What not to say in Thai - a Japanese textbook offends

BANGKOK: -- A textbook teaching naughty Thai vocabulary to Japanese learners provoked viral outrage in Thailand Monday.

The widely shared image of the book shows the Japanese translation of the Thai phrase "ai sat," equivalent to "douchebag" or "you <deleted>."

"Why do they need to teach these words? There are alternative expressions to show one’s anger," one user commented early Monday, as the post on dek-d.com had been shared more than 20,000 times.

Several comments requested the Ministry of Education regulate the content of the book, apparently published in Thailand, more strictly.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/What-not-to-say-in-Thai--a-Japanese-textbook-offen-30243291.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-15

People always learn the bad words first! Best way to learn a foreign language haha

People always learn the bad words first! Best way to learn a foreign language haha

oh yes.. very funny.. Easiest way to get stabbed or shot also, Thai's don't take insults lightly.

totster

Not quite sure how you would translate "douchebag" or "you ahole " into Japanese, neither words exist as an insult..... You of course could literally translate ahole Or Ketsu no anna or kommon as it would be, but it would not really be an insult. Would be interested in seeing the translations.

Edited September 15, 201411 yr by JeremyBowskill

What could be more insulting than " when are you going to pay the loan back ? "

I;m just wondering why the Ministry of Education is asked to look into this. Wouldn't the Tourist Authority of Thailand be a better organisation to improve 'things' for visitors ?

"Thai culture and friendliness

All the words you may hear mubbled at you and what they mean"

Text Book / Ministry of Education?? Is this a book being used as part of a course at an educational institution or just some random book published by some random company for those wishing to purchase it and others wishing to ban it? Perhaps the publisher is the one doing the complaining hoping to drum up sales.

Not quite sure how you would translate "douchebag" or "you ahole " into Japanese, neither words exist as an insult..... You of course could literally translate ahole Or Kommon no anna as it would be, but it would not really be an insult. Would be interested in seeing the translations.

Calling somebody the stinky hole that feces get ejaculated from would not be an insult? I actually thought there was a few Japanese words that covered this orifice when it came to insults.

I think this is fair enough....learn when you are being insulted! I don't think it is intended for the Japanese to learn and to use these words. I always avoid using these words, but some of my students are so dumb to think I don't understand them after being here 15 years.

Not quite sure how you would translate "douchebag" or "you ahole " into Japanese, neither words exist as an insult..... You of course could literally translate ahole Or Kommon no anna as it would be, but it would not really be an insult. Would be interested in seeing the translations.

Calling somebody the stinky hole that feces get ejaculated from would not be an insult? I actually thought there was a few Japanese words that covered this orifice when it came to insults.

The Japanese do a lot more with that hole than many realise!!!

Not quite sure how you would translate "douchebag" or "you ahole " into Japanese, neither words exist as an insult..... You of course could literally translate ahole Or Kommon no anna as it would be, but it would not really be an insult. Would be interested in seeing the translations.

Calling somebody the stinky hole that feces get ejaculated from would not be an insult? I actually thought there was a few Japanese words that covered this orifice when it came to insults.

well if there are please enlighten me..... I never found any or at least can't remember any from my decade in potty mouthed Hiroshima!

Of course they have insults but not that I am aware of based around this orifice.

Edited September 15, 201411 yr by JeremyBowskill

But it's ok to call us falang.

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Not quite sure how you would translate "douchebag" or "you ahole " into Japanese, neither words exist as an insult..... You of course could literally translate ahole Or Kommon no anna as it would be, but it would not really be an insult. Would be interested in seeing the translations.

Calling somebody the stinky hole that feces get ejaculated from would not be an insult? I actually thought there was a few Japanese words that covered this orifice when it came to insults.

well if there are please enlighten me..... I never found any or at least can't remember any from my decade in potty mouthed Hiroshima!

Of course they have insults but not that I am aware of based around this orifice.

The Japs should have picked up something besides being in-human on the Burma Railroad.

Want to insult a Thai? Tell them Lao has a better school system and smarter people.

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Not quite sure how you would translate "douchebag" or "you ahole " into Japanese, neither words exist as an insult..... You of course could literally translate ahole Or Kommon no anna as it would be, but it would not really be an insult. Would be interested in seeing the translations.

Calling somebody the stinky hole that feces get ejaculated from would not be an insult? I actually thought there was a few Japanese words that covered this orifice when it came to insults.

well if there are please enlighten me..... I never found any or at least can't remember any from my decade in potty mouthed Hiroshima!

Of course they have insults but not that I am aware of based around this orifice.

The Japs should have picked up something besides being in-human on the Burma Railroad.

I think they dd......... It's called radiation poisoning!

And how many Thai people know the English Language swear words??

Hypocrisy at it's finest

Its quite simple really. The Thai are angry this being taught to Japs cuz the Thai don't want foreigners to understand when they are being cursed at. It makes their Thainess look bad if you know they are talking bad to you through their smile.

I wsh i had a link to look at this book. I think on many occasions i was called names and didnt know it cuz i didnt recognise the words.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

But it's ok to call us falang.

Yes.

And not one syllable uttered during all the "Happines" speeches/News stories regarding the xenophobic "Us and Them" mentality.

Reform?

And how many Thai people know the English Language swear words??

Hypocrisy at it's finest

Many more than know basic English

As with all insults, you have to allow for what is insulting in the local area. The "ai sat" above would likely earn you a smack in the chops, and is about the equivalent of calling someone a buffalo (kwai) in level. (reference g/f from NE). OTOH calling someone an "" (dark) just doesn't have the same resonance, and "douchebag" (???) would only get you puzzled looks.

I am reliably informed that telling a Thai man that he resembles your wife (or is it his wife?) will inevitably result in blows being exchanged.

BTW if your latest g/f mispronounce darling to "dark ling", it is more than just a pronunciation problem

Edited September 15, 201411 yr by halloween

Not quite sure how you would translate "douchebag" or "you ahole " into Japanese, neither words exist as an insult..... You of course could literally translate ahole Or Kommon no anna as it would be, but it would not really be an insult. Would be interested in seeing the translations.

Calling somebody the stinky hole that feces get ejaculated from would not be an insult? I actually thought there was a few Japanese words that covered this orifice when it came to insults.

The Japanese do a lot more with that hole than many realise!!!

And the answer to this and many more Japanese mysteries, straight after this commercial break ... stay tuned....

People always learn the bad words first! Best way to learn a foreign language haha

oh yes.. very funny.. Easiest way to get stabbed or shot also, Thai's don't take insults lightly.

totster

But the rest of us do?

And how many Thai people know the English Language swear words??

Hypocrisy at it's finest

The F word is common in all it's uses especially with ladies when it comes to copulation.

People always learn the bad words first! Best way to learn a foreign language haha

oh yes.. very funny.. Easiest way to get stabbed or shot also, Thai's don't take insults lightly.

totster

Thais are holier than Lord Buddha himself........they can kick a_ss, they can insult other Thais, they knock on other people's heads, they make fun of mentally disabled people in tv-shows, but oh my God.........if a foreigner does the same.......beware: "We" Thais are so correct.......you bad foreigner!!"

But it's ok to call us falang.

I normally get 'hey you'

Want to insult a Thai? Tell them Lao has a better school system and smarter people.

Or tell them they have a nice suntan !!

What about son of bitch shit?

Is that offensive to Thais?

Having given this serious issue some more thoughts I think I know why some asked the MoE to do some censuring. It's probably related to the (self-)censuring of the Maths book cover picture

I always find the worst word I can say to a Thai is "why?"

But it's ok to call us falang.

it is not bad...