luckyfarang Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 On the Phrase of the day thread, I agree with Dan's final post that MAI(f) DAI(f) means "did not" when used before a verb, and "cannot" when used after a verb. But "can't" also takes two other forms in Thai. WAI(f) NAM(h) MAI(f) DAI(f) - "I can't swim" (for some reason, don't have time, don't have permission, etc.) WAI(f) NAM(h) MAI(f) PEN - "I can't swim" because I never learned, don't know how WAI(f) NAM(h) MAI(f) WAI® "I can't swim" because I am too exhausted, or not strong enough Similarly the word beautiful has several possible translations: SUAI® "beautiful" in appearance, to look at PRAW!(h) "beautiful" sound, music, voice, etc. HAWM® Literally "fragrant", must be used when describing any lovely aroma, smell, or fragrance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamock Chokaprret Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 I believe 'na-rack' is a synonym of 'suay.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 Na-rak basically means Cute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 Hi..... 'na-rak' doesn't necessarily mean 'beautiful'. Children are narak, animals can be narak. The closest translation is 'cute' I think. Compounding the prefix น่า 'na' (falling tone) onto the front of a verb turns it into an adjective and adds the meaning of being 'worthy' of the action of the verb. So... na-rak then can be taken to mean 'worthy of love' . It often works pretty much the same as the English suffix -able, loveable, liveable etc... Some other examples of prefix 'na' adjectives that you may have heard... na-gliat (ugly) - worthy of hate. na-gin (very edible) worthy of eating. na-sonjai (interesting) worthy of caring. na-glooa (scary) worthy of fear. na-doo (pleasing to the eye) worthy of looking na-beua (boring) worthy of boredom. na-yoo (liveabe) worthy of living/staying. Some might say that Bangkok is 'na-yoo' - a good place to live. ================================ Cheers, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 thanks rictic.....you got in there before i got to post.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 Just as long as I get in first with the women. Yours is a longer more detailed post, nice one!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamock Chokaprret Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 Thanks Dan. Hadn't heard enough of those words to make a connection. I've stated a number of times I'm new at this language. But I like to try and be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamock Chokaprret Posted September 20, 2001 Report Share Posted September 20, 2001 At the risk of someone making fun of my lousy Thai again, I'll post another synonym for beautiful. That would be: 'la-aw' Not sure of the tones here which makes me think they're probably midtone syllables. And before anyone flames me, I know the word is Khmen but I've come to suspect that it also has a place in either formal, written or older Thai. I'm not sure exactly of the connection (but sure would like a clarification from someone like Scum_Baggio if they know). I do know that it appears to be universally understood, of course that might mean I'm hanging with too many Issan girls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 21, 2001 Report Share Posted September 21, 2001 Lamock Ch., do you mean "law"? That means handsome or good-looking and is only used with men. If you use it with a women, you'll reap a storm of laughter! "Na-rak" actually means "lovable" (just like "na-gliet" literally is "hateable") and it's no synonym for "suay". It's rather one or two steps below beautiful - if you call someone "na-rak", it means he/she is very nice and pleasant, but not necessarily a very good looker. Often Thais evade the question if someone is beautiful by answering he/she is "na-rak"; i.e. not beautiful, but they don't want to be too rude. [ September 20, 2001: Message edited by: Scum_Baggio ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pescator Posted September 21, 2001 Report Share Posted September 21, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Lamock Chokaprret: At the risk of someone making fun of my lousy Thai again, I'll post another synonym for beautiful. That would be: 'la-aw' Not sure of the tones here which makes me think they're probably midtone syllables. And before anyone flames me, I know the word is Khmen but I've come to suspect that it also has a place in either formal, written or older Thai. I'm not sure exactly of the connection (but sure would like a clarification from someone like Scum_Baggio if they know). I do know that it appears to be universally understood, of course that might mean I'm hanging with too many Issan girls. What makes you think this word is Khmer? And what is the connection to Issan? Formal, written or older thai? The word "Law" for handsome is generally used all over Thailand this very day in everyday language. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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