THAI SOCIETY
Thai
society is very hierarchised.
In Thai
language there is a lot of words to say "I"
or "YOU". The ways
of saying "I" or "YOU" are depending on the person your are talking
to. It depends on your status, on the status of the person in front of you.
That is
why clothes are
very important in Thai society. A lot of foreigners don't understand why Thai
people wear pants instead of shorts, shirts with tie-rack, shirts with high
sleeves and so on... with a so hot weather. That is because appearance is
important in Thai society, it can reveal the status of the person. On the
opposite point Thai people are always puzzled by foreign tourists who wear so
few, so short clothes. They are really puzzled.
When
talking to Thai people for the first time, they will always talk about your
age, your family, your job and your wages. First it is surprising but they have
no bad idea in mind, it is just a way to know your status, your rank.
Here is
a little summary of the words to say "I"
or "YOU".
|
: "CHAN"
means "I"
with family, wife, husband. |
|
: "THEU"
means "YOU"
with family, wife, husband. |
|
: "PHOM"
means "I"
(masculine) with friends, person of higher status. |
|
: "DICHAN"
means "I"
(feminine) with friends, person of higher status. |
|
: "KHUN"
means "YOU"
with friends, person of higher status. |
|
: "THAN"
means "YOU"
with person of really higher status. |
|
Vocabulary used when speaking with a monk
is not the same as everyday vocabulary. Monks deserve respect. Depending on
the age of the monk different words are used when talking to a monk. |
|
: "LUANG
PHI" means "YOU" with a monk that could be your brother. |
|
: "LUANG
PHO" means "YOU" with a monk that could be your father. |
|
: "LUANG
PU" means "YOU" with an old renowned monk. |
|
: "Luang
Ta" ( often a man that did become a monk when he was quite old ) is
less respectful that "Luang Pho". |
|
: "Luang
thera" is a Thai word used for a man being a monk for 10 years. |
There
is also a lot of different words if talking with sons of the king, daughters of
the king. Different words for five generations. Since King Rama 5, people lost their
royal ranking status after 5 generations.
|
: "KHA
PHRA PHUTA CHAO" means "YOU" when talking to the King. |
|
: "KU"
means "I"
used by person of really lower status. |
|
: "MEUNG"
means "YOU"
used by person of really lower status. |
Foreigners
shall not use these two last words as they are really not polite at all. Use
them with a normal thai people and you will loose a friend forever.
The end
of the sentence is also very important. When speaking with unknown persons,
end of sentence particle shall be used to show politeness. With closed friends
it is not necessary at all. Like words to say "I"
or "YOU" there is a
lot of end of sentence particles. Here are the most common.
|
: "KHRAP"
is used by masculine person with person of same status. |
|
: "KHRAPHOM"
is used by masculine person with person of higher status. |
|
: "KHA"
used by feminine person with persons of all status for affirmative sentences. |
|
: "KHA"
used by feminine person with persons of all status for interrogative
sentences. |
More about
everyday life in Thai society