White or Cloudy Water
In this Easy Thai lesson, you’ll explore two opposite words, ใส (sǎi) – clear and ขุ่น (kùn) – murky, and see how they’re used both literally and in everyday Thai expressions. Starting with water, glass and skin, the lesson builds up to a popular Thai idiom for an excuse that nobody believes.
Thai Vocabulary:
น้ำใส (náam sǎi) – Clear water
กระจกใส (grà-jòk sǎi) – Clear glass
ผิวใส (pǐw sǎi) – Clear, radiant skin
หัวใส (hǔa sǎi) – Clever, quick-witted (lit. “clear head”)
น้ำขุ่น (náam kùn) – Murky water
แก้ตัว (gɛ̂ɛ-dtua) – To make an excuse
ฉันไม่ได้ทำ (chǎn mâi dâi tam) – I didn’t do it
แก้ตัวน้ำขุ่นๆ (gɛ̂ɛ-dtua náam kùn kùn) – A weak excuse that nobody believes
Next time someone says ฉันไม่ได้ทำ (chǎn mâi dâi tam) when they clearly did, you’ll know exactly what to call it!