Thai Idioms

During PST 2, I had the opportunity to continue studying Thai through reading, writing, and technical vocabulary sessions. We had more opportunities to learn more nuances and slang than we did during PST 1. Even though, it was some time ago, I wanted to share some Thai idiom our ajan (teacher) shared with us. I’ve also picked up a few along the way. I think you will find some familiarities with English idioms. It’s been fun to bust out one of these lines at totally random times when I’m around Thai friends and co-workers. They always look at me with a degree of bewilderment and say... “Where did you learn that?!”

‘Cha-lat bpen grot’ = Smart as acid
‘Suay bpen baa’ = Crazy beautiful
‘Wei-la mai kui kaui krai’ = Time and tide wait for no men
‘Glui, glui’ = banana, banana (easy, easy)
‘Ngaai yang gap gluai’ = Easy as peeling a banana
‘Naa dtang mii hoo’ = The window has ears
‘Gin gai wat’ = Eating the temple (forbidden) chicken
‘Dting Daawng’ = Space Cadet
‘Ao ma prao haao bpai kaai nai suan’ Selling ripe coconuts in the Orchard (A meaningless action)
‘Ngoo bpriao’ = Sour grapes
‘Bplaa yie gin bplaa lek’ =Big fish eat little fish
‘Chang dtaai tung dtua ao bai bua maa bpit” = Hiding an elephant behind a leaf
‘Sen pom bang puu-kao’ = Hiding a string of hair behind a mountain → It will be found; if there’s a solution, it cannot be hidden forever
‘Paai rua nai aang’ = Rowing the boat in a circle
‘Nguu nguu, bplaa, bplaa’ = Snake, snake, fish fish; Able only to do a little
‘Bpit thaang lang Phra’ = To put gold on the back of a Buddha (fish for compliments)
‘Ngom kem nai ma haa sa mut’ = Finding a needle in the ocean
‘Naa nua jai sua’ = Face of a deer, heart of a tiger; the outside hides the inside intentions
‘Yaa dtee dtawn bpai gaawn kai’ = To cross a bridge when you come to it
‘Maa hao mai gat’ = A barking dog doesn’t bite