Here’s another entry in the Thai language series to help you with your ‘tourist Thai’ when you visit the land of smiles. Remember that it’s all just for fun here…. if you really want to speak Thai you need to spend a lot of time talking with Thai people, or else study a book, a DVD or with a teacher.
Kawtot
The Thai word kawtot basically has two meanings:
i. It means “sorry”
ii. It means “excuse me”
In both situations, the word can be used the same as you’d use the English words.
In a crowd of people you accidentally bump into someone. You say “Kawtot krab” (I’m sorry).
You show up an hour late for dinner, and you’re wife is pissed off. You say “Kawtot krab” (I’m sorry).
You’re on the BTS (train) in Bangkok and you need to get off at this stop. You want people to move so you can reach the door. You say, “Kawtot krab” (excuse me).
Each Thai phrase listed above ends with the word krab. If you don’t know why, you may want to read this blog.
Kawb-kuhn
The Thai word kawb-khun translates easily into English. It means “thank you”.
Again, the usage is identical to English.
The waitress in the bar brings you the bottle of Singha beer that you ordered. You say kawb-khun krab (thank you).
You forget your wallet at home, and your good friend loans you 500 baht until tomorrow. You say kawb-khun mak krab (thank you very much).
You buy a new handbag and a pair of shoes for your latest Thai girl. She wais you and says kawb-khun kaa (thank you).
Mai Pben Rai
The most usual translations for mai pben rai are “it doesn’t matter” or ”never mind”.
The other primary meaning of mai pben rai is “your welcome” or “don’t mention it”.
You help your neighbor carry a heavy bookcase up to his apartment. He says kawb-khun krab (‘thank you’), and you reply mai pben rai (‘your welcome’).
After moving the bookcase, your neighbor offers you a beer. Being clumsy, you drop it, spilling it on the floor. You say kawtot krab (“I’m sorry”), and he replies mai pben rai (“Never mind… it doesn’t matter”).
The next day you hear that your neighbor’s dog died. You say kawtot krab (“I’m sorry”), and he replies mai pben rai krab (“Never mind… it doesn’t matter”).
Mai pben rai is more than a phrase, it’s a way of life in Thailand. It’s part of remaining unperterbed in the face of anything.
As the inconveniences mount, Thai people remain passively accepting, muttering mai pben rai in the face of life’s inconveniences and problems.
Didn’t get what you ordered for dinner? mai pben rai.
Caught your girlfriend cheating on you? mai pben rai.
Lost your job? mai pben rai.
Just found out you have herpes? mai pben rai.
If you came to Thailand knowing only three phrases, these are the three most useful:
Kawtot krab
Kawb-Khun krab
Mai Pben Rai krab
January 24, 2008 at 12:38 am |
I read in a phrasebook when i was first learning thai that to squeeze past someone (ie BTS etc) you say ‘kor apai’…..
I later found out it roughly translates to ‘attention!’
Anyone here invested in thai lessons, and if so where/how much etc?
Thanks
January 24, 2008 at 7:43 am |
Penfold: I know a very competent private tutor that will teach you Thai for about 300 baht per hour. I have taken classes at a school that was chosen primarily for being close to my home. Rate was 60 hours for 5500 baht (which seems to be about the going rate…. 80 to 90 baht per hour for classroom teaching).
Having done both, I can say that I find classroom teaching more effective for me. I can also say that I am shit-stupid when it comes to learning languages.
In 4 years of French in my high school and university days I never learned to speak the language, and after 3 years of living in Thailand and many months of study, my Thai sucks as well.
People will say that you don’t have to speak Thai to live here, and they’re right… especially in Sukhumvit where I live. If I had to speak Thai I’d be dead already. But I want to speak & understand Thai.
The most useful thing I did in that regard was take some work contracts outside of Bangkok last year. I spent the better part of three months away from Kreung Thep and my fluency skyrocketed. Four months after returning to Bangkok I was speechless again because it’s possible to live her speaking nothing but English. Anyone who really wants to speak Thai should move to a sopt outside the city where the locasl will speak to them in Thai or not at all.
Of course, anyone who chooses to live in Isaan risks learning a language that isn’t exactly Thai!
January 24, 2008 at 10:06 am |
I have tried 3 times over the past 7 or 8 years to learn Thai but gave up in the end. As ww says, your really don’t need to speak thai to live or work here.
I switched to golf lessons. Much more enjoyable.
January 24, 2008 at 5:15 pm |
Im thinking that classroom would prob be best to pick up the basics, then as i progress maybe a private tutor? Ill be living in Ladprao as of Feb, but will be going to the CWOWX on soi23 by cowboy every day (i remember you lived on suk 22?) so would be good to tie the 2 in together
Any more info on the school/location etc and theres a barfine in it for you
January 24, 2008 at 5:38 pm |
CalWow on 23 is my gym as well.
I have attended two different Thai schools near there. Next to the Shell station is a small school called Thailish. It was okay. I studied there with a tutor 1-on-1 due to my work schedule. They were relatively expensive at 600 baht p/hr. I got it discounted to 500 p/hr but that was two years ago.
In the same building as CalWow (Jasmine City Center) on the 21st floor is a school called Piammitr Language school. I highly recommend it. Classes run 5 days per week, 20 days per level, starting near the 1st of the month (Feb for example, would start on Monday the 4th), so you don’t want to try to join in the middle or end of the month. Each class is 3 hours (9 – 12 or 1 – 4). The cost is 5,500 for one month (60 hours of study) plus 200 baht for the book.
Here is the URL of an article written by someone who studied there: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/442926/learning_thai_in_bangkok_a_review_of.html
This is the website for the school: http://www.piammitrschool.com/
Personally I found that working with a tutor my grammar improved, but fluency was for shit. In the classroom there is a shared spotlight, and you benefit from listening to other students get it right, make mistakes and ask questions. Personally, I doubt I’d study with a private tutor again unless I really wanted to study but my schedule wouldn’t allow me to join a class.
That said, I used a private tutor for a while in 2006 and she was great… 300 baht an hour and she would come to my home or workplace. She’s an Isaan girl with a bawdy sense of humour, and perhaps 5% of the dialogue involves bars, drinking, playing pool, etc. If you’re interested in contacting her, let me know and I’ll provide you with her name and number. She can also teach basic English to your girlfriend if you want.
Well, that’s TWO schools and a private tutor, so… let’s see…. that’s two barfines and a pitcher of beer. At a barfine per school I’m happy to research every language school in Bangkok for you.
(Oh my, unless you mean that you want to barfine ME… I’m sure I’m not your type… I’m the first sex, not the second or third….) 
January 24, 2008 at 6:45 pm |
Thanks a million for the info
Im not the greatest fan of the CWOW on soi23 as theres no natural light – sounds weird i know, i prefer the paragon branch. The commute from Potan Yothin MRT to Suk MRT is a convinient one, and my GF goes the the uni past cowboy on the right in Asok (i forget the name) and a good friend of mine trains there too
When i get back im gonna spend my first 3-4months training twice a day so to break it up with lessons 1-4pm would be perfect. Plus a sneaky treck down cowboy on the way to MRT……..
Maybe a barfine for the elusive kung? unless i beat you to it that is……..
I like my LBs leggy and slender – in your previous self-descriptions you dont QUITE fit my bill – sorry :0