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Mar

8

Learn Thai through Thai children song : Cháang (elephant)

By Jang

Today, we are going to learn Thai children song, “Cháang” (elephant). Let’s sing together!

 

Cháang

(Elephant)

 

cháang, cháang, cháang, cháang, cháang!      ช้าง ช้าง ช้าง ช้าง ช้าง

Elephant, elephant, elephant, elephant, elephant!

 

náwng kery hěn cháang rú-bplào?          น้องเคยเห็นช้างรึเปล่า

Have you ever seen it, dear?

 

cháang man dtua dtoh mâi bao                ช้างมันตัวโตไม่เบา

The elephant is extremely big

 

jà-mùuk yaao yaao rîak wâa nguang       จมูกยาวยาวเรียกว่างวง

The long nose is called “trunk”

 

mii kiâw dtâi nguang rîak wâa ngaa         มีเขี้ยวใต้งวง เรียกว่างา

There is a fang under the trunk is called “tusk”  

 

mii hǔu mii dtaa hǎang yaao         มีหูมีตา หางยาว

Have ears, eyes, and long tail!

 

 

Vocabularies

náwng            =          younger person

kery                 =          ever, used to

___rú-bplào   =          (question particle) ___or not?

dtua                =          body

dtoh                =          big

_____mâi bao              =   (expression) very_____, extremely _____

jà-mùuk          =          nose

rîak wâa         =          to be called that___________

nguang          =          trunk

kiâw                =          fang, canine tooth

ngaa               =          tusk

hǔu                 =          ear

dtaa                =          eye

hǎang             =          tail

 

Hope you enjoy singing!

Kruu Jang

Thai language Teacher

Should you want to sing and learn more Thai, please come to learn Thai with us, 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

 

Dec

27

Some adjectives which can use with classifiers

By Jang

 Sà-wàt-dii kâ…. Let’s speak Thai together!!!

As you have learnt before, when you want to talk about numbers of objects, Thai people say :

Noun + number + clf.

For example

Grà-bpăo nùng bai      กระเป๋า 1 ใบ     1 bag

Nák-rian hâa kon        นักเรียน 5 คน    5 students

 

          Today I would like to teach you more about some adjective which can use with classifiers.

1.            Noun + lăay + clf.       =          many noun

For example

măa lăay dtua              หมาหลายตัว     many dogs

=          káo mii măa lăay dtua          เขามีหมาหลายตัว

 

năng-sŭu lăay lêm     หนังสือหลายเล่ม many books

            =          chán chôrp năng-sŭu lăay lêm           ฉันชอบหนังสือหลายเล่ม

 

2.            Noun + clf. + diaw      =          one noun (when you think that it is only one thing)

For example

rót kan diaw             รถคันเดียว          1 car

=          Alex mii rót kan diaw  อเล็กซ์มีรถคันเดียว

 

rorng-táo kûu diaw     รองเท้าคู่เดียว    1 pair of shoes

=          Anna súu rorng-táo kûu diaw  แอนนาซื้อรองเท้าคู่เดียว

 

3.         Noun + kâe + number + clf.   =          only / just + number + noun (when you think that the amount of thing(s) is too little, not enough for you)

For example

            Sûa kâe săam dtua                 เสื้อแค่ 3 ตัว     only 2 shirts

            =          káo mii sûa kâe săam dtua     เขามีเสื้อแค่ 3 ตัว

            Korm-píw-dtêr kâe sŏrng krûang        คอมพิวเตอร์แค่ 2 เครื่อง  only 2 computer

            =          nai bor-ri-sàt mii korm-píw-dtêr kâe sŏrng krûang     ในบริษัทมีคอมพิวเตอร์แค่ 2 เครื่อง

 

4.         Noun + dtâng + number + clf.            =          when you think that the amount of thing(s) is too many for you

For example

            Mor-dter-sai dtâng sìp kan      มอเตอร์ไซค์ตั้ง 10 คัน    10 motorcycles

            =          bâan káo mii mor-dter-sai dtâng sìp kan                    บ้านเขามีมอเตอร์ไซค์ตั้ง 10 คัน

            Sôm dtâng yîi-sìp lûuk                        ส้มตั้ง 20 ลูก             20 oranges

            =          káo gin sôm dtâng yîi-sìp lûuk            เขากินส้มตั้ง 20 ลูก       

 

Q : Wan-níi kun rian Thai gìi kam ká? (How many Thai words that you have learnt today?)

A : Wan-níi chán rian Thai dtâng lăay kam kâ (Today I’ve learnt many Thai words!)

 

Hope you enjoyed learning Thai..

 

Khruu Jang

 Thai teacher

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

 

www.thailanguagehut.com

Jul

20

Learn to Speak Thai : Conversations in Daily Life

By may

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?/ a-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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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

17

Thai word: “ที่ - Teê” in different usage

By Jang

If you are one among the others who thinks that the word “teê” means “at”. You are right BUT the word “teê” does not only mean “at”. In this blog you will learn more about the word “teê” in different meanings. Let’s start!

 

(1) Teê as preposition of place

e.g. Baân pŏm yoò teê tà-nŏn sù-kŭm-wíd soy sìb-gâo   บ้านผมอยู่ที่ถนนสุขุมวิทซอย 19

            which means “my house is in (at) Sukhumvit Road soi 19”

e.g. Prûng-neé jer-gan teê raán-aa-haăn baân-kun-maê ná        พรุ่งนี้เจอกันที่ร้านบ้านคุณแม่นะ

                which means “See you tomorrow at Ban Khun Mae Restaurant!”

 

(2) Teê as relative pronoun

e.g. Pŏm jer kon teê toòk-jai laéw              ผมเจอคนที่ถูกใจแล้ว

            which means “I’ve already found the one (person) that I like.”

e.g. Poô-yĭng kon teê saì chúd seĕ chom-poo bpen daa-raa       ผู้หญิงคนที่ใส่ชุดสีชมพูเป็นดารา

                which means “The woman who wears the pink dress is an actress”

e.g. Rót kan bproàd teê pŏm kàp maa tam-ngaan bpen-bprà-jam toòk kà-mooi bpai muêh-waan-neé      รถคันโปรดที่ผมชอบขับมาทำงานถูกขโมยไปเมื่อวานนี้

                which means “ My favourite car which I usually drive to work was stolen yesterday.”

 

(3)  Teê as a prefix

e.g. teê-rák    =          ที่รัก          =             sweetheart/ darling/ honey

            teê-rák, wan-neé rao bpai doo-năng gan maí?     ที่รัก วันนี้เราไปดูหนังกันมั้ย

                = Darling/ honey, shall we go to the cinema today?

e.g. teê-sùd    =          ที่สุด         =             the most

            aa-haăn teê raán-neé aroì teê-sùd             อาหารที่ร้านนี้อร่อยที่สุด

                = The food at this restaurant is the most delicious.

e.g. teê-jing    =          ที่จริง        =          actually

            teê-<span style=”color: %2

Jul

16

What year were you born? Learning Thai with an interesting culture

By Jang

To ask “what year were you born?” in Thai you have to say “khun goèrd bpee àrai?”

In Thailand for official papers and also general Thai speaking we use ‘Buddhist Era’ or ‘B.E.’ when we talk about years.

The word ‘Buddhist Era’ in Thai is ‘pút-tá-sàk-gà-raàt’. And in short as abbreviation we just say ‘por-sŏr’ which means ‘B.E.’  

e.g.     Q:  Khun goèrd bpee àrai? What year were you born?

            A:  Chan goèrd bpee 2525 (săwng-pan-haâ-roí-yeê-sìb-haâ) or   

                 Chan goèrd bpee 2525 (săwng-haâ-săwng-haâ) or

                 Chan goèrd bpee 25 (săwng-haâ)  à most used one

            Q:  Bpee neé bpee por-sŏr àrai? What B.E year is this year?

            A:  Bpee neé bpee 2552 (săwng-pan-haâ-roí-haâ-sìb-săwng) or

                  Bpee neé bpee 2552 (săwng-haâ-haâ-săwng) or

                  Bpee neé bpee 52 (haâ-săwng)  à most used one

But sometimes we use ‘kor-sŏr’   which stands for Krít-sàk-gà-raàt.  Kor-sŏr’ means ‘A.D.’ and ‘Krít-sàk-gà-raàt’ means ‘Anno Domini’ , ‘Christian Era’

e.g.     Q:  Khun goèrd bpee àrai? What year were you born?

            A:  Pŏm goèrd bpee  1980 (neùng-pan-gaô-roí-bpaèd-sìb) or

                  Pŏm goèrd bpee 1980 (neùng-gaô-bpaèd-soŏn)   à most used one

And in ‘Hŏ-raa-saàt-Thai’ which means Thai astrology we have the Zodiac of 12 animal signs like in Chinese one which represent the different types of personality and characteristics. The twelve signs are as follows:

Bpee Chuâd               =          Rat year                      ปีชวด

Bpee Chà-loŏ             =          Ox year                       ปีฉลู

Bpee Kaăn                 =          Tiger year                   ปีขาล

Bpee Toàh                 =          Rabbit year                ปีเถาะ

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Jul

14

What are you looking for?…กำลังหาอะไรอยู่… a useful sentence to help you to learn Thai

By may

Last time I told you about present simple. Right here it’s time to talk about present continuous. Are you ready to be absorbed?

When we, Thai people,  want to ask questions as someone is doing something, we end it with “อยู่” or “อยู่น่ะ” or “อยู่ล่ะ” or “อยู่เหรอ”.
For example:
Q: เธอกำลังทำอะไรอยู่/ther-gam-lang-tham-a-rai-yòo/ what are you doing?
A: อ๋อ ฉันกำลังดูทีวีอยู่/ŏrr-chăn-gam-lang-doo-thee-wee-yòo/Well, I am watching TV.
Q: เขาทำอะไรอยู่ล่ะ/kăo-tham-a-rai-yòo-lâ/ what is he doing?
A: เขาท่องตำราประวัติศาสตร์อยู่/ kăo-thông-tam-raa-yòo/ he is studying history.
Q: พวกเขากินอะไรกันอยู่น่ะ/pûak-kăo-gin-a-rai-gan-yòo-nâ/ what are they eating?
A: พวกเขากำลังกินส้มตำกันอยู่/ pûak-kăo-gam-lang-gin-sôm-tam-gan-yòo/ they are eating papaya salad.

 

When it is about places, we would say “กำลังจะไป…” or “จะไป…” or “ไป…น่ะ”.
For example:
Q:
เธอกำลังจะไปไหนเหรอ/ther-gam-lang-ja-bpai-năi-rĕuh/ where are you going?
A: ฉันกำลังจะไปหาหมอน่ะ/chăn-gam-lang-ja-bpai-hăa-mŏrr-nâ/I am going to see the doctor.
Q: ไปไหนเหรอ/bpai-năi-rĕuh/ where are you going?
A: อ๋อ </str

 

Jul

14

Swine Flu in Thailand…Don’t panic…everything is under control!

By Jang

Yaà-dtòk-jai-bpai means ‘don’t panic’. The situation in Thailand is not so bad. If you go outside you will see a lot of Thai people putting the masks or “naâ-gaàk” on their faces just to protect themselves from the swine flu (kaî-wàt-yaì 2009) that has been hitting Thailand since last month. If you are not sure whether you have it or not you should “bpai-haă-mŏr” which means “go to see the doctor”. The doctor will “dtruàd-luêrd” which means “get your blood checked”. It will cost you about seè-pan-baàt or 4,000 Baht if you get it checked at “rong-pá-yaa-baan-aìk-gà-chon” which means “private hospital”. As for me (săm-ràp-chán), I am thinking about “saì-naâ-gaàk” (putting the mask on) as well but jaô-naai (boss) said that it wouldn’t help anyway. What do you think? You think it will chuây reŭh maî-chuây (help or not help)?

Yang-ngai-gôr-dtaam which means “however”, Gan-waí-dee-gwaà-gaêh… oh this is a Thai proverb (săm-nuan Thai) the phrase “Gan-waí-dee-gwaà-gaêh” means “better to prevent it first than to fix it later”.  Then there is another phrase to rhyme up with this proverb which is “Yaêh-laéw-jà-gaêh-maî-tan”. “Yaêh-laéw-jà-gaêh-maî-tan” means “when it gets worse it will be too late to fix it

Hĕn-duây mai?…Do you agree with me?

 

Vocabulary  Focus

Don’t panic                  =          Yaà-dtòk-jai-bpai        อย่าตกใจไป

Mask                           =          naâ-gaàk                     หน้ากาก

Swine flu                     =          kaî-wàt-yaì 2009 (săwng-pan-gaô)          ไข้หวัดใหญ่ 2009

Go to see the doctor               =          bpai-haă-mŏr              ไปหาหมอ

To get the blood checked       =          dtruàd-luêrd                     ตรวจเลือด

4,000 Baht                   =          seè-pan-baàt               สี่พันบาท

Private Hospital          =          rong-pá-yaa-baan-èk-gà-chon            โรงพยาบาลเอกชน

As for me (female)        =          săm-ràp-chán              สำหรับฉัน

As for me (male)           =          săm-ràp-pŏm %

Jul

13

Maa/มา, dâi/ได้, láew/แล้ว …some words we use in the past tense

By may

There are some foreigners who don’t know how Thai use tenses which make sense. I think they might make sense just for Thais. Join me and see how it works for you.


Now I am starting to talk about past simple, we put the word “maa/มา”at the end of the sentences to show for it.

For example:

Q: เธอไปไหนมา/ther-bpai-năi-maa/where did you go?

A: ฉันไปกินอาหารเย็นมา/ chăn-bpai-gin-aa-hăan-yen-maa/I went to have dinner.

Q: เมื่อคืนเธอไปทำอะไรมา/mûeh-khuen-ther-bpai-tham-a-rai-maa/what did you do last night?

A: เมื่อคืนฉันไปดูหนังมา/ mûeh-khuen-chăn-bpai-doo-năng-maa/Last night I watched a movie.

Or we add “dâi/ได้ in the sentences so others will know that we mention something in the past.

For example:

Q: เธอได้ไปดูคอนเสิร์ตรึเปล่า/ther-dâi-bpai-doo-cohn-sèrt-rue-plào/did you go to see the concert?

A: เปล่า ไม่ได้ไป/ plào-mâi-dâi-bpai/No, I didn’t.

Q: วันเสาร์ที่แล้วเธออยู่บ้านรึเปล่า/wan-săo-thêe-láew-ther-yòo-baan-rú-plào/were you at home last Saturday?

A: เปล่า ไม่ได้อยู่หรอก/plào-mâi-dâi-yòo-ròrg/No, I wasn’t.

Or we use láew/แล้ว to tell others that something happened.

For example:

Q: เธอกินข้าวเช้าแล้วใช่มั๊ย/ther-gin-kâw-cháo-láew-châi-mái/you had breakfast,  
       
didn’t you?

A: ใช่ ฉันกินแล้ว/ châi-chăn-gin-láew/Yes, I did.

Q: เธอได้เจอแฟนฉันรึเปล่า/ther-dâi-jeu-faen-chăn-rue-plào/did you see my boyfriend?

A: อ๋อ เจอแล้ว/ ŏrr-jeu-láew/Well, I did.

I guess you might know something more after reading this blog. Enjoy learning coz there are more to come…

Khru May Thai Teacher!!!

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