Learn Burmese from Natural Talk

Destiny comes in many shapes and forms, but in Burmese, figuratively speaking, it comes as water droplets, or ရေစက်။ People became friends, neighbors, or lovers because they share some droplets of fate (ရေစက်ဆုံလို့၊ ရေစက်ရှိလို့), as a result of some acts of merit they had done in past lives. By the same token, when the supply of fate or merit runs out (ရေစက်ကုန်ပြီ), it's time to part ways,...

What might you expect to find at a Burmese pagoda fair? What kind of food, souvenirs, and attractions would you likely encounter? Aside from cotton candy stands, Ferris wheel rides, and souvenir shops with paper tigers and paper demons, the fair might also give you a chance to have your fortune read by a fortuneteller. There may also be gambling going on, where you can bet on different animals on...

If your conscience or your courage were an insect, what might it be? In Burmese imagination, it’s a butterfly. There are some Burmese expressions where the delicate creature represents your conscience, confidence, courage, or life. Do you have a clear conscience or a troubled conscience? Are you a timid, faint-hearted soul? Are you scared out of your wits? In this Bite-Size Burmese lesson, I'...

In this episode, my cohost Mol Mol from BLAY (Burmese language academy of Yangon) and I discuss the movie-going experiences in our own times. In my boyhood in the 80s, movie theaters in Yangon were weather-beaten colonial buildings, with only a few offering air condition -- a luxury confined to the embassies and high-end hotels. On the other hand, Mol Mol grew up with multiplex theaters in megamal...

Theatrical performances, dance drama, and shows are such an integral part of Burmese culture that quite a number of everyday expressions can be traced back to them. In this episode, I'll introduce you to two such sayings:  ဆိုင်းမဆင့် ဗုံမဆင့် (to show up without a musical prelude) မီးစင်ကြည့်ကတယ် (to dance wherever the spotlight falls) The first one has to do with the theatrical practice of...

In this episode, my cohost Mol Mol and I discuss the joy of travel. Mol Mol has just returned from a trip to Tarchileik , a city in the Shan State bordering the notorious Golden Triangle region. While I have not been back in Burma recently, I still have fond memories of my last pilgrimage to the temple-dotted ancient city of Bagan. Mol Mol recounts the taste of a local delicacy--grilled fish wrapp...

Hello! My cohost Mol Mol is on vacation this week. Rest assured, when she returns, we will resume our Learn Burmese from Natural Talk series, but in this episode, I'll give you a bite-size lesson. This is the first of what will become a series of mini lessons sandwiched between our regular talks. I’ll call it Bite-Size Burmese . It’s intended for intermediate and advanced Burmese learners, so...

Anyeint , Zat , Pwe: these are terms associated with classical music, dance, and drama, sometimes performed in respected public halls but more often in open spaces and fields, under makeshift tents and on temporary stages lit with torches or dangling lightbulbs. What kind of instruments can you expect to hear in these performances? What is the role of the comedians dressed in large gaung baungs ,...

Time to talk about food! From Ramen bowls that rival the best in Tokyo to Kayah sausages stuffed with spiced minced meat, Burma’s big cities and small towns offer a rich variety of dishes to tickle your fancy and palate. In this episode, my cohost Mol Mol from Burmese Language Academy of Yangon (BLAY) and I discuss fritters from the roadside stalls, homemade dishes that stir up childhood memories,...

Hello everyone! It’s my pleasure to bring you the debut episode of a new podcast series for intermediate Burmese learners. My cohost is Mol Mol (မိုမို), a teacher from the Burmese Language Academy of Yangon , also known as BLAY.  Our goal here is not to offer formal instructions and practice drills, but rather, to expose you to how people talk in real life. Natural conversations are not always gr...

Hello everyone! In this episode, my cohost Mol Mol from BLAY ( Burmese Language Academy of Yangon ) and I discuss the dating and courtship rituals in Burma. How does a man express his romantic interest? What are the protocols for serenading a girl? How might a girl reveal to a suitor that she, too, is interested? How have technology and social media changed some of these customs? What are the typi...

Welcome to another episode of Learn Burmese from Natural Talk! In Burmese teashops, have you ever listened closely to how regular customers order tea, and how the waiters and waitresses relay these orders to the kitchen? What do people mean when they ask for cho pawt, pawt kya, pawt seint, kyauk badaung or see lone tea? What type of people tend to frequent curbside teashops, set up under leafy tre...

Happy new year, Burmese learners! In this episode, Mol Mol from Burmese Language Academy of Yangon (BLAY) and I share our new year resolutions. Mol Mol is determined to expand her social circle, to make new friends, and to go scuba diving—something she’s always wanted to do. For the past two years, I’ve had to cancel my trips to Yangon and Kyoto because of COVID-related travel hassles, so I’m feel...