Comments on: Myanmar Etiquette – Greetings in Myanmar

By: Bamarlay

Bamarlay — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:54:19 +0000

I think girls are girls wherever they are and whoever they are

By: Jonathen

Jonathen — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:58:57 +0000

I have a question.

I met this Burmese girl in the UK at college and we spend alot of time talking and studying together however i am quite naive on the mentality of Burma girls and not sure whether flirting with her would seem offensive or taken as a compliment.

By: Bamarlay

Bamarlay — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:35:23 +0000

Yes, you are probably right. Mingalar is auspicious, and Mingalar bar is a kind of wish. But we do not use it in everyday life, except at school greeting to teachers, and to use in formal situation, like greeting to an audience at the conference.

By: Lun Khai

Lun Khai — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:29:17 +0000

i think the most appropriate and formal translation of “min galar bar!” is “auspicious to you!” just like “shalom to you!” which is in ancient Hebrew language.

By: Bamarlay

Bamarlay — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:46:55 +0000

You can translate as “kaung thaw nya nay khinn bar”, but it is not Burmese. No actual phrase in Burmese.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 06:49:11 +0000

I would like to ask if if there is a translation of ‘good evening’ and if yes, what is it? Thanks

By: Bamarlay

Bamarlay — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:26:58 +0000

Thanks for the comment. What you ask is very interesting indeed. To tell you the truth, we Burmese don’t greet each other in the morning. The English expression “Good Morning” doesn’t exist in Burmese language although “Mingalar Nan Nat Khin Bar” is a Burmese translation of that English greeting. We don’t greet each other in the morning. For Burmese, there is no reason to greet the family members either in the morning or in the evening. So no “Good morning” and no “Good night”.

We have thank you in Burmese. “Kyae Zu Tin Bar Del” is the Burmese equivalent of “Thank you”. However, Burmese don’t say thank you as frequent as Westerners. We say thank you only when we really mean it. So, if a Burmese don’t say “Thank you” to you, don’t be offended. But if he says thank you to you, it means he is really thanking you from his heart, and you should be proud of it.

By: Issy

Issy — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:53:38 +0000

I would like to ask, just curious, what do Burmese usually say to their family first thing in the morning? It would be odd not to greet them after a long night of sleep… and do they have “thank you ” in their language?