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mai pen rai?

 
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Sweetsee



Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:09 am    Post subject: mai pen rai? Reply with quote

Does this mean: it can't be helped?
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Jeju Rocks



Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it means 'nevermind' but I am no expert on the Thai language
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer



Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2129
Location: 中国

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

^ It can't be helped & never mind are both correct.


The 'mai pen rai' expression is often used to describe

the laid-back 'no worries lifestyle' in Thailand.


It's also used quite frequently in everyday conversation

with meanings roughly equivalent to the following:


It doesn't matter.
It's no big deal.
Take it easy.
No worries.
Not at all.
Oh well.


Somebody bumps into you on the Skytrain and says, "Excuse me!"

You can reply, "mai pen rai!"


Your student arrives 20 minutes late to class & apologizes profusely.

You can reply, "mai pen rai!" (or you can beat him with a shoe)


Somebody says 'thank you' for a small gift you have given him / her.

You can reply, "mai pen rai!"

... and so on.






Quote:
Thai's don't ignore their difficulties; instead they just simply decide not to stress themselves out by worrying about them and rather go with the flow of things, hence "Mai Pen Rai"; whatever will happen, will happen, so why worry? courtesy of the Khao San Road website







Thailand teaching and travel resources available here :::: The Master Index Thailand ::::
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Sweetsee



Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As always Kent, a marvelous response!
Thank you kindly,
s
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frankly speaking



Joined: 16 Oct 2005
Posts: 54

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When a family member dies, Mai pen Rai.

It can also be used in the way many westerners use it's ok.
Don't worry about it.
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