tripleklek

Referring to my previous post.

Why I said “kòp koon kha” (Thai Word ) to Uncle who I was talking to in Laos.

Because in Thailand…

if somebody is older than you , you say “thank you ” to you he/she will say “kòp jai” this is polite and right in Thailand as like as “kòp koon” .

If somebody says “Thank You” to their friend they can say”kòp koon“or” kòp jai” , this is right too.

If somebody says “Thank You” to someone they respect or older than them they will use “kop koon” or “kòp prá koon” not use “ kòp jai“.

All “kòp koon” must be followed by “kha” (lady) “kráp“ (man) to speak with an older person than you.

Or “na” and “ja” then with/without your name ; “na Lek” or “ja Lek” to speak with your friend.

Or ” ja” with name or without name for older person speaking to a young person kindly.

So “na” or “ja” it’s like “kha” or “ kráp” but use in different satiation.

All this is, as everything in Thailand, not very standardized and you’ll find somebody telling you this is not 100% exact.

This is to be more polite and when people hear they will know that you are happy to say that.

So I don’t use “ kòp jai” (Thank You in Laos ) to uncle because he is older than me and that sounds not polite to me, even if I know that it is not in Laos, so I said “kòp koon (kha)” ( Thank You in Thai) instead.

I know somebody thinks I am wrong because I must say “Thank You ( kòp jai)” in Laos but if I feel that is not right because It might have another word to say “Thank You” to someone older than you so I don’t know another polite word in Laos to use.

Well, I decided to use a polite word in Thai.

I think whatever language you use it’s not important but it’s very important how your behaviour is and how you make that person know that you are happy for his help, by a respectfull “Thank You” which is a safe word when you are not sure.

But when someone can’t speak he has other ways to show you to make you understand.

That’s because we are human, we have eyes to see and show our feelings, ears to hear, legs to walk, hands to do things and pray, a brain to think, but this is not enough for us yet because we must have an open heart.

For what? To understand the feeling of the people around you.

Sawadee Kha

Lek