webfact Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 It's not okay: What Thais really mean by 'Mai Pen Rai'By Nanticha OcharoenchaiIllustration: Praew TansangaOPINION — It’s a known fact that mai pen rai is one of the most-used responses in the Thai language. The three syllables roughly translate to “it’s okay” or “don’t worry” — but what does this simple phrase actually mean?After asking not only foreigners, but also native Thais, what their definition of mai pen rai is, I received a surprising variety of responses.Just some of the many interpretations were as follows: “Yeah, I know what it means — ‘whatever,’ right?”; “It’s like never mind,”; “Oh — don’t worry,” and so on.As a Thai growing up in the Land of Smiles, the significance of this frequently-used expression never really dawned on me. It was a nice and common thing to say, even among the foreign kids at my international school.Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/02/18/its-not-okay-what-thais-really-mean-mai-pen-rai-- Coconuts Bangkok 2016-02-18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuchulainn Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 What does this have to do with the news? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masuk Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 What does this have to do with the news? It's a forum buddy, not only NEWS. You and I have just learned something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaiduncankk Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 What does this have to do with the news? Mai Pen Rai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanlic Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) It doesn't matter is the correct tranlation but when you translate it into French then into Italian it comes out in English as stick your pizza up your jacksy Edited February 18, 2016 by Tanlic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iumentum Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) One thing i probably wont ever fully accept in Thailand, is the mai pen rai attitude toward so much. Such issues and headaches it can bring, specially when me and my girlfriend was building house here. The mai pen rai attitude does not change the things, that people are actually annoyed about. I dont know how many times i heard this phrase, just to later hear someone telling how annoyed or bad it is. As an example, in the area where we live, people rely on water from the ground. A while back a guy on the street decided to make a ton of wells on his land at our street, so he could sell for plantations doing the dry season. Everyone was just mai pen rai about it, nobody taking actions against this even though everyones well ran dry, yet everyone complained about his back. Worst thing was that we had to dig an extra well, and what did my girlfriend do? hired the guy who caused the problem to begin with. But... mai pen rai.... Edited February 18, 2016 by Iumentum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vogie Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 But when I hear a Thai say it, it sounds like .... marble eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suradit69 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 One thing i probably wont ever fully accept in Thailand, is the mai pen rai attitude toward so much. Such issues and headaches it can bring, specially when me and my girlfriend was building house here. The mai pen rai attitude does not change the things, that people are actually annoyed about. I dont know how many times i heard this phrase, just to later hear someone telling how annoyed or bad it is. As an example, in the area where we live, people rely on water from the ground. A while back a guy on the street decided to make a ton of wells on his land at our street, so he could sell for plantations doing the dry season. Everyone was just mai pen rai about it, nobody taking actions against this even though everyones well ran dry, yet everyone complained about his back. Worst thing was that we had to dig an extra well, and what did my girlfriend do? hired the guy who caused the problem to begin with. But... mai pen rai.... "One thing i probably wont ever fully accept in Thailand, is the mai pen rai attitude ..." You're far too modest. I'm sure if that gets your knickers in a knot, you probably have a catalog of things you won't fully accept. There's a whole community of TV posters who are in a perpetual state of apoplexy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tywais Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 What does this have to do with the news? Guess you must be lost because at the top of this page it says Farang Pub - fun, entertainment and Expat life. Can't see the word news in there anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsxrnz Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) Me thinks the author is over thinking the phrase and doesn't comprehend that it's no different in English. "It's OK" can mean a multitude of things in English. Here's the Kiwi equivalent of Mai-bpen-rai. "Aw yeah no, s'okay, cheu bro, no worries." which can be used in at least as many ways as the Thai equivalent. Edited February 18, 2016 by Gsxrnz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverdie Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 What does this have to do with the news? Guess you must be lost because at the top of this page it says Farang Pub - fun, entertainment and Expat life. Can't see the word news in there anywhere. You know what, wouldn't it be nice if some folk could just appreciate that we have a gentleman like webfact here at tvf scouring the Internet looking for various stuff for us to engage over rather than gripe and whinge all the time. Crimes what's wrong with people. Please don't answer that. Thanks for all your effort WF, champion young man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverdie Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 You wouldn't get the chance to ask about the last piece of pizza at my joint, they're like frigging piranhas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandalf12 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Me thinks the author is over thinking the phrase and doesn't comprehend that it's no different in English. "It's OK" can mean a multitude of things in English. Here's the Kiwi equivalent of Mai-bpen-rai. "Aw yeah no, s'okay, cheu bro, no worries." which can be used in at least as many ways as the Thai equivalent. Thanks for that mate, no worries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pennine Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 readers might like to know the South African equivalent, namely, "Ja, well, no, fine". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_smith237 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Mai pen rai..... the problem I have with the phrase is that whenever I hear it, its generally because there is a 'pen rai' usually a big pen-rai !!! I've often found the phrase 'mai pen rai' to be most commonly used by those who have cause a problem in the first place and are attempting to 'deflate' the issue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHERNSTAR Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 readers might like to know the South African equivalent, namely, "Ja, well, no, fine". Ja nee ou swaar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Mai pen rai..... the problem I have with the phrase is that whenever I hear it, its generally because there is a 'pen rai' usually a big pen-rai !!! I've often found the phrase 'mai pen rai' to be most commonly used by those who have cause a problem in the first place and are attempting to 'deflate' the issue... Or when it is someone else's problem but not their's. Some years back we had a spell of windy weather during the hot dry season and forest fires kept breaking out in my area. Twice near my house, once on 3 sides of it and taking many hours to put out. Needless to say I was a bit wary and constantly keeping an eye out for fires in the distance and the like. Throughout it all, neighbors kept telling me it was all "mai pen rai". One neighbor in partricular, scolded me for my farang up-tightness on this issue. Then one morning I heard the cackling of flames in the distance, across the road. Went out to see and the fire was near her house. She came flying out the door screaming to me to call the emergency number. No mai pen rai about it, now that it was her house in the fire's path.,,, People will also reflexively say "mai pen rai" even when they are, in fact, quite obviously upset. It's just considered the "right" attitude to take, it's not always genuine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOTIRIOS Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 ....did you cover the 'bitter, sarcastic version'.....which means anything but 'Oh never mind'....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roomuck Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 No worries knackers or I couldn't give a stuff or You are welcome/ no problem (after you do something and someone thanks you) or Don't worry about it or It is not important. or Don't make a fuss or You don't have to (do it) Depends. That's my take on it. Nice laid back people these Thais. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djlest Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Mai Pen rai - Roughly translated - <deleted> You but ive got no balls to say it out loud.'so ill bitch behind your back when your gone...Thainess... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickJ Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 My Gf doesnt even like pizza...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourAces Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Mai pen rai followed with a big smile and a Wai = I hate you and all I want is your money Farung. I have heard it so many times my brain just cancels it out now All I hear now is Arai Mai Roo? I have to learn how to cancel that out too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmore99 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Mai pen rai..... the problem I have with the phrase is that whenever I hear it, its generally because there is a 'pen rai' usually a big pen-rai !!! I've often found the phrase 'mai pen rai' to be most commonly used by those who have cause a problem in the first place and are attempting to 'deflate' the issue... The opposite of "mai pen rai" (it doesn't matter) is "pen si" (it does matter) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olgab Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 But when I hear a Thai say it, it sounds like .... marble eye.How?? They can't say"R" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandrabbit Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Mai pen rai..... the problem I have with the phrase is that whenever I hear it, its generally because there is a 'pen rai' usually a big pen-rai !!! I've often found the phrase 'mai pen rai' to be most commonly used by those who have cause a problem in the first place and are attempting to 'deflate' the issue... The opposite of "mai pen rai" (it doesn't matter) is "pen si" (it does matter) I never hear it being said, my wife (Thai) says it's not spoken much. Also the way she pronounces it, it comes out as 1 word pensi but her pronunciation is more like penseee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandrabbit Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 But when I hear a Thai say it, it sounds like .... marble eye.How?? They can't say"R" and where I live it sounds like mai bell eye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreanoOzzie Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Non-Thais will never understand the true meaning of the complex and multi-layered "mai pen rai"......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumbastheycome Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 No surprise that "mai pen rai" has connotative variations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huawei Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Mai pen rai..... the problem I have with the phrase is that whenever I hear it, its generally because there is a 'pen rai' usually a big pen-rai !!! I've often found the phrase 'mai pen rai' to be most commonly used by those who have cause a problem in the first place and are attempting to 'deflate' the issue... The opposite of "mai pen rai" (it doesn't matter) is "pen si" (it does matter) I never hear it being said, my wife (Thai) says it's not spoken much. Also the way she pronounces it, it comes out as 1 word pensi but her pronunciation is more like penseee. It's used as a strong affirmative.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrilled Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 It should be spelled Mi pin Li.The average Thai can not say the letter R. it's the same as Kap Koon Krap it should be spelled Kap Koon Kap,or Cop,cause they don't say the letter R. As for what it means simple ,no sweat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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