Roger Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 What is the meaning of this saying, I have heard it said by Thais on a few occasions over the years but never paid much attention 'til now. I noticed that there was a TV program on ITV with this name...anyone throw some light on it? Cheers Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 It means you don't really know much about the thing you're talking about. I can speak English snake snake fish fish. I don't know much about computer, only snake snake fish fish. snake = ngu fish = pla when Thai knows something ngu ngu pla pla, they don't know much. In a bar scene, those people just translate the words directly, not the meaning of it, expecting you to understand it. It now becomes a joke in a conversation among Thais too. Let's see whether anybody knows the meaning of 'NO CAR GARDEN' = maimi rot suan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 15, 2001 Report Share Posted August 15, 2001 "mai mii rot suan" wouldnt the "suan" in this case mean to pass in opposite directions? same spelling "สวน" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 15, 2001 Report Share Posted August 15, 2001 Not sure about the context of the Thai phrase, but ma ma hu hu in Chinese means so-so. A little of this- a little of that. If someone asks you how your meal (or girl)was in China and you reply ma ma hu hu....they will know what you mean. Then they may think you LaoHuLi too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash999 Posted August 16, 2001 Report Share Posted August 16, 2001 I was told that ngu-ngu pla-pla is from the Northeast and that it's unusual for a non-Thai to know the meaning. Oddly enough, in Chinese one says ma-ma hu-hu (horse-horse tiger-tiger) and it means virtually the same thing. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamock Chokaprret Posted August 17, 2001 Report Share Posted August 17, 2001 Gotta once again thank the board for some great insight. It's colloquialisms like this that really help you to understand how Thai's think and allow you to fit in better in conversations. Thanks to this post my standard response to: 'Phuut Thai mai?' has now become: 'Phuut Thai ngoo ngoo pla pla' which speaks the truth but implies a deeper understanding of the language. So far it hasn't failed to elicit a smile from the listener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2001 Report Share Posted September 13, 2001 I had a woman say that to me after told me "a farang should not speak Thai." "Why?" "Snake snake fish fish" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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