ទេ អរគុណ
te orkun
The phrase "no thank you" in Khmer is ទេ អរគុណ (te orkun).
This phrase is a polite way of saying no.
Meaning: polite way of saying no (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the word ទេ (te) meaning 'no' and អរគុណ (orkun) meaning 'thank you'.
How do you pronounce it?
te orkun
Did you know?
- The height of your hands during the sampeah while saying ទេ អរគុណ changes depending on the social status of the person you are refusing.
- The word អរគុណ (orkun) is built from two parts: 'happy' and 'virtue' or 'merit'. It implies that you are expressing happiness for a good deed or kindness received.
- In many social situations, a Khmer speaker might avoid saying ទេ (no) directly to prevent a loss of face for both parties. They might instead use a smile or a different phrase to imply a refusal more softly.
Examples in context
- ទេ អរគុណ។te, orkun.No, thank you.
- មិនបាច់ទេ អរគុណ។min bach te, orkun.No need, thank you.
- ទេ អរគុណ ខ្ញុំឆ្អែតហើយ។te, orkun, khnom ch-et haey.No thank you, I am full already.
Example conversation
Narong offers Chinta some water.
- ណារ៉ុង Narongចិន្តា តើអ្នកចង់ញ៉ាំទឹកទេ?Chinta tae neak chong nham teuk te?Chinta, do you want some water?
- ចិន្តា Chindaទេ អរគុណ ខ្ញុំទើបតែញ៉ាំរួច។te arkoun khnhom teub tae nham ruoch.No thank you, I just drank some.
- ណារ៉ុង Narongអូ មិនអីទេ។oh min ey te.Oh, that is okay.
- ចិន្តា Chindaចាស អរគុណ ណារ៉ុង។chas arkoun Narong.Yes, thank you Narong.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries អរគុណ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
