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By prae
Thais are generally very forgiving by nature, and will rarely show it if you do anything to offend them. However, it’s best to avoid giving offense in the first place by observing some very simple rules regarding the proper behavior for temples and other religious places. Here’s a brief summary of how to behave:
Dress Properly
Bare shoulders and short pants should be avoided. This rule is somewhat flexible depending on the “rank” of the temple and whether you’re a man or a woman. Outside of the big cities you will often see men attending a temple in short pants and tank tops. While marginally acceptable for a man, it is totally unacceptable for a woman. Skirts or pants should be at least cover the knee. In high rank temples such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, as well as those royal palaces open to the public, you will not be allowed to enter unless you are properly dressed. In most such cases, there will be unisex sarongs available to make you more acceptable.
Watch Where You Point Your Feet
Pointing, in general, is rather impolite. Pointing with your foot is downright rude. Following an old tradition from Hindu times, the head is sacred because it is closest to heaven, so likewise the feet are therefore the most unclean. When sitting or kneeling in a temple building, make sure the soles of your feet are not facing the alter.
Take Off Your Shoes
If your feet are considered unclean, then your shoes are definitely dirty. You must remove your shoes before entering a temple building, or someone’s house for that matter. Failing to do this one little thing is perhaps the most insulting thing you could do to a Thai person.
Do Not Temp the Monks
Being a monk means detaching oneself from all worldly occupations, even (or perhaps especially) sex. Therefore, it’s considered rude for a woman to even attempt to touch or had something to a monk. If a woman must give something to a monk, the typical solution is to place the item on a table where the monk can pick it up. In merit-making situations such as morning offerings a monk will often have a layman helper to take things offered by female merit makers. This “service” is a form of merit making for the layman.
Stay Off the Buddha
Buddha images, no matter how small or old and decrepit, are sacred religious objects and must be treated with the utmost respect. Do not climb on them, sit next to them for a picture or put them on the floor — or anyplace “inferior” to a person.
Vocabularies
Dress Properly แต่งกายให้สุภาพ(dtɛ̀ɛng-gaai hâi sù-pâap)
short pants กางเกงขาสั้น(gaang-geeng kǎa sân)
skirts กระโปรง(grà-bproong)
sarongs ผ้าถุง(pâa-tùng)
point ชี้(chíi)
foot เท้า(táo)
Take Off Your Shoes ถอดรองเท้า(tɔ̂ɔt rɔɔng táo)
shoes รองเท้า(rɔɔng táo)
Thai person คนไทย(kon tai)
monk พระ(prá)
Buddha images พระพุทธรูป(prá-pút-tá-rûup)
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Prae
Thai Language teacher
By admin
How to Wai properly
The wai is the Thai greeting and show of respect. It is unique, graceful action practiced throughout Thailand.
For the most part Thais do not want to touch your sweaty, grubby little hands, so it’s a good idea to learn how to wai. The European kiss-on-each-cheek-greeting will certainly alarm a Thai, especially if you are a man doing this to a woman who isn’t your wife or girlfriend!
It can be difficult to determine when you should wai or when someone should wai you. As a foreigner, it’s just easiest to wai important people as soon as possible.
One easy determination is age. If someone is older than you, then you should wai them unless they are someone whom you employ, such as a housekeeper. Alternatively, when leaving a party or other such gathering, you should wai everyone, as this is the polite way to excuse yourself from the festivities. You will also wai when receiving a gift from a superior, as a sign of thanks. Make your wai before you reach to take the object. While listening to a Buddhist sermon, it is also customary to hold a wai during the entire programme. You may even notice that as drivers of vehicles pass a sacred monument, they will wai – even taking their hands off the wheel!
There are different kinds of wais! The normal wai is with your hands pressed together at about chest level, presenting a slight bow with your body. The wai to a superior is with the tips of your fingers at nose level, still bowing your body. To convey the most respect and gratitude, you will wai with your fingertips at mouth level and present a deeper and longer bow.
It might take you some time to perfect your technique, but this charming greeting will become second-nature in no time at all!
Vocabulary (kam sàp)
การทักทาย ̸ ̸̸ gaantáktaai ̸̸ = greeting
มือ /muu ̸ = hands
จูบ ̸jùub̸ = kiss
แก้ม /gɛ̂ɛm̸ = cheek
แฟน / fɛɛn̸ = girlfriend
ภรรยา ̸ panraya/ = wife
สำคัญ ̸samkan ̸ = important
ความขอบคุณ ̸ kwamkͻ́ɔbkun ̸ ̸ = thanks
ความกตัญญู ̸ kwam-kàdtanyuu̸ = gratitude
มีเสน่ห์ ̸m¡¡sànèe̸ = charming
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
As always, enjoy!
By Mod
Thai Language teacher
By prae
The 12 August is Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s birthday or วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าฯ พระบรมราชินีนาถ (wan-chà-lə̌əm-prá-chon-má-pan-sǎa-sǒm-dèt-prá-naang- jâo prá-bɔɔ-rom-má-raa-chí-nii-nâat) in Thai language. This public holiday is celebrated nationwide as Mother’s Day (“wan mɛ̂ɛ hɛ̀ɛng châat” – วันแม่แห่งชาติ). The Queen is considered as the mother of all Thai people.
Jasmine (Mali) is Flower of Mother’s Day
Jasmine (Mali) flower meaning that is pure white. Odoriferous and fragrant aroma to long. They can bloom all year. Mean love of a parent to child never deteriorated unreel.
Love from mother to child.
Babyhood : Pre developing relationship between mother and babyhood in the future.By the mother to talk to babyhood (Object – Presenting).Embrace the experience (Holding).And management issues for babyhood (Handling). Satisfaction and help reduce anxiety for babyhood.
Children : The Open wide. Environment mother. To help develop both the body and brain of children. The mother training to discipline children. Make as gaming. Because children learn to react against the mother. Children do well. Must have prizes to children.
Young : Development of self. Children spent with friends. To develop relationships. Mother must be friends with young. With friends. Travel. Do activities together. And sometimes to suggest, or teaching have a friend of opposite sex. Mother must support young in school decisions. Young should have their own learning goals clear.
Majority : Start a child and a parent. Mother counseling lifestyle. Family. Introducing the role of a good husband or wife. The role of good parents. Experience with the mother. Knowledge to the next.
Summary : Mother child understand and the strategies of child care. Help foster a deep relationship (Intimacy).Make children successful in lifestyle. Because children develop the self. Confidence. Can resolved the problem. Can to build relationships with people. Mother to see children happy. There are more than happy.
12 สิงหา…วันแม่แห่งชาติ (sìp sɔ̌ɔng sing-hǎa…wan mɛ̂ɛ hɛ̀ɛng châat)
12th August…Mother’s Day
วันนี้…คุณทำดีเพื่อแม่บ้างหรือยัง (wan-níi…kun tam dii pûa mɛ̂ɛ bâang rǔu yang)
Today, have you done anything nice for your mother?
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Prae
Thai Language teacher
By Jang
Here are some interesting tips to impress Thai girls for your date
DON’TS:
- invite her to a bar/disco on your first date and certainly….Don’t ask her to bed after your first date.
- misunderstand if she takes her friend along on your first couple of dates; she’s still a little afraid of you.
- sweet-talk too much, she’ll think you’re a playboy.
- visit her parents’ home if you don’t want to take the relationship too seriously; she doesn’t want to lose face if you leave her.
- complain about this and that all the time.
- go complaining about all things Thai, she won’t understand why you come to live here.
- dress like you stay along Khao Sarn Road; she wants to feel proud of you.
- tell her about any naughty past adventures in Pattaya, she’ll worry that you will have some more naughty tricks again soon.
- tell dirty jokes and swear out loud; she likes a polite man.
- boast that you have this and that; she’s heard it all before.
DOS:
- realize that if she calls you she likes you.
- invite her for lunch and a movie on your first date.
- buy her gifts from time to time; she’ll know that you are thinking about her.
- be clean and dress neatly; she wants you to smell and look nice.
- ask her about her mom and dad; she wants you to care about them too.
- ask to carry her bag for her, she likes a gentleman.
- speak well about the Thais and her country; she’s proud of her country.
- invite her to make merit at the temple; she’ll certainly love that.
- try and not smoke or drink too much; she cares about you health.
- realise that if she asks and cares about your health; she likes you.
- realise that Thai girls are very close to their family.
- realise that to get into a serious relationship with a Thai means getting into a serious relationship with the whole of her family; she wants them to love you too.
- realise that date with you is a serious thing for her.
- realise when you become her boyfriend she will be thinking about getting married one day.
- realise that if she sleeps with you; she will certainly be thinking about getting married one day.
- realise that if she takes you to meet her parents; she knows that’s the first step to getting married in Thailand.
- realise that most Thai girls would prefer a guy that seriously loved her to an unfaithful guy with loads of cash; she wants you to understand that.
These are some tips to help you to understand Thai girls more.
Wish you a good luck :)
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Jang
Thai Language teacher
By prae
One of the things many western men worry about when they fall in love with a Thai girl is her family. Thai women are very close to their families, so close in fact that, if push comes to shove, they will usually choose their family over a boyfriend or husband – even over you! So, if you fall in love with a Thai woman and plan on marrying her, it’s imperative that her family not only likes you, but respects you too. For western men, this is often difficult as, like most westerners they don’t really worry that much about their in-laws. In Thailand, though, there is no choice. You must not only worry about your in-laws but take care of them too. If you’re in love with a Thai girl but don’t know how to make her family like you, just follow these few easy tips and you shouldn’t have any problems.
Understand Family Comes First - The most important thing to a Thai girl is her family so much. So that, if you have a date but something comes up with her family, she’s 99.9% sure to choose to do the thing with her family before the thing with you. And, if she doesn’t, she’s probably not the nice girl you think she is. The first thing to understand if you’re in a relationship with a Thai girl is family comes first. Every Thai guy understands that and expects it. As a westerner, if you can understand and accept it, it’ll go a long way to making her family like you even more. Plus, think about it this way, while she’s off with her family, you’ve got a good excuse to spend time with your mates in the pub.
Buy Little Gifts For Her Family - If you want your Thai girl’s family to like you, when you meet them and every time you visit, make sure you take a gift. Most Thais, when they visit the home of friends or relatives, they take food. A gift of some nice fruit (imported is good!), Thai snacks, chocolate or cookies will give the right first impression to a Thai woman’s family. If you show up with nothing, you will automatically be known as the ‘farang kîi nók’, and roughly translated as ‘bird shit westerner’, meaning someone who is very cheap.
Don’t Keep Their Daughter Out Too Late - One big way to make sure your Thai girlfriend’s family likes you is to be respectful to their daughter. Many Thai women are virgins before they got married (and, if they’re not, they certainly don’t want their parents to know). Most Thai women also live with their families so, if you’re out on a date, making sure you take your girlfriend home at a reasonable time. Showing up at her family’s home at 3am with both of you drunk will make absolutely sure your Thai girlfriend’s family will never like you.
Help To Take Care of the Family - If your relationship with your Thai girlfriend is very serious, it’s always nice to help her take care of her family. Most Thai men, when they marry, move in with the girl’s family, as property in Thailand usually goes from family to daughter. In this way, Thai men work to support their wife’s family. Western men are no more likely to move in with their wife’s family than they are to grow wings and fly. So, it’s only polite, to help take care of the family financially in steady. A few thousand baht here and there as a gift is a nice gesture as are small gifts like electronics – a DVD player, a rice cooker, a TV etc. Thai men will do this quite often so a Thai family doesn’t understand when a western man doesn’t – especially because they think most western men have more money than most Thai men. Plus, think of it this way, a $50 rice cooker or living with your wife’s family – I know which one I would choose!
Pay a Dowry When You Get Married - Every Thai man in Thailand expects to pay a dowry when they marry, and a western man should be no exception. Because westerners are perceived to be much wealthier than most Thais, the dowry is also expected to be higher. Plus, because you’re not going to be living with the family and supporting them that way, it’s only natural you would want to pay a higher dowry – at least that’s what the family will think. A lot of western men have a problem paying a dowry but, seriously, if you can’t follow he cultural norms, then you shouldn’t be marrying a Thai girl in the first place. Suck it up, pay the dowry and hope they give some of it or all of it back to you after the wedding (returning part or all of the dowry is becoming more normal in Thailand, unless your wife is a poor country girl in which case you’re very unlikely to see that money again.
Above all, if you want your Thai girlfriend’s or wife’s parents to like you, be polite, be kind, buy small gifts where you can, and help take care of her family financially. Thai families are very warm and welcoming and will be more than happy to welcome you as a son-in-law if you follow some of the Thai cultural norms.
Hope you have a good luck.^-^
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Prae
Thai Language teacher
By prae
Any tourist coming to Thailand will be familiar with the term ‘ladyboy’. They have been called Thailand’s third sex, as it does seem that there is an extraordinary number of them here. Tourists will definitely come into contact with them, but whether they will realise it or not is another matter.
Ladyboys are employed in many customer service positions, as they are usually very polite and extremely well groomed, not to mention extremely pretty. ’Gà-təəi’ often work in pharmacies, behind shop counters, as receptionists and in restaurants.
Ladyboys are well known for taking exceptionally good care of themselves, and for being fairly opinionated. So if you are looking for a ‘lady of the night’ with something extra to offer, then maybe a ‘Gà-təəi’,would be a good choice?
Often Ladyboys are so beautiful, it is extremely difficult to tell them apart from a ‘real’ woman. But for those who wish to look carefully, there are clues. Thai men are generally very slim and slight and are, to many, very feminine. They do not have the body hair of many other races, which are generally considered to be more masculine.
So how can you distinguish between a natural born woman and a ladyboy? Two of the biggest clues are shoulders and feet. And if that person blatantly giving you the eye across pub is a ‘Gà-təəi’, he/she will be far more aggressive and up-front about ‘coming on’ to you than a natural born Thai woman. Ladyboys have a tendency to become fairly violent or pushy, which is totally against the nature of most Thai women.
Another physical clue is their voice, if it is fairly deep, then perhaps the hormone therapy has not taken effect yet. Probably the biggest ‘give away’ is the shoulders. Most men have shoulders wider than their hips. Women are more balanced.
Obviously being a Thai Ladyboy is not the worst fate that could be dealt a person. ’Gà-təəi’ reputedly earn much more money than the average natural born Thai female bar girl, and maybe having been men they have an advantage over natural born women?
Ladyboys Photos – Pictures of Nong Poy Threechada
These are the pictures of Poy Treechada, a very pretty Thai ladyboy
“Gay” Words
Gee (เกย์) is a borrowed word from English and is used generically to refer to male homosexuals of all types, but not lesbians. It is not considered derogatory. Most gay Thai men prefer to be called gee (เกย์) instead of dtút (ตุ๊ด) or gà-təəi (กะเทย)
Dtút (ตุ๊ด) is man who acts feminine without cross dressing or wearing make-up. The term can be derogatory. Sometimes it is used interchangeably with gà-təəi (กะเทย). Most gays would rather be called “gay” instead of dtút (ตุ๊ด).
Gà-təəi (กะเทย) transvestite, transsexual or hermaphrodite; most often used word to describe a transvestite or transgender. Sometimes this word is misused to describe a gay king.
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Prae
Thai Language teacher
By prae
On Tuesday 27 July,2010 is “Buddhist Lent Day”
The commencement of the three-month Buddhist Lent, Known among Thais as kâo pan sǎa, traditionally falls on the first day of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month. During this period, coinciding with the rainy season, Buddhist monks and novices remain closeted in their particular monasteries, discouraged from spending nights elsewhere.
The custom of spending three months of the rainy season in a fixed place is a ritual successfully observed since the time of the Lord Buddha. In those day, however, villagers attributed young seedling damage at the start of the planting season to unnecessary travel by monks. Realizing that monks on pilgrimages could accidentally tread on young plants, the Lord Buddha decreed that his followers spend three months of the rainy season in permanent dwellings.
In cases of necessity, such as taking care of sick monks or parents or conducting religious functions, monks may travel and stay away from their monasteries during this period. However, they are required to return within seven days.
To observe Buddhist Lent, Buddhists usually perform merit making, giving alms to monks, attending sermons and participating in candlelight processions, They also strictly observe Buddhist ethics, especially on holy days.
During the three-month annul “rain retreat,” monks study more and teach those who have chosen this period to enter monkhood. Laymen usually visit temples to offer monks food, clothing, medicine, flower, joss sticks, Lenten candles and other offerings. Such practices they consider highly meritorious.
In ancient times, the number of flowers, joss sticks and small candles presented to a temple was usually equal to the number of monks in that temple. Where there were surplus candles, villagers tended to make numerous small candles into large one for presenting to temples. The large candles being stronger, with more light and longer lasting.
Buddhists believe that offering candles to monks as a means of light will also brighten up their future. These candles are known as Thian Phansa.
To make the Buddhist Lent, a Candle Festival takes place in all parts of Thailand. In the northeastern region, especially Ubon Ratchathani Province, which celebrates its famous Buddhist Lenten Candle Procession each year, the festival takes place on a grand scale.
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Prae
Thai Language teacher
By prae
Samlor in Thailand
Samlor (three-wheeled bikes) have been used in Thailand for over 60 years. The first samlor was used in Thailand in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) Province in 1933. They have evolved greatly during that time and cotinue to prove to be a very useful mode of transportation. Though motorcycle and taxis are becoming more common for quick trips and there’s still nothing because, we like a samlor for carrying a load or riding in a samlor is more comfort.
Vocabulary
three-wheeled bikes สามล้อ(sǎam-lͻ́ͻ)
Thailand ประเทศไทย(bprà-têt-tai/เมืองไทย(muang-tai)
transportation การคมนาคม(gaan-ká-má-naa-kom)/การขนส่ง(gaan-kǒn-sòng)
motorcycle รถจักรยานยนต์(rót-jàk-gà-yaan-yon)
taxi แท็กซี่(tɛ́k-sîi)
quick ไว(wai)/เร็ว(rew)
ride ขี่(kìi)
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Prae
Thai Language teacher
By prae
Those three-wheeled taxis (or samlor) are best known as tuk-tuks, named for the steady whir of their engines. They are popular amongst tourists and can be fun for short trips around town. A 10 minute ride should cost around 40 baht, but always bargain before boarding: if a tuk – tuk driver offers to deliver you anywhere in town for as low as 10 baht, it’s part of a setup that will lead you to an overpriced souvenir or jewellery shop. It would be wise to decline any such offers.
If you want to learn more about Thai Language, you are very welcome stop by our website: www.thailanguagehut.com or follow us in Twitter and Join us in Facebook.
By Prae
Thai Language teacher
By nut
Thai Ghost/กระสือ/gra suu
There are many ghosts in Thailand such as Spirits and Gra suu. A gra suu ghost has two different personas. During the day it can look like a feeble old woman who would harm no one but during the night it turns into a young woman but with no legs, floats in the sky, in fact it also has it’s guts exposed dangling beneath it where it’s legs should be! During the night the spirits seek food such as entrails + internal organs of people, life chicken, cats, dogs nothing is safe every night. Even more spokey is that they are particularly fond of new born children up to 7 days old. It is said that the gra suu can smell the new born child and seeks them out ….a nice tasty snack.
People become gra suu because they have led a bad life when younger. As they get old and feeble they turn to look for strength by turning into a gra suu at night. This a moral warning to live a good Buddhist life.
Thai’s are very afraid of ghosts and the gra suu is one of the worst. Say to your Thai friends that you saw a gra suu and look at their faces ….there will be a mixture of bemusement and shock. We will write about different ghosts and spirits in future blogs. Look out for them …and the gra suu!
Kruu Nut
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Nut
Thai Language Teacher
Thai Language Hut
