Thai Proverb – Talking and Speaking
In this lesson will focus on the Thai proverbs regarding talking and speaking. These do not come up often in my Thai Language School so I am adding them here for your interest..
I hope this will help expat Thai Language students who learn Thai to understand better when listening to Thai people using Thai proverbs in their sentences.
พูดเป็นต่อยหอย (poòd-bpen-dtòi-hŏi)
which literally means “talking ceaselessly”
= To talk a mile a minute
ขวานผ่าซาก(kwaăn-paà-saâk)
which literally means “using an axe to chop right on a carcass”
= Call a spade a spade
บัวไม่ให้ช้ำ…น้ำไม่ให้ขุ่น (bua-mâi-hâi-chám…..nám-mâi-hâi-kùn)
which literally means “make no bruise on lotus petals….make the water not turbid”
= Think before you speak and speak diplomatically or tactfully to satisfy both sides or parties
ปลาหมอตายเพราะปาก (bplaa-mŏr-dtaai-praóh-bpaàk)
which literally means “the fish (climbing perch fish) is dead because of its own mouth”
= Get in hard situation because of your own words
พูดดีเป็นศรีแก่ตัว (poôd-dee-bpen-seĕ-gaè-dtua)
which literally means “speaking good is the auspicious omen”
= good speech brings good luck
ปากปราศรัย น้ำใจเชือดคอ (bpaak-bpraa-săi…nám-jai-chuêrd-kor)
which literally means “friendly mouth but the heart wants to cut your throat”
= The honey tongue, a heart of gall
ปากว่า…ตาขยิบ(bpaak-waâ-dtaa-kà-yìb)
which literally means “mouth chatting but the eye blinks”
= Overtly agree but covertly oppose
ว่าแต่เขา อิเหนาเป็นเอง (waâ-dtaè-kaó…ìh-naŏ-bpen-aing)
which literally means “criticize the others…then you are just like what you criticize the others”
The pot calls the kettle black
น้ำท่วมทุ่ง…ผักบุ้งโหรงเหรง(nám-tuâm-tûng….pàk-bûng-rŏng-rĕng)
which literally means “there’s a flood in the field…there are very few of morning glory( vegetable)”
= speak/ talk too much but hard to find details in it.
ปากหวานก้นเปรี้ยว (bpaàk-waăn-gôn-bpriâw)
which literally means “sweet mouth….sour bottom”
= sweet words but not sincere
ปั้นน้ำเป็นตัว(bpán-nám-bpen-tua)
which literally means “to form the water into shape”
= to lie/ to set things up without any truth
Are any of these Thai proverbs above describing someone you know??
Kru Mulan
Thai Language Teacher
Thai Language Hut is a specialist 