Language/Central-khmer/Culture/Greetings-and-Polite-Behavior

Central Khmer → Culture → 0 to A1 Course → Central Khmer Customs and Traditions → Greetings and Polite Behavior

Central Khmer culture is known for its warm and welcoming approach towards guests and newcomers. This is reflected in their customs and traditions surrounding greetings and polite behavior. In this lesson, we will explore the most common Central Khmer greetings, gestures and etiquette, and the proper way to show respect and politeness in social situations.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Cambodia Timeline & Festivals and Celebrations.

Common Greetings

Central Khmer has a variety of greetings that are used in different situations. Let's take a look at some of the most common ones:

Central Khmer	Pronunciation	English Translation
សួស្ដី	Suor sdei	Hello (used in formal situations)
សុំទោស	Som taaw	Goodbye (used when leaving in formal situations)
ជំរាបសួរ	Chomreabsuor	Hello (used in informal situations)
លាហើយ	la haey	Goodbye (used when leaving in informal situations)
អរគុណ	aarun kun	Thank you

When greeting someone, it is common to put your hands together in a "praying" position (called "sampeah"), with the thumbs touching the forehead, just above the nose, and the fingers pointing upwards. This gesture is a sign of respect, and is usually accompanied by a slight bow. It is important to adjust the level of your bow according to the situation, with a deeper bow for more formal occasions, and a shallower or no bow for informal situations.

Introducing Yourself

If you want to introduce yourself to someone in Central Khmer, you can say:

Central Khmer	Pronunciation	English Translation
ខ្ញុំឈ្មោះ...	Knhom chhmaa...	My name is...

To ask someone for their name, you can say:

Central Khmer	Pronunciation	English Translation
តើអ្នកឈ្មោះយើងមានទេ?	Te ou nih chhmaa yeung mean te?	What's your name?

If you want to ask someone about their profession, you can use the phrase "តើ...អ្នកជាមនុស្សប្រចាំថ្ងៃទេ?" (Te...ou nih chea moun sompeah tngai te?), which means "Are you a...in your daily life?"

Polite Behavior

Central Khmer culture places a high value on politeness and respect towards others. Here are some tips on how to show proper behavior in social situations:

• Use proper titles: Addressing others with their proper titles is a sign of respect in Central Khmer culture. For example, "lok" for men and "srey" for women, followed by their first name or a respectful nickname. If in doubt, or when addressing someone much older or in a formal situation, use "chun" or "dara".

• Avoid pointing with your feet: In Central Khmer culture, pointing with your feet is seen as disrespectful. It is better to use your hands or verbally indicate what you are pointing at.

• Take your shoes off indoors: It is customary to take your shoes off before entering someone's home, especially if there are carpets or mats.

• Refrain from public displays of affection: Displays of romantic affection, such as holding hands or kissing, are generally not considered appropriate in public. It is also important to avoid touching someone of the opposite sex in a way that could be seen as flirtatious.

• Use two hands when receiving or giving objects: When receiving or giving objects to someone, it is customary to use both hands as a sign of respect. This is especially important when dealing with older or more senior people.

In summary, Central Khmer culture places a high value on politeness, respect, and showing proper behavior in social situations. By following these customs and traditions, you can show your appreciation for this welcoming and warm culture.

Table of Contents - Central Khmer Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Basic Greetings

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Sentence Structure

• Basic Word Order
• Yes/No Questions

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Numbers and Time

• Counting from 1 to 100
• Telling Time

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Status

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

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Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

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Central Khmer Customs and Traditions

• Greetings and Polite Behavior
• Festivals and Celebrations

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People and Things
• Describing Actions and States

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Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons and Months

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Central Khmer Literature and Arts

• Literature and Poetry
• Music and Dance

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Shopping and Money

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Money and Currency

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Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Using Prepositions
• Using Conjunctions

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Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Discussing Interests

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Central Khmer History and Geography

• Historical Overview
• Geographical Features

Other Lessons

• Literature and Poetry
• Geographical Features
• Festivals and Celebrations
• Historical Overview
• Cambodia Timeline
• Music and Dance