Analyzing the Thai Language and Culture from “Thai Idioms Related to Curry” For Cambodian Learners

Abstract

This research article’s objective is to analyze Thai Language and Culture in Thai idioms related to “curry” (kǣng) for Cambodian learners. The researcher has analyzed and collected data from 6 books related to Thai idioms: Royal Institute Dictionary. (Royal Institute Edition: 2011) Proverbs, Thai idioms 4 regions (Royal Institute Edition: 2012) Proverbs, Aphorisms, Thai idioms (Royal Institute Edition: 2015) decoding 313 Thai idioms (Seangtaksin: 2023) Thai idioms (Sa-nga Kanchanakaphan: 1995) and Thai expressions (Ministry of Education: 2001) The research results found that there are 11 idioms related to “curry” (kǣng) in Thai idioms, including: 1. klīat tūa kin khai klīat plālai kin namkǣng (Hate someone but love to take advantage of him.) 2. kǣngčhư̄t čhưng rūkhun klư̄a (Appreciate the worth of salt when the soup is tasteless.) 3. khāo dǣng kǣng rō̜n (Be grateful to red rice and hot curry). 4. dai kǣng thē namphrik (Get new things, forget old ones.) 5. kǣ kœ̄n kǣng (Too old to take advantage of) 6. čhawak mai rūrot kǣng (Never realize any good deed even staying close to it.) 7. mai rūčhak mō̜ khāo mō̜kǣng (Don't know how to do household chores.) 8. nāpen tawak (Make an angry face.) 9. sanē plāi čhawak (The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.) 10. sư̄asintawak sunak sin trō̜k (A Fight to the death.) 11. suk ʻao phao kin (Do shoddy work.). Thai Idioms related to “curry” is important to learn Thai as a foreign language in 3 aspects of Thai culture for Cambodian learners: 1) Food: ways to cook and eat, 2) The relationship between Thai people, and "rice" and 3) Household tools. Therefore, they are a significant medium which can be used to design methods for learning Thai as a foreign language for Cambodian learners.