This upper-intermediate exercise follows a traveler who takes the wrong train in Japan and ends up stranded in an unfamiliar town. It covers directions, travel vocabulary, and how to describe past experiences in Thai. A practical scenario for anyone who has ever found themselves completely lost abroad.
Watch the YouTube video first without reading the script below. After your first listen, scroll down and read along with the romanization. The vocabulary and grammar sections at the end will help you build sentences about your own travel stories.
Romanization
Mâi-gìi bpii gàwn, chán bpai thîaw thîi bprà-thêd-yîi-bpùn khráng-râek.
Chán nâng rót-fai phìt sǎai láe bpai jòp thîi meuang lék-lék thîi glai jàak rong-raem thîi chán phák.
Dton-râek chán glua mâak phró mâi mii khrai phûud paa-sǎa-ang-grìd loei. Láe mâi rúu wâa glàb bpai thîi rong-raem yang-ngai.
Dtàe gôr mii phûu-chaai jai-dii khon nèung chûay chán. Kháo phaa chán bpai thîi sà-thǎa-nii rót-fai ìik thîi láe dtìd-dtàw phá-nák-ngaan hâi chán.
Chán glàb rong-raem yàang bplàwd-phai. Man bpen bprà-sòb-gaan thîi nâa-dtèun-dtên láe dii mâak khà.
English Translation
“A few years ago, I traveled to Japan for the very first time.”
“I took the wrong train and ended up in a small town far from my hotel.”
“At first, I was very scared because no one could speak English at all. And I didn't know how to get back to my hotel.”
“But then a kind man helped me. He took me to another train station and contacted the staff for me.”
“I got back to my hotel safely. It was an exciting and really good experience.”
Vocabulary Focus
| Thai | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ประเทศ | bprà-thêd | country (e.g. ประเทศญี่ปุ่น = Japan) |
| รถไฟ | rót-fai | train |
| ผิด | phìt | wrong, incorrect |
| กลัว | glua | scared |
| ใจดี | jai-dii | kind, generous |
| ตื่นเต้น | dtèun-dtên | excited |
ประเทศ
bprà-thêd
country (e.g. ประเทศญี่ปุ่น = Japan)
รถไฟ
rót-fai
train
ผิด
phìt
wrong, incorrect
กลัว
glua
scared
ใจดี
jai-dii
kind, generous
ตื่นเต้น
dtèun-dtên
excited
Grammar Focus: Past Tense with “ไม่กี่ปีก่อน” (mâi-gìi bpii gàwn)
The phrase “ไม่กี่ปีก่อน” (mâi-gìi bpii gàwn) means “a few years ago.” Thai verbs do not change form for tense, so context words like “ก่อน” (gàwn, “before”) signal that something happened in the past. Here are five examples:
ไม่กี่ปีก่อน ฉันไปเที่ยวที่ประเทศญี่ปุ่นครั้งแรก
Mâi-gìi bpii gàwn, chán bpai thîaw thîi bprà-thêd-yîi-bpùn khráng-râek.
A few years ago, I traveled to Japan for the first time.
เมื่อสองปีก่อน ฉันเรียนภาษาไทย
Mûea sǎawng bpii gàwn, chán riian paa-sǎa thai.
Two years ago, I studied Thai.
ไม่กี่ปีก่อน ฉันย้ายมาที่กรุงเทพ
Mâi-gìi bpii gàwn, chán yáai maa thîi Grung-thêep.
A few years ago, I moved to Bangkok.
ปีที่แล้ว ฉันเรียนทำอาหาร
Bpii thîi láew, chán riian tham aa-hǎan.
Last year, I learned to cook.
ก่อนหน้านี้ ฉันไม่เคยเดินทางคนเดียว
Gàwn-nâa níi, chán mâi khoei doen-thaang khon-diiao.
Before this, I had never traveled alone.
Practice Tips
- Watch the YouTube video once without looking at the script. How much of the story could you follow?
- On a second listen, read along with the romanization and pause after each sentence.
- Try retelling the story in your own words. Use “ไม่กี่ปีก่อน” to start, then describe what happened step by step.
- Write three sentences about a time you got lost, using the vocabulary and grammar pattern from this exercise.
Looking for more structured Thai practice? Nariss's video courses cover listening, speaking, and reading at every level. Or keep practicing with the next listening exercise: A Life-Changing Decision.
