learning the thai language

[FrazeeDK]

catnip...

[parrot]

Years ago I could buy hemp seeds at one of the pet stores behind the complex (now 7-11). That store and only that store. Then, one day, no more. Not legal. My bird sure misses those seeds.

[vidmaster]

ระวัง!!!!

[parrot]

Most all languages have difficult-to-pronounce words......words like colonel, rural, Sioux. In Thai, I've found that once you get a handle on the way consonants and vowels go together, it's pretty much what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Then there are the exceptions.......like สุวรรณภูมิ for the airport in Bangkok, and the word I learned today for a (royal) crematorium.......เมรุ which is pronounced like เมน. On that subject, the city is building a พระเมรุ in Tungsrimuang that will allow the public to pay its last respects to the departed royalty during funeral ceremonies next month.

[parrot]

If you're health conscious, my reason #1032 (above) is often advertised prominently at restaurants. Like the signs that say เจ or ไม่ใส่ผงชูรถ, you'll have a better idea of what it is you're eating.

[GT93]

When I lived in Thailand I knew ไม่ใส่ผงชูรถ but I have forgotten that one since I returned to farangland many years ago.

[parrot]

My vocabulary still sucks.....the brain cells just don't hold on like they used to. But every day my "Thai" vocab increases as a result of the infiltration of English words into the language. So, the lesson for the day is........you'd be surprised how many words in "Thai" you know, if you can just pronounce the English version as the Thais do. For that, you'll need to learn to read Thai. Reason #1083
Any takers on the flavor of these Lays chips?

[MrFixer]

Lasagne !
Never seen those before - in Thailand or anywhere else.

[jeebeeg]

Lays Sun Bites ?

[parrot]

It's been a while......but with the latest scandal in skin whitening creams (https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... d#cxrecs_s) it's worth a lesson in Thai:

ตุดหมึก

Two words.....and something most every Thai child has. Literal translation doesn't count.

[Chuchi]

Can you put me out of my misery, I thought the first was bum and second ink, together doesn't make much sense

[parrot]

Sure, Chuchi. Bum and ink are correct. ตุดหมึก is a term to describe the inky blue spot, mostly on the crack of most Thai children. In the medical world, they're described as Mongolian spots......a sort of birthmark.
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and ... lian-spots
You'll sometimes hear Thais say 'ตุดหมึก' when playing with their children.

[Jai]

wrong post.......................duh...

[parrot]

I'm not a fan of sales signs that say 70% off! With tiny print saying UP TO underneath. It's the sort of sign that I rarely see back in the US, but here it seems to be the standard.
What I do like are signs that say ซื้อหนึ่งแถมหนึ่ง.......it's the sort of sign you see in places like Tesco or Ngeesoon. Of course, if you don't know what the sign says and walk up to the cashier without taking advantage of the good deal, then you've just passed up a freebie.
Today in Tesco, the sign said ซื้อ 3 จ่าย 2.........so I scooped up 5 of the items, figuring 'good deal'. When the cashier charged me for 4 (instead of the 3 that I expected to pay for), I had to inquire. It turned out to be a case of 'brain not connecting the dots'.
Such is life when you're learning a language!

[parrot]

The past few weeks, I've noticed several stores displaying bowls or even a small dry aquarium filled with puffed rice. One of the high-end makeup counters in Robinson, another in a small restaurant, and today one in a pet store. What makes the puffed rice notable is the presence of black bugs. At first at (Robinson's), I thought the rice had gone bad and become infiltrated with bugs. Then I saw another bowl at a different store another with bugs. Finally, today at the pet store, I asked the owner what sort of birds ate the bugs (assuming birds ate the bugs).
Then he told me the bugs were กระดิ่งเงินกระดิ่งทอง. Two of the words in that phrase rang a bell......and upon looking up the phrase on google, I found out that the rice was not spoiled after all. For me, it's a classic case of learning a bit more about Thai culture by understanding the language.

Regarding my previous post (for anyone who might have tried to understand the difference):
ซื้อหนึ่งแถมหนึ่ง = buy one get one free
but
ซื้อ 3 จ่าย 2 = buy 3 pay for 2
I mistakenly read the second as 'buy 3 get 2 free'

[Drunk Monkey]

Dao has had one of this bug jars in our place for months ..its like popcorn in which little black insects form .. Gling Tong or something like that ... she says the local temple buddha fella told her its for good luck n good business ??? . It keeps her happy thats what counts and a couple of customers have actually asked to take some from her for their places .

Just another Thai thing i have got a clue about .

DM

[parrot]

The two operative words are (กระดิ่ง) เงิน (กระดิ่ง) ทอง. The first means silver, the second gold.

Go to most any nursery.......find a plant with those two words in its name and the plant's price will be double.

DM, I like your transliteration of gra-ding-ngern, gra-ding-tawng!

[parrot]

Reason #1683 for learning to read Thai

[FrazeeDK]

Clinic Closed
5-7 February (abbreviation for Khumpapon)
Open 8 February

[parrot]

Clinic Closed
5-7 February (abbreviation for Khumpapon)
Open 8 February

Knowing what the sign says might save someone a trip into town. ปิด = closed เปิด = open Two very common and useful words!

Here's another example of a little goes a long way:

A few days ago we passed a sign that said ระวังถนนต่างระดับ No English on the sign. Soon after passing the sign, a small truck pulled over to the side of the road at a pretty good rate of speed......ignoring the words on the sign. Lucky for the driver, no apparent damage to the vehicle........but I'm sure it shook him up a bit.