Jing, La

[HeijoshinCool]

Meanings and uses for the phrase, Jing, la, please?

Is it geographical?

Would the English, 'really?', be an appropriate translation?

[Albacore]

You're probably hearing จริงเหรอ, transliterated to "jing lor" or "jing lcc", and "Really?" would be an appropriate translation. I don't know geographic origins, but I hear it every single day in Bangkok from Thais of all walks of life.

[meadish_sweetball]

I would guess Albacore has caught the right one, and to answer the OP's additional question: yes, 'Really?' is an appropriate translation.

Literally: "true, or?", "real, or?"

[HeijoshinCool]

Thanks!

So, if jing la is really?, then is jing, by itself, real?

[likewise]

Jing lor liek mentioned means : Really ? Jing can be used in non question form ,example : Aharn nee phet jing - this food is really spicy . Usually in question from you would use, Jing lor or Jing mai ?

[Johpa]

Thanks!

So, if jing la is really?, then is jing, by itself, real?

By itself jing can mean 'real' or refer to 'the truth' as in 'phuut kwam jing'. In this case the particle lɘɘ indicates uncertainty on the part of the speaker and requests confirmation, just as in English we use the word 'really' with an inquisitive tone atop the word. In English we use tones the way that Thai uses particles to convey aspects of meaning.

[Albacore]

In English we use tones the way that Thai uses particles to convey aspects of meaning.

This is something I've not yet been able to do. Although I hear จริงเหรอ all the time, I've never felt comfortable saying it myself. I studied at a language school, and haven't really broken out of my comfort zone based in proper Central Thai structures. My speech can sometimes take the form of drawn out, elaborate addresses of "writing language"; and I'm often informed that I could have said the same thing with some much shorter slang phrase.

[AyG]

In spoken speech it's usually รึ rather than เหรอ. I.e. short vowel, high tone, rather than long vowel, rising tone.

รึ is an informal (and very common) contraction of รึป่าว (reu plaaw) meaning "or not".

The meaning (depending on context) could either be "Is that true or not?" (meaning, I think you may be mistaken and/or not telling the truth), or "Is that true?" (meaning, that sounds a little unlikely/incredible - is it really true?).

[HeijoshinCool]

Thanks.

[rgs2001uk]

จริงป่าว is another term I hear used.

[rgs2001uk]

^^^^ the above is incorrect, the proper spelling should be,

จริงเปล่า

[Peppy]

^^^^ the above is incorrect, the proper spelling should be,

จริงเปล่า

True, but they say it the way he wrote it.

Edit: Er, I mean the way you wrote it first.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Peppy

[Johpa]

In spoken speech it's usually รึ

Can't recall over the last thirty years ever hearing it with an /r/ rather than with an /l/.

[Peppy]

There are quite a few variations:

จริงหรือเปล่า

จริงหรือ

จริงเหรอ

จริงรึ

จริงป่าว

จริงปะ

จริงอ่ะ

etc.

[soundman]

Possible other explanation for the OP.

"Jing La" is using the Malay particle "La" supposing the Thai particles of either "reu" or "mai" or most commonly "na". Go to Singapore and you will hear the "La" particle all the time, and in Bkk you hear some Thai's using it occasionally. I first heard this at a machinery exhibition I was involved with many years ago, where the were a few Singaporean businessmen. By the end of the exhibition all the Thai's were using the "La" particle.

Edit: Added.

Edited September 25, 2012 by soundman

[nalaknarak]

Hi, Here's more explanation from this guy on youtube:

I hope this helps.

[TheChiefJustice]

There are quite a few variations:

จริงหรือเปล่า

จริงหรือ

จริงเหรอ

จริงรึ

จริงป่าว

จริงปะ

จริงอ่ะ

etc.

These are all correct. I tend to favor adding a ครับ after them. Without it, one may appear to an educated person as a touch common.

[leosmith]

True, but they say it the way he wrote it.

Some do, some don't.

Per Becker, the three ways to write that "la" are:

หรือ

เหรอ

เรอะ

and not

รึ

I tend to favor adding a ครับ

You really know your ครับ

Edited December 29, 2012 by leosmith