Y'know I think I'd have worked on ascertaining the presence or absence of these qualities a little earlier...Originally Posted by jimbobs
Damn annoying Thais...
although, there's some truth to the idea that thais (in general) prefer not giving a straight answer to a question they're not comfortable with (ignore it),
Originally Posted by JPPR2imagine if an educated thai went to do a PHD in the states and hooked up with a local bird who had dropped out of high school, he might think to himself (for a split second): "what's with these americans being so dumb?"Originally Posted by JPPR2
5555 I try to avoid asking questions. I think it is a lot about comprehension or perhaps evasion?
Evasion is something the Westerner is really good at however....especially public servants and service personnel.
" Dear put your helmet on...why is it in the basket?..."I go to library".
But I still love her to death.
What language do you ask your questions in? Do you realise that there's no direct equivalent of "yes" or "no" in Thai? It may surprise you to learn that foreign languages are not direct translations of English, indeed many foreigners were so unwise as to devise their pagan patois without any references to English at all!
If you want languages that provide the kind of simplistic direct yes or no answers you require then stick to countries where romance or Germanic languages are the norm, you won't find many of them in SE Asia and Tai-Kedai is certainly not one of them. On the other hand you could get off your lazy arse and spend the required amount of time it takes to learn how positive and negative are expressed in the language of the poor bugger you're making a fool of yourself in front of.
Last edited by DrB0b; 11-02-2017 at 07:21 PM.
The Above Post May Contain Strong Language, Flashing Lights, or Violent Scenes.
Damn Superior Foreigners...
[still haven't a clue]
^
^^
So grumpy... learning languages is supposed to be fun.
When I'm shopping for something in particular, they always seem to have a direct answer: Mai Mee! (often without even looking up)
Nothing profound here since Thais rather not speak to foreigners since they are usually impatient assholes.
Brilliant!Originally Posted by fiddler
No I didn't. I thought "chai" and "mee" were equivalent to "yes" and "no".Originally Posted by DrB0b
yes=Chai and no=mai chai
mee =have?
No hab...
No. Chai is often translated as "yes", even by Thais and even in dictionaries but it actually means "correct" or "I agree". For example "are you hungry?" in English can be answered with "yes" but the Thai equivalent cannot be answered with "chai"..
Possibly the closest you can get in Thai to the English yes is "ka" or "krub" as a response.
Here, simple guide
Learn Thai Culture
Thai Language Lessons - Yes & No
Complicated guide
https://theses.ncl.ac.uk/dspace/handle/10443/1700
However the likely hood of a Thai responding in the negative to this particular question is so remote that it's pretty irrelevant.Originally Posted by DrB0b
That PhD thesis on yes/no in Thai I posted the link to above has a whole chapter on "are you hungry". Next time I go for a bowl of noodles I intend to work through the whole thing!
Hmm, might do a series "how to live in Thailand without ever saying No!". Pretty sure that's what most of us have been doing anyway
Last edited by DrB0b; 13-02-2017 at 12:45 PM.
mai mee = no have?Originally Posted by Nicethaiza
khun hiw kao mai ka khun Sumbitch? eiei
Chico I speak lao ask...mee hong wang bor...they answer bor hong tem der...eiei
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