In Thailand 'Sabai sabai' means something like 'easy going, happy, comfortable' and locals have described it as the Thai way of life. Anybody know any more about this concept?
2007-02-28 04:37:30 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Thailand
Literally, sabai means well and mai sabai means not well or ill.
Sabai sabai is used to show that everything is relaxed and fine and as it should be.
If they had said sanuk sabai it would mean that they are enjoying whatever is happening as sanuk is glad.
Another common one is sabai jai which means literally well heart. This the Thai's use to express contentment, happiness or gratitude dependant of context.
Don't start getting onto the heart words because they have dozens of phrases with jai as a component.
2007-02-28 17:07:45 · answer #1 · answered by John B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sabai Sabai Thai
2016-10-28 08:25:58 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say it means easy going and no worries and no problems depending on how you use it in a context. If you said 'sabai..sabai' when you confirm that you could do it, then it means with ease as you could do it with ease. If you use the term as "sabai-dee" when somebody asks how you're doing. It then means 'fine or ok'. If you use it as 'sabai-jai' then it means you're content, happy and no worries. As for sabai..sabai (as a name of Thai song), I would say that it means no worries. Hope this help and not to confuse you.
2007-02-28 05:38:53 · answer #3 · answered by PO@BWC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sabai as your question indicates means comfortable. In Thai one of the many ways of making a meaning similar to 'very' in English is a double use of the word. This isn't unique to Thai, I believe other Asian languages do the same thing. For example, I think, Tagalog has the same idea. Linguists have a special word for this doubling of the adjective to express the idea of very but I can't remember it off hand. Anyway, using this construction, very good is 'dee dee', very delicious is 'arroy arroy', etc. However, Thai also has other ways of making a word that translates as 'very' for example, the words 'marc', 'jang' and 'loi' all of which indicate 'very'. You can even join them together, for example, 'sanuk jang loi', means very very fun; although 'jang loi' as a way to express the idea of very very tends to be more used by children; adults use 'marc' or even 'marc marc' to indicate very or very very as well as the doubling of the adjective.
I was trying to help my nephew with his English today (today is the first day of the summer holidays in Thailand). He knows the expression 'very good'. I was attempting to get him to say 'very very good' but everytime I asked him to repeat what I said it came back as 'very good very good'. His brain seems stuck in the technique of doubling of a word to express the idea of very or a lot. I guess I'll have to keep working on this with him.
2007-03-01 01:33:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
sabai sabai?
normally it use for express the relax and comfortable feeling.
thai people don't be serious or be hurry much about life. we alway want lots of time for leisure,sitting,talking,eating or do something eles that make our time to be a good time and very relax. that's we express our feeling as 'sabai sabai'
2007-02-28 05:12:31 · answer #5 · answered by kikk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I ask you how are you, and you are fine you would answer sabai sabai and if you were hung over you might answer mai sabai or not so good. My favorite is Bi Nai Bi Nai (not sure on spelling, still learning), which means where are you going but doesn't really expect much of a reply, I like Bi Big Bon too when time to go home.
2007-02-28 05:02:07 · answer #6 · answered by Curious 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sabai sabai is just an emphasis that everything is fine. Like the Hawaiians with their Hang Loose, this is Thai way of hanging loose. Contentment.
2007-03-01 21:06:09 · answer #7 · answered by peanutz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pretty self-explanitory when you break down the quote. It means that that person is ugly. So ugly that they have 'a face that only a MOTHER can love'.
2016-03-17 23:34:17 · answer #8 · answered by Margaret 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
" sabai sabai " Means very calm; tranquil; easygoing; comfortable
READ MORE : http://www.thai-language.com/id/131406
2007-02-28 10:13:29 · answer #9 · answered by Thailady40 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
to sit and watch the sunset is sabai sabai, to win the lotto is not...
2015-03-20 15:35:06 · answer #10 · answered by Agnes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋