Learn Thai with Flashcards / Indirectness & Reading the Room
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Thai Vocabulary: Indirectness & Reading the Room

Recognizing when Thai communication is deliberately indirect or softened.

พูดอ้อมๆ
phûut ɔ̂ɔm-ɔ̂ɔm
falling tone — syllable 1 of 3falling tone — syllable 2 of 3falling tone — syllable 3 of 3falling-falling-falling
speak indirectly
พูดตรงๆ
phûut trong-trong
falling tone — syllable 1 of 3mid tone — syllable 2 of 3mid tone — syllable 3 of 3falling-mid-mid
speak frankly
ไม่กล้าพูด
mâi glâa phûut
falling tone — syllable 1 of 3falling tone — syllable 2 of 3falling tone — syllable 3 of 3falling-falling-falling
don't dare to say it
ไม่กล้าขอ
mâi glâa khɔ̌ɔ
falling tone — syllable 1 of 3falling tone — syllable 2 of 3rising tone — syllable 3 of 3falling-falling-rising
don't dare to ask
พูดเป็นนัย
phûut bpen nai
falling tone — syllable 1 of 3mid tone — syllable 2 of 3mid tone — syllable 3 of 3falling-mid-mid
speak indirectly / hint
พูดเป็นนัยๆ
phûut bpen nai-nai
falling tone — syllable 1 of 4mid tone — syllable 2 of 4mid tone — syllable 3 of 4mid tone — syllable 4 of 4falling-mid-mid-mid
speak implicitly / hint at something
บอกเป็นนัย
bòk bpen nai
low tone — syllable 1 of 3mid tone — syllable 2 of 3mid tone — syllable 3 of 3low-mid-mid
hint / imply
เกริ่น
grèrn
low tonelow
introduce a topic indirectly
ถามอ้อมๆ
thăam ôm-ôm
mid tone — syllable 1 of 3falling tone — syllable 2 of 3falling tone — syllable 3 of 3mid-falling-falling
ask indirectly
ปฏิเสธอ้อมๆ
bpà-dtì-sèet ôm-ôm
low tone — syllable 1 of 5low tone — syllable 2 of 5low tone — syllable 3 of 5falling tone — syllable 4 of 5falling tone — syllable 5 of 5low-low-low-falling-falling
refuse indirectly
ปฏิเสธตรงๆ
bpà-dtì-sèet dtrong-dtrong
low tone — syllable 1 of 5low tone — syllable 2 of 5low tone — syllable 3 of 5mid tone — syllable 4 of 5mid tone — syllable 5 of 5low-low-low-mid-mid
refuse directly
พูดให้รู้
phûut hâi rúu
falling tone — syllable 1 of 3falling tone — syllable 2 of 3high tone — syllable 3 of 3falling-falling-high
make the message understood
ดูสถานการณ์
duu sà-thăa-na-gaan
mid tone — syllable 1 of 5low tone — syllable 2 of 5mid tone — syllable 3 of 5mid tone — syllable 4 of 5mid tone — syllable 5 of 5mid-low-mid-mid-mid
read the situation
ดูหน้าดูหลัง
duu nâa duu lăng
mid tone — syllable 1 of 4falling tone — syllable 2 of 4mid tone — syllable 3 of 4mid tone — syllable 4 of 4mid-falling-mid-mid
consider the circumstances / people involved
รู้กาลเทศะ
rúu gaan-lá-thê-sà
high tone — syllable 1 of 5mid tone — syllable 2 of 5high tone — syllable 3 of 5falling tone — syllable 4 of 5low tone — syllable 5 of 5high-mid-high-falling-low
know proper social behavior

Vocabulary (15 words)

พูดอ้อมๆ phûut ɔ̂ɔm-ɔ̂ɔm
speak indirectly
พูดตรงๆ phûut trong-trong
speak frankly
ไม่กล้าพูด mâi glâa phûut
don't dare to say it
ไม่กล้าขอ mâi glâa khɔ̌ɔ
don't dare to ask
พูดเป็นนัย phûut bpen nai
speak indirectly / hint
พูดเป็นนัยๆ phûut bpen nai-nai
speak implicitly / hint at something
บอกเป็นนัย bòk bpen nai
hint / imply
เกริ่น grèrn
introduce a topic indirectly
ถามอ้อมๆ thăam ôm-ôm
ask indirectly
ปฏิเสธอ้อมๆ bpà-dtì-sèet ôm-ôm
refuse indirectly
ปฏิเสธตรงๆ bpà-dtì-sèet dtrong-dtrong
refuse directly
พูดให้รู้ phûut hâi rúu
make the message understood
ดูสถานการณ์ duu sà-thăa-na-gaan
read the situation
ดูหน้าดูหลัง duu nâa duu lăng
consider the circumstances / people involved
รู้กาลเทศะ rúu gaan-lá-thê-sà
know proper social behavior