THAILAND GOT TALENT?
Yes, Thailand’s got talent. The kingdom is full of talented people with all types of skills and artistic abilities, as anyone can see who has watched the popular TV show Thailand’s Got Talent—a spinoff of the Got Talent franchise which started in Great Britain and the United States
Like versions of the Got Talent program in other countries, Thailand’s Got Talent has had its fair share of surprises, like when kathoey (i.e. ladyboy) Bell Nuntrita surprised the audience and judges by switching from a female singing voice to a male one.
Then there was the infamous “boobs painting” episode where Duangjai Jansaunoi stripped down to do a nude painting which earned executives of Thailand’s Got Talent a severe beat down from the Thai Ministry of Culture.
But there is a lot more talent to be found in Thailand than just on Thailand’s Got Talent. Talented Thai can be found everywhere. Also there are Thais who like to go a bit overboard in showing off their talent—just as people do all over the world. So, in today’s learn Thai language lesson we are going to teach you how to tell someone that this is not Thailand’s Got Talent and they don’t need to go grandstanding.
ที่นี่ไม่ใช่ไทยแลนด์ก็อตทาเลนต์ ไม่ต้องเอามาอวดเลย (Audio)
Thêe-nêe mâi-châi thai-laen gâwt thah-layn. Mâi dtâwng ao-mah ùat leuy.
This not Thailand Got Talent. Not must bring flaunt at-all.
This isn’t Thailand’s Got Talent. You don’t need to show off.
e-Learn Thai Culture Tip: It should be pointed out that in Thailand humility is still an admired virtue. So, there are fewer show-offs than in Western countries. However, this is changing some as Thailand increasingly becomes Westernized. Nevertheless, foreigners in Thailand should do their best to be as humble as possible and not flaunt their skills—not simply because humility is prized by Thais but you may just have an inflated sense of your own abilities.
Want to read more about Thai culture and language? Check out our learn Thai language post: Blowing Your Nose in Thailand.