luckyfarang

From Lexitron again:

จักจี้ [jàk-gà-jêe] [V] tickle; itch

Def. อาการที่ทำให้รู้สึกเสียว สะดุ้งหรือชวนให้หัวเราะเมื่อถูกจี้ที่เอวหรือรักแร้เป็นต้น.

"a condition which causes one to feel spasms; an action which causes shock and makes one laugh when one is poked in the waist or in the armpit, for example."

Note the reappearance of the word "เสียว". Strange: I would not have expected that word in the context of "tickling." But, there you are!

SIAO® is purely idiomatic with no direct translation. It has many usages in Thai and I have never seen a comprehensive definition, although Domnern Sathienpong comes the closest.

In the case of tickling it would best translate as "sensitive", as when it is used to describe a toothache.

POO(f) TAEN NAK(h) DTAWNG(f) TEEO(f) - - - - - - travel agent

I've seen ตัวแทนท่องเที่ยว 'dtua thaen thawng thiao' used in Thai text, but never heard 'phuu thaen nak thawng thiao', and I don't get any Google hits on it either. Where did you get it from?

From my experience บริษัททัวร์ bawrísàd thua is the most common term in spoken Thai for 'travel agency'.

I heard it many years ago and have been using it ever since, never had a problem with it being understood. And POO(f) TAEN is synonymous with DTUA TAEN

How would you say "Have you always lived here?" (always = always until now - in the past that is)

"คุณอยู่ที่นี่มาโดยตลอดเลยหรือครับ/คะ"

This may be technically correct and should be understood, but sounds stuffy and unnatural.

NAAN DTA(l)-LAWT(l) would be more correct than DOAI DTA(l)-LAWT(l)

I have to agree with DTANG(f)-DTAE(l) GERT(l) which sounds more natural and would be less likely to cause confusion.

luckyfarang, i have to disagree. virin's suggestion is natural, common spoken Thai. and NAAN DTA(l)-LAWT(l) sounds very strange. nothing personal.

all the best.

Well then, we disagree.

It's not just the DOAI DTA-LAWT that sounds unnatural to me, it is the whole phrase:

YOO TEE(f) NEE(f) MAA DOAI DTA(l)-LAWT(l) LOEI

If you want to sound natural in conversation, I recommend the following usages:

NAA(f) KUN KUN(h) KUN(h) NA(h) - - - - - You look familiar (your face looks familiar)

JAM NAA(f) KUN MAI(f) DAI(f), JAM NAA(f) MAI(f) DAI(f) - - - - I don't recognize you (I can't remember your face)

This is the way Thais say it and they always use the word "face" when saying you look familiar or they don't recognize you.

Ahhhh ... ok, it makes more sense now that I know what 'chin' means.

sorry for more questions - just trying to understand it a little better. So here it goes:

1. What is the difference between 'chin' and 'koie chin' ?

2. Similarly - what is the difference between 'kóon' and 'kóon koie'

This is my take:

KOEI CHIN - - - - - - to get used to something, to become accustomed to (transitive verb)

CHIN, CHIN LAEO(h) - - - - - - used to something, already accustomed to (adjective)

YANG MAI(f) KOEI CHIN, YANG MAI(f) CHIN - - - - - still not used to something, still not accustomed to

KOON(h) KOEI - - - - - - - become acquainted (with someone), familiarize oneself with something (verb)

I hear KOEI CHIN frequently, KOON(h) KOEI much less, probably used more in writing than spoken.

How would you say "Have you always lived here?" (always = always until now - in the past that is)

"คุณอยู่ที่นี่มาโดยตลอดเลยหรือครับ/คะ"

This may be technically correct and should be understood, but sounds stuffy and unnatural.

NAAN DTA(l)-LAWT(l) would be more correct than DOAI DTA(l)-LAWT(l)

I have to agree with DTANG(f)-DTAE(l) GERT(l) which sounds more natural and would be less likely to cause confusion.

POO(f) TAEN NAK(h) DTAWNG(f) TEEO(f) - - - - - - travel agent

KHAAT(f) WAA(f) - - - - - - - - - - to expect that…

KWAAM KHAAT(f) WANG® - - - - - - - - - expectations (I have never heard this used)

NAA(f) DAAN(f) - - - - - - - - - - - - shameless, brazen (literally: calloused face)

In this case it most likely means burden/responsibility.

But I have heard a similar sounding word used as follows:

YAANG PAA-RAA - - -- - - - - latex rubber

DTON(l) PAA-RAA - - - - - - - rubber tree

1) think that - - - - - - kit(h) waa(f) and neuk(h) waa(f) are pretty interchangeable

and both correct, though neuk waa is more often used

with the past tense in my experience.

I would like input on any differences between the two.

3) I would like to.... - - - - - yaak(l) ja(l)

yaak(l) ja(l) chuai(f) - - - - I'd like to help

dton nan(h) yaak(l) ja(l) chuai(f) - - - - back then I would have liked to help

Is สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง (sawatdee dtaawn thiiang) the best way to say "Good afternoon"?

Can you give me some alternative ways of saying "Good afternoon".

Also, I noticed other variations of afternoon, such as ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn baay) and หลังเที่ยง (lang thiiang).

My friend says that this greeting implies that you have slept through the entire morning.

2003 FORD ESCAPE only 880,000 Baht

like new, Fully loaded, every option, driven only 16,700

kilometers, 3.0 V6 engine, Original farang owner, garage

kept, leaving Thailand sacrifice, buy new: 1,420,000 baht

PATTAYA 087-988-0900

This pricing sounds mighty high to me.

I have 1024/512 adsl service thru TOT in north pattaya/beach road area which costs only 1000B per month and usually tests out at about 75% of the rated speed. Is there some reason that everyone else here can't get the same service?

a non-issue**, mountain out of a molehill - - - reuang(f) mai(f) bpen reuang(f)

a perfect ten* (sports)- - - - - - ka-naen® dtem sip(l)

a real honor**, prestigious - - - - - - - chert(f) naa(f) choo dtaa

a real sport*, a real big spender* - - - - - - - jai sa-pawt(l)

ace in the hole**, hold a trump card, hold the winning hand** - - - - teu® phai(f) neua® gwaa(l)

alarmist**, boy who cried wolf - - - - - dek(l) liang(h) gae(l)

and the winner is**, namely - - - - - - - dai(f) gae(l)

anyone's guess**, still up in the air** - - - - - gam(f)-geung!(l)

at each others throats** - - - - - - - gat(l) gan, koo(f) gat(l)**

attending physician** - - - - - - - - jao(f) khawng® khai(f)

basic - - - - - - - - - peun(h)-peun(h)

bat one's eyes**, try to look innocent** - - - - - - - - tam dtaa bprip(l) bprip(l)

be a loner**, think outside the box**, unconventional - - - - dtaek(l) foong®

be in a rut**, never do anything new* - - - - - jam-jay, sam-saak(f), jam-jay sam-saak(f)

be suckered*, be taken in*, be deceived* - - - - - - - - long® cheua(f)

beat a confession out of a suspect** - - - -sawm(h) poo(f) dtawng(f) haa®

being mentored by**, take under one's wing** - - - - - - - yoo(l) nai saai® dtaa khawng®

bitchy* - - - - - - - - - khee(f) ngeuan

bleed someone dry**, overcharge - - khoot(l) leuat(f), khoot(l) leuat(f) khoot(l) neua(h)

blind as a bat**, poor eyesight, going blind - - - - - - - - - dtaa thua(l)

bodacious na-na's**, firm and ample breasts - - - - - nom dtayng(l) dteung!

bodacious ta-ta's* - - - - - nom ba-ler(f)

catch forty winks**, take a little nap, take a short nap - - - - - lap(l) ngeep(f) neung(l)

chomping at the bit** - - - - - - - gra(l)-hian(f)-gra(l)-heu®-reu

choosy - - - - - - - - - - - leuak(f) maak(f)

clean one's plate** - - - - - - - - - - - - gin gliang(f)

college prep** - - - - - - - - - - dtriam u(l)-dom

higher education** - - - - - - - - - - dtriam u(l)-dom seuk(l)-saa®

come on down!**, please welcome** - - - - - - - khaw® chern

commit atrocities**, do evil things - - - - - gaw(l) gaam tam khayn®

con man*, swindler* - - - - - - - - - poo(f) dtom(f), poo(f) dtom(f) dtun®

contagious laughter**, laugh together* - - - - - - hua®-rau(h) gan kak(h)-cheeo

couch potato**, one who overstays, lard butt** - - - - - - gon(f) nak(l), gon(f) dta(l)-gua(l)

crud**, residue, waste - - - - - - - - - gaak(l)

Curses!, D-mn! - - - - - - - - wayn-gaam

deep in thought** - - - - - - kit(h) leuk(h), kit(h) leuk(h) seung(h)

dinner is served* - - - - - - a-haan® sayt(l) riap(f)-rawy(h) laeo(h)

don't get cute**, don't try and pull anything** - - - - - - yaa(l) tam a(l)-rai dtuk(l) dtik(l)

down to posterity**, for succeeding generations - - - - - - chua(f) look(f) chua(f) laan®

drooling over**, to be drooling over** - - - - - tam taa(f) ga(l)-lim(h)-ga(l)-leeo®

dump a bike**, veer off course - - - - - - - cha(l)-laep(l)

easy prey**, lost little girl**, hooker - - - - - - gai(l) long®, gai(l) long® taang

end a losing streak**, get past a period of misfortune - - - - - - phon(h) krau(h)

enough to get by**, barely enough** - - - - - - phaw gin phaw chai(h)

feel out of place - - - - - - - - - roo(h)-seuk bplaek(l) dtaa

find a solution, work it out** - - - - - - - - - kit(h) dtok(l)

for the h-ll of it**, just a whim - - - - gaw(f) neuk!(h) kreum!(h) kheun!(f) maa

f-ck you** - - - - - - - - chaang(f) hua® meung! bpa(l)-rai

chuai(f) song®-krau(h) tee na(h)- - - - - - do me a favor

tam-nawng diao gan - - - - - similarly, in the same vein, following the same pattern**

yaa(l) theu® saa® loei - - - - - - - - don't take it seriously

chuai(f) faak(l) ngaan hai(f) khao® - - - - - - got him a job

meu sang®-haan® - - - - - - - - - - assassin

nawp(f) nawm(h) - - - - - - - show respect for, be respectful to

yaa(l) woo®-waam - - - - - - - - don't be too hasty

gi(l)-ri(h)-yaa waa jaa - - - - - - - - - words and actions**

bpai pheung(f) yaat(f) - - - go to relatives for help, move back in with one's family

pheung(f) lom haai® jai khawng® kon eun(l)- - - depend on someone else for a living

lom(h) luk(h) kluk(h) klaan - - suffer many setbacks, to be full of frustration, a bumpy road

khawng® gay(h) - - - - - - - counterfeit, fake, phony

yua(f) hai(f) khao® heung!® - - - - - - make him/her jealous

kwaam jong rak(h) pak(h) dee - - - - - loyalty, allegiance**

kon mai(f) nae(f) jing - - - - - - - - - - - a wimp

gaao(f) raao(h) - - - - - - - - - aggressive, belligerent

bpen kun maak(f) gwaa(l) thoht(f) - - the pluses outweigh the minuses, more upside than down

gra(l)-taek(f) gra(l)-tan(h) - - - - - - put your foot down**

bpan(l) bpuan(l) - - - - - cause a commotion, catch them off guard**

kawy ngeuak(l) haeng(f) bplao(l) bplao(l) - - - - - - wait in vain**, you'll be waiting forever**, waiting 'til the cows come home**

bplae dtaam dtua, bplae dtrong dtua - - - - - literally translated

eua(f) feua(h) peua(f) pae(l) - - - - - - - - generosity

gaan chai(h) chee-wit(h) - - - - - - - - - lifestyle*

khat(l) son® ngern tawng - - - - - - - hard up, urgently in need of money

thang® khaao(f) saan® - - - - - - - sugar daddy, walking wallet**

dtok(l) thang® khaao(f) saan® - - - - - - - - hit the jackpot**

gaan gaeng(l) yaeng(f) ching dee - - - - - a free for all**, cutthroat competion**

kong yoo(l) dai(f) - - - - - - sustainable**, able to function**

kong yoo(l) dai(f) mai(f) lom(h) - - - - sustainable** in the long run, self sustaining**

I heard this used for the first time today.

I like it alot

ปล่อยไก่ bloy gai

I am guessing the ปล่อย part of it comes from ปลดปล่อย to be free (released)

and ไก่ as we know is chicken.

I asked what the meaning was and I was told it's when เเสดงความโง่ออกมา

so Its like "an act of stupity or madness"

I think the English saying is "an act of stupidty" but I am not 100% what the English equivilent is.

Maybe a Thai or someone who knows could explain how ปล่อยไก่ can be used when someone เเสดงความโง่ออกมา

cheers ITR

ปล่อยไก่ - - - I would translate this as: to make a fool of oneself

<<<อ่าน ออก เขียน ได้ แค้ ชัก ช้า ครับ

คุณ ขอ ร้อง สักต บาง คำ ได้ ก็ แล้ว กัน>>>

<<<สักต should be สะกด, and แค้้ should be แค่. No need to separate the words lucky. >>>

Yes, sabaijai, thanks for the correction. I have only been literate for several months, but am making rapid progress.

Do you live near Jinda Villa?

<<<If you have Benjawan Poomsan Becker's Thai-English dictionary, all the rules are there. If you don't yet have it, you should buy it. (You can also find the rules many other places, but that is an excellent pocket dictionary - I've worn through three of them in just three years.)>>>

I must disagree with you. Yes, the Becker dictionary has an excellent summary of the tone rules in the introduction, and yes it is generally quite good with regard to pronounciation. It is pocket size and adequate for tourists.

But for accuracy of definitons, it is one of the worst I have seen.

Can anyone here please recommend some favorite reading material written originally in Thai, or a Thai translation of something highly readable? Anything at all, fiction or non-fiction that can be purchased readily in Thailand that is not the usual crappy romance novel, cartoon, boring stuff so easy to find.

Surely the bacon 'bits' are fake, probably soy bits. The bread is what we call "Texas toast" back in Texas. I always get either the mushroom or tuna soup, and one round of the salad bar (usually the corn and peanuts mix, maybe a slice of tang mo) while we wait for the main course. Even though I'm stuffed after that, I get one or two little servings of chocolate pudding. My partner is Thai and gives me the extra toast, but I sometimes don't eat a second piece. Compared to the toast in Texas, it has a bit too much butter and isn't as toasted.

The salad bar in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin has a good selection, almost equalling what I'd find back home.

My annual membership expires in a few weeks; I hope I can get another. As a member, if you buy one main entree and your guest gets one, the less expensive entree is free. Typically we get out of there paying only 350 baht for two people stuffed to the gills and full of Pepsi refills. If you're alone, the membership card gives you a discount of 10% for cash, 5% for credit card purchase.

those annual member cards are for sale for a limited time each year, usually March and April

ตบ สลบ ไสล- - - - - - - slap you silly, (literally, slap you unconscious) - - - dtop(l) sa(l)-lop(l) sa(l)-lai®

หอก เสียบ ก้น - - - - - pain in the ass (arse) - - - - hawk(l) siap(l) gon(f)

คอย ดู ก็ แล้ว กัน - - - - just you wait, you'll get yours - - - kawy doo gaw(f) laeo(h) gan

เอว ให้ เข็ด - - - - teach you a lesson - - - ao hai(f) khet(l)

couple going together**, couple who are dating** - - - - koo(f) kuang

Another usage of koo(f) kuang is "a date", referring to a person, e.g., a prom date, or don't come alone, bring a date.

Can you also post the words in thai characters please? I find it easier than learning yet another transliteration system.

Second that request, in fact I would see no problem dispensing with the transliteration altogether. These phrases are ill-suited for use by beginning learners, whose motivation to learn the Thai script may be increased by these tantalizing phrases. Anyone who can actually read Thai will have a better sense of when/where to use these phrases (or not).

That said, thank you for a really great compendium of phrases, good job.

อ่าน ออก เขียน ได้ แค้ ชัก ช้า ครับ

คุณ ขอ ร้อง สักต บาง คำ ได้ ก็ แล้ว กัน

It took me about ten minutes to type the above two lines. It took more than a minute just to locate the Law Ling key…. And I didn't spell check, so might contain mistakes.

jai diao - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - one woman man, one man woman, monogamous

Yes, it can be used in this constellation. It has, however, a wider meaning. I would translate it with : single-minded. Sometimes it is used in the SENSE of "stubborn", "determined".

I love all the "Jai" words. Is there a compilation of them somewhere?

sutnyod:

I haven't heard it used as such.

jai det(l) is usually translated as "determined" or, but I personally translate this as "gung-ho"

Then there is the phrase 'bpen look(f) diao', which generally translates as "single minded". My favorite example:

'tam ngaan bpen look(f) diao' - a workaholic

Does 'look(f) diao' translate as 'an only child'?

jai diao - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - one woman man, one man woman, monogamous

sawng® jai - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - not monogamous, fickle, roving eye

sawng® jit(l) sawng® jai ----------------------------undecided, indecisive, wishy-washy

laai® jai-----------------------------------------------------fickle, a player, skirt chaser, a hound

choo(h)----------------------------------------------an illicit lover, an affair, one involved in an affair

jao(f) choo(h)-----------------------------------------lady's man, womanizer, playboy, casanova

kon mua(f)**, sam®-sawn(l)-------------------------------------------------promiscuous

nawk(f) loo(f) nawk(f) taang---------------------------stray from the straight and narrow, to stray

nawk(f) jai---------------------------------------------to cheat on your spouse/lover, be unfaithful

mia nawy(h)------------------------------------------------------------------------mistress

dawk(l)-maai(h) rim taang----------------------------------an easy lay, (a flower for the picking)

saao® ngian(f)-----------------------------------------------------------a horny slut

saao® raan(f)----------------------------------------------------------------nymphomaniac

adulterous, wanton, loose**-----------------------------------------kop(h) choo(h) soo(l) chaai

couple whose love has turned to hate----------------------------koo(f) rak(h) koo(f) kaen(h)

couple going together**, couple who are dating**-------------------------------koo(f) kuang

go steady**, date (v), go out with*---------------------------------------------------kuang gan

to be an item**, show affection for one another----------------------------------klaw klia

sneak into a woman's room to make love-------------------------------------khao(f) haa®

sweet talk a girl, have a date, go out with a girl---------------------------------giao(f) saao®

go out for a naughty time, to mess around--------------------------------------tiao(f) suk(h)-son

old flame----------------------------------------------------------------------thaan(l) fai gao(l)

break up, split up, have a falling out---------------------------------------------------dtaek(l) kaw

compatible, get along well together, enjoy each other's company------------------thook(l) kaw gan

get your rocks off**-------------------------------------------------------------------gae(f) ngian(f)

give one's word, commit oneself* - - - - - - dtok(l) bpaak(l) dtok(l) kam

stuck in a rut** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - dtok(l) rawng(f)

it takes two to tango* - - - - - - - - -dtop(l) meu khaang(f) diao mai(f) dang

he made his own bed, let him lie in it** - - - - - - - -tam dtua khao® ayng

let nature take it's course, let it go** - - - - - - - -bplawy(l) man bpai dtaam reuang(f)

down to earth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -dteen dtit(l) din

double dealing, two faced, hypocritical - - - - - - - - - - dtee sawng® naa(f)

follow one around like a puppy dog*, to be clingy** - - - - - - - - - - -dtit(l) sawy® hawy(f) dtaam

travel separately to the same destination* - - - - - - - - - - -dtaang(l) kon dtaang(l) bpai

simple folk, common folk - - - - - - - - - - - - -dtaa see® dtaa saa®

grandparents, ancestors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -bpoo(l) yaa(f) dtaa yaai

trophy girl**, trophy wife** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -dtuk(h)-ga(l)-dtaa naa(f) rot(h)

jump around excitedly or agitatedly* - - - - - - - - - - -dten(f) raeng(h) dten(f) gaa

get enough sleep* - - - - - - - - - - - - - -nawn lap(l) dtem dtaa, nawn lap(l) dtem im(l)*

I can assure you that… - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -poot(f) dai(f) dtem bpaak(l)

blind leading the blind** (dwarf carry the hunchback) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -dtia(f) um(f) kawm(f)

day in day out, every single day - - - - - - - - - - - - mai(f) wayn(h) dtae(l) la(h) wan

pubescent, to reach puberty - - - - - - - - - - - -dtaek(l) neua(h) saao®, dtaek(l) num(l) dtaek(l) saao®

walk softly but carry a big stick**, hypocritical - - - - - - - meu theu® saak(l) bpaak(l) theu® sin®

not give a hoot**, not give a d-mn** - - - - - - mai(f) sai(l) jai, tam bpen tawng mai(f) roo(h) rawn(h)

all one has to one's name - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -tang(h) neua(h) tang(h) dtua

old geezer* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - dtaa tao(f)

you scumbag* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -ai(f) wayn nan(h)

cut the bull*, don't give me that sh-t* - - - - - - -yaa(l) maa yohk(f)-yoh(h), yaa(l) maa lee-laa

conceited - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -yok(h) dton khom(l) taan(f)

you psychopathic bitch* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - yaai jit(l) wi(h)-bpa(l)-rit(l)

no big deal, no biggy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mai(f) theu® saa®

boobs, tits - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -ang® nom อั๋ง นม

has no sense of time - - - - - - - - - - - -mai(f) roo(h) jak(l) way-lam(f) way-laa เวล่ำ

The last two contain words that I could not find in any dictionary, but seem to be recognized by some Thai people. I would appreciate any one's experiences with these words.