Job Discussion Forums

[markgilbey]

Hi,

When I was in Thailand I heard a lot of Thai's (younger) saying "same-same but different". Where do they pick this up from? Is it a direct translation of a Thai phrase? It's always interested me; how do people who have/do teach in the schools deal with it? Do you hear a lot of it?

Thanks, Mark Gilbey.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

The 'same-same' expression is very common in Thailand.

My guess is that it's related to the way they speak Thai.


i.e., certain adjectives in Thai are always repeated.


A few examples that spring to mind:


mak mak = very large, very much

yai yai = to drive very quickly

sabai sabai = very relaxing

men men = very bad smell

cha cha = very slowly

yen yen = very cold


As to 'why' they repeat only certain adjectives in this fashion,

I'll leave that question to somebody who's smarter-smarter.









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

[voodikon]

i saw this on t-shirts there, too, and i was madly curious. so, kent, that explains the "same same," but what about the "but different?"

i just don't get it!

[isanity]

Khlai khlai (same same) does not mean identical- it means similar. 'Similar, but different'. I've only ever actually heard farangs say it, but I may not mix with the right class of Thai.

[joe beets]

^What he said.

I, however, have heard actual Thai people use it, and as near as I can determine, "similar" it what they're trying to get at (also conveniently avoiding all those pesky "r"s and "l"s).

jb