limbo Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 If I ask a Thai if they can swim (happens in my profession), I ask; waai naam dai mai? THan I expect the answer to be mai dai. Some Thais however answer with mai pen. :: What's the concept here, I most certainly don't get it. Please explain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaad Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 I think it has to do with 'ability'. Swimming is an ability so it should be 'mai pen' (such as driving a car) but I've heard the other answer as well. I guess they don't take this grammar point seriously. 'Mai dai' is for (im)possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pom Michael Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Another example of what happens when you learn Thai (or any language I guess) just by listening without formal training. I don't know the actual answer, but I use from listening to other like this: Mai Dai - I cannot Mai Bpen - I have never tried (or experienced), so I don't know how to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted November 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Allright , thanks Zaad and Gummigut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gummigut Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 What did I do? <<burp>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous_Dog Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 He liked the kilt you had on last night, I sent him the photo's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaad Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Anything we should know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khun_Kong Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Waii naam dai mai? Bpen, dae wanii waii mai dai. Yes I can, but not today. I think that's how it would go. Thanks to you and P.Michael for reminding me of this usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golyadka Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Just to elaborate, Thais have a distinction between the various meanings of the verb "to be able to" which we don't have in English. daai: circumstance e.g. waai naam mai daai - I do have the ability to swim, but the circumstances are such that I cannot come out to swim bpen: implies ability e.g. waai naam mai bpen - I don't know how to swim (in everyday speech, daai is often used instead of bpen, but this is formally incorrect) There are two other options, wai (short vowel sound, rising tone) and saa-maat (rising-falling), wai: implies physical strength e.g. waai naam sip kilomeet mai wai - I do not have the physical strength to swim ten kilometers saa-maat: Similar to bpen, but formal. Quite common in writing, but rarely spoken (except as the noun kwaam-saa-maat = ability). G. :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted November 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Well Gummi, gues I have to withdraw that and thank Pom Michael instead! Thnaks to the other guys as well for more info on this subject, it's appreciated and puts it into context for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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