Michael: What's the difference between khráp and khâ? |
Nantanee: And how should you use them? |
Michael: At ThaiPod101.com, we hear these questions often. |
The following situation is typical. Karen is checking into a hotel with her husband, Mark. She says to the receptionist, "Hello." |
KAREN LEE: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
Michael: Listen to the way both she and Mark greet the receptionist. |
[DIALOGUE - THAI ONLY] |
KAREN LEE: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
MARK LEE: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
Michael: Once more with the English translation. |
[DIALOGUE - WITH TRANSLATION] |
KAREN LEE: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
Michael: "Hello." |
MARK LEE: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
Michael: "Hello." |
Michael: Did you notice how Mark ends his greeting by saying, |
Nantanee: ครับ (khráp) |
Michael: while Karen ends her greeting by saying, |
Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
Michael: This is typical in Thai. To create a formal sentence, Thai speakers add a final particle. This particle will vary depending on the gender of the speaker. |
Nantanee: ครับ (khráp) |
Michael: is usually used by male speakers, while |
Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
Michael: Is usually used by female speakers. |
Michael: Now let's look at some examples. Our first example is |
Nantanee as Mark: |
ผมสามารถพูดภาษาอังกฤษครับ (phǒm sǎa-mâat phûut phaa-sǎa ang-grìt dâi khráp) (enunciated) |
ผมสามารถพูดภาษาอังกฤษครับ (phǒm sǎa-mâat phûut phaa-sǎa ang-grìt dâi khráp) |
Michael: "I can speak English." The speaker is male and he ends his sentence with |
Nantanee: ครับ. (khráp) |
Michael: The next example is |
Nantanee as Karen: |
ไปรษณีย์อยู่ที่นี่ค่ะ (bprai-sà-nii yùu thîi nîi khâ) (enunciated) |
ไปรษณีย์อยู่ที่นี่ค่ะ (bprai-sà-nii yùu thîi nîi khâ) |
Michael: "The post office is here" The speaker is female, and she ends her sentence with the particle |
Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
Michael: Let's review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the Thai speaker, focusing on pronunciation. |
Do you remember how Karen Lee says, "Hello." |
[Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
Nantanee as Karen Lee: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
Michael: Listen again and repeat. |
Nantanee as Karen Lee: สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
[Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ.) |
Michael: And do you remember how Mark Lee says, "Hello." |
[Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
Nantanee as Mark Lee: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
Michael: Listen again and repeat. |
Nantanee as Mark Lee: สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
[Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dii khráp.) |
Michael: Great job. Now you know how to use the particles, |
Nantanee: ครับ (khráp) |
Michael: and |
Nantanee: ค่ะ (khâ) |
Michael: in Thai. That's all there is to it! Be sure to download the lesson notes for this lesson at ThaiPod101.com and move onto the next lesson! |
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