Cat Cartoons Episode 10: ครู (Ku) คู (Kroo)

This article was originally posted on WomenLearnThai.com.

รู้รักภาษาไทย: Cat Cartoons: Episode Ten…

ผู้บรรยาย: ตอน ครู – คู
Narrator: Episode ‘Ku’ – ‘kroo’.

เก้าแต้ม: รู้ไหมว่า วันนี้พี่เก่งพี่ก้อยจะไปไหว้คู พี่เก่งกับพี่ก้อยเลิ่มไปโลงเลียนแล้ว
Kao Taem: Do you know that P’ Geng and P’ Goi are going to a ‘wai ku’ (ceremony) today? P’ Geng and P’ Goi ‘lerm bpai long lian’.

แมวสีน้ำตาล: เก้าแต้มเธอจะไปไหว้คูเหรอ ฉันไม่ไปหรอก ฉันไปไหว้ครูดีกว่า
Brown Cat: Kao Taem, you’re gonna go to a ‘wai ku’ (ceremony), huh?! Well, I won’t go [to a ‘wai ku’ (ceremony)]. I’d rather go to a ‘wai kroo’ (ceremony).

สีสวาด: เก้าแต้ม เธอพูดไม่ถูก คู กับ ครู ไม่เหมือนกัน แล้วคำว่าเริ่มกับโรงเรียนก็ต้องออกเสียง ร – เรือ นะ ทำไมเธอไปออกเสียง ล – ลิง ล่ะ
Si Sawat: Kao Taem, you’re saying it all wrong. ‘Ku’ and ‘kroo’ are not the same. And the ‘ror – reua’ in the words ‘rerm’ and ‘rohng rian’ must be (clearly) pronounced, you know. Why are you pronouncing it as ‘lor – ling’ instead?

เก้าแต้ม: อ๋อ ฉันเผอ อะเอ้ย เผลอไปน่ะ ทีนี้จะพูดให้ถูกทุกครั้งเลย พี่เก่ง พี่ก้อย เริ่มไปโรงเรียน แล้วจึงไปไหว้ครู ถูกไหมครับ
Kao Taem: Ah, I ‘per’-ed’. Oops, I mean I ‘pler’-ed’, OK? From here on out, I’ll say it correctly each and every time. ‘Rerm pai rohng rian’. ‘Laew jeung pai wai kroo’. Is that correct?

แมวสีน้ำตาล: คำที่มีเสียงควบกล้ำก็ต้องออกเสียงให้ถูกต้องชัดเจนและถูกความหมาย
Brown Cat: A word with a consonant cluster sound in it, must be pronounced correctly and clearly so that the intended meaning is correctly conveyed.

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แมวทั้งสามตัว: แล้วพบกันใหม่นะครับบบ (ครับ)
All Three Cats: See you again next time!

เสียงเด็ก ๆ ร้องเพลง: รู้รักภาษาไทย
Sound of children singing: Learn and Love the Thai Language.

Comments…

‘Rerm pai rohng rian’ (เริ่มไปโรงเรียน) basically means ‘starting school’.

A ‘wai’ (ไหว้) is a prayer like gesture which is performed with a slight bow. It’s widely used in Thailand as a standard greeting, and also when apologizing, saying thanks and to show respect. Thai people frequently ‘wai’ towards a Buddha image when passing by one, sometimes even while driving! If there’s a perceived difference in status between two people performing the ‘wai’, then it is usually the junior or ‘lower status’ person who will ‘wai’ first. For instance, a student will ‘wai’ the teacher first, and not the other way around. The more senior will then usually ‘wai’ back, although this is unnecessary in certain situations such as being ‘wai-ed’ to by children or cashiers. The higher the hands are raised and the deeper the bow, the greater the respect being shown to the recipient of the ‘wai’. (Adapted from www.thai2english.com)

‘Kroo’ (ครู) basically means ‘(a) teacher’.

‘Wai kroo’ (ไหว้ครู) can therefore literally refer to the act of ‘wai-ing’ a teacher. ‘Wai kroo’ (ไหว้ครู) as a compound noun however has a specific meaning. It refers to a ceremony in which students pay respects to their teachers in order to express their gratitude and formalize the student–teacher relationship. In most schools, it is regularly held near the beginning of the school year. The ceremony usually begins with a Buddhist prayer ritual (in schools where Buddhism is observed as the official religion), followed by the students’ recitation of the ‘wai kroo’ (ไหว้ครู) chant, which expresses respect for and gratitude to the teachers, and asks for the teachers’ blessing of their studies. Following this, a select number of students, usually the representatives of each class, will present the teachers with offerings of flowers, candles and joss sticks arranged on (traditional Thai pedestalled trays) [called ‘paan’ (พาน)]. This is usually followed by a speech by the headmaster offering the students guidance in their academic career. Student awards may be presented during the ceremony. (Adapted from wiki: Wai Khru).

PDF Downloads…

Below are two pdf downloads (created by Catherine) to help with your studies. Both have Thai script, transliteration, and English. Suggestion: Print out the conversation file to read along with the videos – use the vocabulary file to locate any words you don’t know.

Download: Cat Cartoons Episode Ten: Conversation
Download: Cat Cartoons Episode Ten: Vocabulary

Disclaimer: The study pdfs are Catherine’s baby. If you notice any mistakes she’d love for you to drop her a line via the contact form.