Let’s go to the cinema 

To say “go to the cinema” in Thai is “bpai doo năng” The word ‘năng’ is a colloquial word which means “movie” and the word ‘cinema’ in Thai is ‘rong-năng’.  The most recognized cinemas in Thailand are SF Cinema, Major Cineplex and EGV.  One good thing when you buy the ticket or ‘dtuă-năng’ in Thai is that you can select the seat and you can also call to book the ticket and pick it up about 30 minutes – 1 hour before the movie starts.

In Thailand there is not only Thai movie but also international movies too…mostly from Hollywood, Korea and Hong Kong.

Let’s take a look at the words relating to the movie!

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 with 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