Sarcasm in Cambodian language
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- Expatriate
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Sarcasm in Cambodian language
I believe it was on another thread where a poster inquired if Cambodians understood sarcasm. I just heard a couple of expressions recently which to my way of thinking shows that they can excel at it if the right circumstances exist.
The first expression I heard expresses the impossibility to stamp out corruption which was the subject of an ongoing discussion when someone added, "Nau srok khmer sombai trey ngiet chhleat pong. Which i translate as, In Cambodia even sun dried salted fish will spawn. (note to grammarians, I know there is no future tense here. Further, I tried to translate it into colloquial English)
The second example happened when I was in a taxi to Suong. Some cowboy driver whizzed past us just missing our vehicle by a couple of inches and proceeded to continue driving in a reckless manner. Our driver swore and said, "koat pregnap choul wat" Which means he was in a hurry to get to the wat, not for religious services but to be cremated. i.e. he was driving to recklessly that he was going to his own funeral.
The first expression I heard expresses the impossibility to stamp out corruption which was the subject of an ongoing discussion when someone added, "Nau srok khmer sombai trey ngiet chhleat pong. Which i translate as, In Cambodia even sun dried salted fish will spawn. (note to grammarians, I know there is no future tense here. Further, I tried to translate it into colloquial English)
The second example happened when I was in a taxi to Suong. Some cowboy driver whizzed past us just missing our vehicle by a couple of inches and proceeded to continue driving in a reckless manner. Our driver swore and said, "koat pregnap choul wat" Which means he was in a hurry to get to the wat, not for religious services but to be cremated. i.e. he was driving to recklessly that he was going to his own funeral.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
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Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
Wow, how come i didn't see this thread. This is a great thread and an example to help expats to understand that Cambodians also have sarcasm and irony. We do understand it. Please next time don't use an excuse, Because they don't understand irony.
បើសិនធ្វើចេះ ចេះឲ្យគេកោត បើសិនធ្វើឆោត ឆោតឲ្យគេអាណិត។
If you know a lot, know enough to make them respect you, if you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you.
If you know a lot, know enough to make them respect you, if you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you.
Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
I thought sarcasm was when you say one thing but mean the opposite. Like when I see GONK and say "That sideways hat looks really good on you."
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- The Dark Horse
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Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
Some Cambodians and luckily my in laws included have a 2nd degree humor referred as ngay doeu.
Could samouth or small salary explain more about it ?
Could samouth or small salary explain more about it ?
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Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
yeah i think they understand it when ever the girls are sat outside the bars heckling passers by with the "ohhhh, Handsome Man" when the guy they are saying it too are far from "handsome"Cam Nivag wrote:I thought sarcasm was when you say one thing but mean the opposite. Like when I see GONK and say "That sideways hat looks really good on you."
Mean Dtuk Mean Trei, Mean Loy Mean Srey
Punchy McShortstacks School of Hard Knocks
Punchy McShortstacks School of Hard Knocks
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Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
They always called me handsome, but hey....I am handsome !!!!
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Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
Come on. You must admit, it is an improvement.Cam Nivag wrote:I thought sarcasm was when you say one thing but mean the opposite. Like when I see GONK and say "That sideways hat looks really good on you."
Nothing wrong with saying what you really think, CNivag.
Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
I actually didn't get the first word. sorry.Barang_doa_slae wrote:Some Cambodians and luckily my in laws included have a 2nd degree humor referred as ngay doeu.
Could samouth or small salary explain more about it ?
I think the second word might be this one
1. ឌឺ ( adj ) [dɨɨ] - detail »
to be obstinate.
2. ឌឺ ( v ) [dɨɨ] - detail »
to persist; to oppose, resist; to defame, abuse, use bad language, curse
http://dictionary.tovnah.com/?q=%E1%9E% ... eria=start
បើសិនធ្វើចេះ ចេះឲ្យគេកោត បើសិនធ្វើឆោត ឆោតឲ្យគេអាណិត។
If you know a lot, know enough to make them respect you, if you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you.
If you know a lot, know enough to make them respect you, if you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you.
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- The Dark Horse
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Re: Sarcasm in Cambodian language
Damn and I haven't got khmer script on my tablet... Even if I had I could make some mistake writing it anyway. Will check with my wife and come back to you with a picture of the word next week.Samouth wrote:I actually didn't get the first word. sorry.Barang_doa_slae wrote:Some Cambodians and luckily my in laws included have a 2nd degree humor referred as ngay doeu.
Could samouth or small salary explain more about it ?
I think the second word might be this one
1. ឌឺ ( adj ) [dɨɨ] - detail »
to be obstinate.
2. ឌឺ ( v ) [dɨɨ] - detail »
to persist; to oppose, resist; to defame, abuse, use bad language, curse
http://dictionary.tovnah.com/?q=%E1%9E% ... eria=start
Maybe it is bad language, defamation etc... But I am under the impression that it is understood as 2nd degree, ironic way of talking
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