Take a break learning from Thai and let's go to the GRAND PALACE!

Sawadee ka!

Thank you for continue to follow my blogs about learning Thai.  I want to take a tiny break from teaching Thai and take you on a field trip with me.  Yesterday, I have the chance of taking my students to see the Thailand's Grand Palace or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang.  This historical site is situated in the heart of Bangkok.  We left Chonburi at 8.30, but we were greeted by Bangkok's rush hour and didn't get there till 10.30am.

Oh boy!  The weather was on our side, because it will not as painful as I thought it would be.  A little breezy with touches of rain..lol.  There were lots of foreigners in this place.  I might need to give you a little warning.  This is not any ordinary grand palace, its a religious one.  So, if you show up with tiny shorts or bare shoulders, you will be given Thai clothes to cover yourself with.  It looks pretty neat to see foreigners wear Thai skirts all over the place but I would feel icky wearing something, someone before me already wore with sweat and stuff.. YUCK!

Yep, that's me wearing the hat.  I don't know if its my hat or my big shape that makes people thinks I 'm a foreigner and openly taking pictures of me. WEIRD!  The friend next to me is my friend since we were in High school.  Her name is also May.

This is a miniature building of the famous Cambodia's Angelina Jolie, Ankor Wat.  As you can see the sky, rain was on our side but luckily, it didn't pour.  Oh, yes, we got in for free because we came with the school, but for all you travelers, you will pay around 10 bucks to get in (while Thais pay 2 bucks)---don't ask me why, cause I don't get it either.lol..  my assumption is that they charge you in the rate that you used to pay to see other things outside of Thailand.  If they charge 300-400 baht to everyone, including Thais, no Thai will step a foot in that place.

Even though,the present king does not live there anymore, this huge place is still use for royal ceremonies and events.  The consistently upgrade the place so everything looks ancient, but are in new condition.  I am so proud to be a Thai!

Last but not least, my paparazzies..

My groups of students.  They were so much fun!  Any who, that's if for today and we will continue with our Thai Lesson tomorrow!

Sawadee Ka!

Thai Numbers 11-20

Sawadee Ka!

This is the continuation of the Thai numbers. Don't worry, it gets easier from here, once you get the pattern.  Lets start where we left off last time,

10 - Sib -สิบ
11- Sib Aet - สิบเอ็ด As you can see, eleven started with SIB (ten) then, "Ate" comes in.  In Thai language, we don't use "Nung" in Eleven.  We replace Ate with Nung.
12 - Sib Song - สิบสอง From here on to 19, we will simply say "sib" with the next number.
13 - Sib Sam - สิบสาม
14 - Sib See - สิบสี่
15 - Sib Ha - สิบห้า
16 - Sib Hok - สิบหก
17 - Sib Jet - สิบเจ็ด
18 - Sib Pad - สิบแปด
19 - Sib Geow - สิบเก้า
20 - Yee Sib - ยี่สิบ--------- Remember I told you about the influence of chinese words?  Here is one of them, Yee is a Chinese word for TWO.  As we get to the 21-29, we will use the word YEE to start off. 

"YEE" lesson is coming up!

Numbers---from the basics!

Sawadee ka!

The basics of every language is learning to count.  Thai language is the same.  In this blog, I will introduce you the numbers from 1 to10.  Thai numbers get pretty repetitive as you get higher, so there's no need to worry.  Sometimes it incorporates Chinese words in there, so that might make it a little tricky---mind you, the majority of Thai people have Chinese ancestors and Thailand have a rich history with China since hundreds of years ago.

Here they are!  The numbers are in this order.  ENJOY!
Aerobic Number : Thai writing : Thai Number : Thai pronunciation.

1 / หนึ่ง / ๑ / Nung
2 / สอง / ๒ / Song
3 / สาม / ๓ / Sam
4 / สี่ / ๔ / See
5 / ห้า / ๕ / Ha
6 / หก / ๖ / Hok
7 / เจ็ด / ๗ / Jet
8 / แปด / ๘ / Pad
9 / เก้า / ๙ / Gaow
10 / สิบ / ๑o /Sib

Sometimes you will see Thai people wrote "55555" on their face book comment.  Don't be surprised, this is not a typo, they are basically writing "hahahahaha!"  Knowing this trick and repeating in to Thai people, will astonished them!!  Try it out!

Thai pronouns: Calling yourself!

Comparing to English language, the pronoun refering to oneself does not varies much from "I" or "me".  In fact, the majority of people would always refer themselves as "I" throught their lives.  As for Thai language, using different words to call oneself is an easy distiguished of who's native and who's foreigner.

Most foreigner uses "Pom": ผม for male, "Chun" ฉัน for female.

In reality, there are more ways a Thai can call oneself.  There are:

"Lao" เรา male or female
"Goo" กู This word is an originally Thai word used in the ancient times.  If use in public, it is considered rather offensive.  However, you will hear thai students use this word when talking to their close friends.

The most popular one is using thai nickname in refering to oneself.  For example, my nickname is Mae and I want to go to eat lunch.  I would say...

Mae ja pai          gin  a-harn  glang-wun, ka.
Mae is going to   eat  food     lunch.
เมจะไปกินอาหารกลางวันค่ะ

Learning different ways to talk will help you talk like a native Thai.

Sawaddee Ka!

How are you? Sabuydee mai ka/krap?

After  SAWADEE KA สวัสดีค่ะ, we continue the coversation by asking the person how they are, to keep the conversation going. 

Sa-buy-dee mai- Ka/krap?
สบายดีมั้ยค่ะ/ครับ

It is not that unusual to ask how they are.  Thai people also ask "how are you" to stangers and friends alike.  Another way to ask the same question is...

Sa-buy-dee-ruu- ka/krap?
สบายดีหรือค่ะ/ครับ

Both of the questions have the same meanings.  You can stick with one or use it interchangably.  If you got asked that question, this is how you would answer:

Sa-buy-dee ka/krap.
สบายดีค่ะ/ครับ
I am doing good.

Then, you can continue your conversation.  Until then, Sawadee ka!

Maepung

Sawadee Ka/Sawadee Krap

So..What's the difference between Sawadee Ka and Sawadee Krap?  If you listen closely, Thai men and women said it slightly different in the end.  Ka and Krap is super formal.  However, its used pretty often in our daily lives to show a sign of respect. 

Ka :  Women mentioned this word at the end of their sentences.

Krap : Men mentioned this word at the end of their sentences.

Ex.  Sabuy dee mai, Ka/Krap? (How are you?)

Sometimes, Ka and Krap are used as a short version of YES.

Ex. 
Question:  Aroi mai ka? (Woman asked if its delicious.)
Answer:  Ka/Krap (Yes. Female/Male)

Watch for the videos on this lesson and the proper pronounciation of the Thai words!

Coming soon!

Let me help you speak Thai like a native!