Just wondering what the difference is?

รู้ - roo - to know (understand)

ทราบ - sahp - to know (understand)

สนใจ - sonjai - to know (understand)

I have heard all these in varying contexts. I have used different combinations in actual speech & sometimes I'm just met with blank looks.

I have allready gathered that "sahp" seems to be more polite than "roo", however, I'm still not really sure on the exact context of usage.

Would it be possible for some of the more fluent speakers to walk me through this one?

Cheers & thanx,

Soundman.

รู้ - ruu - to know (understand)

ทราบ - saab - to know (understand)

These two are synonyms. Use ทราบ - saab for extra politeness, for example when asking polite questions, a very common starting phrase is ไม่ทราบว่า followed by the question.

สนใจ sonjai does not mean to know, but 'to be interested' so I am not quite sure why you added that to the list.

Know as in 'be acquainted with' or 'be familiar with' is รู้จัก ruujag

Knowledge is ความรู้ khwaam ruu and can not be replaced by (ความทราบ khwaam saab).

Just wondering what the difference is?

รู้ - roo - to know (understand)

ทราบ - sahp - to know (understand)

สนใจ - sonjai - to know (understand)

I have heard all these in varying contexts. I have used different combinations in actual speech & sometimes I'm just met with blank looks.

I have allready gathered that "sahp" seems to be more polite than "roo", however, I'm still not really sure on the exact context of usage.

Would it be possible for some of the more fluent speakers to walk me through this one?

Cheers & thanx,

Soundman.

soundman, not an expert but to get the ball rolling.sorry no thai keyboard.

1. roo, to know

2. roojak, to know a person or place

3.sahp, a more polite form of roo, usually used in newspapers/television, and dare i say, more refined, better educated people.

4. sonjai, i thought that meant, to pay attention to,to be interested in, or to be curious.

when talking, i tend to use what the other person uses, eg if they use sahp, i will use it, if they use roo, i use roo.

i tend not to use different combinations, sometimes i get the feeling thais are unable to think laterally, eg, if a thai said to me, they have a black cat on their head, the first thing i would think is , oh, they meant to say, hat or cap.

hope this helps.

dont worry, the experts will be along later, to put us both right.

Ok. Thanks for the help with that.

Sonjai was the word giving me a headache. (from actually listening to farangs in bars using it incorrectly)

I think I've got it sorted.

สนใจรถคันนี้ - ไม่สนใจ - sonjai rot kun nee? - mai sonjai.

Are you interested in this car? - Not interested.

Cheers & thanx.

Soundman.

stay outta the bars Soundman