I often address drivers as "Bong", maybe just out of laziness and some are obviously younger than me. My son gave me a lot of flack a few years back for calling a driver who was was younger than me "Pu", I knew it meant "uncle" but thought it was also just a general term for drivers/ soldiers whatever. What else could anyone suggest for a driver?Jamie_Lambo wrote:
Bong: used when addressing someone of similar age to yourself or a little older, used for both male and female, basically means brother/sister, you can make it more gender specific especially to show more respect when addressing someone a little older by using the terms Bong Bros (brother) and Bong Srey (Sister)
Term of endearment?
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That's a pretty concise explanation there, well done. With this:
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The whole thing is very flexible.
I know a couple whom I call Pu and Ming, they are around my parents age.
They also call me Pu, because that is what they wanted their son to call me. He initially called me Bong but they wanted him to call me Pu - they thought he was being too casual and not respectful enough.
So they started calling me Pu. It was weird at first but now seems normal, even if others get surprised when they do it in public.
I know a couple whom I call Pu and Ming, they are around my parents age.
They also call me Pu, because that is what they wanted their son to call me. He initially called me Bong but they wanted him to call me Pu - they thought he was being too casual and not respectful enough.
So they started calling me Pu. It was weird at first but now seems normal, even if others get surprised when they do it in public.
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i was out in the province in my friends village for the new year, and there was a large group of us eating and drinking and talking,ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:The whole thing is very flexible.
I know a couple whom I call Pu and Ming, they are around my parents age.
They also call me Pu, because that is what they wanted their son to call me. He initially called me Bong but they wanted him to call me Pu - they thought he was being too casual and not respectful enough.
So they started calling me Pu. It was weird at first but now seems normal, even if others get surprised when they do it in public.
i respectfully called their next door neighbor, an elder gentleman Om,
i then called another lady Ming, to which a number of friends noticed and pointed out that it was his wife and so we all had a laugh about it and it was an on going joke for the night, and everytime we cheersed id do them both together saying Pu Ming Pu Ming
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Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
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yeah thats why in my post i said of similar age or older, i guess it might be a bit different between me and you as im only 30, so i could get away with calling most lads in their 20s Bong, girls id be a bit more carefulLucky Lucan wrote:Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
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That Bo-anh is what many pronounce /write in English as oun, isn't it?Lucky Lucan wrote:Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
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Does colloquialism in the Khmer language exist or would that be considered disrespectful, this is related to someone you don't know. As LL wrote, it 's hard to know which term to use.Jamie_Lambo wrote:yeah thats why in my post i said of similar age or older, i guess it might be a bit different between me and you as im only 30, so i could get away with calling most lads in their 20s Bong, girls id be a bit more carefulLucky Lucan wrote:Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
Don't hear the colloquial term 'mate' from Khmers although once from a younger tuk driver who seemed Indian/Pakistani.
Never mind.
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You aren’t alone.Lucky Lucan wrote:Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
I speak a lot of Khmer every day and I still feel awkward with that one.
I tend to use the more formal ‘nek’ as I feel weird using p’oun - just because I’m conscious that it may be misunderstood, especially by females.
I only use it when I know the person very well and know they won’t take it the wrong way.
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If they are younger, I just go by the name, if I don't know their name, I'd just go by "Srey Srey", I don't use "Oun" with unfamiliar people.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:You aren’t alone.Lucky Lucan wrote:Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
I speak a lot of Khmer every day and I still feel awkward with that one.
I tend to use the more formal ‘nek’ as I feel weird using p’oun - just because I’m conscious that it may be misunderstood, especially by females.
I only use it when I know the person very well and know they won’t take it the wrong way.
Sometimes, I show respect, they show respect then we go by "bong" to each other. This is one of the reason, khmer like to ask for your age when you start talking a bit.
The new generation likes to go by "bro/sis".
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Don't overlook the common use of - Ah - for persons you are close to but not romantically involved with.
For example - Ah Seang - Ah Moi - Ah Tidah etc.
OML
For example - Ah Seang - Ah Moi - Ah Tidah etc.
OML
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close, P'oun is the more formal variant of Oun,violet wrote:That Bo-anh is what many pronounce /write in English as oun, isn't it?Lucky Lucan wrote:Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
Oun is used between close friends and loved ones,
P'oun would be used when talking to/about people other than close friends, or if wanting to show more respect when talking with/about friends or family
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After the brother number one experience i'm thinking ''brother'' can mean alot of things.
Moto's and tuktuk drivers often call me brother.
Moto's and tuktuk drivers often call me brother.
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Yep, a reason I feel uncomfortable with brother after the book.spitthedog wrote:After the brother number one experience i'm thinking ''brother'' can mean alot of things.
Moto's and tuktuk drivers often call me brother.
Never mind.
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Cheers... What is the term that LL used then?Jamie_Lambo wrote:close, P'oun is the more formal variant of Oun,violet wrote:That Bo-anh is what many pronounce /write in English as oun, isn't it?Lucky Lucan wrote:Is it normal to call someone "bong" when they might be a little bit younger or older than you ? I feel a bit weird using "Bo-anh" unless it's someone obviously much younger than me. I know all the common terms of address but sometimes find it hard to know which to use. What should you call someone on an equal standing? Does such a concept even exist in the culture here?
Oun is used between close friends and loved ones,
P'oun would be used when talking to/about people other than close friends, or if wanting to show more respect when talking with/about friends or family
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