A Khmer expression

Have questions or resources regarding Khmer Culture? This forum is all about the Kingdom of Cambodia's culture. Khmer language, Cambodian weddings, French influence, Cambodian architecture, Cambodian politics, Khmer customs, etc? This is the place. Living in Cambodia can cause you to experience a whole new level of culture shock, so feel free to talk about all things related to the Khmer people, and their traditions. And if you want something in Khmer script translated into English, you will probably find what you need.
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

A Khmer expression

Post by taabarang »

When Khmer want to refer to people who they think are the lowest of the low, they use the expression "menuh baat psar " which means people from the bottom of the market. It doesn't refer to customers or sellers, but the peripheral gutter rats who frequent that area.

Now for Jamie, who will want to do an exegesis of my phonetics, I offer the following.
Here "baat"/sounds just like the Khmer word for yes, but it is spelled differently. No, I don't know how but I have it on good authority.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
epidemiks
Expatriate
Posts: 1594
Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:56 pm
Reputation: 514
Australia

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by epidemiks »

Pretty sure manuh is spelled មិនុស្ស,​so phonetics should be closer to muhnus, with a silent s. ;p
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by taabarang »

You're probably right. But if the s is silent why write it in an invented phonetic system? I only care if Khmer understand me when I speak. I leave the janitorial work to you literates.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
epidemiks
Expatriate
Posts: 1594
Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:56 pm
Reputation: 514
Australia

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by epidemiks »

All phonetic systems are invented. I was teasing anyway
User avatar
Jamie_Lambo
The Cool Boxing Guy
Posts: 15039
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:34 am
Reputation: 3132
Location: ลพบุรี
Great Britain

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

taabarang wrote: Fri Jun 16, 2017 5:51 pm When Khmer want to refer to people who they think are the lowest of the low, they use the expression "menuh baat psar " which means people from the bottom of the market. It doesn't refer to customers or sellers, but the peripheral gutter rats who frequent that area.

Now for Jamie, who will want to do an exegesis of my phonetics, I offer the following.
Here "baat"/sounds just like the Khmer word for yes, but it is spelled differently. No, I don't know how but I have it on good authority.
firstly, regarding មិនុស្ស (people) its directly spelt Minuss, the khmers write it as Mnus or Monus, and its pronounced Minuh/Mnuh
words ending in an S, the sound will change to a H sound,
for example the words
ណាស់ - Nas (A lot) is pronounced Nah, eg. Klang Nah
ប្រទេស - Brotes (country) is pronounced Broteh, eg. Proteh Khmer
ប្រុស - Bros (man/male) is pronounced Broh, eg. Broh Saart
មាស - Meas (gold/dearest one) is pronounced Meah, Meah Mey

right back to my usual dissection... i quite like this one (and your phonetics were accurate haha)

មិនុស្សបាតផ្សារ - Mnus Baat Psar - Person/people from the Bottom/lowest point of the Market
បាត - Baat - can also mean your backside/arse/ass etc. which gives this expression its derogatory vibe
:thumb:

(ps. Taa you are correct that they arent spelt the same, as បាទ - is the other "Baat" which is an expression used to acknowledge you have understood what someone has just said to you, the male equivalent to the female "Ja/Cha", the words themselves dont mean "Yes" as some people believe, its just an expression of acknowledgement, the sentence is then usually repeated to give a yes or no/positive or negative/confirmation or not answer)
:tophat: Mean Dtuk Mean Trei, Mean Loy Mean Srey
Punchy McShortstacks School of Hard Knocks :x
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by taabarang »

God damn it Father Punchy, you got me tied up against the ropes, it must have been the phonetic footwork. I pray for the bell and another blueprint-hope my corner can find a divinely inspired one. I promise the next round will be the round of all rounds.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
User avatar
StroppyChops
The Missionary Man
Posts: 10598
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 11:24 am
Reputation: 1032
Australia

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by StroppyChops »

Curiosity - is there a Khmer equivalent for "Shut up!" other than the literal translation of "don't speak"? Something that conveys the same aggro?
Bodge: This ain't Kansas, and the neighbours ate Toto!
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by taabarang »

"Curiosity - is there a Khmer equivalent for "Shut up!" other than the literal translation of "don't speak"? Something that conveys the same aggro?"

Don't know if we're talking about the same expression, but there is " Beut moat" which translates as close (your) mouth.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
User avatar
Jamie_Lambo
The Cool Boxing Guy
Posts: 15039
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:34 am
Reputation: 3132
Location: ลพบุรี
Great Britain

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

taabarang wrote: Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:06 am God damn it Father Punchy, you got me tied up against the ropes, it must have been the phonetic footwork. I pray for the bell and another blueprint-hope my corner can find a divinely inspired one. I promise the next round will be the round of all rounds.
no your phonetics were good this time, and actually gave you a high five this time as this was the most easy one, i only got into it because epidemics brought it up so was just merely an educational post
keep up the good work Taabarang, i always enjoy your posts, especially these language ones
:tophat: Mean Dtuk Mean Trei, Mean Loy Mean Srey
Punchy McShortstacks School of Hard Knocks :x
User avatar
StroppyChops
The Missionary Man
Posts: 10598
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 11:24 am
Reputation: 1032
Australia

Re: A Khmer expression

Post by StroppyChops »

taabarang wrote: Sat Jun 17, 2017 2:31 pm "Curiosity - is there a Khmer equivalent for "Shut up!" other than the literal translation of "don't speak"? Something that conveys the same aggro?"

Don't know if we're talking about the same expression, but there is " Beut moat" which translates as close (your) mouth.
Baat bong, orkun.
Bodge: This ain't Kansas, and the neighbours ate Toto!
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Amazon [Bot] and 96 guests