Lonely Planet Burmese Phrasebook [Paperback]

Unattributed Author (Author)

Book Description

Series: Phrasebook | Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Cross-cultural communication is easy in Myanmar - a smile will do the trick. But just a few words of Burmese will reward you with an enthusiastic reception. Test your bargaining skills at the many colorful markets or try your hand at karaoke Burmese-style. Get where you're going as you tour on a trishaw or chat with the locals as you party at a pwe. Whatever you choose, you won't be stuck for words!

In This Guide:

Get script savvy to make sense of signs and menus.
Read up on etiquette - don't sit with your back to a Buddha.
Show monks respect with special honorific vocabulary.
Get in sync with the seasons of the Buddhist lunar calendar.
Know your noodles - from mohinga to moun-ti.
Find the right word with the comprehensive dictionary.

Editorial Reviews

Review

National Geographic Traveler, September 2006
'Lonely Planet Phrasebooks. Portable, pocket-size, cheap, and available for almost any country you might want to visit...'

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 3 edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740590481
• ISBN-13: 978-1740590488
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 3.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,326,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful and helpful...but not as comprehensive as other Lonely Planet Phrasebooks, May 27, 2007

By 

Ko Thi Ha - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lonely Planet Burmese Phrasebook (Paperback)

Here's what it comes down to: If you're going to Myanmar (Burma) and don't have a phrase book, then get this one and tell everyone else you're going with to get it!

I lived in Myanmar for a while and found this quite useful, especially back when I knew only a few words of Burmese. I would stumble through and try to pronounce the text and fail miserably (though not the fault of the book as they do a good job trying to discuss pronounciation).

Then I would point to the word or phrase in the book. The person I'm "talking" with would then stare at the page for a moment, see the Burmese script, then understand what I was trying to say.

Now that I can do basic conversation and basic reading/writing, I've found it to be a good resourse to keep on hand.

So, if you're going to Myanmar/Burma, take this phrasebook along. You won't regret it, even if you do have to point to the text because of poor pronounciation!!

My only complaint is additional phrases should be included to make it as comprehensive as other Lonley Planet phrasebooks.

By the way, just about everyone I showed this phrasebook to wanted a copy so they could learn more English. You might even want to order a few extra to give away.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No major changes, December 3, 2008

By 

Li Chan (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Burmese Phrasebook (Paperback)

WARNING!! There is no substantial difference between the 3rd and 4th editions of the Burmese phrasebook. Calling it a new edition is a bit of a misrepresentation. The page numbering, titles, subtitles, phrases, and dictionaries are unchanged, only the 4 pages on whether to visit Myanmar at the end of the 3rd edition has been replaced by 3 pages of sustainable travel phrases by San San Hnin Tun in the 4th edition. So if you have the 3rd edition, save your money. If you don't, then buy the 4th edition.

1 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginning conversational Burmese., January 19, 2009

By 

Nora E. Rowley "Merna Brownie" (LaGrange, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Burmese Phrasebook (Paperback)

This phrasebook, published by Lonely Planet,is geared toward travel to Burma. Travel to Burma puts money in the pocket of the Military Regime and not the suffering people. This is good for beginning to learn conversational Burmese.