Jingjok
Red, white and blue: the flag and the 8 o'clock anthem
tong trai-rong
The Thai flag, the ไตรรงค์ 'tricolour', has flown since 1917. Its five stripes are usually explained as red for the nation, white for religion and blue, in the centre and twice as wide, for the monarchy: the three pillars of official Thai identity (ชาติ ศาสนา พระมหากษัตริย์). Every day at 8:00 and 18:00, the national anthem plays in schools, government offices, BTS stations and parks, and people stop and stand still (ยืนตรง) until it ends, usually about a minute. Foreigners are expected to do the same. Before films in cinemas, a separate royal anthem plays and the audience stands.
Try this today
Next time you hear the anthem at 6 pm, stop and stand still until it ends.
The words that carry it
- ธงชาติnational flag
- ไตรรงค์the tricolour (Thai flag)
- เพลงชาติnational anthem
- ยืนตรงto stand still, stand to attention
Learn this in “History and identity” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.