No, dont worry, Thai language is not that difficult. At least not if you take some time learning the following words and sentences. I learned these words during my quarentine and this helps me really good on the streets and in the taxi’s. Please, if you are coming to Thailand in the future, take some time to get to know the Thai language.
Krab and Khaa—As a man you must use Krab every time at the end of the sentence. As a woman, you must say Khaa every time at the end of the sentence. It makes your life in Bangkok just a little bit easier because it is polite and Thai people use it to talk to you.
Sa-wad-dee— So this sentence you end with a Krab (Sawaa die Krab) and a Khaa (Sawaa die Khaa). You can use this sentence as a good morning, good afternoon and good evening. So at any time of the day.
Sabaai dii mai?— As a continuation of Sawaa die, you can ask this phrase. It means, “How are you?” It is the formal way of asking how you are doing. And believe me, the cab ride becomes a lot more fun when you’ve asked this. The first time I asked this, I explained to the driver the entire route what the sport “korfball” is, which is the sport I’ve been playing for years. If you don’t know it, look it up. I’m not going to explain it again. “Sabaai dii mai Krab?” and “Sabaai dii mai Khaa?” Think the Krab and Khaa story is clear now. Are you talking to your friends? Then use, “Pben ngai bang”? It’s the informal way if you want to know how someone is doing.
Khob khun— Simply thank you. Not a whole lot to say, I guess. Oh yea, if you think the service was very good, then you say ‘mahk’ after the sentence, so, “Khob khun mahk”. This means
Khot tode— When you accidentally bump into somebody or want to pass someone in the seven eleven you say ‘Khod khun’, meaning sorry in English. At all with this sentence, if you don’t say Krab or Khaa, it doesn’t sound sincere.
Mai pben rai— This phrase you use in 2 ways. Both times you use it to respond to someone. When someone says, “Khob khun krab” or “Khot tode krab” (I can see you scrolling up). If someone says sorry to you, use this phrase to make it clear that it’s not a problem or that it’s okay. Unless you want to make a problem, in which case I won’t help you any further with this blog. You can also use this sentence to leave the change for what it is. Suppose you buy groceries for 90 bath in the 7-eleven and you give a 100 bath bill and don’t need the 10 bath back. “Mai pben rai crab/ khaa.” It’s okay.
Hiu— Something I am often. Hungry. Thai people especially say, “Hiu Khao.” Khao means rice. So literally they say hungry rice. Hungry for rice. Are you thirsty for water? Then say “Hiu narm”. Yes, hungy water….
A roi— If you have eaten somewhere delicious, which you are going to do everywhere anyway, say A roi. It means nothing more than delicious, lovely or appetizing. If you have a dish that is really, really, really delicious: “A roi jing jing”, “really delicious”! You can also use “A roi mahk”, this means “very tasty”.
Mai ao pet— A phrase I have used many times, because I am just a European boy. Mai= no, ao= take and pet= spicy. I don’t want to order spicy food or no spicy food. But the Thai people are adroit. If you say this phrase, they sometimes put less spiciness in it. If you want absolutely no spicy food, say, “Mai ao prik.” Prik means chili, so “Don’t put chili in my food at all”.
Pbai laew na— When you leave a restaurant, bar or whatever, you say this. Whenever you need to be somewhere else, want to sleep on time, because you are too drunk or just don’t like the people you are dining or drinking with, use this. It means “I’ve got to go”, “I’m going” or “I’m leaving”.
