explorer wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 4:24 am People learning Khmer will learn there are some words with no English equivalent. There are also English words with no Khmer equivalent. You can normally explain these using a number of words.

There are also words where the meaning is similar, but not exactly the same.

I hope this will be beneficial for those learning Khmer.

oosaa

oosaa is the opposite of lazy. You could say a good student, a hard worker, or a person who puts in a lot of effort.

gaaj and sloet

gaaj means a ferocious animal, an aggressive animal, or an animal which may attack you.

sloet means a tame animal.

The same words are used for people. We dont normally say a tame person. Maybe we should introduce this into the English language.

If someone says a girl is gaaj, she may be argumentative, uncooperative, get angry often, and yell a lot.

If someone says a girl is sloet, she may be easy to get along with, cooperative, not normally get angry, and not normally raise her voice.

You also learn, the only way to get good at a language, is by communitating in that language. You will meet Cambodians learning English, and translating everyting into Khmer. That is how one starts out. But the only way to get good at English is by communicating in English. The same applies for people learning Khmer.

I would encourage others to make contributions. Most of us are still learning. We can all learn from each other.

Next time someone asks you what type of girl you would like. One of the most important qualities is being sloet. Being oosaa is also important.

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:57 pm I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?

Username Taken wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:44 pm

taabarang wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:22 pm

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:57 pm I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?

I believe not. The word for mirror is kanhjok, while keov is used either for a drinking glass or anything made of glass.

A pane of glass is also kanhjok.

taabarang wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:51 pm

Username Taken wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:44 pm

taabarang wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:22 pm

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:57 pm I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?

I believe not. The word for mirror is kanhjok, while keov is used either for a drinking glass or anything made of glass.

A pane of glass is also kanhjok.

Interesting. Since I nor damn few villagers have glass panes in their windows or doors, I never used nor heard the word used in that context. In any case there are two words and if you want a mirror on a door you better use the right one.

violet wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 3:55 pm Jamie. I really hate singing your praises. No...really, I do. But your command of the Khmer language in such a short timeframe (for a northerner ) really is commendable.



.....what a guy will do for a shag....