[1] Telling the destination : ไป /bpai/ + destination + polite particle
Example:
ไปซอยสุขุมวิท 24 ครับ/ค่ะ
bpai soi Sukhumvit 24 kráp/kâ
Go to Soi Sukhumvit 24 please.
ไปโรงแรมโซฟิเทลครับ/ค่ะ
bpai roong-raem Sofitel kráp/kâ
Go to Sofitel hotel please.
* Hotel in Thai is โรงแรม /roong-raem/
In case the taxi driver doesn’t want to use the meter which is not fair! (I never get on a taxi who doesn’t want to do that just for a principle) You should ask him to do so.
[2] The pattern used to ask someone to do something is:
ช่วย /chûai/ + do something + ได้ไหม /dâai-mái/?
ช่วยใช้มิเตอร์ได้ไหม
Chûai chái mí-dtêr dâai-mái?
Can you use the miter please?
[3] Telling the driver to stop the car
In Thai language, we say ‘park the car’; จอด /jàwd/ means to park
ช่วยจอดที่นี่ได้ไหม
/chûai jàwd raw tîi-nîi dâai-mái?/
Can you stop here please?
[4] How much?
How much in Thai is เท่าไหร่ /tâo-rài/
Tip: Common things that can be seen in Bangkok’s taxis;
1. A garland or more พวงมาลัยดอกไม้ /puang ma-lai dòrk-mâai/
2. Amulets พระเครื่อง /prá-krûeang/
Have you seen it before?
Hope you found this lesson useful in your Thai learning and enjoy your ride! 🙂
too bad! The video cannot be watched now.
Drivers will often ask me something in Thai when I am travelling long distances (like from Silom to Rama II). My friend said that he is probably asking me if I want to take the toll-way. What should I listen for in this case and how should I respond?
Oh yes my friend hang one on his waist according to him is good for protection by the Buddha: )
I had a “magic string ” tied around my wrist by a tuk tuk driver.
Thailand has to have the absolute most eccentric group of taxi drivers I’ve ever seen. 🙂 Dollar bills folded into cranes, flowers, fans. It was awesome. I’m excited to come back next year.