What Does It Mean

[jns72]

I don't hear my neighbours a lot, but if I hear something it are mostly the words "kiat" or "hia", I'm curious about the meaning of those words.

[GarryP]

The last word means monitor lizard. It is a common profanity. I hope they are not talking about their neighbours.

On the other hand, "kiat" is a type of frog so if they are using both words, perhaps the are talking about dinner.

[jns72]

The last word means monitor lizard. It is a common profanity. I hope they are not talking about their neighbours.

On the other hand, "kiat" is a type of frog so if they are using both words, perhaps the are talking about dinner.

Ok frogs it is then...

Thanks for the fast reply!

[rgs2001uk]

If you are hearing the word, hia, are you sure the other word isnt, เกลียด, glìat ,meaning to hate or detest.

[Time Traveller]

It's hard to tell you what the words mean without knowing the tones or at least hearing the context. For example, hia could be เฮีย meaning พี่ which is a Chinese word for brother. Or it could be as in ไอ้เหี้ย which is derogatory word for some man. It does also mean a type of lizard but the real meaning when used like that is something like "you bastard". Used to tell someone to stay away from you or else they'll make you unlucky like them.

Similarly, Kiat could be meaning lazy as in ขี้เกียจ or เกียจคร้าน.....OR it could also be someone's name.

One thing I've noticed with learners of Thai language is that they often hear and understand the literal meaning of words or sentences correctly, but they don't actually understand the idiom or cultural meaning of what is being said.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Time Traveller

[GarryP]

Sorry but he said that he does not hear the neighbors often but when he does he hears the word mentioned. I think it would be safe to say that what he is hearing is something said in anger, i.e. loudly, and as such it is very unlikely to be the Chinese salutation.

There are many possible English equivalents to the colloquial meaning of "hia" bastard would be one. Monitor lizards are disliked (hated) by most Thais because of their nature and habits so calling someone a "hia" is like comparing them to the animal. I have never heard it used on its own to tell someone to keep away from the person doing the name calling, but may follow a short sentence telling the person to go away such as ไปให้พ้นไอ้เหี้ย or bye hai pon ai hia (extremely impolite).

Interesting to note that in some cultures when displeased or pissed off with someone, one would catch a monitor lizard write your curses and bad feelings against the said person on the back of the lizard in red paint and then let it go. You have then got everything off your chest and can continue to live with the person in question in harmony, your bad feelings having gone with the lizard.

[SoftWater]

One thing I've noticed with learners of Thai language is that they often hear and understand the literal meaning of words or sentences correctly, but they don't actually understand the idiom or cultural meaning of what is being said.

Very true in my case, both in listening and reading. The cause is restricted exposure to real Thai spoken discourse (i.e. discourse that is not modified because of the presence of a foreigner) and lack of documentation. In English, the vast majority of slang, colloquialisms, and idiomatic expressions are recorded somewhere and can be studied. Not so in Thai, where even in reputable dictionaries the number of slang and idiomatic expressions is very limited, in part I believe, because of a conservatism and prescriptivism within Thai culture about what 'should' be known and what 'should' be said.

Edited November 5, 2009 by SoftWater

[kikenyoy]

One thing I've noticed with learners of Thai language is that they often hear and understand the literal meaning of words or sentences correctly, but they don't actually understand the idiom or cultural meaning of what is being said.

Very true in my case, both in listening and reading. The cause is restricted exposure to real Thai spoken discourse (i.e. discourse that is not modified because of the presence of a foreigner) and lack of documentation. In English, the vast majority of slang, colloquialisms, and idiomatic expressions are recorded somewhere and can be studied. Not so in Thai, where even in reputable dictionaries the number of slang and idiomatic expressions is very limited, in part I believe, because of a conservatism and prescriptivism within Thai culture about what 'should' be known and what 'should' be said.

Softwater,

Have you tried reading any Thai fiction? I'm 40 pages into Chart Korbjitti's "Mad Dogs and co." and the language seems very authentic...characters use the pronouns กู and มึง, refer to other people as มัน, etc. There is quite a bit of cursing and there have been a few expressions (often using the word กล้วย) which are adult in nature.

I bought the e-book translation which has helped me a ton with the comprehension. A few times I've double checked the meaning of an expression with my wife and she's said it's correct.

[DavidHouston]

One thing I've noticed with learners of Thai language is that they often hear and understand the literal meaning of words or sentences correctly, but they don't actually understand the idiom or cultural meaning of what is being said.

Very true in my case, both in listening and reading. The cause is restricted exposure to real Thai spoken discourse (i.e. discourse that is not modified because of the presence of a foreigner) and lack of documentation. In English, the vast majority of slang, colloquialisms, and idiomatic expressions are recorded somewhere and can be studied. Not so in Thai, where even in reputable dictionaries the number of slang and idiomatic expressions is very limited, in part I believe, because of a conservatism and prescriptivism within Thai culture about what 'should' be known and what 'should' be said.

I think you need to look beyond traditional sources. Consider, just to name a few, the following:

"คำคล้องจอง, เสน่ห์ของภาษาไทย", ชัยรัตน์ วงศ์เกียรติ์ขจร, ๒๕๔๖, 210 บาท

"พจนานุกรมคำใหม่ เล่ม ๑", ราชบัฑิตยสถาน, ๒๕๕๐, 100 บาท

"๒,๐๐๐ อุปมาอุปไมย" เอกรัตน์ อุดมพร, ๒๕๔๒, 90 บาท

"ภาษาพาสงสัย", นววรรณ พันธุเมธา, 2550, 120 บาท

"รักภาษาไทย", นววรรณ พันธุเมธา, ๒๕๔๙, 300 บาท

"ภาษาไทย ๕ นาที" เล่ม ๑ - ๙, เล่มละประมาณ 250 บาท

"ภาษาไทยในชีวิตประจำวัน", ประยอม ซองทอง, ๒๕๕๑, 150 บาท

Unfortunately, many of these books are printed in limited series, typically 1,000 - 2,000 volumes per printing, so one must be quick to get them soon after they are published. For those of you fortunate enough to live in Bangkok, a monthly visit to the Chula Book Center's Thai Language section will be sufficient to acquire them when they come out.

Edited November 5, 2009 by DavidHouston

[SoftWater]

Thanks Kikenyoy and David. Much appreciated.

[kikenyoy]

Thanks David...I'll keep an eye for them.

SoftWater,

If you're interested, the Thai title is พันธุ์หมาบ้า and the author is ชาติ กอบจิตติ

[SoftWater]

Thanks David...I'll keep an eye for them.

SoftWater,

If you're interested, the Thai title is พันธุ์หมาบ้า and the author is ชาติ กอบจิตติ

Cheers. What exactly did you mean by you "bought the e-book translation"

a. you bought the print version in Thai and an e-book version in English; or

b. you bought one book which was a dual language e-book?

It does sound a bit more motivating than the few dry tomes I've tried getting through before, but I hate reading e-books, so I'll look for a print version if there is one.

Edited November 5, 2009 by SoftWater

[kikenyoy]

I bought the print version in Thai. The English version is available in print form or e-book. I find it awkward to try to hold 2 books at once or have to keep re-opening the English one so I chose the e-book. It works great for me...I read the Thai book while following along with the e-book on the computer, and I have an online dictionary open along with Anki to input any interesting sentences.

I don't think I can post a link...so the translator's name is Marcel Barang and if you do a google search his website is the first one that pops up.

I've suffered through a few dry tomes as well...definitely not the case here. The first chapter is called "เหล้า-เล่า" and it's just two drunk guys telling stories...a couple of which made me legitimately laugh out loud.

[Rikker]

You can post a link. The forum rules disallow linking to one's own site, commercial or otherwise, without permission, as well as linking to other forums.

Marcel recently updated his website thaifiction.com. The old site had many short stories, novel excerpts, and even entire books he's translated, in HTML format and freely downloadable. He has now removed all those, and sells typeset PDFs of his translations. Older versions of his site can still be found via the Way Back Machine at archive.org.