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THAI SOCIETY

STATUS AND RANK

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

: "CHAN" means "I" with family, wife, husband.

THEU

: "THEU" means "YOU" with family, wife, husband.

PHOM

: "PHOM" means "I" (masculine) with friends, person of higher status.

DICHAN

: "DICHAN" means "I" (feminine) with friends, person of higher status.

KHUN

: "KHUN" means "YOU" with friends, person of higher status.

THAN

: "THAN" means "YOU" with person of really higher status.

 


Thai monks

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

: "LUANG PHI" means "YOU" with a monk that could be your brother.

LUANG PHO

: "LUANG PHO" means "YOU" with a monk that could be your father.

LUANG PU

: "LUANG PU" means "YOU" with an old renowned monk.

LUANG TA

: "Luang Ta" ( often a man that did become a monk when he was quite old ) is less respectful that "Luang Pho".

LUANG THERA

: "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

: "KHA PHRA PHUTA CHAO" means "YOU" when talking to the King.

 


KU

: "KU" means "I" used by person of really lower status.

MEUNG

: "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

: "KHRAP" is used by masculine person with person of same status.

KHRAPHOM

: "KHRAPHOM" is used by masculine person with person of higher status.

KHA

: "KHA" used by feminine person with persons of all status for affirmative sentences.

KHA

: "KHA" used by feminine person with persons of all status for interrogative sentences.

 


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