One Words 2 Meanings (Part 3)

"yaa" (Falling Tone-up and down tone)
written as ย่า and หญ้า in Thai language,
the first one, "ย่า" means grandma (Father's mom)
and the second one is "หญ้า" means grass.

Someone might wonder how thai people understand, mostly
we understand from the content that we talk.

Let's practise some sentences for pronunciation.

1. yaa duu wuua gin yaa (Grandma is watching a cow, eating the grass.)
2. yaa dtat yaa nai suan (Grandma cut the grass in the garden.)
3. yaa ao yaa bpai nai (Where will grandma take the grass to?)
4. yaa chawhp yaa see kiao (Grandma likes the green grass.)

***Be sure that pronounce "yaa" as falling tone ( up and down sound)
because there are "yaa" (Flat tone) means "Medicine" and "yaa" (down tone)
means "Divorce & Don't"

Library in Bangkok, near BTS & MRT

Library said "hong-sa-mut" in Thai language. "Hong" means "Room" and "sa-mut" means "Notebook". It should be changed to "Hong nang-suue" (Book Room) or not?
Whatever (mai-bpen-rai), Thai people need a little bit long time to change to use something
new.

There are many good and interesting library around Bangkok.
On Sukhumvit Road, Asoke (Sukhumvit Soi 21), there is a good library on the 10th floor
of Sermmit Building. There are many Japanese books and some Thai magazine. There are
certainly many Thai, English and Japanese newspaper.
It's free. ("free" said in Thai)
More Info at www.jfbkk.or.th

Another place on Sukhumvit Rd., it's on the 6th floor at the Emporium department store,
called TCDC, very modern place. It's also has many courses about design.

On Ratchada Road, near the Thailand Cutural Centre MRT, there is "Mareuy" (มารวย) on the 3rd floor at the Esplanad Complex Center. There are many interesting Thai&English books for readers. Free to read there.
Pay 200 Baht for silver member card, and 400 Baht for golden member card.

Near the centre of Bangkok is the Central WorldComplex Centre , there is the big library on the 8th floor, zone D, called TK Park. 200 Baht for Thai members, but 400 Baht for foreigners. Many interesting activities&books&magazines. And also many rooms for readers.
Check more at www.tkpark.or.th

On Suriwongse Rd., that's not far from Silom Rd., called "Neilson Hays Library". There are many
English books. It's also has the rooms for an art exhibition or some courses. One day pass is ok, just give some donation to the library.
More Info at www.neilsonhayslibrary.com


New Thai phrase today:
hawng-sa-mut kuue laehng kwaam-ruu tee ying-yai.
(ห้องสมุด คือ แหล่ง ความรู้ ที่ ยิ่งใหญ่)
The library is the great source of knowledge.

taa yaak ying-yai, dtawng kao hawng-sa-mut boi boi
(ถ้า อยาก ยิ่งใหญ่ ต้อง เข้า ห้องสมุด บ่อยๆ)
When someone wants to be great, he must often go to the library.

One word 2 meanings (Part 2)

gaan-kaa kon mai mee kaa arai

การฆ่า คน ไม่ มี ค่า อะไร



***ฆ่า the first one means "Kill"

ค่า the second word means "Fee" Eg. kaa-fai (Electric Bill)

kaa-rian (Tuition)



"gaan-kaa kon mai mee kaa a-rai" can be translated as

"Killing a person has no any worthy".





Today's Thai idiom that concerns kaa is "kaa korng kon yuu tee pon korng ngaan"

"ค่าของคนอยู่ที่ผลของงาน" means A person's worth depends on a job.

When someone does the best, his worth can not evaluate.

Same pronunciation words, but different meaning (Part 1)

In thai language, there are many words pronounced in the same tone/sound, but different meaning and also different writing. (Say in Thai "kam-porng-siang")

Today's word is "taa" (Tone is up and down.)

The first meaning of "taa" (ท่า) is Pier and other meanings.
They are "taa ruuea" ท่าเรือ (Pier, port, harbour)
"taa-taang" ท่าทาง (Manner, poster)
Eg. kao mee taa-taang bplaek bplaek (He has weird manner.)
"taa rot" ท่ารถ (Bus terminal)
"taa aa-gaat-sa-yaan" ท่าอากาศยาน (Airport)

The second meaning is "If": taa (ถ้า)
Eg. taa wan-nee fon mai dtok, rao ja awhk bpai kaang-nawhk.
(If there is no rain today, we will go out.)
taa kao mee luuk, kao ja yut suup bu-ree.
(If he has a child, he will stop smoking.)
kun ja tam a-rai taa kun ruai?
(What would you do if you were rich?)

Thai people and Thai language

There are 44 consonants and 32 vowels in Thai language.
But there are 21 sounds.

In Thai language, there is "R" sound, but most of Thai people pronounce
it like "L" sound therefore no wonder when they say it wrong. It's common
speaking, but it should be pronounced correctly in the formal.

Eg. roong-rian (School) pronounced as loong-lian
krap (Polite word for a man) pronounced as kap
kap means fit in English language (Can say it when you try a pair of shoes or clothes on.)
ruuea (Boat) pronounced as luuea
rot (Car) pronounced as lot, but lot means "discount" in English.
ruu (Know) pronounced as luu

Thai language is really interesting. (paa-saa tai sa-nuk jing jing.)

Interested in/Interesting

Interested in..... - son-jai (nai) .........................
Eg. 1. rao son-jai muai tai (We are interested in Thai boxing.)
2. kao mai son-jai a-rai loei (He/She is not interested in anything at all.)

(Something or someone) be interesting. ............naa-son-jai
Eg. 1. chee-wit nai grung-tayp naa-son-jai (Life in Bangkok is interesting.)
2. puu-ying tai naa-son-jai (Thai ladies are interesting.)

Flu 2009 (kai-wat song pan gao)

kai-wat (Flu)
kai-wat nok (Bird flu)
kai-wat-yai (Influenza)
bpen-wat (Catch a cold)
bpen-kai/mee kai (Fever)
unhapuum suung (High temperature)
wat kai (Temperature measuring)
nam-muuk (Running nose)
paa bpit ja-muuk (Nose cover)
pak-pawn (To relax)
jep kor (Sore throat)
bpuat huua (Headache)
ai (Cough)
jaam (Sneezing)
fun (Dust)
pae (Allergy to)
gin yaa (Take a medicine)

duuen nam-un yoeh yoeh taa ruu-suek jep kor.
(Drink lots of warm water when feel/or got sore thraot.)
nawhn yoeh yoeh taa ruu-suek bpuat-hua.
(Sleep a lot when feel/have got headache.)
duu-lae dtuua-ayng dee dee.
(Take care of yourself well.)
haai reu reu.
(Get well soon.)
bpai haa mor taa aa-gaan mai dee-kuen.
(Go to see a doctor when the symtom is not getting better.)

What should we do on weekends in Bangkok?

"wan-yut sao-aa-tit tam a-rai tee grung-tayp (gan) dee?" is the meaning of the title.

The following is the way to say What should..........?, How should.....................?
Who should...................? in Thai language.

When someone wants to say "What should..............?"- .................a-rai dee?
Eg. What should we eat? - rao gin a-rai (gan) dee?
What should we order? - rao sang a-rai (gan) dee?
What should we play? - len a-rai (gan) dee?

And: How should.................? - ......................yang-ngai dee?
Eg. How should we go? - rao bpai yang-ngai (gan) dee?
How should I write the story? - kian rueang yang-ngai dee?

The last one is Who should.........................? - krai dee?
Eg. Who should I tell? - bawhk krai dee?
Who should I go with? - bpai gap krai dee?
Who should I marry? - dtaehng-ngaan gap krai dee?

Movie and Movie Theatre

We can say easily "nang"(down and up for tone) for a movie or "paap-pa-yon".
From my opinion why they say "nang" in Thai because the movie screen is made from the leather that says "nang" in Thai language as well.
"nang" mostly used for speaking, but "paap-pa-yon" mostly used for writing and formal.
Why we say "paap-pa-yon" for movie because "paap" means "a picture or photo" and "yon"
means "engine". After we combined 2 words, we got "paap-pa-yon" which means "engine picture".

As for "Movie Theatre" can say it in Thai "roong nang" or "roong paap-pa-yon"
When we want to say the movie theatre's name, we put it following "roong-nang"
e.g. roong-ngang Major, roong-nang SF, roong-nang Lido (Thai people called li-doo, but foriengers say ly-do).

There are many interesting movies in this month. Both of Thai and foreigners movies.
A good Iran movie that I will recommend that is "The Song of Sparrows". Now it's showing at the House RCA on Rama 9 Rd. It shows the power of love from the family that can cure everything. Furthermore, we can see the natural life in Iran that 's rarely see in nowadays.
Some scenes make people realize what we do need in this life.

Don't miss it! ( 'yaa plaat' says in Thai language)

More information at www.houserama.com / Tel.0-2641-5177-8

Anything in Thai language

Anything says "a-rai gaw dai"
Anywhere says "tee-nai gaw dai"
Anyhow says "yang-ngai gaw dai"
Any time says "muea-rai gaw dai " or "way-laa nai gaw dai"
Any person or whoever say "krai gaw dai"

Direction: tit-taang

Someone lost the way? Let's improve your Thai words about the direction!

liao saai (Turn left)
liao kwaa (Turn right)
dtrong bpai (Go straight)
bpai rueai rueai (Keep going)
jort tee-nee (Stop here.)
jort loei see yaek (Stop after intersection)
jort gawhn see yaek (Stop before intersection)
san-yaan fai ja-raa-jorn (Traffic light) or "fai daeng" (Red light)
glap rot (U-turn), but we can speak U-turn (be sure speak it like Thai accent
that is u-toen)
"jort fang saai" or "jort saai muue" (Stop by the left side)
"jort fang kwaa" or jort kwaa muue" (Stop by the right side)

PS: "jort" means stop that used with only vehicles. We say "yut" when we talk other things.
Ex: yut puut (Stop speaking)
yut rian (Stop studying)
yut len (Stop playing)

How to use "finish" in Thai language?

It's certainly that many foreigners who can speak Thai have the same idea that
there are too many words or many ways for "finish" in Thai language. Sure it's too confused
to use it. That's why everyone should learn and get used to it.

The first meaning of finish is "set".
When we translate English to Thai, we will say set follow verb that's opposite with English way.
Example: I will finish studying in the afternoon.
Says in Thai language "ja rian set nai dtawhn-baai"

Finish eating: gin kaao set
Finish working: tam-ngaan set
Finish exercising: awhk-gam-lang set
What is "Finish doing"?

Next meaning of finish in Thai language is "mot".
Actually "mot" has few meanings in English such as: finish & run out.
Mostly we say "mot" with noun; example,
gaa-fae mot (Coffee is finished.)
ngoen not (Money is run out.)
way-laa mot (Time is out.)
kaao mot (Rice is finished.)

"jop" is one meaning of finish in Thai language.
In fact "jop" means end in English, but we use for finish as well.
The way to use jop is easy, just use it with noun like music or movie
playng jop: A song is finished.
nang job: A movie is ended.

Furthermore; "jop" used for something finished that never happen again,
such as chee-wit job (No more life.), a-naa-kot jop (No more future.).

PS: It's really complicated.: sap-sawn jing jing.

New Thai Coin: 2 Baht

Last week I took a bus, I got 2 baht coin, light brass color, from a bus boy.
"What's this? Why is this color? Why is not silver color? I said to myself.
"It's new. Another color. It's not heavy and cheaper budjet to make it."
One young lady said to me.
"Really? I just knew it. It's nice color and it's easy to separate from 1 Baht coin." I said to her and didn't forget to say thank you to her.

When someone wants to know more about Thai language, he can read the article following:

"rian" (Down and up sound) means coin in English.
There are 6 types of coins in Thailand; they are 25 sa-dtaang and 50 sa-dtaang, golden color,
1 Baht, silver color, 2 Baht which has silver and light brass color, 5 Baht which is silver color.And 10 Baht coin which has silver and golden colorin 1 coin. The golden color is in the middle. Every coins have round shape; except, 5 Baht coin.
Therefore Thai people say: rian 25 (yee-sip-haa) sa-dtaang or 1 sa-lueng, rian 50 (haa sip) sa-dtaang, rian 1 (nueng) baat or rian baat, rian 5 baat and rian 10 baat.

"kor laek rian yoi noi?" means "May I exchange small coin, please?"
"laek" means "To exchange"
"rian yoi" means "Small coin"

PS:Interesting meaning of "yoi" which means to digest so after meal some Thai people like to say "doen len yoi aa-haan dee gwaa" (It's better to take a walk to digest.)

LET'S TAKE A BOAT ALONG THE SAEN-SAEP CANAL

When someone has limited time to journey, it's better to take a boat along the Saen-saep canal.
The starting pier is at Wat Pra Sri Boon Rueang as for Pratuu Nam (Water Gate) is the destination and also is the interchanging point for someone wants to go to Pan Fah Leelart, near the Golden Mountain temple and the Democrazy Monument. It's not too far from the Grand Palace.

For someone who wants to stop by the MRT Petchaburee station, he can stop at Asoke pier and 3 minutes walking.

The fare starts from 10 Baht to 20 Baht.Should try it because someone can save a lot of time to jouney.

Some Thai words are useful when you take the boat.

taa ruea (Pier) ท่าเรือ
kaa ruea (Boat fare) ค่าเรือ
taa ruea yuu tee-nai? (Where is the pier?) ท่าเรืออยู่ที่ไหน
long ruea (Take on a boat) ลงเรือ
kuen ruea (Take off a boat) ขึ้นเรือ

*** Actually "long" means "Get off", "kuen" means "Get on", used for other vehicles.

Adjectives in Thai language (Part 2)

Let's know more adjectives about the weather.

naao (Cold)
yen (Cool)
rawhn (Hot)
un (Warm)

The weather means "aa-gaat" in Thai language.

kun chawhp aa-gaat baep nai? (What type of the weather do you like?)
mai naao mai rawhn (Not cold not hot.)
yen sa-baai (Cool)

***We don't use "naao" for any drink, we use "yen" for drink.
Example: dtuua-yaang
gaa-fae yen (Iced coffee)
nam yen (Cold water)
chaa yen (Iced tea)
As for "kaao yen" means "dinner"

SA-WAT-DEE BPEE MAI: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

SA-WAT-DEE BPEE CHA-LUU (HELLO THE YEAR OF THE OX)
IT'S THE YEAR 2552 IN THAILAND.
IN THE BUDDHA ERA WAS HAPPENED BEFORE CHRISTIAN 543 YEARS.
SO IT'S 2009 IN CHRISTIAN YEAR.

EVERYBODY HOPES LESS PROBLEMS IN THIS YEAR AND AS WELL IN THE FUTURE.
BETTER ECONOMY.
BETTER POLITIC.
BETTER LIFE.
LET'S MAKE A WISH: A-TIT-TAAN GAN TOE, SAYS IN THAI LANGUAGE.
KOR-HAI TUK-KON CHOOK-DEE (GOOD LUCK EVERYONE.)