Thai Language and Learning Thai - culture.

Learning Thai language and Thai customs

Learn Thai
Many European find it difficult to learn and communicate successfully in Thai because it is based on a totally different grammar structure, has a large alphabet, it's intonation, is very contextual and is greatly affected by body language.

Thai Language
The Thai Language derives from the ancient languages of Asia and takes a lot of input from the 2 great cultures of the region, China and India. Although the direct line of the language is from India subcontinent, namely it's Sanskrit based script, the way it is used and spoken has many classic features of the Chinese way of life.

Learning Thai for westerners in a formal setting

Thai Grammar
Thai grammar is based more on simpler ideas than the European languages. It doesn't need to pin point exactly who did what to whom. The language is more than happy with inference and vagueness not accepted in Europe. As seen by a Thai mind, exactness is all too often for people who are too serious, those who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Examples of where the Thai language and communicating are not too exact;

1. In translating the Thai 'ma laew' you get come hear already, the 'laew' or already being the past tense. The simple construct of grammar, 'laew', is put at the end of every sentence that refers to the past. Also there are no real variations of past tense that you get in English. i.e. I gave, I had given, I was giving.
2. Often the 'I, you, he, she, it, we,' are not said as this is understood by the situation you are in. 'I, you, he, she, it, we,'are used in Thai but only for emphasis.
3. The niceties of English of please, thank you, your welcome are almost non existent in word form as the Thai language uses a politer set of words than a usual vocabulary and or more polite body language.

Thai alphabet
Also the Thai written language has a large alphabet with 48 characters with 25 vowels. Vowels can be partly explained by understanding that in English, the a vowel is pronounced differently if it sits next to another vowel ie; ''ae, ao, au, ai,' etc.

A tradition Thai alphabet poster as found in countless primary school classrooms

Learning Thai at School
Thai alphabet and language is learnt by rote in school when children are about 4 or 5 . Learning is done with a lot of repetition based on saying the letters of the alphabet. Each letter is sounded out by saying the list of traditional objects, many of which are non existent in today's society. Gourds and Temple paraphernalia are no longer part of the 2012 world for the majority but by repeating these symbols Thai people are united in the traditions of their own customs and culture.

Thai Numbers
Traditional Thai numbers, are written down as in the first column on the first row below. You can see these numbers on all bank notes and all key documents, like land papers. However, following world conventions and for the sake of speed of writing, western numbers are used in shops and in accounting and are understood by everybody. Yet again Thai culture embraces its history and customs and religiously teaches the Sanskrit numbers to all children from an early age.

Thai numbers and numerals

Thai Intonation
On top of all of this, the Thai language has a very specific intonation where the romanized pronunciation of ma can be 'dog', 'mother' or 'come here' depending on how the word is stressed and the inflection is used.

Getting to grips with the Thai language... especially those idioms

Thai Idioms.
'Taan Khao laew?' can be translated as have you eaten? It is often used as a greeting rather than the formal Sawadee Krup/ Ka (hello or goodbye). Likewise another greeting in the local southern dialect 'Bai Nai Puern?' means hello but translates as where are you going?

These are examples of local idioms which are easy enough to pick up and give a rich depth to the Thai language as they define what is important to the Thai nation and how it's language has reached where it is now. Thai language has not been put upon by modernisation to simplify it's way of communicating and so this lovely way of life is full of idioms, full of character and nuance.

Hierarchy, Thai Face and language.
From the moment a baby is born, the mothers aunts and friends will talk to the newborn from a position in the Thai Hierarchy. Elders and children of a higher social standing will be respected and afforded a more deferential spoken language. Twins will be talked to and taught to address each other as older brother/ sister XXXX or younger brother/ sister YYYY and this will stay with them for the rest of their life.

My father, on visiting my wife's family, was asked by an uncle how old he was. This totally threw him. The last time anyone had asked him his age socially was decades earlier in his life. However the Thai uncle wanted to get the right tone in his language to speak to my father so as not to upset the natural hierarchy in the family and preserve or keep Thai Face.





Mistakes by linguists.
Many fine linguists who can normally learn a language in 6 months make huge head way as they have the ability to remember phrases and lists of words. As commented above, the grammar is not as taxing as say English, so the perception is that this great linguist has made significant progress.

All too often I have seen these people get into trouble in Thailand as they translate European thoughts and mannerisms into Thai. The result is they have totally missed the presumed hierarchy in the language and blunder away in a Thai translation (grammatically correct) but appearing too bold or forceful in the wrong occasion. Often you will hear a common put down.. the foreigner knows too much. The foreigner has learnt how to translate but not how to communicate and or get things done in Thailand.

Body Language in Thailand
The simple truth is that you outward appearance , demeanor and composure, your surface face is a key to communicating in Thailand and a language all in itself. The famous Thai Smile says so much about the way language works. Thai people love to communicate with like minded souls and a happy, giving and flexible demeanour can show in ones face, a gesture and a polite use of language and will always find a way though. Coversely, all the great language skills in the world seem to get you nowhere if you are tired, grumpy and or pushy.

Thailand is a country of great intrigue, joy and happiness and you either play by it's language rules or don't play at all.

Thai Nudity... no images- culture.

This blog looks at where, why, when nudity in Thailand happens seen from the perspective of a normal Thai National and a European. The blog has been written without nude images in an attempt to make it serious.

As I have commented in previous blogs this month, Thai Culture maintains a rather conservative and traditional form and public nudity in Thailand is rare. When you compare the tabloid newspaper images from Europe with those of a Thai newspaper you can see that Europe is far more at home with topless female images on display every day. In Europe these tabloid papers show a daily diet of provocative and racey images that would not be accepted in Thailand.

Even when many people from outside Thailand point to the well publicised girlie bars, go-go clubs and shows and say this can't be true, the fact remains that the vast majority of Thai culture looks down on, frowns at and rarely gets involved in nudity.

'Thai Face' ensures that only those who have been forced or dropped to the lowest levels and find themselves in the sex industry would show themselves off in public. How you look is of key concern to Thai people and being nude in public is not seen as desirable in anyway.

As in Europe, it would never be seen as a worthwhile drunken prank, to pose nude for a picture or an expression of free will to be nude in public. The European act of nudity of enjoying time with no clothes on in public or at a nudist camp, would be a complete anathema to a Thai National.

Nude or topless beaches in Thailand
I know this is a complicated area of thought and a potential minefield for opinion but in my humble opinion, your average Thai citizen would react as much, and if not a lot more than a European in seeing a nude lady or man. This isn't an issue for tourist in Thailand in the norm except when Europeans visit Thai beaches.

Topless female sun bathing in a hotel or resort is not really seen as the done thing even though it does happen. Most of the time the hotel or resort owners would be too embarrassed to comment to a guest, but take it from me, it is not considered normal.

Nude beaches are not formally sanctioned in Thailand but some beaches are more known as more tolerant than others. Many tourists to Thailand from Europe will go topless but not on the main beaches. When women go topless they will get many admirers and often unwanted attention so these places are typically off the beaten track. The vast majority of Thai men are not used to seeing topless and so nudity creates quite a stir.

By the by....

Thai men and women.
Thai men and women are strong characters when it comes to marriage and living their life. By comparison European men and women share a lot more equal status with their wife's. There is a culture of acceptance among many strong Thai men for having affairs or taking up with a girlfriend while married. This is certainly not the rule but compared to Europe it is more common.

Coffee House sexuality.
The coffee house, often found in an established hotel is a feature in towns where men would go to be sung to /crooned at by Singers, women who, over time, might be asked out on a date by the men in the coffee shop. But this is more sensual entertainment and fully clothed.

Sex outside marriage
It might be argued that there are less cultural barriers to sex in Thailand than in Europe. Older Christian values of sex outside a marriage are similar to Buddhist values but failure to stay faithful in Christian lore brings out emotions of guilt where in Thailand the values it would be more to do with loss of face for your self or within the family.

Girlie Bars.. a go-go entertainment.
There is a lot of nudity inside the streets in places like Patpong in Bangok and Soi Bangla in Patong, Phuket but this is not the focus of this blog subject.

To help promote this blog I have listed the search words with a similar theme
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No Caveat
Again, these are my personal thoughts on nudity in Thailand.

What is Thai Face or 'saving face'?

What is face, or saving face?
Thai face saving is about how Thai people conduct themselves in their lives, a key components of the glue that holds Thai society together. Keeping Face is closely entwined with the many Thai hierarchies that exist in society, class, seniority in age, social or business position. Face is partly respect (giving face) but also defines the defensible boundaries between people in these different hierarchies (saving face). In a further expansion of the idea, face is used to define and measure acceptable social mobility between people, positions in an organization and class.

Thai face.
The vast majority of children in Thai schools are taught a strict moral compass at school, almost Victorian or Edwardian in it's attitude to style and content. These ideals place strong pressures on children but also give them a strong sense of what it is to be Thai and what is acceptable behaviour.

On raising the Thai flag every morning, school children are imbued with the strength and glory of the Thai Kingdom, a strong reverence for The King, fundamental respect for the authority of the state and an all important sense of where they fit into society.

Explaining why this is so effective in Thailand, 95% of all Thai's are 'same culture Buddhists'. Culturally and religiously they are the same, there is very little history of immigration. Their is a strong buddhist culture that ensures there are many children brought up by monks, especially in the poor areas of Thailand. Also deciding to go into the temple for 3 months absovles you from doing National service.

Aligning their similar education with a strong cohesion of religious thought makes for a strong sense of what it is to be Thai. This is something to be proud of and also something to defend. Thai people are fiercely proud of who they are, a country never conquered like so many others, during the colonial era of history.

Family Loyalty, society and Face
Living in Thailand is more based on the extended family than a European sense of the political society. Having said that, the the last few years has seen a massive upsurge in political demonstrations and a commentary on the political elite. As the Bangkok middle class voice grows, Thai society is changing, as the use of social networks and phones become more ubiquitous out side the capital, change is inevitable. However, whether it totally changes the family I doubt.

Families can be large organisms in Thailand with the extended family coming to dozens of people. Along with the family's trusted friends you can get almost everything done. Whether it is advice on the law, finding the right doctor, helping with a loan, knowing which governement officail to work with, the family knowledge bank is essential.

Within the family there are weak or strong bonds but when an indiviual is pushed, the collective face, support and help of the family will often ensure that the family stays protected and it's bond stays strong. As Thailand is a lot more focused on the family than many northern European countries beware crossing someones family face. Family will look after themselves.

Personal face
The way the shopping malls in Thailand are packed every day testifies to how important the visual impression of ones self is in Thailand. People dress very well and will tend to dress up rather than slovenly. How a person carries themselves and how they expect to be treated is important as it defines who they are. As with many Asian cultures who adhere to the virtues of a society with face, shopping by brand name is critical as it allows the buyers to define who they are and what group they follow.

Thai people don't take kindly to being put down, told off as this can be seen to breaking their face. This is an attack on their deepest held beliefs and if you push someone to this point expect a very strong reaction.

Issues come when foreigners (holiday makers) use of language pushes a Thai person into a corner from where their good manners can't move. Thai people are very forgiving towards foreigners who do not understand these rules of face and will let us make many mistakes but if cornered they will react very quickly.

Is face the same or similar to European 'Pride'?
As the saying goes, Pride comes before a fall. European values are based on Christian virtues, a list of moral do's, dilemmas and character styles you should steer clear of. Pride is something that society tends to steer clear of where as face is something that everybody in Thailand possesses. So on my take on face, you can be a European without pride but it is difficult to be Thai without face.

Having said all the above there are many Europeans who do have a similar or equivalent personality traits. The politician, the salesman, the perfect house wife, the guy who is never wrong, all have a similar traits. They will defend and justify their action, word or deed in spite of vague realities. This can have some aspects similar to face but deep down is something quite different.

Giving face
'Giving face' is the term used to show that you act in a way where you know the other persons boundaries or hierarchy and enforce these with simple respect and in some situations, flattery. This can appear from the outside as facetious but it has an important role of keeping the structure of the hierarchy in place.

If you are trying to work with someone who holds the power for getting something done, the process of 'giving face' can be a way of making the other person feel comfortable with you. I personally, will go out of my way to dress smartly and act courteously if I am going to see a doctor, policeman or government official as this seems to get the best and quickest results.

The digital new Age the youth and face.
The anonymity of driving a car, the phone and Internet means that since 1980 some of the traditional face values are diminishing country wide. The common theme with the car, phone and Internet is that Thai people do not need to be face to face when they interact. However once these same people are face to face their demeanour changes and people drop into the role they see themselves best representing.

Face in Asia
Face is very common in Asia but varies depending on where you are. Understanding the face issues and boundaries are essential for doing business in the these countries and greatly help visitors if they want to enjoy an extended stay.



All the views above a self observed from living and being strongly connected to Thailand for 20 years. I am exceedingly pro Thailand and if anything said here offends, I apologies.

Thai food court

If you are a lover of Thai food in all it's guises then a trip down the local food court is one of Thailand's great foodie pleasures. Food courts are a name for an organized places to eat where the landlord will bring together a full and wide range of differing food types. These mini shops are owned by individuals who share their profit with the landlords and have 2-3 meters shop front to sell their specialities. As you go in you buy coupons and use them to buy your meals at the stalls. This ensures that the landlord controls the amount taken. The stall holder gets a percentage of the profit. You can return the coupons for cash at the end.

If you love curry you will love this!

Lining up for the coupons. This doesnt take long.

You might get a couple of curry stalls, a couple of noodle soup variations, Thai salads, chicken and rice, pork, rice specialities and Thai deserts and drinks. You might get Northern Thai food delicacies in the south and southern delicacies in the north so you might find it an excellent place to find food types you cant get in your hotel or resort. There are rarely less than 7 or 8 of these mini stalls in a food court but sometimes, like my favourite in Bangkok Airport, over 20.

Pahd Thai heaven.

I like going to the food courts as my Thai wife can eat something totally different to me and we are both happy. The food show cased is rarely available in restaurants at the same level of originality. I find menus catering to the westerner's tastes relatively mild in flavour and small in variation and so I appreciate this real deal. It is disappointing to me when hotel Thai food is so without any spice and too often lacks the intensity of preparation. The food courts are also fast and very good value.

Thai desserts

The food courts are packed at office meal times but as many people will snack these places are often busy throughout the day. Traditionally the meals are small because it is common to have
a couple of dishes rather than one large meal, European style. More often than not people will eat with friends rather than be alone as is the norm for most of Asia. This means the process of sharing food will allow you to try more than a couple of dishes. This is very Thai, very communal and very sociable.



Variety of food in Thailand often takes a traveller by surprise. The number and variation of ways of preparing rice or noodle, the number of soups types not to mention the variations of vegetable and fruits makes this experience truly memorable if it is your first time.

Fresh Mango with Khao Niaow rice and coconut sauce

Thai food courts are inexpensive, often street food brought into a collective environment to give the eating public a great variation in one location. Nearly all large public buildings seem to have them. They are an essential ingredient of the Shopping mall and can be found in their older format next to old markets.

Issan Food from the North

One of my favourites is at the salubrious Supercheap wholesale market on Thepkrassattri Rd Phuket. Here you can get meals with the freshest ingredients and the tastes that really jump out at you. The curry stall owners vie with each other on choice and variation each day creating over 20 different dishes just on each stall.

As it is linked to the wholesale market it brings in fresh produce and the meals are sold to those who know fresh and in that sense have high standards. It's not the cleanest of venues, it is open air without air con but the through put of food and the 600 degrees in which food is cooked ensures safe eating (well for me anyway).

A mix match plate from a curry stall

Another surprise food court I love is at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Click on the link to see a video. You have to dig through the airport map to find it as it is there for the workers at the airport and anybody wanting the original local tastes of Thailand. (The food court is near the MRT, the modern rail link, entrance).

One final gem. Seafood which is so hard to find in many parts of Europe can be found at many food courts especially if you are near the sea. As well as having a stunning variation it comes at fantastic value. This is worth checking out.

Bar BQ squid .... wow

If you are staying in a Hotel or resort or seviced apartment you will not find food like this around the premises. If this kind of food exploration excites you then take a walk or get down to the nearest shopping Mall and head for the top floor.

More links to articles on Thai Food
Dining on Phi Phi Island
Recommended Trendy Restaurants in Phuket
Thai cooking classes
Restaurants in Haad Rin
Bangkok restaurants
Recommended Restaurants in Pattaya