Learn how to say "if"
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| Main Audio Recording Template (Absolute Beginner Season 2 , Lesson 14 - Taking the Bus in Thailand) |
| Pim: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ) |
| Ryan: Ryan here! Absolute Beginner Season 2 , Lesson 14 - Taking the Bus in Thailand |
| Pim: Hello everyone! I'm Pim, and welcome to ThaiPOD101.com. |
| Ryan: With us, you'll learn to speak Thai with fun and effective lessons. |
| Pim: We also provide you with cultural insights... |
| Ryan: ...and tips you won't find in a textbook. |
| Pim: In this lesson you'll will learn about ถ้า (thâa) used to mean “if”. This conversation takes place at Bangkok's New Southern Bus Terminal. |
| Ryan: The conversation is between Dan and the ticket seller. |
| Pim: The speakers are strangers, therefore they will be speaking polite Thai. |
| Ryan: Let’s listen to the conversation |
| แดน: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| แดน: ไปกระบี่ครับ (bpai grà-bìi khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: รอบกี่โมงคะ มีรอบหกโมงเย็น กับสองทุ่มค่ะ (râawp gìi moong khá. mii râawp hòk moong-yen gàp sǎawng thûm khâ.) |
| แดน: ถ้าออกตอนหกโมงเย็น จะไปถึงกี่โมงครับ (thâa àawk dtaawn hòk moong-yen jà bpai thǔeng gìi moong khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: ถ้าออกตอนหกโมงเย็น จะไปถึงตอนหกโมงเช้าค่ะ แต่ถ้าออกตอนสองทุ่ม ก็จะไปถึงตอนแปดโมงเช้าค่ะ (thâa àawk dtaawn hòk moong-yen jà bpai thǔeng dtaawn hòk moong-cháao khâ. dtàae thâa àawk dtaawn sǎawng thûm gâaw jà bpai thǔeng dtaawn bpàaet moong-cháao khâ.) |
| แดน: อืม...งั้นขอตั๋วรอบสองทุ่ม หนึ่งใบครับ (uuem...ngán khǎaw dtǔua râawp sǎawng thûm nùeng bai khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: หกร้อยบาทค่ะ (hòk ráàuy bàat khâ.) |
| แดน: นี่ครับ (nîi khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: ขอบคุณค่ะ (khàawp-khun khâ.) |
| English Host: Once again, slowly. |
| Thai Host: อีกครั้ง ช้า ๆ (ìik khráng cháa cháa) |
| แดน: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| แดน: ไปกระบี่ครับ (bpai grà-bìi khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: รอบกี่โมงคะ มีรอบหกโมงเย็น กับสองทุ่มค่ะ (râawp gìi moong khá. mii râawp hòk moong-yen gàp sǎawng thûm khâ.) |
| แดน: ถ้าออกตอนหกโมงเย็น จะไปถึงกี่โมงครับ (thâa àawk dtaawn hòk moong-yen jà bpai thǔeng gìi moong khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: ถ้าออกตอนหกโมงเย็น จะไปถึงตอนหกโมงเช้าค่ะ แต่ถ้าออกตอนสองทุ่ม ก็จะไปถึงตอนแปดโมงเช้าค่ะ (thâa àawk dtaawn hòk moong-yen jà bpai thǔeng dtaawn hòk moong-cháao khâ. dtàae thâa àawk dtaawn sǎawng thûm gâaw jà bpai thǔeng dtaawn bpàaet moong-cháao khâ.) |
| แดน: อืม...งั้นขอตั๋วรอบสองทุ่ม หนึ่งใบครับ (uuem...ngán khǎaw dtǔua râawp sǎawng thûm nùeng bai khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: หกร้อยบาทค่ะ (hòk ráàuy bàat khâ.) |
| แดน: นี่ครับ (nîi khráp.) |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: ขอบคุณค่ะ (khàawp-khun khâ.) |
| English Host: Once again, with the English. |
| Thai Host: อีกครั้ง พร้อมภาษาอังกฤษ (ìik khráng phráawm phaa-săa ang-grìt) |
| แดน: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
| Ryan: Hello. |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
| Ryan: Hello. |
| แดน: ไปกระบี่ครับ (bpai grà-bìi khráp.) |
| Ryan: I'm going to Krabi. |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: รอบกี่โมงคะ มีรอบหกโมงเย็น กับสองทุ่มค่ะ (râawp gìi moong khá. mii râawp hòk moong-yen gàp sǎawng thûm khâ.) |
| Ryan: What time? There is one bus at six P.M. and one at eight P.M. |
| แดน: ถ้าออกตอนหกโมงเย็น จะไปถึงกี่โมงครับ (thâa àawk dtaawn hòk moong-yen jà bpai thǔeng gìi moong khráp.) |
| Ryan: If I leave at six P.M. what time will I arrive? |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: ถ้าออกตอนหกโมงเย็น จะไปถึงตอนหกโมงเช้าค่ะ แต่ถ้าออกตอนสองทุ่ม ก็จะไปถึงตอนแปดโมงเช้าค่ะ (thâa àawk dtaawn hòk moong-yen jà bpai thǔeng dtaawn hòk moong-cháao khâ. dtàae thâa àawk dtaawn sǎawng thûm gâaw jà bpai thǔeng dtaawn bpàaet moong-cháao khâ.) |
| Ryan: If you leave at six P.M., you'll arrive at six A.M., but if you leave at eight P.M. then you'll arrive at eight A.M. |
| แดน: อืม...งั้นขอตั๋วรอบสองทุ่ม หนึ่งใบครับ (uuem...ngán khǎaw dtǔua râawp sǎawng thûm nùeng bai khráp.) |
| Ryan: Umm...Well then, I'll take one ticket for eight P.M. |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: หกร้อยบาทค่ะ (hòk ráàuy bàat khâ.) |
| Ryan: It's six hundred baht. |
| แดน: นี่ครับ (nîi khráp.) |
| Ryan: Here you are. |
| พนักงานขายตั๋ว: ขอบคุณค่ะ (khàawp-khun khâ.) |
| Ryan: Thank you. |
| Pim: Hey Khun Ryan, what do you think about the long distance bus services in Thailand? |
| Ryan: Hmm...Overall I’d say they’re pretty good. But there have been a few times that I was stuck in an uncomfortable bus for a long time. |
| Pim: Yes, I think it really depends on which company you travel with. Some of them have much newer buses and better service. Do you have any favorites? |
| Ryan: Actually, I do. Every time I travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai I take Nakhon Chai Air. I like them because the buses have more legroom. Also, I like how they just give you a meal right on board the overnight buses. A lot of the other bus companies waste time by making a meal stop. |
| Pim: I kind of like the meal stops because it gives me a chance to stretch my legs. |
| Ryan: Well, that’s true. But I don’t really need to eat a meal in the middle of the night. Anyways, they also give you some snacks, juice, and water on Nakhon Chai Air. Plus in the morning you get another little snack and a box of soy milk. |
| Pim: Well, it’s not exactly like you get all that for free. Aren’t they a little more expensive than other buses? |
| Ryan: Maybe a little bit. But in my opinion it’s worth it for the quality. They only thing I’m not crazy about is the air conditioning. |
| Pim: Huh? It gets really hot in Thailand. Don’t you like to ride in a cool bus? |
| Ryan: A cool bus is OK. But sometimes those buses are downright freezing. Even in a tropical country I need to travel with a sweatshirt because the buses are so cold. |
| Pim: Oh, that’s true. I always take a jacket for bus trips too. |
| Ryan: Alright, now on to the vocabulary. |
| Ryan: The first word we shall see is: |
| Pim: รอบ (râawp) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: round, turn, cycle |
| Pim: รอบ (râawp) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: รอบ (râawp) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: กี่โมง (gìi moong) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: what time |
| Pim: กี่โมง (gìi moong) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: กี่โมง (gìi moong) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: ถ้า (thâa) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: if |
| Pim: ถ้า (thâa) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: ถ้า (thâa) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: ออก (àawk) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: to go out |
| Pim: ออก (àawk) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: ออก (àawk) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: ไปถึง (bpai thǔeng) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: to arrive |
| Pim: ไปถึง (bpai thǔeng) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: ไปถึง (bpai thǔeng) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: ตั๋ว (dtǔua) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: ticket |
| Pim: ตั๋ว (dtǔua) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: ตั๋ว (dtǔua) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: หกโมงเย็น (hòk moong yen) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: 6 P.M. |
| Pim: หกโมงเย็น (hòk moong yen) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: หกโมงเย็น (hòk moong yen) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: สองทุ่ม (sǎawng thûm) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: 8 P.M. |
| Pim: สองทุ่ม (sǎawng thûm) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: สองทุ่ม (sǎawng thûm) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: ตอน (dtaawn) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: when, at the time |
| Pim: ตอน (dtaawn) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: ตอน (dtaawn) [natural native speed] |
| : Next: |
| Pim: แต่ (dtàae) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: but, just, only |
| Pim: แต่ (dtàae) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Pim: แต่ (dtàae) [natural native speed] |
| Ryan: Let's have a closer look at the usage for some of the words and phrases from this lesson. |
| Pim: The first phrase we’ll look at is.... |
| Pim: ไปกระบี่ (bpai grà-bìi) |
| Ryan: This simply means “I’m going to Krabi”. In the conversation, Dan was buying a bus ticket. And in that context, it isn’t necessary to include the subject “I” or other words to indicate the future tense because these things are already obvious. |
| Pim: Also, it’s not necessary to include a word that means “to”. Just the verb ไป (bpai) for “to go” followed by the name of the destination is all you need. |
| Ryan: So this is also all you really need if you are telling a taxi driver where you want to go, right? |
| Pim: That’s right. Just ไป (bpai) and the name of your destination. But it also sounds nicer if you can add a polite ending ค่ะ (khâ) or ครับ (khráp) at the end. |
| Ryan: Alright what is the next phrase? |
| Pim: หกโมงเย็น (hòk moong-yen) |
| Ryan: This is a time expression that means six o’clock in the evening. The native Thai system of telling time breaks the day up into five different periods. And each period uses different words for saying the hours. |
| Pim: Right. In this case, โมงเย็น (moong-yen) means “o’clock in the evening”. First you will say the number, and follow it with โมงเย็น (moong-yen). But we only use โมงเย็น (moong-yen) for 4pm, 5pm, and 6pm. |
| Ryan: Well since there’s only three of them, let’s just run through them real quick. Listeners please repeat the time expressions after Khru Pim. 4pm is... |
| Pim: สี่โมงเย็น (sìi moong-yen) |
| Ryan: (pause) 5pm is... |
| Pim: ห้าโมงเย็น (hâa moong-yen) |
| Ryan: (pause) and 6pm is... |
| Pim: หกโมงเย็น (hòk moong-yen) |
| Ryan: (pause) Now the last phrase is another time expression... |
| Pim: สองทุ่ม (sǎawng thûm) |
| Ryan: This means eight o’clock at night. So just as โมงเย็น (moong-yen) meant “hours in the evening”, ทุ่ม (thûm) means “hours of the night”. |
| Pim: That’s right. In the old days, before everyone had clocks, the village time-keeper would strike either a bell, a gong, or drum to announce the hour. The drum was used to announce the hours at night. ทุ่ม (thûm) comes from the sound that the drum made when it was struck. |
| Ryan: The hours of night are a little tricky because they start over at one. It’s because the drum would be hit once at 7pm. So 7pm is called หนึ่งทุ่ม (nùeng thûm), which is like saying “one at night” or “the first hour of the night”. |
| Pim: Then at 8pm, the drum would be struck twice, so it is called สองทุ่ม (sǎawng thûm). Also, 9pm is called สามทุ่ม (sǎam thûm), 10pm is called สี่ทุ่ม (sìi thûm), and 11pm is called ห้าทุ่ม (hâa thûm). |
| Ryan: Ok, and now let’s move along to the grammar section. |
| Ryan: The focus of this lesson’s grammar is ถ้า (thâa) used to mean “if”. |
| Pim: ถ้า (thâa) is the conjunction “if”. It’s used to make conditional statements that contain two clauses. |
| Ryan: ถ้า (thâa) usually comes at the beginning of the sentence, in the same way that “if” is used in English. Can you think of any sentence to use as an example? |
| Pim: Sure. Here’s one that might be useful if you are having trouble understanding someone because they speak Thai too fast for you. You can say... |
| ถ้าคุณพูดเร็วไปดิฉันไม่เข้าใจ (thâa khun phûut reo bpai dì-chăn mâi khâo-jai) |
| Ryan: “If you speak too quickly, I don’t understand.” How about we break that up into two halves. First was “If you speak too quickly”... |
| Pim: ถ้าคุณพูดเร็วไป (thâa khun phûut reo bpai) |
| Ryan: Then we had “I don’t understand.” |
| Pim: ดิฉันไม่เข้าใจ (dì-chăn mâi khâo-jai) Remember this is how a female speaker would say it. For men, you have to change the pronoun “I”. Khun Ryan, do you think you can say the sentence correctly for a male version? |
| Ryan: ถ้าคุณพูดเร็วไปผมไม่เข้าใจ (thâa khun phûut reo bpai phŏm mâi khâo-jai) |
| Pim: That was perfect. Now how about a different example. ฝนตก (fŏn dtòk) means “to rain”, and ไปดูหนัง (bpai duu năng) means “go to see a movie”. So, I could say ถ้าฝนตกเราไปดูหนังดีกว่า (thâa fŏn dtòk rao bpai duu năng dii gwàa) |
| Ryan: “If it rains, it would be better for us to go watch a movie.” Let’s break this one up into halves as well. |
| Pim: ถ้าฝนตก (thâa fŏn dtòk) |
| Ryan: “If it rains” |
| Pim: เราไปดูหนังดีกว่า (rao bpai duu năng dii gwàa) |
| Ryan: “We go to see a movie is better.” |
| Pim: One more tip we can mention is that we often use the word ก็ (gâaw) to link the two parts of a sentence that starts with ถ้า (thâa). In this case, ก็ (gâaw) has a meaning of “then”. |
| Ryan: How about an example so we can see what you mean. |
| Pim: Sure. หิว (hĭu)means “to be hungry”. So if we are at a restaurant and your food comes to the table before mine, I can say...ถ้าคุณหิวก็กินเลย (thâa khun hĭu gâaw gin looei) |
| Ryan: “If you’re hungry, then go ahead and eat.” So if we also break this in half, first we get... |
| Pim: ถ้าคุณหิว (thâa khun hĭu) |
| Ryan: “If you are hungry” And the second half is... |
| Pim: ก็กินเลย (gâaw gin looei) |
| Ryan: “Then go ahead and eat.” So how about the whole sentence once again. Listeners, please repeat after Khru Pim |
| Pim: ถ้าคุณหิวก็กินเลย (thâa khun hĭu gâaw gin looei) |
| Ryan: Ok, That’s all for this lesson. |
| Pim: มีคำถามอะไรไหมคะ (mii kham-thăam a-rai mái khá) |
| Ryan: Do you have any questions? |
| Pim: If you do, please let us know in the comment section. แล้วพบกันใหม่ค่ะ (láaeo phóp gan mài khâ) |
| Ryan: See you next time. |
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