Thai language Teacher

Apr

6

What is “democracy”?

By Jang

“ประชาธิปไตย” (democracy) is a combination word from Pali/Sanskrit origin :

ประชา /bprà-chaa/  = citizens

อธิปไตย /à-típ-bpà-dtai/ = sovereignty

 Then “ประชาธิปไตย” /bprà-chaa-típ-bpà-dtai/ mean the sovereignty of the citizens.
Now in Thailand, as you saw in the news about Thai politics, the red-shirted protesters, who ask for democracy.

 

 
And you might remember the yellow-shirted one

Recently we have the pink-shirted one!

These situations create a question for many people that ”Why Thais have to be divided into groups?”
All of them are Thais, no matter what colors of their shirt.

The democracy is not for only one group of people but for everybody who knows how to control it.

What do you think? ^_^
Let’s share your idea, all ideas are welcome!

Jang
Thai language teacher
Thai language hut school

Would like to learn more Thai, please come to visit us :-

 

Apr

2

Easy way to turn “HATE” into “LOVE”

By pook

เปลี่ยนจาก”เกลียด”เป็น”รัก” ง่ายๆแค่ สองสามขั้นตอน

You know that word game where you change one letter at a time

to turn a word into another word?

For example, to change BLUE into TREE, you could use 4 steps:

BLUE → FLUE → FLEE → FREE → TREE

Now change HATE into LOVE.

I can do it in 5 steps:

HATE → MATE → MALE → MOLE → MOVE → LOVE

or in 4 steps:

HATE → HAVE → HIVE → LIVE → LOVE

Can you do it in fewer steps? [ YES!! See below!!]

If only changing hate into love were so easy in real life.

 And to change HATE to LOVE in 3 steps, you could do:

HATE → HAVE → LAVE → LOVE

or you could do:

HATE → HAVE → HOVE → LOVE

เกลียด       glìad        HATE

รัก              rák           LOVE

If you want to learn more about Thai language, you are very welcome to stop by our website

www.thailanguagehut.com

Pook

Thai language Teacher

 

Mar

19

How to say “No” in Thai.

By Jang

Thailand is not really that bad with street hawkers, tuk tuk drivers or people trying to sell you something. International sign language of shaking your head and walking on usually works. But try some of these phrases, you might surprise them. They then might stop bothering you.

ไม่เอาครับ         mài ao khrab*            I don’t want any

ไม่มีตังค์            mài mi: dtang            I don’t have any money

ลืมเอาตังค์มา     lum ao dtang ma:       I forgot my money

*for women you must say  not kráp.  

When you are walking down a street you might hear someone ask you “bai nai?” This means “Where are you going?” Usually it will be a tuk tuk driver but sometimes just an ordinary person. Some visitors get annoyed because they hear it so often. But really, “bai nai” is like a greeting and the person isn’t really interested in your answer.

A:     ไปไหน      bai nǎi?   

Where are you going?

B:     ไปเที่ยว     bai tîaw

        going out for pleasure

That might be enough for most people. But, if a tuk tuk driver is insistant try:

จะเดินไป   ja der:n bai                I want to walk

A common complaint we get are about tuk tuk drivers or other people telling tourists that a temple or museum is closed for the day. They then take the tourists to another place and then eventually a gem shop. This is a scam. Try some of these replies:

ไม่เชื่อ               mài chûa           I don’t believe you

ไม่จริง               mài jing             Not true

จะไปดูเอง          ja bai du: e:ng   I want to go and see for myself

เคยไปมาแล้ว     ker:y bai ma: láe:w     I have been there already

ไม่อยากไป         mài yàk bai                I don’t want to go

 

Hope you enjoyed learning Thai…

 

Prae

Yàak pûut paa-sǎa Thai …then come to have a look at our Thai Language School

 www.thailanguagehut.com



Jan

4

How to say “want” in any case…

By Jang

Most of farang may learn as the word “ao” if you would like to say “want”, but this word cannot use in every case.

Today we are going to learn more about “want”.

 Case 1. Ao

Actually the word “ao” means “to take” or “to bring” but you can use when you choose or order something.

For example

Ao kâaw-pàt kâ.                 เอาข้าวผัดค่ะ     I want fried rice please.

 

Q : Ao nám mái kráp?         เอาน้ำไหมครับ  Do you want some water?

A : Ao kâ                    เอาค่ะ               Yes (I want)

     Mâi ao kâ              ไม่เอาค่ะ             No (I don’t want)

Case 2. yàak + verb

            This is the most common way to say in Thai, it means “want to____”.

For example

            Chán yàak bpai Phuket.     ฉันอยากไปภูเก็ต    I want to go to Phuket.

Not  Chán ao bpai Phuket.  × 

            Pǒm yàak rain paa-sǎa Thai   ผมอยากเรียนภาษาไทย   I want to learn Thai language.

 Not  Pǒm ao rian paa-sǎa Thai.   ×

***Note The word “want” which does not use when you order something (case 1), Thai people say

yàak mii + something = want to have _____

For example

How do you say “I want a house”?

@“chán ao bâan” 

This sentence is possible if somebody ask you “which one do you want, house or car?” Then you choose the house.

@ “chán yàak bâan” 

This sentence is grammatically wrong because “yàak” always follow by “verb”

 Therefore, in this case we say,

 ”chán yàak mii bâan”   ฉันอยากมีบ้าน    (I want (to have) a house.)

 

Case 3. Dtâwng-gaan + noun / verb

            This is the formal way to say and to write in Thai, it means “would like to____” or  “want (to) ______”

For example

Kun John dtâwng-gaan póp kun 

คุณจอห์นต้องการพบคุณ

=Mr John would like to meet you.

 

Pûu-jàt-gaan dtâwng-gaan èk-gà-sǎan dtawn-ní            

ผู้จัดการต้องการเอกสารตอนนี้

=The manager wants a document now.

 

Dtawn-ní chán hĭw mâak, yàak bpai gin kâaw, ao kâaw-pàt 3 jaan kâ!!

(Now I’m very hungry, want to go to eat, I want 3 dishes of fried rice!!)

 

Hope you enjoyed learning Thai…

 

 

Kruu Jang

Thai Teacher 

Yàak pûut paa-sǎa Thai …then come to have a look at our Thai Language School

 www.thailanguagehut.com

 

Jul

19

What to say when you are in the uncomfortable situations in Thailand?

By Jang

Situation 1: When someone is trying to offer you a service or trying to sell you something. You just simply say:

“maî /kráp” = No    

or “maî-ao…kàwp-khun /kráp   = No, Thank you.

or “mee-laéw /kráp  =  I’ve already had it.

or “yang maî sŏn-jai /kráp  = I’m not interested in it yet.

 

Situation 2: When someone is trying to ask you for some money. You just simply say:

                        “maî-mee /kráp      =  I don’t have it.

 

Situation 3: When someone is blocking your way and you want to get through. You just simply say:

                        “kŏr-toâd /kráp  = Excuse me.

                        or “kŏr taang noì /kráp  = Can I get pass, please?

 

Situation 4: When you are in the meeting, at the party or in the middle of conversation and you want to be excused for a moment. You just simply say:

“kŏr dtua sàk-kroô ná /kráp  = May I be excused?

 

Situation 5: When you are at the party or hanging out with friends and you want to take leave. You just simply say:

                        “kŏr glàb gàwn ná”  =  Can I take leave first?

 

Situation 6: When your friend/colleague loses one of his/her member in the family. You have to show your sympathy by saying:

                        “siă-jai duây ná”  = I’m sorry for your lose. (informal)

                        “kŏr sà-daeng kwaam siă-jai duây ná /kráp  = I am sorry for your lose. (formal)

 

Situation 7: When someone is making a loud noise in public place and it really disturbs or annoys you. You just simple say:

                        “kŏr-toâd /kráp ….chuây kui siăng bao-bao noì daî-maí /kráp?”

                          = Excuse me, can you please low your voice down?

 

Situation 8: When a person you are talking to speaks very fast to you. You just tell him/her to:

                        “chuây poôd chaá-chaá noì daî-maí /kráp?”  = Can you please speak slowly?

 

Situation 9:  When a vendor is trying to cheat on you by adding the price up from the regular price. Surprise them with:

                        “pòk-gà-dtì  raa-kaa …(price)……. Baht aing”  = Usually, it costs only……Baht

                        Or “koey seúh raa-kaa …..(price)…. Baht aing” = I used to buy it with this price

 

Situation 10:  When you have to cancel the appointment urgently. Try this:

                        “kŏr-toâd /kráp.…wan-neé bpai maî-daî..por-dee dtìd tú-rá duàn /kráp

                          = Sorry, I cannot come today.  I just have an urgent matter to do.

           

 

Situation 11: When your Thai girlfriend is angry with you. This might save your life!

                        “kŏr-toâd kráp…pŏm pìd aing…yók-toâd haî pŏm daî-maí kráp?…pom jà maî-tam eèk-laéw kráp 

  = I’m sorry…it was all my fault….can you please forgive me? I won’t do that again.

                          **then make your eyes like a little puppy or kitten**

 

Please note:      (for female) = is a polite particle that added at the end of the phrase or sentence

Kráp (for male) = a polite particle that added at the end of the phrase or sentence

 

I hope these Thai phrases and sentences will help you get through some uncomfortable situations that you usually find in everyday life.

 

Kru MulanJ

 

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

Jul

1

How to pick Thai when Thais say it!!!

By Jang

Hi there, my dear farangs, I am back. Right now I just want to let you see some phrases which you may hear them a lot. And sometimes Thai people make Thai language more difficult to understand because they use it differently. Let’s see how they speak and how you can pick it.

When they say”เข้าใจมั๊ย/khâo-jai-mái/understand?”, your reply might be “ไม่เข้าใจ/mâi-khâo-jai/don’t understand”, or “ไม่เข้าใจเลย/mâi-khâo-jai-loey/don’t understand at all”, or “ก็เข้าใจบ้าง/khôrr-khâo-jai-bâang/yeah, I understand some.”, or “เข้าใจบ้าง ไม่เข้าใจบ้าง / khâo-jai-bâang-mâi-khâo-jai-bâang /some I do, some I don’t”, or “เข้าใจแล้ว/khâo-jai-láew/yeah, I got it.”, etc. What you need to pick for answering is the main word and this one is”เข้าใจ/khâo-jai-/understand”. 

As you hear “รู้มั๊ย/rú-mái/Do you know that(it)?”, your answer could be “ไม่รู้/mâi-rú/No, I don’t or don’t know”, or “ไม่รู้เลย/mâi-rú-loey/don’t know at all”, or “ไม่รู้อะไรมาก/mâi-rú-a-rai-mâag/don’t know much”, or “ไม่รู้อะไรเลย/ mâi-rú-a-rai-loey/don’t know anything at all”, or “ก็รู้บ้าง/ khôrr- rú-bâang/yeah, I know some.”, or “รู้แล้ว/ rú-láew/yeah, I knew or yeah, I heard about it.”, or something else. For Thais, to know is รู้/rú/know something or about something” and “รู้จัก/ rú-jàg/know persons or places or things”.

If someone asks you “รู้จักมั๊ย/rú-jàg-mái/Do you know that(person or place or thing)?”, you might respond ”ไม่รู้จัก/mâi-rú-jàg /No, I don’t.”, or “ไม่รู้จักเลย/ mâi-rú-jàg-loey/ don’t know (person or place or thing) at all.”, or “รู้จักแต่ไม่มาก/ rú-jàg-tàeh-mâi-mâag /yeah but not much.”, or “รู้จักแล้ว/ rú-jàg-láew /yeah, I knew him/her/them or yeah, I knew that place/that thing.”, or just say “ไม่แน่ใจครับ(ค่ะ)/ mâi-nâeh-jai-kráb(khâ) /I am not sure.”  


Right
here I am showing you how to have your conversation on the right track and I believe it is not that hard to remember or understand.

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May

21

Thai question words.. How to ask khon Thai questions

By Jang

No need to be confused anymore when you are asked with these following questions

Ø  Châi-mái?           ใช่มั้ย

Ø  Mái?                      มั้ย

Ø  Roĕr?                    เหรอ

Ø  Reŭh-bplaào?   หรือเปล่า

Ø  Reŭh-yang?        หรือยัง

Here are the hints to help you out with this problem, Let’s take a look together

Ø Châi-mái? ใช่มั้ย  is just like a tag-question in English. When you reply, just simply say châi for Yes and “mâi-châi” for No

Examples:

Q: Khun-cheuh-Sùpansăa-châi-mái? 

Your name is Supansa, isn’t it?   คุณชื่อสุพรรษาใช่มั้ย

A: châi-ka            Yes         ใช่

A: mâi-châi ka, chán-cheûh-Pánídaa      

No, my name is Panida  ไม่ใช่ค่ะ   ฉันชื่อพนิดา

 

Q: Baân-kun-yoò-teê-sù-kŭm-víd-soi-24-châi-mái?   บ้านคุณอยู่ที่สุขุมวิทซอย 24 ใช่มั้ย

A: châi-kráb        Yes     ใช่ครับ

A: mâi-châi-kráb, baân-pŏm-yoò-teê-sù-kŭm-víd-soi-26  

= No, my house is in Sukhumvit Soi 26   ไม่ใช่ครับ       บ้านผมอยู่ที่สุขุมวิทซอย 26

But when the question ends in “mái?” you have to answer in different way from “châi-mái?”

Ø Mái?  มั้ย  The usage of this question word is similar to English grammar e.g. …Do you…? Does he…? Did she…? Will you…? Can you…?

To say Yes

Mar

18

Thai grammar…”mâi-dâi(ไม่ได้)” means “cannot” or just more…?

By Jang

Many foreigners or farang, buy Thai phrase books to learn Thai and I think they are useful, the students we have at our Thai Language School have so many! As a Thai Language Teacher, I’d like to say that it will be a pleasure if I could help you to understand Thai Grammar more.

At the moment I want to tell you a bit about “mâi-dâi(ไม่ได้)“. mâi-dâi means no (I can’t do something), no(not allow), or no(I didn’t do something), it depends on where you put it in the sentence.

For example:

If you say, “Can we go out tonight? - khuen-née-rao-òrg-bpai-khâang-nôrg-dâi-mái (คืนนี้เราออกไปข้างนอกได้มั๊ย)?” If the answer is, “No, we can’t, we have a lot of work to do – mâi-dâi-rao-mee-ngarn-thông-tham-yéuh (ไม่ได้ เรามีงานต้องทำเยอะ).”

Or

If you say, “You can’t go in there – khun-khâo-bhai-khâang-nai-mâi-dâi (คุณเข้าไปข้างในไม่ได้).”

Or

If you ask, “Did you see the movie? – khun-dâi-doo-ngăng-mái? (คุณได้ดูหนังมั๊ย)”, as the answer is “No, I didn’t - plào-mâi-dâi-doo (เปล่า ไม่ได้ดู)”

Or

If you say, “Have you got your money yet? – khun-dâi-ngern-rŭe-yang? (คุณได้เงินหรือยัง)”. If the answer is, “No, not yet – yang-mâi-dâi-loey (ยังไม่ได้เลย)”

I hope these Thai Grammar excercises help you improve your Thai learning. It is important to get these Thai phrases the right way around.

Enjoy your practice!!!

Khru May (Thai Language Teacher)

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