Thai wisdom is like a papaya salad—spicy, colorful, and occasionally painful if you’re not prepared! If you’ve ever found yourself lost in a conversation, wondering why someone is talking about playing the violin for a buffalo or riding an elephant to catch a grasshopper, don’t worry—you’re about to crack the code.
Thai proverbs are packed with life lessons, humor, and a generous dose of farm animal references. So, grab a coconut, take a seat, and let’s explore the funniest, wisest, and most head-scratching sayings Thailand has to offer!
Sayings from the Land of Smiles: Wisdom with a Thai Twist!
Opportunities & Success
Thai: น้ำขึ้นให้รีบตัก (Nám khûn hâi rîip tàk)
English: “When the water rises, hurry to scoop it up.”
Meaning: Seize opportunities when they arise.
Thai: ได้หน้า ลืมหลัง (Dâai nâa luem lâng)
English: “Gain the front, forget the back.”
Meaning: Someone who achieves success but forgets those who helped them.
Thai: ช้า ๆ ได้พร้าเล่มงาม (Cháa cháa dâai práa lêm ngaam)
English: “Slowly, you’ll get a beautiful knife.”
Meaning: Patience leads to good results.
Thai: กันไว้ดีกว่าแก้ (Gan wái dee gwàa gâe)
English: “Preventing is better than fixing.”
Meaning: Prevention is better than cure.
Caution & Wisdom
Thai: รู้หน้าไม่รู้ใจ (Rúu nâa mâi rúu jai)
English: “You know a person’s face, but not their heart.”
Meaning: You can’t judge a person’s true intentions just by their appearance.
Thai: กันไว้ดีกว่าแก้ แก้ไขดีกว่าเสียใจ (Kan wái dee gwàa gâe, gâe khǎi dee gwàa sǐa jai)
English: “Preventing is better than fixing; fixing is better than regretting.”
Meaning: It’s always better to take precautions and fix problems before they become worse.
Thai: เข้าตามตรอก ออกตามประตู (Khâo taam tròk òrk taam prà-dtuu)
English: “Enter through the alley, leave through the door.”
Meaning: Follow proper procedures and etiquette in everything you do.
Thai: สีซอให้ควายฟัง (Sîi sor hâi khwaai fang)
English: “Playing the violin for a buffalo.”
Meaning: Wasting wisdom on someone who won’t appreciate it.
Cunning & Deception
Thai: ตีงูให้หลังหัก (Dtii nguu hâi lǎng hàk)
English: “Hit the snake until its back is broken.”
Meaning: If you take action against an enemy, do it thoroughly so they can’t strike back.
Thai: จับปลาสองมือ (Jàp bplaa sǎawng mue)
English: “Catching fish with two hands.”
Meaning: Trying to do too many things at once may lead to failure.
Thai: ตีนถีบปากกัด (Dtiin thìip bpàak gàt)
English: “Kicking with your feet while biting with your mouth.”
Meaning: Doing everything possible to survive or fight back.
Thai: ตำน้ำพริกละลายแม่น้ำ (Dtam nám prík là-laai mâe nám)
English: “Pounding chili paste and throwing it into the river.”
Meaning: Wasting time and resources on something useless.
Love & Relationships
Thai: วัวแก่กินหญ้าอ่อน (Wua gàe gin yâa òn)
English: “An old cow eating young grass.”
Meaning: An older person dating someone much younger.
Thai: รักวัวให้ผูก รักลูกให้ตี (Rák wua hâi pùuk, rák lûuk hâi dtii)
English: “If you love your cow, tie it; if you love your child, discipline them.”
Meaning: Love requires responsibility and discipline.
Life Lessons & Reality
Thai: ขี่ช้างจับตั๊กแตน (Khìi cháang jàp dták-gà-dtaen)
English: “Riding an elephant to catch a grasshopper.”
Meaning: Using excessive effort for a small reward.
Thai: วัวหายล้อมคอก (Wua hâai lóm khôrk)
English: “Losing the cow, then building a fence.”
Meaning: Taking action only after a problem has occurred.
Thai: งูกินหาง (Nguu gin hǎang)
English: “The snake eats its own tail.”
Meaning: A never-ending cycle of problems.
Thai: น้ำร้อนปลาเป็น น้ำเย็นปลาตาย (Nám róon bplaa bpen, nám yen bplaa dtaai)
English: “Hot water keeps fish alive; cold water kills them.”
Meaning: Being too soft on someone can lead to their downfall, while challenges can help them thrive.
Thai: ปลาใหญ่กินปลาเล็ก (Bplaa yài gin bplaa lék)
English: “Big fish eat little fish.”
Meaning: The strong dominate the weak.
Thai: เสียน้อยเสียยาก เสียมากเสียง่าย (Sǐa nói sǐa yâak, sǐa mâak sǐa ngâai)
English: “Losing a little is hard; losing a lot is easy.”
Meaning: People often hesitate to spend small amounts wisely, but they easily waste large amounts.
Social Conduct
Thai: เดินตามผู้ใหญ่ หมาไม่กัด (Dooen taam phûu yài măa mâi gàt)
English: “Follow the elders, and the dogs won’t bite.”
Meaning: Listen to experienced people, and you’ll stay out of trouble.
Thai: ปิดทองหลังพระ (Bpìt tong lǎng prá)
English: “Gilding the back of the Buddha.”
Meaning: Doing good deeds without seeking recognition.
Thai: น้ำพึ่งเรือ เสือพึ่งป่า (Nám pêung ruea, sǔea pêung bpàa)
English: “Water depends on boats, tigers depend on the forest.”
Meaning: Everyone depends on something or someone.
Crude but Clever – My personal favorite!
Thai: จับขี้ดีกว่าจับตด (Jàp khîi dii gwàa jàp dtòt)
English: “Better to grab shit than to grab a fart.”
Meaning: It’s better to deal with a real (even nasty) problem than chase something vague and invisible.
FREE Download – Thai Idioms Cheat Sheet
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Which of these Thai proverbs is your favorite? Or have you heard a different one that made you laugh, think, or totally confuse you the first time? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your take on Thai wisdom!