This is another beginner article. I\u2019d like to talk about the phrase \u0e44\u0e21\u0e48\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e44\u0e23 (mai3 bpen1 rai1). If you do not know this phrase already, you should. There are several ways to translate it, such as \u2018no big deal\u2019, \u2018whatever\u2019, \u2018no problemo\u2019, \u2018thanks, anyways\u2019, \u2018no sweat\u2019, etc.<\/p>\n
This phrase, given at how common it is, says a lot about Thai culture. It\u2019s part of the laid back culture, where you shouldn\u2019t get angry and uptight about every issue. Spilled your milk? Mai bpen rai \u2013 no big deal! Showed up late for work? Mai bpen rai \u2013 no problem. The food tastes bad? Mai bpen rai \u2013 whatever. You can\u2019t change the past so why make a big deal over it?<\/p>\n
But to the detriment of foreigners suffering from cultural shock, some feel this mai bpen rai culture goes too far and as such drives us nuts. Your expensive car was scratched? Mai bpen rai. You were arrested and deported because your boss lied about filling out the proper work visa paperwork? Mai bpen rai. The dangerous hole in the pavement which repeatedly causes injuries still isn\u2019t repaired after an entire year of you filing complaints? Mai bpen rai. Tanks running over protesters in the streets while buildings are burning down, again? Mai bpen rai. You get the idea . . .<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with the phrase:<\/p>\n
\u0e44\u0e21\u0e48\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e44\u0e23 mai3 bpen1 rai1<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s composed of three words:<\/p>\n
\u0e44\u0e21\u0e48 mai3 – no<\/p>\n
\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19 bpen1 \u2013 to be<\/p>\n
\u0e44\u0e23 rai 1 \u2013 something<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The word \u0e44\u0e23 is the short spoken version of \u0e2d\u0e30\u0e44\u0e23 (ah1 rai1), which means \u2018something\u2019. It\u2019s correct to say \u0e44\u0e21\u0e48\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e2d\u0e30\u0e44\u0e23, but this isn\u2019t so common.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On a related note, there are a few related\/similar phrases worth learning.<\/p>\n
Are you ok? \/ What\u2019s wrong?<\/p>\n
\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e2d\u0e30\u0e44\u0e23? bpen1 arai1<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Are you ok?!?<\/p>\n
\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e44\u0e23\u0e21\u0e32\u0e01? Bpen1 arai1 maak3<\/p>\n
(this is the maak3 that means \u2018very\u2019)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nothing is wrong. \/ There is nothing.<\/p>\n
\u0e44\u0e21\u0e48\u0e21\u0e35\u0e2d\u0e30\u0e44\u0e23 mai3 mee1 arai1<\/p>\n
(this is the mee1 that means \u2018have\u2019)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is another beginner article. I\u2019d like to talk about the phrase \u0e44\u0e21\u0e48\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e44\u0e23 (mai3 bpen1 rai1). If you do not know this phrase already, you should. There are several ways to translate it, such as \u2018no big deal\u2019, \u2018whatever\u2019, \u2018no problemo\u2019, \u2018thanks, anyways\u2019, \u2018no sweat\u2019, etc.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[10208,3],"tags":[49695],"class_list":["post-553","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-beginner","category-culture","tag-mai-bpen-rai"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t