Khmer Chbab Srey

1. University of Cambodia
Lectured by:
Mut Somoeun, M.Ed
KHM 140: Khmer Culture

2. Instruction on Code of Conduct of
Khmer Women (Chbab Srey)
 Chbab Srey written by King Ang Duong:
Characteristics of good women (woman of
luck/ happiness) should hold eight points:
well-discipline/ gentle (ស្រីជា)
maintainable and active (ស្រីស្រង់)
industrial and savable ((ស្រីគាប់)

3. Chbab Srey by Abg Duong
friendly and understandable (ស្រីស្ាជ្ញ)
 hygiene, well-managed and please husband
(ស្រីស្អា រ)
 loyal (ស្រីសស្អម ោះ) – respect and give true love to
husband
listen to husband and discuss (ស្រីរលូរ)
patient and struggle (ស្រីសរមើ)

4. Types of Wife (by King Ang Duong)
 There are four types of wife:
maternity-wife (មាតាភរិយា) – like a mother
servant-wife (ទារី) – wife as a servant
sister-wife (ភគិនីភរិយា) – wife as sister
good friend-wife (រខាយភរិយា) – like a good friend

5. Characteristics of Bad Woman (by king
Ang Duong)
 There are five characteristics:
coquettish (មាយា) – often attracts men & not loyal
 destructive – (ស្រីបងហិនបតី) destroy/ squander what
husband earned
 going out, having with other guy/ not loyal
with husband (ស្រីចិរតសចើក)
shameless (ស្រីគាម នភាពស ៀនខាម រ់)talking bad words/
sexual harassment
looking down on husband (ស្រីស ើលងាយបតី)

6. Characteristics of Bad Wife (Ang Duong)
 enemy-like-wife: a wife is like an enemy to her
husband (វធកភរិយា)
 thief-like-wife: a wife is like a thief to her husband
(សោរីភរិយា)
 boss-like-wife: a wife is like a boss to her husband
( យយភរិយា)

7. Duties of Husband to His Wife (by
Ang Duong)
 Husband should hold this duties to his wife:
use sweet words to wife
forgive and understand wife’s mind
give his wife wealth/ properties he earned
try all best to make wealth for his family
respect and loyal to his wife

8. Powers of Women (Buddhism)
 The Power of Beauty
 The Power of Wealth
 The Power of Kinship
 The Power of Procreation
 The Power of Virtue

9. Woes of Women (Buddhism)
 A woman at a tender age goes to her husband’s
family and leaves her relatives behind
 A woman is subject to menstruation
 A woman is subject to pregnancy
 A woman has to bring forth offspring
 A woman has to wait upon a man (serve)

10. Questions & Answers