Learning Thai the Easy Way! > Thai Proverbs

The following are some Thai proverbs from the book "Fun with Thai Proverbs".

เอามะพร้าวห้าวไปขายสวน
  ao maphrao hao bai kai suan
  To take coconuts to sell in the orchard.
  To carry coals to Newcastle.
 
ไป่เห็นน้ำเร่งตัดกระบอก
  bai hen nam reng dtut gra-bok
  To cut the bamboo stem before before you see the water.
  To count one's chickens before they are hatched.
 
หนีเสือปะจระเข้
  nee sua ba ja-ra-kay
  Escape from the tiger, meet the crocodile.
  Out of the frying-pan into the fire.
 
ยิงทีเดียวได้นกสองตัว
  ying tee-dee-o dai nok son dtua
  Firing one shot and obtaining two birds.
  To kill two birds with one stone.
 
ได้อย่างเสียอย่าง
  day yang sia yang
  To get something, one must sacrifice something.
  You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
 
เข้าเมืองตาหลิ่วให้หลิ่วตาตาม
  kao muang dta lew hai lew dta dtam
  When you enter a town where people wink, wink as they do.
  When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do.
 
รักวัวให้ผูก รักลูกให้ตี
  ruk wua hai fook ruk look hai dtee
  If you love a cow, tie it up; if you love your child, beat him.
  Spare the rod, spoil the child.
 
สอนจระเข้ให้ว่ายน้ำ
  sorn ja-ra-kay hai wai-nam
  To teach a crocodile to swim.
  Teach your grandmother to suck eggs.
 
ขี่ช้างจับตั๊กแตน
  kee chang jup dtuk-ga-dtaen
  To ride an elephant to catch a grasshopper.
  To use a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
 
อย่าสาวไส้ให้กากิน
  ya sao sai hai ga gin
  Don't pull out your intestines to feed the crow.
  To wash dirty linen in public.
 

You can buy "Fun with Thai Proverbs" in our school's online book store.