People Are Useful

      Petch went to study with Weera each night, but some nights he studied with Uncle. He was always very active and cheerful when he studied. When it got dark, Weera lit up his lamp and read or did his homework while waiting on the porch. When Petch arrived, Weera gave Petch a book to read. Sometimes Petch would ask about a word or a phrase he wanted to write. Weera would tell him how to write it. Petch was diligent and he studied hard until he could read and write most of it. Uncle praised him and said that he had good memory. He could remember things quickly and accurately.
      One night Petch asked Weera “How do you spell ‘นาก’?
      I wrote ‘น-า’, ‘นา’ can this be read as ‘นาก’?”
“ You need ‘ค’, ‘น-า-ค’ is ‘นาค’,” Weera answered. Petch wrote down the word and said “Today I saw a ‘นาค’ – an otter gathering wood to build a house on a canal so I wanted to write the word ‘นาก’.” Weera laughed.
“In that case, it’s not a ‘ค’, it has to be a ‘ก’, ‘น-า-ก’, ‘นาก’ which means an otter that eats fish. What I told you that is spelled with a ‘ค’, ‘น-า-ค’. The word ‘นาค’ means the Great Naga.” Petch looked confused. “Oh, ‘นาค’ that people draw like a big snake with crest, right? It’s pronounced the same as ‘นาก’ – an otter, but with different spelling. Oh!, if I spelt it wrong, it would mean something totally different.” He laughed while wrote these two words down in his notebook. “Who was so clever to invented the letters so that people could communicate with each other?” Petch asked.
      “One of our Kings invented the letters,” Weera answered. Petch remembered something and said “The other day, you said that the Kings have done good things for the country because they fought with enemies to keep our independence, and now a King invented letters so that people could read and write. Our Kings have done so much for Thai people and our country.” “You have a good memory, Petch. Thai people in the past, both Kings and the people, helped keep our independence and saved the country. For example, King Naresuan and the people of Bang Rachan. I’ve told you about them.”
      “Which King invented the Thai alphabet?” Petch asked.
“King Ramkamhaeng invented the Thai alphabet for the first time.” Weera answered. “The current King is King Rama the ninth.”
      “Which one is King Ramkamhaeng?” Petch asked.
      “The current King is the ninth King of Rattanakosin Kingdom, but King Ramkamhaeng was the third King when Sukothai was the capital. ‘Capital’ means the center, the metropolis. The King invented Thai letters hundreds of years ago.” Weera explained. He saw that Petch was interested, so he explained more. “During his reign, there were many contacts with foreign countries. Commerce with other countries was prosperous as well.”
      Petch interrupted and asked “Commerce means trade, right? Because I remember the names of shops in the market in my hometown that they all ended with trade.”
      Weera smiled “Correct, trade means commerce. You’re very observant. But, Petch, if someone is talking and you want to interrupt, you have to excuse yourself first.” Petch gave an embarrassed smile, “I’m sorry. I’ll remember that next time. You can go on, I want to listen.”
      Weera continued, “Thai people learned how to make pottery for the first time. King Ramkamhaeng is considered to be a very wise King who brought prosperity to Thailand. The land was fertile and the King also ruled his people so that they lived happily by hanging a bell at the palace’s gate so the people can ring the bell when they were in trouble. The King would gather the officers to judge or to help them. My teacher used to say that even now, we can adapt many things from Sukothai period.”
      “I want to be wise, to do good things for the country too. But I don’t think I would get the chance to do it.” Petch said.
      “Why not?” Weera asked. Petch looked down and sighed.
      “You know that I’m poor and also stupid because I don’t go to school.”
      “You shouldn’t feel down, Petch. Uncle used to say that people’s lives are not certain. Today we’re poor, the next day we could be rich. If we work hard, are patient, and determined.” Weera said.
      “That’s great. I’ll remember that. One day when I’m wise and rich, I’ll do good things for the country.” Petch said with determination.
      “You have got it wrong, Petch. You have a chance to do good things for the country all the time by being diligent and good. You are independent and are not a burden to anyone. You’re not a thief that harms people. The government doesn’t have to increase the budget on police to clean up after you. And you also help prevent crime, or when you see anyone trying to do bad things, you tell the officer. All these things are good things for the country.” Weera explained.
      Petch smiled happily, “If that’s so then I have a chance to do good things all the time. I don’t have to wait until I’m rich.”
      “That’s right.” Weera replied. “Your family is frugal. I can predict that you’ll be richer soon . Teacher wrote this for us to always remember :
      “Spend the money you earn carefully.
      Be frugal and not extravagant.
      Keep working and earning, and spend it wisely.
      It won’t be long until you have money, then you’ll be rich.
      When the country is in trouble, we can help each other out.
      If the country falls apart, how can we survive?
      To keep the country as it is, we all need to be frugal.”
      Petch was listening attentively. When Weera finished, he cried out cheerfully, “Wonderful! How am I going to read and write all the things that you just said?”
      Weera smiled “I’ll write it down for you. You try hard to read and write, you’ll be able to do it very soon.”

ก้ม [ก้ม] <gomq>

• [V] to bend oneself down, bow down

ก้มหน้า [ก้ม-หน้า] <gomqnaaq>

• [V] to bend forward, lower one's head

กระดิ่ง [กระ-ดิ่ง] <gra;ding;>

• [NC - ใบ, ลูก] a small bell

กระพริบ [กระ-พริบ] <gra;pripz>

• [V] to wink, blink

กรุง [กฺรุง] <grung->

• [NC - ที่, แห่ง] city, town, capital city

กรุงรัตนโกสินทร์ [กรุง-รัด-ตะ-นะ-โก-สิน] <grung-ratzdta;nazgoo-sinx>

• [Na] (important part of the full name of Bangkok) Grung Rattanakosin

กวดขัน [กวด-ขัน] <guat;kanx>

• [SV] to be strict, severe

การค้า [กาน-ค้า] <gaan-kaaz>

• [NC] trade, business

การค้าขาย [กาน-ค้า-ขาย] <gaan-kaazkaaix>

• [N] trade, commerce, business

การติดต่อ [กาน-ติด-ต่อ] <gaan-dtit;dtɔɔ;>

• [N] the activity of contacting someone

การที่ [กาน-ที่] <gaan-tiiq>

• [Prep] in fact, the fact that (something)

เก้อ [เก้อ] <gəəq>

• [SV] to be embarrassed, feel awkeard

ขจัด [ขะ-จัด] <ka;jat;>

• [V] to get rid of, expel, remove, exterminate, wipe out, eliminate

ขณะ [ขะ-หฺนะ] <ka;na;>

1. [Conj] in the meantime, while, meanwhile
2. [Conj] while, when, as
3. [N] instant, moment, short time, (in time) point

ข้อความ [ข้อ-ความ] <kɔɔqkwaam->

1. [NC - เรื่อง] statement, message, text message
2. [Cl] (for e-mail messages, text messages)

ข้าศึก [ข้า-ศึก] <kaaqsʉk;>

• [N] enemy

ขุน [ขุน] <kunx>

1. [V] to feed, nourish, fatten, raise, rear
2. [SV] to be big, large, great, gigantic
3. [Na] (lowest rank in ancient Thai civil heirarchy) regional ruler, leader, head man, chief
4. [NC - ตัว] (chess piece) king

เขียนข้อความ [เขียน-ค่อ-คฺวาม] <kiianxkɔɔqkwaam->

• [VI] (on a website) to post

คณะ [คะ-นะ] <kaznaz>

1. [NC - คณะ] college, group, team, faculity at a university, council
2. [Cl] (for a council, faculty of a university)

คนเรา [คน-เรา] <kon-rao->

• [Pron] (referring to humans in general) we, us, human, mankind

คาบ [คาบ] <kaapq>

1. [V] to inform, tell
2. [V] to hold in the mouth
3. [N] period, cycle

คำว่า [คำ-ว่า] <kam-waaq>

• [Phrase] the word ...

คิดร้าย [คิด-ร้าย] <kitzraaiz>

• [VI] to intend to harm, have malice

คืนหนึ่ง [คืน-หนึ่ง] <kʉʉn-nʉng;>

• [Adv] one night

งบประมาณ [งบ-ปฺระ-มาน] <ngopzbpra;maan->

• [N] budget, estimate

โง่เง่า [โง่-เง่า] <ngooqngaoq>

• [SV] to be stupid, foolish, idiotic

จับจ่าย [จับ-จ่าย] <jap;jaai;>

• [V] to buy, spend, use up

จ้าง [จ้าง] <jaangq>

• [V] to hire, employ

เจ้าหน้าที่ [เจ้า-น่า-ที่] <jaoqnaaqtiiq>

• [NC - คน] government offical, staff person, office worker, policeman

โจรผู้ร้าย [โจน-ผู้-ร้าย] <joon-puuqraaiz>

• [NC - คน] thief, criminal, bandit

ไฉน [ไฉน] <chainx>

• [Q] why

ช่างสังเกต [ช่าง-สัง-เกด] <chaangqsangxgeet;>

• [SV] to be observant

ดำรง [ดำ-รง] <dam-rong->

1. [VI] (formal) to uphold, maintain, sustain, continue
2. [SV] (formal) durable, permanent, lasting

ได้ว่า [ได้-ว่า] <daiqwaaq>

• [V] (past tense, perfect tense) has said, said, did say

ตั้งใจจริง [ตั้ง-ใจ-จิง] <dtangqjai-jing->

1. [V] to determine, intend, mean
2. [Adv] seriously, determinedly

ตัดสินคดี [ตัด-สิน-คะ-ดี] <dtat;sinxkazdii->

• [V] to judge a case

ตัวอักษร [ตัว-อัก-สอน] <dtuua-ak;sɔɔnx>

• [N] alphabet, script, font

ถอนใจ [ถอน-ใจ] <tɔɔnxjai->

• [V] to sigh

ถ้าเช่นนั้น [ถ้า-เช่น-นั้น] <taaqcheenqnanz>

• [Conj] in that case

ทบทวน [ทบ-ทวน] <topztuan->

• [V] (study) to review

ท้อแท้ [ท้อ-แท้] <tɔɔztɛɛz>

• [SV] to be downhearted, dismayed, dejected, discouraged

ทั่วกัน [ทั่ว-กัน] <tuuaqgan->

• [Adv] all together, all over, throughly

ทาย [ทาย] <taai->

1. [V] to guess, conjecture, prophesy, foretell
2. [V] (of a problem to answer, solve

ทำการบ้าน [ทำ-กาน-บ้าน] <tam-gaan-baanq>

• [VI] to do homework

ทำคุณ [ทำ-คุณ] <tam-kun->

• [V] to oblige, make merit

ที่สาม [ที่-สาม] <tiiqsaamx>

• [N] (ordinal number) third

ทุกข์ [ทุก] <tukz>

• [N] difficulty, suffering, sadness, sorrow, adversity

เท่าไร [เท่า-ไร] <taoqrai->

1. [Q] how much?, how many?
2. [SV] (in a negative expression) at all

แทรก [แทรก] <trɛɛkq>

• [V] (formal) to insert, mix, add, push in, infiltrate, intervene

ธานี [ทา-นี] <taa-nii->

• [NC - แห่ง] city

นเรศวร [นะ-เรด-วอน] <nazreetqwɔɔn->

• [Na] (King of Ayutthaya kingdom who reigned from 1555 to 1605 AD) King Naresuan

นักปราชญ์ [นัก-ปฺราด] <nakzbpraat;>

• [NC - คน] philosopher

นับว่า [นับ-ว่า] <napzwaaq>

• [V] to count as, regard as

นาก [นาก] <naakq>

1. [NC - ตัว] otter
2. [Na] (Thai female given name or nickname meaning 'an alloy of gold, silver and copper') Nak, Naak
3. [N] an alloy of gold and copper, red gold

แน่ะ [แน่ะ] <nɛq>

1. [Part] (colloq., used to emphasize what has gone before)
2. [Part] (colloq., used to call attention to something)

บ้า [บ้า] <baaq>

1. [SV] (of a person) to be crazy, mad, insane
2. [SV] (reduplicated) to be very crazy

บางระจัน [บาง-ระ-จัน] <baang-razjan->

• [Na] (Place in central Thailand) Bang Rachan

บางอย่าง [บาง-อย่าง] <baang-yaang;>

• [Pron] something, some things

โบราณ [โบ-ราน] <boo-raan->

• [SV] to be ancient, old-fashioned, out of date

ปกครอง [ปก-คฺรอง] <bpok;krɔɔng->

• [V] to rule, govern. administer

ประดิษฐ์ [ประ-ดิด] <bpra;dit;>

1. [VT] to create, invent, devise, discover, evolve, originate
2. [Na] (Thai given name) Pradit

ประหยัด [ประ-หยัด] <bpra;yat;>

1. [V] to economize, save, conserve, preserve
2. [SV] to be inexpensive, cheap, thrifty, economical

ปรับปรุง [ปรับ-ปรุง] <bprap;bprung->

• [V] (formal) to improve, make better

ปราบปราม [ปราบ-ปราม] <bpraap;bpraam->

• [V] to repress, conquer, subjugate, quell

ปัจจุบัน [ปัด-จุ-บัน] <bpat;ju;ban->

• [Adv] currently, now a day, these days

เป็นครั้งแรก [เป็น-ครั้ง-แรก] <bpen-krangzrɛɛkq>

• [Adv] for the first time

แปลว่า [แปล-ว่า] <bplɛɛ-waaq>

• [V] to mean that (something)

พลเมือง [พน-ละ-เมือง] <pon-lazmʉʉang->

• [N] population, citizen, inhabitant, people

พาณิชย์ [พา-นิด] <paa-nitz>

• [N] commerce, business, trade

พินาศ [พิ-นาด] <piznaatq>

• [N] destruction, ruin, death, perish, annihlation

พูดแทรก [พูด-แซก] <puutqsɛɛkq>

• [VI] (of a conversation) to interrupt, break in, butt in

ฟุ่มเฟือย [ฟุ่ม-เฟือย] <fumqfʉʉai->

• [SV] to be extravagant, lavish, wasteful

ภาชนะ [พาด-นะ] <paatqnaz>

• [NC - ลูก, ใบ, ชิ้น, อัน] conatianer, utensil, vessel

ภาระ [ภา-ระ] <paa-raz>

• [N] duty, responsibility, obligation, task

มหา [มะ-หา] <mazhaax>

1. [SV] to be great, many, much, large
2. [N] (title conferred on monks who have passed the third of nine grades in Pali studies)

มาสู่ [มา-สู่] <maa-suu;>

• [V] to come to, reach, arrive at

มีโอกาส [มี-โอ-กาด] <mii-oo-gaat;>

• [VAux] to have a chance, have opportunity to, could

เมืองหลวง [เมือง-หลวง] <mʉʉang-luangx>

• [NC - แห่ง] capital (of a country or state)

แม่น [แม่น] <mɛɛnq>

1. [SV] to be accurate, precise, correct, exact
2. [Adv] accurately, precisely, exactly

แม่นยำ [แม่น-ยำ] <mɛɛnqyam->

1. [SV] to be exact, accurate, precise
2. [Adv] exactly, accurately, precisely

ไมตรี [ไม-ตรี] <mai-dtrii->

• [N] friendship, goodwill, friendly relations

ยาม [ยาม] <yaam->

1. [N] night watchman, guard,
2. [N] time, period
3. [N] (period of time for a night watchman) shift, duty watch

ยืนยง [ยืน-ยง] <yʉʉn-yong->

1. [SV] to be permanent
2. [V] (poetic) to endure, persevere, continue, persist

รวดเร็ว [รวด-เร็ว] <ruatqreo->

• [SV] to be fast, quick, speedy

ร้อย [ร้อย] <rɔɔiz>

1. [N] (number) 100
2. [N] lieutenant
3. [V] to string together, thread

รัชกาล [รัด-ชะ-กาน] <ratzchazgaan->

• [NC - สมัย] (of a king) a reign

รัชกาลที่ [รัด-ชะ-กาน-ที่] <ratzchazgaan-tiiq>

• [N] (followed by a numeral n) King Rama n

ราช [ราด-ชะ, ราด] <raatqchaz, raatq>

• [SV] to be royal, of the king, regal

ราม [ราม] <raam->

• [Na] (Thai male given name derived from the name of Thai kings and means 'thunder giant) Ram

ร่าเริง [ร่า-เริง] <raaqrəng->

1. [SV] to be merry, joyful, happy
2. [V] to make merry

รุกราน [รุก-ราน] <rukzraan->

• [V] to invade, trespass, raid, attack

รุ่งเรือง [รุ่ง-เรือง] <rungqrʉʉang->

• [V] to succeed, flourish, prosper, progress

ลงท้าย [ลง-ท้าย] <long-taaiz>

• [V] to end up, finish

ล่วงหน้า [ล่วง-หน้า] <luangqnaaq>

• [Adv] in advance, ahead of time, beforehand

ลำธาร [ลำ-ทาน] <lam-taan->

• [NC - สาย] stream, canal, creek, waterway

วันก่อน [วัน-ก่อน] <wan-gɔɔn;>

• [NC - วัน] previous day

วันหน้า [วัน-หน้า] <wan-naaq>

• [N] (colloq.) one day, some day

วิธีการ [วิ-ที-กาน] <wiztii-gaan->

• [N] how to (do something), procedure, method

เศรษฐี [เสด-ถี] <seet;tiix>

• [NC - คน] rich person, wealthy person

สมเด็จพระ [สม-เด็ด-พฺระ] <somxdet;praz>

• [N] (royal, title for members of the royal family, and high ranking Buddhist monks) His Majesty, His Honor

สมอง [สะ-หฺมอง] <sa;mɔɔngx>

• [N] brain

สมัย [สะ-หฺมัย] <sa;maix>

1. [NC] era, times, period, session, age
2. [Cl] (for era, times, periods, sessions, ages)

สะกด [สะ-กด] <sa;got;>

1. [V] (formal) to spell, spell out
2. [V] (formal) to control, restrain, suppress
3. [V] (formal) to cast a spell, put to sleep by magic
4. [V] (formal) to spy on, track, follow
5. [SV] to be supressing

สั่น [สั่น] <san;>

• [V] to twitch, shake, shudder, tremble

สุโขทัย [สุ-โข-ทัย] <su;kooxtai->

• [Na] (geo., province in northern Thailnd) Sukhothai

หงอน [หงอน] <ngɔɔnx>

• [NC - อัน] (of a bird) crest, comb, topknot, hood

หน้ามุข [หน้า-มุข] <naaqmukz>

• [NC - แห่ง, อัน] porch, veranda

หมายถึง [หมาย-ถึง] <maaixtʉngx>

• [V] to mean, be defined as

หวัง [หวัง] <wangx>

• [V] to hope, wish, expect, want

แหง [แหง] <ngɛɛx>

1. [SV] (colloq.) to be confounded, abashed
2. [SV] (colloq.) to be certain, sure
3. [Adv] (colloq.) certainly, surely

แหม [แหม] <mɛɛx>

• [Intj] (expressing surprise, shyness or discontent)

องค์ [อง] <ong->

1. [NC - องค์] part of a body, organ
2. [Cl] (for royalty, priests, images of Buddha, gods, pagodas)
3. [N] (formal) part, portion, share, section, period
4. [N] (formal) character, characteristic, attribute, feature, manner, appearance
5. [N] (formal, of a drama) an act
6. [N] governing body, organization

อย่างเช่น [อย่าง-เช่น] <yaang;cheenq>

• [Conj] such as, for example, for instance

อย่าเพิ่ง [หฺย่า-เพิ่ง] <yaa;pəngq>

• [Phrase] don't (do something) yet

อ๋อ [อ๋อ] <ɔɔx>

• [Intj] (expresses understanding) Oh!, Yes!

ออกเสียง [ออก-เสียง] <ɔɔk;siiangx>

• [VI] (formal) to pronounce, speak out loud, vote

อักษรไทย [อัก-สอน-ไท] <ak;sɔɔnxtai->

• [N] Thai alphabet

อ่านว่า [อ่าน-ว่า] <aan;waaq>

• [Phrase] read as ...

เอกราช [เอก-กะ-ราด] <eek;ga;raatq>

1. [SV] (of a country) to be independent
2. [N] independence, autonomy

โอกาส [โอ-กาด] <oo-gaat;>

• [N] chance, opportunity, occasion (for)