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.