63 phrasesWhat to say
At a pump, a checkpoint, a clinic, a repair shop and a noodle stall. Written, romanised, and with the tones marked.
Thai and Shan
Stephanie Ecate steffny0206 · CC0 1.0Sixty-three things worth being able to say
Central Thai. Mae Hong Son is Shan country and older people may answer in Tai Yai, but Central Thai is understood the whole way round. Tones on the 'say' line: a mid, a-grave low, a-circumflex falling, a-acute high, a-caron rising.
Two words first
End a sentence with khrap if you are a man, kha if you are a woman. It is most of the difference between a question and an order.
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| khráp khrap | ครับ | (man speaking) |
| khâ kha | ค่ะ | (woman speaking) |
At the pump
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| pám náam-man pam nam man | ปั๊มน้ำมัน | Petrol station |
| tem thǎng tem thang | เต็มถัง | Fill it up |
| rói nueng roi nueng | ร้อยนึง | A hundred baht's worth Number first: sǒng rói is two hundred. |
| gáet-soh-hol kâo-sìp-èt kaetsohol kao sip et | แก๊สโซฮอล์ เก้าสิบเอ็ด | Gasohol 91 What most rental bikes take. |
| gáet-soh-hol kâo-sìp-hâa kaetsohol kao sip ha | แก๊สโซฮอล์ เก้าสิบห้า | Gasohol 95 |
| pám thàt-pai yùu thîi nǎi pam that pai yu thi nai | ปั๊มถัดไปอยู่ที่ไหน | Where is the next petrol station? |
| pèrt mǎi poet mai | เปิดไหม | Is it open? Village pumps shut at dusk. |
| chûai chék lom-yaang nòi chuai chek lom yang noi | ช่วยเช็คลมยางหน่อย | Check the tyres, please |
At a checkpoint
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| dàan trùat dan truat | ด่านตรวจ | Checkpoint Routine on 108 and near the border. Slow down, helmet on, stop if waved down. |
| bai khàp-khìi bai khap khi | ใบขับขี่ | Driving licence An international permit with the motorcycle class filled in, or a Thai one. |
| nǎng-sǔe dern-thaang nangsue doen thang | หนังสือเดินทาง | Passport |
| rót châo khráp rot chao khrap | รถเช่าครับ | It is a rental bike |
| lêm thá-bian lem thabian | เล่มทะเบียน | Registration book The green book. Ask the rental shop for a copy before you leave. |
| prà-kan prakan | ประกัน | Insurance |
| jà pai mâe-hông-sǒn cha pai mae hong son | จะไปแม่ฮ่องสอน | I am going to Mae Hong Son |
| mâi khâo-jai mai khao chai | ไม่เข้าใจ | I don't understand |
| khǒr-thôot kho thot | ขอโทษ | Sorry |
Clinic, pharmacy, hospital
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| rohng-phá-yaa-baan rong phayaban | โรงพยาบาล | Hospital |
| ráan khǎai yaa ran khai ya | ร้านขายยา | Pharmacy |
| rîak rót phá-yaa-baan riak rot phayaban | เรียกรถพยาบาล | Call an ambulance 1669. Free, nationwide. |
| gèrt ù-bàt-tì-hèet koet ubattihet | เกิดอุบัติเหตุ | There has been an accident |
| jèp trong níi chep trong ni | เจ็บตรงนี้ | It hurts here |
| phlǎe thà-lòrk phlae thalok | แผลถลอก | Road rash The usual souvenir. Clean it the same day, not the next. |
| khít wâa grà-dùuk hàk khit wa kraduk hak | คิดว่ากระดูกหัก | I think the bone is broken |
| yaa gâe-pùat ya kae puat | ยาแก้ปวด | Painkiller |
| yaa khâa-chúea ya kha chuea | ยาฆ่าเชื้อ | Antiseptic |
| phâa-phan-phlǎe pha phan phlae | ผ้าพันแผล | Bandage |
| pháe an-níi phae an ni | แพ้อันนี้ | I am allergic to this Write the drug name down and show the paper. |
| yaa-phôn ya phon | ยาพ่น | Inhaler Worth the word in March. |
When the bike stops
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| ráan sôm mor-ter-sai ran som motoesai | ร้านซ่อมมอเตอร์ไซค์ | Motorcycle repair shop |
| yaang baen yang baen | ยางแบน | Flat tyre |
| pà yaang pa yang | ปะยาง | Patch the tyre Roadside, usually while you wait. |
| brèek brek | เบรก | The brakes |
| sôo so | โซ่ | The chain |
| sà-tâat mâi tìt sathat mai tit | สตาร์ทไม่ติด | It won't start |
| náam-man mòt nam man mot | น้ำมันหมด | Out of petrol |
| thâo-rài thao rai | เท่าไหร่ | How much? |
| chái wee-laa naan mǎi chai wela nan mai | ใช้เวลานานไหม | Will it take long? |
| maa ráp dâi mǎi ma rap dai mai | มารับได้ไหม | Can you come and get me? |
About the road
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| thà-nǒn pìt mǎi thanon pit mai | ถนนปิดไหม | Is the road closed? |
| din thà-lòm din thalom | ดินถล่ม | Landslide Ask before the wet season, not after it. |
| mòrk mok | หมอก | Fog |
| lûen luen | ลื่น | Slippery |
| rá-wang rawang | ระวัง | Careful |
| gìi gì-loh ki kilo | กี่กิโล | How many kilometres? |
| líao sáai liao sai | เลี้ยวซ้าย | Turn left |
| líao khwǎa liao khwa | เลี้ยวขวา | Turn right |
| trong pai trong pai | ตรงไป | Straight on |
A room for the night
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| mii hông wâang mǎi mi hong wang mai | มีห้องว่างไหม | Do you have a room free? |
| nùeng khuen nueng khuen | หนึ่งคืน | One night |
| khuen-lá thâo-rài khuen la thao rai | คืนละเท่าไหร่ | How much a night? |
| mii náam-ùn mǎi mi nam un mai | มีน้ำอุ่นไหม | Is there hot water? Worth asking above Soppong in December. |
| khǒr phâa-hòm kho pha hom | ขอผ้าห่ม | A blanket, please |
| jòrt rót trong níi dâi mǎi chot rot trong ni dai mai | จอดรถตรงนี้ได้ไหม | Can I park the bike here? |
| mii thîi sák-phâa mǎi mi thi sak pha mai | มีที่ซักผ้าไหม | Is there laundry? |
At the noodle stall
| Say this | Thai | For |
|---|---|---|
| mâi phèt mai phet | ไม่เผ็ด | Not spicy Said early, and said again. |
| phèt nít-nòi phet nit noi | เผ็ดนิดหน่อย | A little spicy |
| mâi sài phàk-chii mai sai phak chi | ไม่ใส่ผักชี | No coriander |
| mang-sà-wí-rát mangsawirat | มังสวิรัติ | Vegetarian jay (เจ) is the stricter one: no egg, no dairy, no garlic. |
| náam-plào nam plao | น้ำเปล่า | Plain water |
| à-ròi aroi | อร่อย | Delicious |
| khít-ngern khit ngoen | คิดเงิน | The bill, please |
| khòrp-khun khop khun | ขอบคุณ | Thank you |
Words about the riding
- Engine braking · เอนจินเบรก — Letting the engine slow the bike instead of the brakes, by staying in a low gear.
- Gasohol 91 and 95 · แก๊สโซฮอล์ 91 และ 95 — What comes out of the pump. The numbers are octane ratings, and 91 is what most small bikes here run on.
- Hairpin · โค้งหักศอก — A bend tight enough that you turn about 180 degrees to carry on. Called a switchback in American English.
- PM2.5 · ฝุ่น PM2.5 — Particles under 2.5 micrometres across — small enough to go past the nose and into the lungs.
- Songthaew · สองแถว — Literally 'two rows'. A pickup with benches down each side of the bed, and the bus service of every town here.