Have you ever heard these สำนวน สุภาษิต ไทย [săm-nuan sù-paa-sìt · tai] ? One might shock you!

1. กำแพงมีหู ประตูมีตา [gam-paeng-mee-hŏo bprà-dtoo-mee-dtaa]

Translation: Walls have ears; doors have eyes…
Meaning: Be careful what you talk about!

2. กบในกะลา [gòp nai gà-laa]

Translation: Frog in a coconut shell.
Meaning: Someone who is insular and ignorant – like a frog living in a coconut shell.

3. กันไว้ดีกว่าแก้ [gan wái dee gwàa gâe]

Translation: Preventative measure is better than curative measure.
Meaning: Prevent things from happening rather than having to fix them later.

4. สีซอให้ควายฟัง [sĕe sor hâi kwaai fang]

Translation: Playing the violin for the buffalo to listen.
Meaning: Talking to people who don’t care.

5. กำขี้ดีกว่ากำตด [gam kêe dee gwàa gam dtòt]

Translation: Grabbing excrement is better than grabbing flatulence!
Meaning: It’s better to have something than nothing!

6. จับปลาสองมือ [jàp bplaa sŏng meu]

Translation: Catch a fish in two hands (one in each hand)
Meaning: You can’t have your cake and eat it. Don’t try to focus on too many things.

7. แมวไม่อยู่หนูร่าเริง [maew mâi yòo nŏo râa rerng]

Translation: When the cat is not there, the mice are happy!
Meaning: When the cat’s away, the mice will play… When no one of authority is present, people will do what they want.

8. เข้าหูซ้ายทะลุหูขวา [kâo hŏo sáai tá-lú hŏo kwăa]

Translation: To go into the left ear and come out of the right ear.
Meaning: In one ear and out the other – to be heard then soon ignored or forgotten.