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Proverbs and Idioms
Learn common Thai proverbs and idiomatic expressions used by native speakers
น้ำขึ้นให้รีบตัก
Make hay while the sun shines
naam kheun hai riip tak
Lit: When the water rises hurry and scoop; seize opportunities
ชักแม่น้ำทั้งห้า
To talk someone into something with elaborate persuasion
chak mae naam thang haa
Lit: To pull all five rivers; used when someone is being overly persuasive
หน้าไหว้หลังหลอก
Two-faced; friendly to one's face but deceitful behind one's back
naa wai lang look
Lit: Bowing face hiding back; describes a hypocrite
รำไม่ดีโทษปี่โทษกลอง
A bad workman blames his tools
ram mai dii thoot pii thoot klong
Lit: Can't dance well so blame the flute and drum
กว่าถั่วจะสุกงาก็ไหม้
Everything goes wrong at once
kwaa thua ja suk ngaa ko mai
Lit: Before the beans are cooked the sesame has already burned
เข้าเมืองตาหลิ่วต้องหลิ่วตาตาม
When in Rome do as the Romans do
khao mueang taa liaw tong liaw taa taam
Lit: Enter a city of squinting people and squint along
ตีงูให้หลังหัก
To solve a problem decisively and completely
tii nguu hai lang hak
Lit: Strike the snake until its back breaks; deal with problems thoroughly
ข้าวใหม่ปลามัน
The honeymoon phase of a new relationship
khaao mai plaa man
Lit: New rice and oily fish; describes early excitement in relationships
สิบปากว่าไม่เท่าตาเห็น
Seeing is believing
sip paak waa mai thao taa hen
Lit: Ten mouths speaking is not equal to one eye seeing
ปลูกเนื้อปลูกตัว
To build one's reputation and standing gradually
pluk nueua pluk tua
Lit: To grow flesh and grow body; used for building credibility over time
