Mike:	Châi  khōn Thōi níyōm thām àrāi tōn tôn pī mài	ชัย คนไทยนิยมทำอะไร ตอนต้นปีใหม่	Chai, what do Thai people like to do at the beginning of the new year?
Chai:	kīnlíang  chàt pātî  thāmbūn láeo kô dū dūang	กินเลี้ยง จัดปาร์ตี้ ทำบุญ แล้วก็ดูดวง	Feast, party, make merit and go du duang.
Mike:	“dū dūang” mǎikhwām wâ àrāi	“ดูดวง” หมายความว่าอะไร	What does du duang mean?
Chai:	pāi hǎ mǒdū hâi thāmnāi wâ pī mài ní chīwít chà pēn yàngrāi	ไปหาหมอดูให้ทำนายว่าปี ใหม่นี้ชีวิตจะเป็นอย่างไร	To have a modu predict how life’s going to be in the new year.
Mike:	“mǒdū” khūe fortune-teller  châi mǎi	“หมอดู” คือ ฟอร์จูน เทลเลอร์ ใช่ไหม	Modu is a fortune-teller, right?
Chai:	châi  bāngthī chà pût kān w⠓pāi dū mǒ”	ใช่ บางทีจะพูดกันว่า “ไปดูหมอ”	Right! We sometimes say that we pai du mo.
Mike:	ô  “pāi dū mǒ” kàp “pāi hǎ mǒ” mâi mǔean kān	อ้อ “ไปดูหมอ” กับ “ไปหา หมอ” ไม่เหมือนกัน	Ah, pai du mo and pai ha mo don’t mean the same.
Chai:	châi láeo  kèng mâk  Mái  “pāi dū mǒ” khue “pāi dū dūang”  tàe rāo “pāi hǎ mǒ” mûea rāo mâi sàbāi	ใช่แล้ว เก่งมาก ไมค์ “ไป ดูหมอ” คือ “ไปดูดวง” และ เรา “ไปหาหมอ” เมื่อเรา ไม่สบาย	No, very good, Mike. Pai du mo means to visit a fortune-teller, and pai ha mo means to see a medical doctor for treatment.
Mike:	khūn “pāi dū mǒ” mā láeo yāng	คุณ “ไปดูหมอ” มาแล้วยัง	Have you ever consulted a fortune-teller?
Chai:	yāng  phǒm mâi khôi sǒnchāi  tàe pī nâ dāang pràthêt mâi khôi dī	ยัง ผมไม่ค่อยสนใจ แต่ปี หน้าดวงประเทศไม่ค่อยดี	No, I’m not interested; but this year the country’s fortune won’t be so good.
Mike:	dū dūang pràthêt dâi dûai rǒe	ดูดวงประเทศได้ด้วยเหรอ	Can a modu also forecast the fortune of a country?
Chai:	dâi sì  hǒn dāng sǎm khōn thāmnāi khlái khlái kān lōng nāi Dēlí Nīo	ได้สิ โหรดังสามคนทำนาย คล้ายๆ กันลงในเดลินิวส์	Yes. Three well-known astrologers gave similar forecasts in the Daily News.
Mike:	khūn khít wâ mâen mǎi	คุณคิดว่าแม่นไหม	Do you think they’re accurate?
Chai:	ēh  tông tām dū	เอ ต้องตามดู	Well, we’ll have to wait and see.

Vocabulary watch: 1.      to like to do =         2. to consult a fortune-teller = 3. a fortune-teller =       4. to consult a medical doctor = 5. fortune =                  6. to forecast / to predict = 7. an astrologer =         8. similar = 9. well-known =           10. accurate = Answer keys: 1. níyōm / นิยม 2. pāi dū dūang / ไปดูดวง, ไปดูหมอ 3. mǒdū / หมอดู 4. pāi hǎ mǒ / ไปหาหมอ 5. dūang / ดวง    6. thāmnāi / ทำนาย 7. hǒn / โหร       8. khlái khlái / คล้ายๆ กัน 9. dāng / ดัง       10. mâen / แม่น

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This lesson was prepared by Acharn Sunee Siidao, Educational Specialist.

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Last modified: January 5, 2006 |

Welcome back to a new adaptation of Phût Phāsǎ Thāi after our transitional Songkran break. As per the valued suggestions of our readers, the transliterations now follow the Royal Institute's system (http://www.royin.go.th/th/profile/index.php), which includes tone markers. In terms of content, the column will continue to provide you with everyday language on specific topics.

๙ makarakhom ๒๕๕๐   ( 9 Janary 2007)

Phût phāsǎ Thai Will this be your lucky year? / pī ní dūang dī rǔe plào The practice of fortune-telling — by means of Tarot reading, Thai or Chinese astrology, palm reading and numerology — continues to prove lucrative in the modern world Fortune-telling is a thriving industry locally, and even some prominent executives regularly consult seers to guide their decisions. - Taweechai Tawatpakorn The month before and after a new year always sees the busiest time for one career, especially in Southeast Asia - fortune-telling. People seek fortune-tellers' advice on health, career and love for the coming year. Magazine and newspaper readers always look for predictions by prominent astrologers and fortune-tellers at the change of the year. It seems like girls are more into this practice on a daily basis. However, when it comes to making a major business decision, many administrators, officers and politicians are among those who also consult astrologers to help them decide. Business owners see fortune-tellers when their business is in trouble or before they make a major change. Even with advances in science and technology, many people still believe in fortune-telling. Is it art, science or speculation? What do you think? In terms of language, let's look at some words and phrases used when we talk about fortune-telling.