Am putting this one here as hopefuly we'll get some input from Thai wives. We also seem to be in the winter doldrums and this may be some fun?
The very simple English word: FINISH
The two most common in Thai are:
set laa-oh, meaning 'to have finished already'.
moht laa-oh, meaning 'to have finished up, all used up, all gone already'.
This is indeed a farang brain burner when trying to have a conversation. There seems to always be a temporary mental short circuit for a second or two trying to decide which is the correct term.
For example, we went to the gas station to fill up the car tank and got the reply 'moht laa-oh', meaning the station's underground tanks were empty.
For example, I just got finished cooking dinner and called everyone to the table by saying ' kow (food/rice) set laa-oh.
There are 3-4 others also to signify the 'finish' of some specific things, like eating, reading a book or seeing a movie, to quit something etc.
I'm searching my brain for a something that can be 'finished', but which Thai word to use would be uncertain, or perhaps you could use either?
I'm sure there are dozens of other very specific and universally used English words that may have multiple Thai words as a possible translation?
If you can think of any, let's hear them. Pete
Confusing Thai words/meanings
Hi prcscct
No expert, but here was I do
finish/make finished - tham hai set ( to finalize something)
finished (task) - set or set laeo ( any job - like making dinner)
finished/ ended - jop or jop laeo ( used when something of defined duration has ended - like a movie in the Cinema)
finished/used up - mot (like your empty tank)
Hope this contribute to the confusion
Thai language rules seems to be like any other rules in Thailand
No expert, but here was I do
finish/make finished - tham hai set ( to finalize something)
finished (task) - set or set laeo ( any job - like making dinner)
finished/ ended - jop or jop laeo ( used when something of defined duration has ended - like a movie in the Cinema)
finished/used up - mot (like your empty tank)
Hope this contribute to the confusion
Thai language rules seems to be like any other rules in Thailand
The charm of asia is more than the girlies !
Hi prcscct
Better clarify a little
Tham hai set - is used as command or promise
Be a little careful with "set", as it seems to mean "die" also (actually some kind on logic in that - go figure ), and some thai's seems to prefer "job" instead - not sure if that goes with different regions or not.
Better clarify a little
Tham hai set - is used as command or promise
Be a little careful with "set", as it seems to mean "die" also (actually some kind on logic in that - go figure ), and some thai's seems to prefer "job" instead - not sure if that goes with different regions or not.
The charm of asia is more than the girlies !
- bozzman101
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- bozzman101
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A couple of phrases that catch me out are
" kaii kye kai gai?"- who sells chicken eggs? This one I just cannot master the right tones for the first three words no matter how hard I try.
The other is "mai me lot" , it can mean "the food is tasteless" or "there's no car( or cars)" Never been able to get an explanation for this one !
" kaii kye kai gai?"- who sells chicken eggs? This one I just cannot master the right tones for the first three words no matter how hard I try.
The other is "mai me lot" , it can mean "the food is tasteless" or "there's no car( or cars)" Never been able to get an explanation for this one !
Complexity is so simply overrated
- bozzman101
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Hehe - this one could be called a close calldeepee wrote:
The other is "mai me lot" , it can mean "the food is tasteless" or "there's no car( or cars)" Never been able to get an explanation for this one !
The difference lays in the Thai spelling - not able to transfer Thai letters to here yet - working on it
Taste, as you write "lot" is actually "ros", where car is "rot". Only very little sound difference, and might differ from dialect to dialect.
If you are speaking, you could choose " Mai me yon" for no car.
The charm of asia is more than the girlies !