Bedeutung
Don't try to live beyond your means.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Central Thailand, this proverb is often linked to the 'Face Culture.' Showing wealth is a way to gain social power, making this proverb a necessary social check. The proverb aligns with the Buddhist concept of 'Santutthi' (contentment with what one has). It encourages people to look inward rather than comparing themselves to others. With the rise of 'Influencer' culture, this proverb has seen a resurgence. It's now used to describe 'Cyber-imitation' where people buy digital goods or trendy items seen on TikTok. Historically, this proverb was a literal warning about the hierarchy of the village. The elephant belonged to the Lord (Chao Nai), and the villager was the subject (Phrai).
Tone Matters
Make sure to use the falling tone for 'ขี้' (khi - poop). If you use a low tone, it means 'ride,' which changes the meaning entirely.
Register Check
Don't use this with your boss or at a formal wedding. Use 'นกน้อยทำรังแต่พอตัว' instead to sound more sophisticated.
Bedeutung
Don't try to live beyond your means.
Tone Matters
Make sure to use the falling tone for 'ขี้' (khi - poop). If you use a low tone, it means 'ride,' which changes the meaning entirely.
Register Check
Don't use this with your boss or at a formal wedding. Use 'นกน้อยทำรังแต่พอตัว' instead to sound more sophisticated.
Social Media Usage
This is a very popular phrase for 'sub-tweeting' or making indirect comments on social media about people showing off.
The Elephant Symbol
Remember that the elephant is the national animal of Thailand. Using it in a proverb about poop is a way of using a very high symbol to describe a very low behavior, which adds to the humor.
Teste dich selbst
Which situation best fits the proverb 'เห็นช้างขี้ ขี้ตามช้าง'?
Somchai earns 15,000 baht a month. He sees his boss buy a new Ferrari, so Somchai borrows money to buy a BMW.
Somchai is imitating someone much wealthier than him, which is the exact meaning of the proverb.
Fill in the missing words to complete the proverb.
เห็น______ขี้ ขี้ตาม______
The proverb specifically uses the elephant (ช้าง) because of its size and status.
Match the advice to the person's problem.
Problem: 'I want to throw a 5-million baht wedding party because the celebrity I follow did it, even though I only have 50,000 baht.'
Option A is about not imitating the wealthy. Option B is about parenting, and Option C is about taking opportunities.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: 'ฉันจะกู้เงินไปเที่ยวรอบโลกเหมือนเศรษฐีคนนั้น' (I'm going to borrow money to travel the world like that millionaire.) B: '_________________'
B provides the appropriate cultural warning for someone planning to borrow money for luxury travel.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Elephant vs. Human
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenSomchai earns 15,000 baht a month. He sees his boss buy a new Ferrari, so Somchai borrows money to buy a BMW.
Somchai is imitating someone much wealthier than him, which is the exact meaning of the proverb.
เห็น______ขี้ ขี้ตาม______
The proverb specifically uses the elephant (ช้าง) because of its size and status.
Problem: 'I want to throw a 5-million baht wedding party because the celebrity I follow did it, even though I only have 50,000 baht.'
Option A is about not imitating the wealthy. Option B is about parenting, and Option C is about taking opportunities.
A: 'ฉันจะกู้เงินไปเที่ยวรอบโลกเหมือนเศรษฐีคนนั้น' (I'm going to borrow money to travel the world like that millionaire.) B: '_________________'
B provides the appropriate cultural warning for someone planning to borrow money for luxury travel.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt's informal and can be slightly vulgar, but in this proverb, it's considered standard wisdom. It's like saying 'crap' instead of 'feces' in English.
No. It is exclusively for negative, foolish imitation of wealth or status.
Usually celebrities, influencers, or extremely wealthy business owners.
Yes, 'นกน้อยทำรังแต่พอตัว' (A small bird builds a nest just big enough for itself).
90% of the time, yes. Occasionally it applies to social status or power, but money is the root.
Because they are the biggest animals in Thailand and were historically owned only by the rich.
Yes, if you are close. It's a common way to tease or warn a friend about a purchase.
In casual business talk, yes. In formal reports, no.
'ผ้าขี้ริ้วห่อทอง' (A rag wrapping gold), which describes a rich person who looks poor.
Yes, very much so, especially when discussing 'Face Culture' on social media.
Not directly from scripture, but it aligns perfectly with Buddhist values of moderation.
It's a high tone 'Ch' followed by a long 'ah' and a 'ng' sound.
Verwandte Redewendungen
นกน้อยทำรังแต่พอตัว
similarA small bird builds a nest just big enough for itself.
ใช้เงินเกินตัว
synonymTo spend money beyond one's means.
ตำน้ำพริกละลายแม่น้ำ
builds onTo pound chili paste to dissolve in the river.
อึ่งอ่างพองตัว
similarThe bullfrog puffing itself up.
ผ้าขี้ริ้วห่อทอง
contrastGold wrapped in a rag.
