PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I was chatting (online) to a lady a while ago, who made it pretty plain that me adding "ja", to my sentences (for me a simple softening, much like adding "mate" or "love" or "buddy"), wasn't appreciated. I realise that "ja" has some connotations, much has "love", but it's merely a term of endearment; a friendly way of addressing a lady, without which, sometimes, chatting can just seem really quite abrupt. In fact, I only use this term of endearment online (albeit almost constantly), but never in actual conversation. Anyone else do this? And has anyone else found it bothered some people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeMarc Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I was chatting (online) to a lady a while ago, who made it pretty plain that me adding "ja", to my sentences (for me a simple softening, much like adding "mate" or "love" or "buddy"), wasn't appreciated.I realise that "ja" has some connotations, much has "love", but it's merely a term of endearment; a friendly way of addressing a lady, without which, sometimes, chatting can just seem really quite abrupt. In fact, I only use this term of endearment online (albeit almost constantly), but never in actual conversation. Anyone else do this? And has anyone else found it bothered some people? I use it quite regularly, but not with people who are strangers, although I will use it with kids or young people. I use it as you say, to soften the sentence and/or as a term of endearment. Ive sometimes had 2 kinds of reactions. A few have asked me never it use it with them. They've usally been the ones who distrust farang; especially the ones who "know too much". Some say they find it charming. Most dont say anything. I've even had one girl from up north who never used it and said she didnt understand it. Most of my female friends use it all the time with me and with their friends and family. Basically, I replace the word krup, which seems too formal for close relationship daily talk. I no longer trust the ones who have a problem with farangs using this word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Basically, I replace the word krup, which seems too formal for close relationship daily talk. That's all I do too. Krab is just to formal, but I do use that too na. I no longer trust the ones who have a problem with farangs using this word. Well, love, I told the bird who said "Don't say ja with me!!!", "Sorry, but if you talk with me, I will say ja!" (No, we haven't talked since, but that's a good thing.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garlic Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 i asked about it once...i was told it was a polite term used by females... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 i asked about it once...i was told it was a polite term used by females... That's "ka" mate. "Ja" is not the same. It's used by both sexes and is, perhaps, more intimate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Strange no Thai ppl explain it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I only use it when in Jamaica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalcat Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 asked 3 thai people they told me "na" and "ja" is more for girls. no offense, intended here. It's just what i have been told. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 asked 3 thai people they told me "na" and "ja" is more for girls.no offense, intended here. It's just what i have been told. Stop talking to gay blokes yer woofter. Na is completely different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Strange no Thai ppl explain it... You passed up the opportunity to be the first na ja. I would never say it to you in person, but I would pretty much constantly if we chatted. Is that ok with you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 "ja" is informal word, it's no rules to say it.. it means yes and ok. sometimes it was added at the end of your question..."kin kao rue young ja?" (with high tone) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garlic Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 asked 3 thai people they told me "na" and "ja" is more for girls.no offense, intended here. It's just what i have been told. got the same answer as you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Strange no Thai ppl explain it... You passed up the opportunity to be the first na ja. I would never say it to you in person, but I would pretty much constantly if we chatted. Is that ok with you? OK arai ja? Sorry na... this time i'm travelling, having fun during songkran fest. I'm not online much... kee kiat ja, piAnt ja (high tone) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 asked 3 thai people they told me "na" and "ja" is more for girls.no offense, intended here. It's just what i have been told. got the same answer as you... Sorry i think you guys got wrong info... hrrrrrrr.... as i said... it's just informal, so no rules to use it... it's not about sexes and ages... we add cuz we think it's cute to say. Sometimes we say "ja" to the strangers...cuz of it's informal, so we feel like we get closer, do you know what i mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Strange no Thai ppl explain it... You passed up the opportunity to be the first na ja. I would never say it to you in person, but I would pretty much constantly if we chatted. Is that ok with you? OK arai ja? Sorry na... this time i'm travelling, having fun during songkran fest. I'm not online much... kee kiat ja, piAnt ja (high tone) It's not something girls say with girls or, certainly, guys with guys. Nor is it entirely the same as "na" as in "arai na?". If it was, then why would someone (a Thai lady) tell me not to say "ja" whilst talking with them? In my mind, "na", is not a personable as "ja". "Na" refers to what I'm asking, whereas "ja" refers more to the person I'm asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 asked 3 thai people they told me "na" and "ja" is more for girls.no offense, intended here. It's just what i have been told. got the same answer as you... Sorry i think you guys got wrong info... hrrrrrrr.... as i said... it's just informal, so no rules to use it... it's not about sexes and ages... we add cuz we think it's cute to say. Sometimes we say "ja" to the strangers...cuz of it's informal, so we feel like we get closer, do you know what i mean? So, it is more intimate. And that's why some ladies might take offence if I use it as a term of endearement or just to soften the conversation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 OK arai ja? Sorry na... this time i'm travelling, having fun during songkran fest. I'm not online much... kee kiat ja, piAnt ja (high tone) It's not something girls say with girls or, certainly, guys with guys. Nor is it entirely the same as "na" as in "arai na?". If it was, then why would someone (a Thai lady) tell me not to say "ja" whilst talking with them? In my mind, "na", is not a personable as "ja". "Na" refers to what I'm asking, whereas "ja" refers more to the person I'm asking. lol Is that lady "Hi So" ja? I'm lo so and it's fine with me...cuz it's not rude word.. if you say "Arai Wa" to me and you are not my close friend i will think you are rude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 asked 3 thai people they told me "na" and "ja" is more for girls.no offense, intended here. It's just what i have been told. got the same answer as you... Sorry i think you guys got wrong info... hrrrrrrr.... as i said... it's just informal, so no rules to use it... it's not about sexes and ages... we add cuz we think it's cute to say. Sometimes we say "ja" to the strangers...cuz of it's informal, so we feel like we get closer, do you know what i mean? So, it is more intimate. And that's why some ladies might take offence if I use it as a term of endearement or just to soften the conversation? ok ok if you believe that way... It's just funny to me when i heard this story, I have journalism background so I was educted about Thai languages just wanna share what i know that's all ja Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garlic Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 asked 3 thai people they told me "na" and "ja" is more for girls.no offense, intended here. It's just what i have been told. got the same answer as you... Sorry i think you guys got wrong info... hrrrrrrr.... as i said... it's just informal, so no rules to use it... it's not about sexes and ages... we add cuz we think it's cute to say. Sometimes we say "ja" to the strangers...cuz of it's informal, so we feel like we get closer, do you know what i mean? thanks for the explanation, bcool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiAnt Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 OK arai ja? Sorry na... this time i'm travelling, having fun during songkran fest. I'm not online much... kee kiat ja, piAnt ja (high tone) It's not something girls say with girls or, certainly, guys with guys. Nor is it entirely the same as "na" as in "arai na?". If it was, then why would someone (a Thai lady) tell me not to say "ja" whilst talking with them? In my mind, "na", is not a personable as "ja". "Na" refers to what I'm asking, whereas "ja" refers more to the person I'm asking. lol Is that lady "Hi So" ja? I'm lo so and it's fine with me...cuz it's not rude word.. if you say "Arai Wa" to me and you are not my close friend i will think you are rude. Ok let's look at some examples. "You have great breasts wa." (About me.) "You have great breasts na." (About the breasts.) "You have great breasts ja." (About you.) But, we're losing track. Why would I be told not to say "ja" in a simple conversation with a Thai lady I know well when my only intention was (is) to soften the words I use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Ok let's look at some examples. "You have great breasts wa." (About me.) "You have great breasts na." (About the breasts.) "You have great breasts ja." (About you.) But, we're losing track. Why would I be told not to say "ja" in a simple conversation with a Thai lady I know well when my only intention was (is) to soften the words I use? hmm it might not about ja or na... it's all about breasts. Some Thai women don't like guys talk about their breasts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English_Bob Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Ja and Na are cute. I'm a 41 year old guy... I'm not cute. So I don't use 'em - I use 'Khrap' or nothing. And nobody has ever corrected my Thai (except when I said 'Na'). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Ja and Na are cute.I'm a 41 year old guy... I'm not cute. So I don't use 'em - I use 'Khrap' or nothing. And nobody has ever corrected my Thai (except when I said 'Na'). it's not about person you say it. Just make conversation informal. How to say "Pen gun ang" à »ç¹¡Ñ¹à ç You should say ja or na with young ppl... such as kids, or girls. It's not wrong. but in PiAnt case I think there is something wrong with that lady. If you say na at the end of sentence something it means you order the other persons to do something. Such as "Ya luem pid phai na" Don't forget to turn of the light. but if you add ja... Ya luem pid phai na ja, it will make this sentence softer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 FYI. No need to put "Krap" "Kha" "Ja" "na" in every sentence cuz it's so annoying. and sometimes, "wa" sounds more polite than "Kha" or "Krap" (in sarcastism way) Sometimes Ja or Kha or Krap is use for sarcastic if you use very high and long tone. So be careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crustyjuggler Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Sometimes Ja or Kha or Krap is use for sarcastic if you use very high and long tone. So be careful. Trust me, that's universal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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