English for Thais – typical mistakes

This site gives you advice on how to avoid typical mistakes that are quite common in Thailand.

1.) SAME SAME
‘Same same‘ is NO real English expression or a real sentence. Tourists may use it because they think it sounds funny – but it is not correct! So if you are in a real conversation, do not use it!

2.) YES
Thai people tend to always say yes when they do not understand the question of a foreigner. This might be polite in Thailand, in the western world it is considered as rude though. So do not say yes, if you did not understand the question. Better say ‘I beg your pardon, I did not understand’ or something similar.

3.) Up to you & nothing
Thai people are very often ashamed if someone does not understand them immediately. When people say ‘sorry, what did you say?’ Thai people often respond with ‘nothing’. A similar phenomenon happens when Thai people are repeatedly asked after their opinion. A common answer is ‘up to you’.

Those two answers are very frustrating for foreigners. When foreigners ask you, they usually want an honest answer and no ‘up to you’ or ‘nothing’ as a reply.