Term of endearment?

[RainMan]

A few times with regular tuk drivers or shop assistants I've just said "thanks friend" and get a stare with you "you not friend... you brother".
Not used to calling people brother or vice versa but is it impolite to say friend?

I'm used to being called handsome man, but that's another story.

[slavedog]

Happy to call them brother in the vernacular, but don't think I could ever bring myself to say in English.

[RainMan]

Funny thing, I used to be called 'broken leg' for obvious reasons, then 'bung eye' again for obvious reasons. The same old digger that gave me the nicknames I've known for over 30 years, he asked for my real name just recently.
Nicknames are a term of endearment in Aus, going out of style now.
I now hear 'old cunt' often

[Lucky Lucan]

A few times with regular tuk drivers or shop assistants I've just said "thanks friend" and get a stare with you "you not friend... you brother".
Not used to calling people brother or vice versa but is it impolite to say friend?

I'm used to being called handsome man, but that's another story.

How do you say friend?
I know "Mut" and "Pu Mak" which is mostly used for close friends.
I find those phrases annoying when they are emphasized too much.
To me it's a bit childish to point out stuff that goes without saying,
but then the guys who call me that are all fairly solid and dependable.
When local guys I know say "Hey brother.." in English that's a bit weird.

[johnny lightning]

I hate this "brother" nonsense. Not quite sure where it came from but I wish they would stop. I don't even like my brother calling me brother! And no, "bro" is not on either.

Johnny

[Lucky Lucan]

I hate this "brother" nonsense. Not quite sure where it came from but I wish they would stop. I don't even like my brother calling me brother! And no, "bro" is not on either.

Johnny

It probably comes from the way the people here address each other. It sounds weird in English, like you are talking to a hippy ( "brother") or a gangster ("bro") or something but in Khmer it's totally normal to call people child/ brother/ uncle/ grandfather/ etc even if they are obviously not even remotely related to you.

[tarariverboat]

haha:) wait till you get a bit older most khmers call me papa
its a nice friendly greeting and i follow up with cheers cob:)

[Playboy]

I always know when I am long overdue for a shave when I start getting a few mentions as Ta.

[Kachang]

I always know when I am long overdue for a shave when I start getting a few mentions as Ta.

Actually for a Khmer girl you're already overdue if she calls you 'phoo'.

[Playboy]

I always know when I am long overdue for a shave when I start getting a few mentions as Ta.

Actually for a Khmer girl you're already overdue if she calls you 'phoo'.

These days I already get 25% Pooh in the mix regardless of whether or not I have shaved ...

[violet]

^beat me to it.

[RainMan]

^beat me to it.

Just for curiosities sake violet, do you get called 'sister' by either men or women? I know the Khmer girls call each other sister a lot.

[RainMan]

A few times with regular tuk drivers or shop assistants I've just said "thanks friend" and get a stare with you "you not friend... you brother".
Not used to calling people brother or vice versa but is it impolite to say friend?

I'm used to being called handsome man, but that's another story.

How do you say friend?
I know "Mut" and "Pu Mak" which is mostly used for close friends.
I find those phrases annoying when they are emphasized too much.
To me it's a bit childish to point out stuff that goes without saying,
but then the guys who call me that are all fairly solid and dependable.
When local guys I know say "Hey brother.." in English that's a bit weird.

I still use English LL. I'm slowly practicing Khmer but just get funny laughs at the moment.

[Playboy]

^beat me to it.

Just for curiosities sake violet, do you get called 'sister' by either men or women? I know the Khmer girls call each other sister a lot.

Ming ??