Ever look again with nostalgia on the enjoyable childhood video games you used to play as a child? Effectively, they is perhaps very completely different from what youngsters may play in Thailand! Thai childhood video games are available many variations, and carry deep historic meanings and origins.
From the spirited chase of Wing Lai Jap (wîng lâi jàp, วิ่งไล่จับ) by means of the streets to the intricate technique of Takraw (dtà grɔ̂ɔ, ตะกร้อ), Thai childhood video games, or geem nai wai dèk (เกมในวัยเด็ก) are actually distinctive. Not solely do they mirror the Thai tradition and customs, but in addition drastically present the issues that make individuals really feel joyful and relaxed. Need to be taught extra about it? Learn on beneath!
Desk of Contents
What Are Thai Childhood Video games?
Childhood video games or geem nai wai dèk (เกมในวัยเด็ก) in Thailand have culturally important origins that dates again centuries to the Sukhothai kingdom. Many of those conventional video games have their roots in Thai folklore, mythology, and day by day life. For instance, video games like Saba (lên sà bâa, เล่นสะบ้า) and Khee Ma (kìi máa, ขี่ม้า) are impressed by Thai agricultural heritage, the place youngsters mimic the actions of farmers by planting rice or plowing fields in a playful method. Different video games, like Chak Ka Yer (chák gà yə̂ə, ชักเย่อ) (a variation of tug of warfare) or Kradok Chuak (grà dòot chʉ̂ak, กระโดดเชือก) (soar rope) mirror the close-knit communities in Thai villages, selling social bonding and unity amongst youngsters.
The importance of those Thai childhood video games goes past mere leisure or kwaam ban təəng (ความบันเทิง). They function a way of preserving and passing down Thai cultural values, traditions, and customs from one technology to the following. These video games train youngsters vital life classes akin to teamwork, respect for elders, and the worth of arduous work, all whereas fostering a way of belonging inside their communities.
Furthermore, these video games promote bodily exercise and social interplay, contributing to the general well-being and happiness of Thai youngsters. As a testomony to their enduring significance, these conventional video games proceed to be cherished and performed by Thai youth, making certain that the cultural heritage of Thailand stays vibrant and celebrated.
Thai Childhood Video games
Takraw (Dtà Grɔ̂ɔ, ตะกร้อ)
Youngsters steadily take part on this sport informally in Thailand. Just like volleyball, however utilizing a rattan ball, it’s performed with the ft, head, knees, and chest. It’s a well-liked sport in Thailand and is steadily performed casually by children. Gamers use their ft, heads, knees, and chest to knock the ball over a internet with a rattan ball, the principles are much like volleyball.
Wing Lai Jap (Wîng Lâi Jàp, วิ่งไล่จับ)
This sort of sport of tag is frequent in Thailand. As “it,” one participant tries to tag the opposite gamers. When tagged, a participant should stay immobile till an untagged participant creeps between their legs.
Tang Te (Dtâng Dtee, ตั้งเต)
That is the hopscotch sport in Thai. Youngsters generally use chalk to assemble a grid on the bottom, after which take turns hopping among the many squares as they try numerous chores or challenges.
Jap Puu Dam Kha Yam Puu Na (Jàp Bpuu Dam Kà Yam Bpuu Naa, จับปูดำ ขยำปูนา)
Youngsters construct an arch with their arms on this Thai model of “London Bridge is Falling Down,” and one baby passes beneath because the others sing. The kid beneath should decide relating to who will be a part of them when the track is completed, after which the arms will descend.
Chak Ka Yer (Chák Gà Yə̂ə, ชักเย่อ)
Youngsters kind two groups and play a Thai model of “Tug of Struggle” during which one workforce tries to make the opposite workforce fall or cross a middle line by pulling on a rope. Matches are thrilling resulting from there being no closing dates or weight restrictions.
Deed Luk Kaew (Dìit Lûuk Gɛ̂ɛo, ดีดลูกแก้ว)
In Thailand, marbles are often known as lûuk gɛ̂ɛo (ลูกแก้ว). Children take turns utilizing greater marbles to attempt to knock marbles out of a circle; whoever removes essentially the most opponent’s marbles from the circle wins.
Seua Kham Hwai (Sʉ̌a Kâam Hûai, เสือข้ามห้วย)
On this sport, youngsters break up up into two groups, the tigers (sʉ̌a, เสือ) and the creeks (hûai, ห้วย). The tigers try to leap over the creeks, whose job it’s to cease the tigers from efficiently leaping over. As soon as a tiger is caught, they have to then swap groups to the creeks.
Kradok Chuak (Grà Dòot Chʉ̂ak, กระโดดเชือก)
Performed both individually or with a gaggle, the target is to carry out methods or final so long as doable in a soar rope whereas not being hit or caught within the rope. Mainly, this can be a Thai variation of the soar rope sport.
Mon Son Pha (Mɔɔn Sɔ̂ɔn Pâa, มอญซ่อนผ้า)
That is historically performed whereas youngsters are seated in a circle, with one baby (referred to as the “Mon”) carrying a doll material. The kids sing a track whereas the “Mon” tries to cover the fabric behind them. The target is to not keep away from getting hit by the fabric.
Len Son Ha (Lên Sɔ̂ɔn Hǎa, เล่นซ่อนหา)
A toddler counts whereas conserving their eyes closed whereas the others disguise on this Thai adaptation of the favored sport “Conceal and Search.” They then test to find and establish the hid individuals.
How Do You Say “Childhood Video games” In Thai?
The phrase for “childhood video games” in Thai is geem nai wai dèk (เกมในวัยเด็ก) .
Able to stage up your language-learning journey within the Thai language? Studying these phrases not solely boosts your Thai vocabulary, but in addition wraps you within the heat nostalgia of Thai youth.
In case you’d prefer to be taught extra associated phrases and vocabulary, don’t hesitate to take a look at the Ling App!
Ceaselessly Requested Questions About Thai Childhood Video games
1. What Video games Do Youngsters Play In Thailand?
Conventional Thai childhood video games and sports activities akin to Takraw (dtà grɔ̂ɔ, ตะกร้อ) are wildly well-liked amongst youngsters in Thailand. Different examples embrace Deed Luk Kaew (dìit lûuk gɛ̂ɛo, ดีดลูกแก้ว), a marble sport, and Wing Lai Jap (wîng lâi jàp, วิ่งไล่จับ), a type of tag.
2. What Is The Thai Model Of Duck Duck Goose?
Duck, Duck, Goose might not have a precise equal in Thai tradition and is often performed as-is, however there are some variations akin to Maa Lai Gaa (mǎa lâi gaa, หมาไล่กา). The principles are typically the identical, besides that the phrase “Duck, Duck, Goose!” is changed with Thai youngsters’s rhymes.
3. How Do You Play Mak Kep?
Mak Kep (màak gèp, หมากเก็บ) is a Thai sport involving gathering small pebbles or objects. The target, both as a person or as a gaggle, is to throw and catch small objects whereas following particular sequences or guidelines. It’s deeply technical and requires good hand-eye coordination!
Feeling Nostalgic?
See any similarities between what you may need performed versus what Thai youngsters are taking part in? Hopefully this look into ten Thai childhood video games evoked some sense of nostalgia in your personal childhood, and gave you a greater look into Thai tradition as an entire. Many of those video games, akin to Takraw, have a fair greater following and full-blown skilled sports activities scenes which can curiosity you if you happen to’re visiting Thailand; these matches are not any joke!
When touring round Thailand and visiting completely different parks or residential areas, you may see a gaggle of children taking part in a few of the video games we’ve talked about right here. In case you ask properly, they could even let you have got a attempt. It’s a great way to observe your conversational Thai, too!