List of Thai language idioms

Idioms in the Thai language are usually derived from various natural or cultural references. Many include rhyming and/or alliteration, and their distinction from aphorisms and proverbs are not always clear. This is a list of such idioms.

Idiom	RTGS	Literal translation	Idiomatic meaning	Notes
ก ข ไม่กระดิกหู	Go kho mai gradik hu	go, kho (first two consonants of the Thai alphabet), not wiggling an ear	an illiterate person[1]
กงเกวียนกำเกวียน	Gong gwian gam gwian	cart wheel, cart spokes	What one does will be returned by karma.[1]
ก้นกระดก	Gon gradok		letting praise get the better of oneself[1]
กบในกะลาครอบ	Gop nai gala khrop	frog underneath a coconut shell	one who has little knowledge or experience but thinks of oneself as wise[1]
กบเลือกนาย	Gop lueak nai	frogs being choosy of masters	one who consistently wants to change superiors[1]	from Aesop's The Frogs Who Desired a King
ก้มหน้า	Gom na	bow down one's head	to endure a difficult situation[1]
ก้มหน้าก้มตา	Gom na gom ta	bow down one's head and eyes	to concentrate on something[1]
กรรมตามสนอง	Gam tam sanong		what goes around comes around
กระชังหน้าใหญ่	Grachang na yai	big-faced awning	brassy[1]
กระเชอก้นรั่ว	Grachoe gon rua	bamboo basket with a leaky bottom	being a spendthrift[1]
กระดังงาลนไฟ	Gradangnga lon fai	singed Cananga odorata flower	a woman who has been married before, and is therefore better at pleasing men[1]
กระดี่ได้น้ำ	Gradi dai nam	gourami fish finding water	a person showing a lot of gladness and excitement[1]
กระดูกแข็ง	Graduk khaeng	(having) hard bones	not dying easily[1]
กระดูกร้องได้	Graduk rong dai	calling bones (personification)	a murder where certain effects lead to the conviction of the murderer[1]
กระดูกอ่อน	Graduk on	(having) soft bones	having little fighting skills[1]
กระต่ายตื่นตูม	Gradtai dtuen dtum	panicking hare	one who panics without giving due consideration[1]	from the Daddabha Jataka tale of The Noise the Hare Heard
กระต่ายสามขา	Gratai sam kha	three-legged hare	steadfastly denying something[1]	also appears as กระต่ายขาเดียว (Gratai kha diao, one-legged hare)
กระต่ายหมายจันทร์	Gradtai mai chan	hare wishing for the moon	a man interested in a woman of higher status[1]
กระโถนท้องพระโรง	Grathon thong phra rong	spittoon in a royal hall	one who is consistently ordered by many people to run their errands[1]
กระหม่อมบาง	Gramom bang	(having a) thin fontanelle/skull	easily falling ill[1]	also appears as ขม่อมบาง (khamom bang)
กลมเป็นลูกมะนาว	Glom bpen luk manao	round as a lime	crafty and slippery[1]	also appears as กลิ้งเป็นลูกมะนาว (gling pen luk manao, rolling like a lime)
กลับเนื้อกลับตัว	Glap nuea glap tua	turn one's flesh and body	to change one's bad ways for the better[1]
กลับหน้ามือเป็นหลังมือ	Glap na mue bpen lang mue	turn from the palm to the back of the hand	to completely change for the opposite [1]	also appears as พลิกหน้ามือเป็นหลังมือ (phlik na mue bpen lang mue)
กล้านักมักบิ่น	gla nak mak bin	so bold, usually ends up chipped	bring too bold it usually results in danger[1]
กวนน้ำให้ขุ่น	Gwan nam hai khun	stir water and make it cloudy	to inflame a calm situation and cause disruption[1]
กว่าถั่วจะสุกงาก็ไหม้	Gwa thua cha suk nga go mai	By the time the beans cook, the sesame seeds have burnt.	being indecisive, resulting in losses from failure to act[1]
ก่อแล้วต้องสาน	Go laeo tong san	start it, must weave it	One must finish what one begins.[1]
กะลา	Gala	coconut shell	worthless[1]
กัดหางตัวเอง	Gat hang tua eng	bite one's own tail	speaking incoherently[1]
กาคาบพริก	Ga khap prik	crow holding a chilli pepper in its mouth	a dark-skinned person wearing bright red clothes[1]
กาหลงรัง	Ga long rang	lost crow in another's nest	one who refuses to return home; a tramp[1]
กำขี้ดีกว่ากำตด	Gam khi di gwa gam tot	Better to grab faeces than flatulence.	Receiving anything is better than nothing at all.[1]
กำแพงมีหูประตูมีตา	kamphaeng mi hu pratu mi ta	Walls have ears, doors have eyes.	One should always mind their conduct; secrets can be revealed.[1]	also appears as กำแพงมีหูประตูมีช่อง (kamphaeng mi hu pratu mii chong; walls have ears, doors have cracks)
กำลังกินกำลังนอน	kamlang kin kamlang non	eating and sleeping	(of infants/toddlers) being of eating and sleeping age[1]
กิ่งก้อย	king koi	little finger	tiny[1]
กิ่งทองใบหยก	king thong bai yok	gold branch, jade leaf	(of a marrying couple) suited for each other[1]
กินเกลือกินกะปิ	king kluea kin kapi	eating salt and shrimp paste	enduring trouble and poverty[1]
กินแกลบกินรำ	kin klaep kin ram	eating chaff and bran	stupid[1]
กินข้าวต้มกระโจมกลาง	kin khao tom krachom klang	eat boiled rice from the middle (of the bowl)	to do something in a hurry and without deliberation, resulting in harm[1]
กินตามน้ำ	kin tam nam	eat by the water flow	to receive gifts or bribes without actively asking[1]
กินที่ลับไขที่แจ้ง	kin thi lap khai thi chaeng	eat in secret, tell in public	to publicize what was done in secret[1]
กินน้ำตา	kin nam ta	drink tears	to cry, to be in sorrow[1]
กินน้ำตาต่างข้าว	kin nam ta tang khao	drink tears as a substitute for rice/food	to be so engrossed in tears and sorrow one is not eating[1]
กินน้ำใต้ศอก	kin nam tai sok	drink water from another's elbows	(usually of "minor wives") to be forced to accept subordinate status[1]
กินน้ำพริกถ้วยเก่า	kin nam phrik thuai kao	eat an old bowl of nam phrik	to (return to) live with one's previous wife[1]
กินน้ำพริกถ้วยเดียว	kin nam phrik thuai diao	eat only one bowl of nam phrik	to live with only one wife[1]
กินน้ำไม่เผื่อแล้ง	kin nam mai phuea laeng	drink water without sparing any for drought	to spend what one has without consideration for the future[1]
กินน้ำเห็นปลิง	kin nam hen pling	drink water while seeing a leech	to be disconcerted, as in when one means to drink water but sees a leech in it[1]
กินบนเรือนขี้บนหลังคา	kin bon ruean khi bon langkha	to eat in the house then defecate on the roof	to be ungrateful[1]
กินบุญเก่า	kin bun kao	eat old merit	to receive the results of good deeds from past lives; (of wealthy persons) to live off old wealth, e.g. inheritance[1]
กินปูนร้อนท้อง	kin pun ron thong	eat lime, feel the belly burn	to act conspicuously (for fear of one's deeds being revealed)[1]
กินรังแตน	kin rang taen	eat a wasp nest	to be irritable[1]
กินลมกินแล้ง	kin lom kin laeng	eat dry wind	not having any benefit[1]
กินเศษกินเลย	kin set kin loei		to misappropriate a small portion for oneself[1]
กินสำรับ	kin samrap	eat from a served set	to eat fine food[1]
กินเหมือนหมู อยู่เหมือนหมา	kin muean mu yu muean ma	eat like a pig, live like a dog	messy and untidy[1]	also appears as กินอย่างหมู อยู่อย่างหมา (kin yang mu yu yang ma)
กินเหล็กกินไหล	kin lek kin lai	eat iron, eat lai (a mythical metal)	extraordinarily able to bear labour or pain[1]
กินอยู่กับปาก อยากอยู่กับท้อง	kin yu kap pak yak yu kap thong		to know but pretend not to[1]
กู่ไม่กลับ	ku mai klap	not returning after a yodelling call	not listening to objections; unstoppable[1]
เก็บดอกไม้ร่วมต้น	kep dok mai ruam ton	pick flowers from the same tree	to be together as a result of having made merit together in a previous life[1]	also appears as เด็ดดอกไม้ร่วมต้น (det dok mai ruam ton)
เก็บเบี้ยใต้ถุนร้าน	kep bia tai thun ran	pick up cowry shells under the platform	to make small savings[1]
เกลียดตัวกินไข่ เกลียดปลาไหลกินน้ำแกง	kliat tua kin khai kliat pla lai kin nam kaeng	hate the animal but eat its eggs, hate eels but drink the broth	to dislike someone, yet want to receive benefits from them[1]
เกลือจิ้มเกลือ	kluea chim kluea	salt dipped in salt	(of two persons) not conceding to each other[1]
เกลือเป็นหนอน	kluea pen non	salt becoming maggots	betrayal by close family or friends[1]	also appears as ไส้เป็นหนอน (sai pen non, innards becoming maggots)
เกี่ยวก้อย	kiao koi	hook (each other's) little fingers	to show closeness or affection[1]
เกี่ยวแฝกมุงป่า	kiao faek mung pa	cutting vetiver grass to roof the forest	to attempt something beyond one's abilities[1]
แกว่งเท้าหาเสี้ยน	kwaeng thao ha sian	swing one's foot in search of a splinter	to get into trouble[1]
แกะดำ	kae dam	black sheep	one who acts differently from the group[1]
ใกล้เกลือกินด่าง	klai kluea kin dang	near salt, eat lye	not knowing the value of something readily accessible, instead opting for something inferior[1]
ไก่แก่แม่ปลาช่อน	kai kae mae pla chon	old chicken, mother snakehead fish	a crafty old woman[1]
ไก่บินไม่ตกดิน	kai bin mai tok din	A chicken can fly without falling to the ground.	an area of densely situated buildings[1]
ไก่รองบ่อน	kai rong bon	second-rated cock in the ring	one who serves as a substitute and may be called into service[1]
ไก่เห็นตีนงู งูเห็นนมไก่	kai hen tin ngu ngu hen nom kai	chicken sees snake's feet, snake sees chicken's boobs	both knowing of each other's secrets[1]
ไก่อ่อน	kai on	young chick	one who has little experience and is easily deceived[1]	also appears as ไก่อ่อนสอนขัน (kai on son khan)
ไกลปืนเที่ยง	klai puen thiang	far from the noon cannon	(of a person) simple, as a result of living far from development[1]
ขนหน้าแข้งไม่ร่วง	khon na khaeng mai ruang	shin hairs not falling off	(of a wealthy person) not inconvenienced by having to pay a large, yet relatively small to them, amount of money[1]
ขนหัวลุก	khon hua luk	hairs of the head standing up	very frightened or scared[1]
ขนทรายเข้าวัด	khon sai khao wat	carry sand into the wat	to help benefit the public/community[1]
ขนมผสมน้ำยา	khanom phasom nam ya	khanom chin with nam ya sauce	equal and befitting each other[1]
ข่มเขาโคขืนให้กินหญ้า	khom khao kho khuen hai kin ya	force cattle by its horns to eat grass	to force someone to do as one wants[1]
ขมิ้นกับปูน	khamin kap pun	turmeric and lye	(of two persons) argumentative when meeting each other; disliking each other[1]
ขว้างงูไม่พ้นคอ	khwang ngu mai phon kho	throw a snake no farther than one's own neck	to do something resulting in negative consequences for oneself[1]
ขวานผ่าซาก	khwan pha sak	axe splitting a carcass	(of a person's manner of speech) direct and inconsiderate[1]
ของหายตะพายบาป	khong hai taphai bap		to blame others when something is lost or missing[1]
ข้าเก่าเต่าเลี้ยง	kha kao tao liang		a long-familiar person; a long-serving servant[1]
ข้านอกเจ้าบ่าวนอกนาย	kha nok chao bao nok nai		one whose acts defy order or tradition[1]
ข้ามน้ำข้ามทะเล	kham nam kham thale	cross over water and sea	to fight through obstacles in order to succeed[1]	also appears as ข้ามน้ำข้ามท่า (kham nam kham tha)
ขายผ้าเอาหน้ารอด	khai pha ao na rod	sell cloth to save face	to sacrifice important property to save one's name[1]
ขายหน้าวันละห้าเบี้ย	khai na wan la ha bia		to cause embarrassment every day[1]
ข้าวก้นบาตร	khao kon bat	rice at the bottom of an alms bowl	food left over from monks' meals, which temple boys eat[1]
ข้าวแดงแกงร้อน	khao daeng kaeng ron	brown rice, hot soup	kindness, favours[1]
ข้าวยากหมากแพง	khao yak mak phaeng	rice being difficult, areca nuts being expensive	a state of famine[1]
ข้าวเหลือเกลืออิ่ม	khao luea kluea im	rice being in excess, salt being satiating	a country with plentiful food[1]
ข้าวใหม่ปลามัน	khao mai pla man	new rice, tasty fish	the state of something new being regarded as good; usually referring to newlyweds[1]
ขิงก็รา ข่าก็แรง	khing ko ra kha ko raeng		(of two persons) both being hot-tempered, neither one backing down[1]
ขี่ช้างจับตั๊กแตน	khi chang chap takkataen	ride an elephant to catch grasshoppers	to invest a lot for little gains[1]
ขี้ก้อนใหญ่ให้เด็กเห็น	khi kon yai hai dek hen	defecate a large turd for a child to see	to do something inappropriate in front of a child[1]
ขี้แพ้ชวนตี	khi phae chuan ti	loser calling for a fight	to be a sore loser[1]
ขี้ไม่ให้หมากิน	khi mai hai ma kin	defecate and refuse it for dogs to eat	to be a miser[1]
ขี้ราดโทษล่อง	khi rat thot long	make a mess and blame the toilet hole	to blame others for one's own fault[1]
ขึ้นต้นไม้สุดยอด	khuen ton mai sut yot	climb a tree to the very top	to reach the highest possible rank[1]
ขุดด้วยปากถากด้วยตา	khut duai pak thak duai ta	dig with the mouth, scrape with the eyes	to display contempt with words and looks[1]
ขุดดินกินหญ้า	khut din kin ya	dig the earth, eat the grass	to do what little work which just feeds oneself[1]
ขุดบ่อล่อปลา	khut bo lo pla	dig a pond, lure the fish	to plot and deceive others for one's own benefit[1]
ขุนนางใช่พ่อแม่ หินแง่ใช่ตายาย	khun nang chai pho mae hin ngae chai ta yai	Nobles are not one's parents; rough stones are not one's grandparents.	One should not trust others apart from one's parents and grandparents.[1]
ขุนไม่เชื่อง	khun mai chueang	fed but not tame	ungrateful[1]	also appears as ขุนไม่ขึ้น (khun mai khuen)
เข็นครกขึ้นเขา	khen khrok khuen khao	push a rice pounder up a hill	to engage in an extremely difficult task requiring a lot of effort and patience, sometimes beyond one's capacity[1]
เข้าด้ายเข้าเข็ม	khao dai khao khem	in the thread and the needle	almost succeeding, but susceptible to be foiled by a small mistake or interruption[1]
เข้าตามตรอกออกตามประตู	khao tam trok ok tam pratu	enter by the street, exit by the door	to follow tradition in asking to marry[1]
เข้าเถื่อนอย่าลืมพร้า	khao thuean ya luem phra	enter the forest, do not forget the machete	to be cautious[1]
เข้ารกเข้าพง	khao rok khao phong	go into the bushes	to say or do something unrelated or incorrectly as a result of lack of expertise[1]
เข้าหูซ้ายทะลุหูขวา	khao hu sai thalu hu khwa	enter the left ear, go throughout the right	not learning what one is taught[1]
เขียนด้วยมือลบด้วยตีน	khian duai mue lop duai tin	write with the hand, erase with the foot	to praise but then later destroy[1]
เขียนเสือให้วัวกลัว	khian suea hai wua klua	draw a tiger to scare the cattle	to do something to frighten the other party[1]
เขียว ๆ แดง ๆ	khiao khiao daeng daeng	green and red	colourfully dressed women[1]
แขกไม่ได้รับเชิญ	khaek mai dai rap choen	uninvited guest	undesirable people or animals likely to cause damage or inconvenience, usually referring to thieves or certain animals[1]
แข่งกับเวลา	khaeng kap wela	race with time	to do something quickly[1]
แข่งเรือแข่งแพแข่งได้ แข่งบุญแข่งวาสนาแข่งไม่ได้	khaeng ruea khaeng phae khaeng dai khaeng bun khaeng watsana khaeng mai dai	Competing in boat racing, can be done; competing in fate and fortune, cannot be done.	to know one's own abilities and not attempt what is incapable of[1]
แขวนนวม	khwaen nuam	hang boxing gloves	retire from boxing; quit doing something[1]
ไข่ในหิน	khai nai hin	egg in the rock	something which is meticulously cared for[1]
สมน้ำหน้า	som nam na		You get what you deserve
บีบเลือดจากปู	bip leuat chak poo	to squeeze blood from a crab	attempting to obtain something from somebody (especially money) that they do not have or cannot give up
น้ำท่วมทุ่ง ผักบุ้งโหรงเหรง	Nam Tuam Tung Pak Boong Rong Reng	The water floods the field, [but] the morning glory is sparse	Speaking a lot, but the content is small.

References

Royal Institute (2003). พจนานุกรมฉบับราชบัณฑิตยสถาน พ.ศ. 2542 (Royal Institute Dictionary, B.E. 2542) (in Thai). Bangkok: Nanmee Books Publications. ISBN 974-9588-04-5. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02.

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[rid-1] Royal Institute (2003). พจนานุกรมฉบับราชบัณฑิตยสถาน พ.ศ. 2542 (Royal Institute Dictionary, B.E. 2542) (in Thai). Bangkok: Nanmee Books Publications. ISBN 974-9588-04-5. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02.