ទះដៃ
teah dai
To clap in Khmer is to say ទះដៃ (teah dai).
The verb ទះដៃ is used to describe the action of striking the palms of the hands together.
Meaning: intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the verb ទះ (teah), meaning 'to slap' or 'to strike' and the noun ដៃ (dai), meaning 'hand'.
How do you pronounce it?
teah dai
Did you know?
- In many Southeast Asian cultures, including Cambodia, loud clapping during a formal speech or ceremony can sometimes be perceived as a sign of impatience or a lack of decorum.
- The Khmer language uses the word ដៃ (hand) to describe a 'handle' of a tool, linking the human limb to the mechanical part.
- In traditional Khmer dance, specific movements of the ដៃ are so precise that a slight change in finger position can change the meaning of the gesture entirely.
Examples in context
- ក្មេងៗទះដៃសប្បាយចិត្ត។kmeng kmeng teah dai sbay chet.The children clap their hands happily.
- សូមទះដៃឱ្យគេផង។soum teah dai oy ke phong.Please clap for them.
- គាត់ទះដៃខ្លាំងណាស់។koat teah dai khlang nah.He claps very loudly.
Example conversation
Ratanas and Mali are watching a talent show.
- រតនៈ Ratanakការសម្ដែងនេះពិតជាល្អណាស់!ka somdaeng nih pit chea l'or nas!This performance is really great!
- ម៉ាលី Malyចា៎! តោះយើងទះដៃឱ្យពួកគេ។cha! toh yeung teas dai oy pouk ke.Yes! Let's clap for them.
- រតនៈ Ratanakអ្នកគ្រប់គ្នាប្រហែលជាចូលចិត្តវា។neak krob knea prohael chea chol chett vea.Everyone probably likes it.
- ម៉ាលី Malyពិតមែនហើយ ម៉ាលីក៏ចូលចិត្តដែរ។pit men haey, Mali kor chol chett dae.True, Mali likes it too.
