Hotel conversation I was in Koh Samet , my favourite closest island to Bangkok for a weekend getaway. I took the opportunity to film a short video lesson about inquiring for a room and making a reservation as well as requesting for extra things in the resort. Fortunately a receptionist was so kind to help me making this lesson. Below is the script of our conversation and … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Hotel Conversation
Study Thai
VIDEO: Classifiers is Essential to Speak Like a Thai
Classifier or unit count (คำลักษณนาม) is essential when you count something in Thai language, so if you would like to speak like a Thai knowing how to use unit count is a must. The pattern is noun (something you are counting) + amount + classifier For example; two women ผู้หญิง 2 คน pûu-yĭng 2 kon five bottles of beer เบียร์ … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Classifiers is Essential to Speak Like a Thai
Thai Idiom – Sprinkling Coriander on the Face
What am I doing? I am just trying to teach you a common Thai idiom. : ) In the Thai idiom and psychology, face is the most important thing. We can lose our fortune, but we can't lose our face. Face is not just the body part where we want it to look nice; it is about pride, dignity and social standing. Some people may lose face เสียหน้า /sĭa nâa/, some people may … [Read more...] about Thai Idiom – Sprinkling Coriander on the Face
Learn Thai – hear or listen
Sawatee ka, I got a question from one of my Youtube viewers, and got this same question before several times. The question is "When do we use ฟัง/fang/ and ได้ยิน/dâi-yin/ ? … [Read more...] about Learn Thai – hear or listen
Useful Thai word a day
Look at this funny face of this cat. I can't stop laughing. I think he might ate too fast. lol In Thai language this is called ติดคอ [dtìd-kaw] meaning get stuck in the throat. ติด [dtìd] means get stuck คอ [kaw] means throat or neck กินช้าๆเดี๋ยวติดคอนะคะ [gin cháa- cháa dĭao dtìt kaw ná ká] Eat slowly otherwise it will get stuck it your throat. :) Mod … [Read more...] about Useful Thai word a day
Learn Thai – Present Continuous (What are you doing?)
Sawatdee ka, I have got few questions regarding 'present continuous' or verb with "-ing" expressing action that is happening at the moment speaking such as 'I am eating', 'she is cooking etc. The full pattern in Thai is: gam-lang + verb/verb phrase + yùu In spoken Thai we often drop either the word 'gamlang' or 'yùu'. For example: 'I am eating' in Thai can be phrased in … [Read more...] about Learn Thai – Present Continuous (What are you doing?)
Learn Thai from the year of the Dragon
Sawatdee ka, In Chinese Astrology 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon will start on 23 January 2012 and end on 09 February 2013. What kind of year will 2012 be? Many expect 2012 to bring about the end of the world. I have no idea myself, I only make the best out of each day. Anyway, let's talk about something I am sure I know, Thai language :) Dragon … [Read more...] about Learn Thai from the year of the Dragon
Learn Thai expression – “get the hell away from me”
Sawatdee ka, Please don't be frighten to see me teaching you this expression. It is not that I got aggressive all of the sudden LOL. I write this lesson to answer a question I got from a YouTube viewer. His question is " How do you say in thai 'get the hell away from me, I thought you were a chick!!" ?" I shared this question on my Facebook page … [Read more...] about Learn Thai expression – “get the hell away from me”
Learn Thai from a song – what’s wrong?
Sawatdee ka, Yesterday I was a little bit unwell so I had an idea of making this lesson. I also found a song that has the same expression in the lyrics, so I put a few sentences from the song here as I thought it might help you remember the expression better :) Please listen to the song and see below the lyrics I picked up from 00:07 to 00:19. The song is called "Bpen … [Read more...] about Learn Thai from a song – what’s wrong?
Learn Thai – Happy Thanksgiving
Sawatdee ka, Please don't get me wrong that Thai people also celebrate Thanksgiving day. I was in the States for 3 months when I was 20 and had many American friends. Also my Google Analytics report shows that most visitors of my website are in America:) So I would like to take this opportunity to wish you Happy Thanksgiving!! Now, let's learn some words that (I think) it is … [Read more...] about Learn Thai – Happy Thanksgiving
Say it right! – Orange or Fork
Sawatdee ka, There are Thai words that sound almost exactly the same. The difference is sometimes the vowel; short vowel or long vowel, or the tone. First pair of common words is ส้ม [sôm] = orange, and ส้อม [sôrm] = fork The word orange is short vowel but the word fork is long vowel (it sounds a little longer than orange) Please listen to the audio carefully, and repeat … [Read more...] about Say it right! – Orange or Fork
Personal pronouns in Thai language.
Sawatdee ka, In English the pronoun "you" is good to use to call anyone whether he/she is older or younger than you, even at the same age. Thai culture is based on people's seniority, so it is not nice and polite to call people who are older than you only by their names. Then what we should call them? The word พี่ “pîi“ has a particularly wide range of use, which includes - … [Read more...] about Personal pronouns in Thai language.
Learn Thai – Halloween
Sawatdee ka, As a multi-culture city, Halloween is also celebrated here in Bangkok. I would like to share Halloween related vocabulary Thinking of Halloween, I am firstly thinking of GHOST! ผี [pĕe] I don't like talking about ghost at all since I am super scared [กลัว glua] of them. มดกลัวผีมากค่ะ I don't even watch ghost movies. [หนัง năng] มดไม่ดูหนังผีค่ะ Next word must … [Read more...] about Learn Thai – Halloween
VIDEO – Saying Goodbye Like A Real Thai
I am sure everyone knows how to say hello in Thai language...that's right we say "สวัสดี" [sà-wàt-dee] "สวัสดี" [sà-wàt-dee] is also used to say goodbye as well, but it is used in formal situations such as when talking to your boss, or people you respect like teacher, parents etc. Let's learn how to say goodbye in more informal situations. [1] I often use the word … [Read more...] about VIDEO – Saying Goodbye Like A Real Thai
Learn to greet like a real Thai!
Sawatdee ka, Of course! you know how to say Sa-baai dee mai? [How are you?]. Did you know that we actually use another expression more often than that? Check out what it is. … [Read more...] about Learn to greet like a real Thai!
Learn Thai – verb to like
Sawatdee ka, Let's learn a useful and easy verb. Learn to say I like you!, I like reading books etc. Enjoy! … [Read more...] about Learn Thai – verb to like
Learn Thai from Thai food : Son-in-law eggs
This morning I was in a mood for cooking. I decided to cook my favourite egg dish which is called in Thai "Kai Luuk Koei" (ไข่ลูกเขย) Kai (low tone) [ไข่] means egg Luuk (falling tone) - Koei (rising tone) [ลูกเขย] means son-in-law So, Kai Luuk Koei means son-in-law eggs! Funny name, isn't it? Kai Luuk Koei made from deep-fried hard boiled eggs, which have been cut into … [Read more...] about Learn Thai from Thai food : Son-in-law eggs
Learn Thai – Sepak Takraw
Sawatdii ka, Do you know Sepak Takraw? Last Satureday I saw a group of taxi motorcycle riders in my soi playing Sepak Takraw on the side of the street, so I thought I needed to find out more about this and share in my blog. Sepak Takraw (เซปักตะกร้อ) was created by the royal family of Malaysia about 500 years ago. The name itself comes from two languages. Sepak is "kick" … [Read more...] about Learn Thai – Sepak Takraw
Speak like a Thai – Polite particle ‘jâ’
Sawatdii kâ, Thai language has a lot of polite particles. Today I would like to talk about the polite particle "jâ" (falling tone) จ้ะ. "jâ" used by adult male&femail speakers at the end of a statement when speaking to children and people of inferior status; between males and females denotes anything from easy familiarity to 'sweet talk'; between females signals 'best … [Read more...] about Speak like a Thai – Polite particle ‘jâ’
Chinese New Year in Thailand
Sawatdii ka, One of the important festivals in Thailand is coming up soon, Chinese New Year. (Wan trut jiin) วันตรุษจีน Every year, many people in Thailand with Chinese ancestors, celebrate the Chinese New Year with elaborate ceremonies. This year which is the year of the rabbit starts on February 3, 2011. It is the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to … [Read more...] about Chinese New Year in Thailand