Let’s go to the cinema
Experience Thai Cinema: Movies, VIP Tickets, and Learning Thai at the Theater!
Let’s start with the basics. In Thai, a cinema is called โรงภาพยนตร์ (rohng-pâap-yon), and a movie ticket is ตั๋วหนัง (tŭa năng). When you head to the box office, you’ll have more choices than you might expect. Aside from the standard ticket, where you can sit in a comfy chair and battle the notoriously icy air-conditioning, Thai cinemas offer a range of VIP options that make movie-going feel like a luxury event.
For a true treat, try a VIP bed ticket, which includes a cozy bed, complete with pillows and blankets, so you can kick back and relax while you enjoy the film. Want to practice your Thai language even more? Order food and drink right to your seat and try out some Thai phrases while you’re at it! Watching a movie with Thai audio or subtitles is another great way to absorb new words and phrases naturally.
As a Thai language learner, you can also explore local films. Thai cinemas often show popular Thai movies, so it’s a fantastic chance to immerse yourself in the local culture and language, from the comfort of your reclining chair (or bed!).
Key Takeaways for Thai Cinemas:
- Standard tickets: Affordable and cozy but bring a jacket—Thai cinemas are seriously cold!
- VIP bed tickets: Watch your movie while lying down, and even get food and drinks delivered to you. Great for relaxing and language immersion!
- Language practice: Take advantage of watching Thai-language movies or films with Thai subtitles to improve your Thai.
- It’s freezing: Did we mention you’ll need a jacket? Because you will!
So, whether you’re here for the movies or to improve your Thai language skills, the Thai cinema experience has something for everyone!
In Thailand, there is not only a Thai movie but also international movies too…mostly from Hollywood, Korea and Hong Kong.
Thai Cinema Vocabulary
1. Type of movies
- Thai movie = năng-Thai หนังไทย
- Western movie = năng fá-ràng หนังฝรั่ง
- Chinese movie = năng jeen หนังจีน
- Korean movie = năng gao-leě หนังเกาหลี
- Japanese movie = năng yeê-pùn หนังญี่ปุ่น
2. Genre of movies
- Action movie = năng boó = หนังบู๊
- Sci-Fi movie = năng (naew) wíd-tá-yaa-saàd = หนัง(แนว)วิทยาศาสตร์
- Romantic movie= năng rák = หนังรัก
- Comedy movie = năng dtà-lòk = หนังตลก
- Drama movie = năng chee-wít = หนังชีวิต
- Investigation movie= năng (naew) seùb-suăn-sàwb-suăn= หนัง(แนว)สืบสวนสอบสวน
- Horror movie = năng sà-yăwng-kwăn = หนังสยองขวัญ
- Ghost movie = năng peě = หนังผี
- Animation movie= năng gaa-dtoon = หนังการ์ตูน
- Period movie = năng (naew) yáwn-yúk = หนัง(แนว)ย้อนยุค
- Historic movie = năng (naew) bprà-wàd-dtì-saàd = หนัง(แนว)ประวัติศาสตร์
- War movie = năng sŏng-kraam = หนังสงคราม
- Criminal movie = năng aàd-chá-yaa-gam = หนังอาชญากรรม
3. Characters in the movie
- Main actor = prá-aìk = พระเอก
- Main actress = naang-aìk = นางเอก
- Supporting actor = prá-rawng = พระรอง
- Supporting actress = naang-rawng = นางรอง
- Bad guy = dtua gohng = ตัวโกง
- Bad woman = naang-raaí = นางร้าย
Now I guess you can talk to your Thai friends about the movie that you’ve seen and also to ask your friends out to the cinema.
Oh one more thing, please don’t forget to pay respect to His Majesty the King by standing up when the Royal Anthem (Pleng Săn-soěrn-prá-baa-rá-mee เพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี ) plays before the movie.
Kru Mulan
Thai Language Teacher
