Thai words of Chinese origin Part 1

Introduction

When the ancestors of Thai people were in Guangxi province, their language received some influence from the Han Chinese there who spoke Yue Chinese.

List

Numbers

English
Character
Cantonese
Thai
2
Soeng Sɔɔng
3
Saam
Saam
4 ^
Sei
Sii
5
Ng
Haa
6
Lok
Hok
7
Chat
Cet
8
Paat
Pɛɛt
9
Kau
Kaau
10
Sap
Sip
11
十一
Sap Yat
Sip Et
20
二十
Yii Sap
Yii Sip
10,000
Maan
Meuan





Food-related and animals

English
Character
Cantonese
Thai
Cooked
Sok
Suk
Infuse tea with hot water
Chong
Chong
Tea
Chaa
Chaa
Chinese congee
Cok
Cok
Wax cooking
Laap
Laap
Peel the skin
Mɔk/Pɔk
Pɔk
Horse
Maa
Maa
Cat
Maau
Maeu
Chicken
Kai
Kai

Miscellaneous 

English

Character

Cantonese

Thai

Charcoal

Thaan

Thaan

Room

Fɔɔng

Hɔɔng

Money

Ngan

Ngən

Look far

Mɔɔng

Mɔɔng

Sound

Sɛɛng

Siang

Ride (horse)

Khɛɛ

Khii

Sad

Sau

Sau

Point at

Jii

Chii

Glue

Kaau

Kaau

How many ^

Kei

Kii

Bad luck

Soei

Suei

Invite

Chɛng

Chən

Old

Kau

Kau

Classifier for type

Yoeng

Yaang

Wide *

Kwɔɔng

Kwaang

Comparative *

Kwɔɔ

Kwaa

Reply *

Taap

Tɔɔp

Send

Song

Song

Finished

Muut

Mot

Ink

Mak

Meuk

Emit out

Phan

Phon

Bottom

Tai

Taai

Pus

Nong

Nɔng

Powder

Fan

Fun

Do something well

Keng

Keng

 

Vowel correspondence

Group marked with ^
Some Yue Chinese and Hakka languages also have “ii” vowel where Thai has “ii” vowel although Cantonese has “ei” vowel.

Group marked with *
Some Thai words with “aa” vowel correspond with Cantonese “ɔɔ” vowel and vice versa.

Word origin

In Middle Chinese, number 5 is pronounced as “ngo” which is similar to proto-Tai which is pronounced as “ngaa”.

The Thai word 'hoi' (หอย) in certain seafood such as clams, mussels, oysters came from the Yue Chinese word 'hoi' (海) which means sea.

Sources

Han Chinese-Thai relationship - 漢泰關係詞的時間層次 (龔群虎 著; 復旦大學出版社, 2002)

Related links

Thai words of Chinese origin - Part 2

Origin of Thai language

Last update: 8 Feb 2021
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Comments

  1. I wonder why the ancient Tai didn't use Chinese Characters to write their own history?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It could be migration and major events that happened.

      Delete

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