[DoniandaCoado]

Somerled,

Thanks for the explanation.
"and many more lament the fact that kreng Jai is slowly disappearing from Thai society." Sorry but I can't get Quote to work yet..

This was one of the reasons I posted the question as I am finding it hard to reconcile my limited understanding of kreng jai with the behaviour of Thai people. For example does kreng jai apply when driving a car?
This is not a criticism of Thai people as I could just as easily lament the passing of "manners" in the UK.

[cenRealliat]

I would say Kreng Jai applies only with direct interaction or communication between person to person(s). Thais normally use Kreng Jai for making noise that will disturb peoples in the same room, Kreng Jai to ask peoples for help.

When it comes to driving, it is manner that we talk about because it is more about following the rule in living togeher. It is not really interaction and not communication.

I don't think Kreng Jai is part of Thainess. It is part of Thai etiquette or manner per say to others' feeling. Not all Thais learn etiquette.

But I agree that the Thais practive less Kreng Jai today. Manner is getting worse too. However, Thailand is still much better than other countries in Asia in term of both Kreng Jai and manner.

[rowneigerie]

Please can anyone explain to me what kreng jai means to Thai people?

à¡Ã§ã¨ Kreng Jai Is a difficult concept to explain, amongst other things it means, not wishing to cause another person inconvenience, difficulty or trouble eg "I don't want to cause you any inconvenience", "I don't want to put you to any trouble", "I don't want to put you out of your way", "I don't want to bother you", "I don't want to impose on you", "I don't want you to feel that you have to do (something) for me", also it means to consider someone's emotional feelings, eg. not wanting to hurt someone's feelings.
Many Thai people consider that Kreng Jai is one of the most important factors in true "khwaam pen Thai" "Thainess" and many more lament the fact that kreng Jai is slowly disappearing from Thai society.

[rowneigerie]

Somerled,

Thanks for the explanation.
"and many more lament the fact that kreng Jai is slowly disappearing from Thai society." Sorry but I can't get Quote to work yet..

This was one of the reasons I posted the question as I am finding it hard to reconcile my limited understanding of kreng jai with the behaviour of Thai people. For example does kreng jai apply when driving a car?
This is not a criticism of Thai people as I could just as easily lament the passing of "manners" in the UK.

Those who teach true "kwaam pen Thai" ie "Thainess" say that Kreng Jai should be foremost in every facet of a Thai person's life which would include driving. This would appear to be an impossibility in today's hectic world and as a driver myself I can confirm that there is very little of it on display on the roads in Thailand.

[DoniandaCoado]

Please can anyone explain to me what kreng jai means to Thai people?