Jingjok
Topics to handle with care
gaan-mueang
Thais discuss news and การเมือง among friends, sometimes passionately, but many prefer not to with people they don't know well, and a foreigner offering strong opinions can make a table uncomfortable. The monarchy is in a category of its own: criticising or insulting the King and royal family is a serious crime under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, with long prison sentences, and it applies to online posts and shares too. The safe and courteous course is not to discuss it at all. Religion, someone's weight or skin colour, and comparisons with your home country can also be touchy. Food, travel, family and football are always safe.
Try this today
Notice which topics Thai colleagues raise themselves, and follow their lead.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Opinions and discussion” →
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.