Language/Central-khmer/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise
Hi Central Khmer learners! ๐
In this lesson, you will learn how to express surprise in Central Khmer. Surprise is an important emotion because it helps us react to unexpected situations, events or information. A good command of the language will allow you to communicate more effectively with native speakers and express yourself more precisely.
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Telling Time & Common Foods.
Basic expressions[edit | edit source]
Let's start with the basic expressions. To express surprise in Central Khmer, you can use the following words:
Central Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
แแแแแพแ! | /prษhsaa/ | Oh my goodness!/Wow! |
แแถแแแแแแถแ! | /vaiส bษลkam/ | My word!/Good grief! |
แแแแแแปแ! | /preah koun/ | My god! (Lit. Buddha) |
แแแถแแแแแถแ! | /ma-seng-saล/ | Unbelievable!/Incredible! |
These expressions can be used to show you are surprised by something amazing or shocking.
For example:
- Person 1: แแแแแปแแถแแแแถแแแแแแปแแแแแแถแแแ (Kรขmpลญchea klรขm nhyลm srรขlanh.) (I love Cambodia.)
- Person 2: แแถแแแแแถแแแแถแแแแแถแแแทแ แ (Voa srรขlanh nฤah yaang tiฤk.) (That is a bit surprising!)
Questions[edit | edit source]
Sometimes, you need to ask questions to clarify what is making you feel surprised. Here are some helpful questions:
Central Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
แแพ...แแบแขแแแธ? | /toษ...kษส สvษy?/ | What is...? |
แแแผแแธ.แแแแ แแ? | /polii meh kak?/ | Really?/Is that right? |
For example:
- Person 1: แแแแปแแแแแถแแแแแฝแแแถแแแแแแแถแแแแแธแแ (Knhom tlรขp tรดtoul bรขntom nฤy tmey.) (I just received some new information.)
- Person 2: แแแผแแธแ (Polii.) (Really?)
Useful expressions[edit | edit source]
Here are some useful expressions you can use to express surprise in different situations:
Central Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
แแทแแขแถแ แแแฝแแแถแแแแแธแแแแแแ! | /min ษc tรดtoul bรขntom nฤy tรชh/ | I can't believe this is happening! |
แแผแ แแแแแ แแ? | /duch-mdรชk-tรช?/ | Is that really true? |
แแแแปแแแทแแ แแแฒแแแแแถแแแแ แแแพแแแแปแแแแแ! | /knhom min chรขng yey ma-seng chraan ponnรดh!/ | I don't want too many surprises. |
For example:
- Person 1: แแแแปแแแแแแถแแแ แแแพแแ แพแแแถแแแแแแแแแแ (Knhom srรขlanh chraan heuy mean tam-leh.) (I'm very surprised but it's cheap.)
- Person 2: แแทแแขแถแ แแแฝแแแถแแแแแธแแแแแแ! (Min ac tรดtoul bรขntom nฤy tรชh!) (I can't believe this is happening!)
Culture and fun facts[edit | edit source]
Did you know that in Cambodia, the traditional greeting is called a "sampeah"? It is done by pressing the palms together in a prayer-like gesture while bowing slightly. It is a sign of respect and humility. You can use it to express surprise when meeting someone unexpectedly, for example. To learn more about Cambodian culture, visit Polyglot Club.
Also, did you know that in Central Khmer, the word "แแทแแขแถแ " (min ac) means "cannot"? The auxiliary particle "แแทแแถแ" (niyeay) can be added to form the negative form of a verb. For example, "แแแแปแแแทแแขแถแ แแทแแถแแแถแแถแขแแแแแแแแกแพแ" (Knhom min ac niyeay pheasa Anglais ley) means "I cannot speak English".
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: แแแแแพแแแแแฎแ! แแพแขแแแแแถแแแแแฝแแขแแแธแแ? (Kraek kraeum! Toษ nฤak mean chomnuoch รขvei tรช?)(Oh my gosh! What happened?)
- Person 2: แแถแแแแแขแแแแถแ! (Kaat paeak baan!)(He/she won!)
- Person 1: แแถ..แแถ...แแถแแแแแแแแแแแแถแแแแแแแถแแแแแแ (Vaa...vaa...mean traimean bamplean til nรฉah tiฤ.) (Uh...uh...it's a really surprising result.)
Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now, let's practice! Translate the following sentences into Central Khmer:
1. Wow! That's amazing! 2. Is this really happening? 3. I can't believe it! 4. What's going on? 5. It's a big surprise!
Sources[edit | edit source]
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Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
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- Days of the Week
- Count to 10
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
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- Geography
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