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There
is a range of emotions that can be described
as “startled heart.” The first
two expressions are appropriate for the
mild surprises of daily living, and the
last two expressions apply when the fright
is more severe and immediate. A heart
might be said to fall (tòk)
when you quietly sneak into the shower
and frighten your lover—his or her
heart falls (tòk
jai). This is a feeling of your
pulse beating in your throat, the terrifying
sense of being in sudden danger. Surprise
and shock combined. The act of making
someone scared out of their wits is tham
hâi tòk jai.
Tòk
kà jai is slang—a
rather feminine expression. It is mainly
used by women and children. When Lek goes
up the staircase late at night, her boyfriend
with a bad sense of humor makes ghostlike
sounds and Lek is startled and shouts
out, “Tòk kà jai
mòt looey,” I am totally
frightened. In this context it is an expression
of fright. A car may backfire and the
surprising noise startles you. Someone
at the next table drops a plate and it
smashes on the floor; this would cause
some to feel tòk
jai or tòk
òk tòk jai. Tòk
núeaa tòk jai is
an old-fashioned expression. |
Sample jai
phrases from hearttalk
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