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The Confusing Ways of Telling Time in Thai
6404 VIEWS | 2 MINS READ Monday 16 / 11 / 2020
“What time did you go to bed last night?”
“At 4...”
Does it mean 4 PM, 4 AM, or something entirely different? Some Thai learners are often confused when telling time. It is not because we are confused about the differences between AM and PM, but because we have different ways of telling time.
There are two ways of telling time that Thai people commonly use:
1. International Style - As in one day we have 24 hours, we also tell the time and note them in 24 hours style which is commonly used for official documents, official announcements, and etc. (such as radio, newspaper, article). It could be read as, number + Na Li Ka), and number + (นาที/Na Thi) for example, 17:32 is read as Sib-Jed-Na-Li-Ka-Saam-Sib-Song-Na-Thi.
2. Thai traditional time. This method is mainly used for telling time in Thailand. It can be used in both formal and informal situations, whether with the elderly, adults, or kids. It is separated by:
- Midday(เที่ยงวัน/Thiang Wan) 00:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Early morning (01:00AM-05:00AM) is called Tee(ตี)+ time. For example, 01:00AM is Tee-Nueng, and 05:00AM is Tee-Ha.
Morning (06:00AM-11:00AM) is called time + Mong(โมง) + Chaow(เช้า). For example, 06:00 is Hok-Mong-Chaow, 10:00 is Sib-Mong-Chaow and 11:00 is Sib-Ed-Mong-Chaow. 12:00 AM is called Thiang or Thiang Wan.
- Midnight(เที่ยงคืน/Thiang Khuen) 01:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Late afternoon (13:00-15:00) is called by Bai(บ่าย)+ time + Mong(โมง). For example, 13:00 or 01:00 PM is Bai-Nueng-Mong, 14:00 or 02:00 PM is Ba-Song-Mong, and 15:00 or 03:00 PM is Bai-Saam.
Evening (16:00-18:00) is called by time + Mong(โมง) + Yen(เย็น). For example, 16:00 or 04:00 PM is Si-Mong-Yen, 17:00 or 05:00 PM is Ha-Mong-Yen, and 18:00 or 06:00 PM is Hok-Mong-Yen.
Night (19:00-23:00) is special from others as we call the time on this period differently. It has a story that long time ago before the clock, watch, timer are existed. Thai people know the time by gong sound. The man hit the gong 1 time to announce it is 7 PM, 2 times when it is 8 PM, and so on. The sound of gong is like "Thum" so that it called by time + Thum(ทุ่ม). For example, 20:00 or 08:00 PM is Song-Thum, 22:00 or 10:00 PM is Si-Thum.
Half (30 minutes) is call Krueng (ครึ่ง), and the rest can be called with number + Na-Thi. Sometimes, 30minutes could also be called in the minute form such as Saam-Sib-Na-Thi.
Plus, Thais often tell the time in an informal way which is commonly used with friends, acquaintances, or at the workplace. For example, if a teammate asks “What time is it”, the answer could be Sib-Ed-Mong-Saam-Sib-Ha. (11:35 AM).
So, in case you see a student say “I sleep at 5”, just double check by asking “Is it a bit early?” If the student misunderstands how to tell time, this is a great time to help them.
It is good to know right?
Enjoy teaching!
