Signification
Demanding too much money or interest.
Contexte culturel
The concept of 'Nam Jai' (water of the heart) is the opposite of 'nâa-lûeat'. Thais value generosity and helping those in need. Being called 'nâa-lûeat' is a severe social stigma because it suggests you have no 'Nam Jai'. Many Thai idioms about trade and money were influenced by the merchant class, often of Chinese descent. 'Nâa-lûeat' was historically used to describe the tension between the agrarian Thai population and the rising merchant class. On apps like Grab or FoodPanda, users often use 'nâa-lûeat' to complain about high delivery fees or 'GP' (Gross Profit) cuts taken from small vendors. In rural areas, 'nâa-lûeat' is most commonly associated with 'Nok-Yoke' (illegal informal loans) which have been a major social issue for decades.
Don't say it to their face!
Calling a Thai person 'nâa-lûeat' to their face is a major insult and can lead to physical confrontation. Use it to describe someone to a third party instead.
Use with 'พวก' (Phuak)
If you want to sound more natural when complaining, say 'พวกหน้าเลือด' (phuak nâa-lûeat) to refer to a group or a type of person.
Signification
Demanding too much money or interest.
Don't say it to their face!
Calling a Thai person 'nâa-lûeat' to their face is a major insult and can lead to physical confrontation. Use it to describe someone to a third party instead.
Use with 'พวก' (Phuak)
If you want to sound more natural when complaining, say 'พวกหน้าเลือด' (phuak nâa-lûeat) to refer to a group or a type of person.
Context is King
Only use this for money-related greed. If someone is just mean or selfish with their time, use 'ใจดำ' (chai-dam) instead.
Teste-toi
Which situation best fits the idiom 'หน้าเลือด'?
A shop sells a bottle of water for 100 Baht during a drought when it usually costs 10 Baht.
Charging 10 times the normal price during a crisis is a classic example of being 'หน้าเลือด'.
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
อย่าไปกู้เงินกับเขาเลย เขาเป็นคน________ คิดดอกเบี้ยแพงมาก
'หน้าเลือด' fits because the sentence mentions high interest rates (ดอกเบี้ยแพง).
Complete the dialogue.
A: แท็กซี่เรียกเงิน 800 บาทไปสนามบิน ทั้งที่ปกติแค่ 300 บาทเอง B: โห ________ จริงๆ!
B is reacting to an unfair price hike, so 'หน้าเลือด' is the appropriate idiom.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesA shop sells a bottle of water for 100 Baht during a drought when it usually costs 10 Baht.
Charging 10 times the normal price during a crisis is a classic example of being 'หน้าเลือด'.
อย่าไปกู้เงินกับเขาเลย เขาเป็นคน________ คิดดอกเบี้ยแพงมาก
'หน้าเลือด' fits because the sentence mentions high interest rates (ดอกเบี้ยแพง).
A: แท็กซี่เรียกเงิน 800 บาทไปสนามบิน ทั้งที่ปกติแค่ 300 บาทเอง B: โห ________ จริงๆ!
B is reacting to an unfair price hike, so 'หน้าเลือด' is the appropriate idiom.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsNo, it's not a 'curse' word, but it is a very strong insult regarding someone's character and morality.
Yes, Thais often use it to describe big corporations that they feel are overcharging or monopolizing.
The best opposite is 'ใจดี' (kind) or 'มีน้ำใจ' (generous/kind-hearted).
That would be too strong. Use 'งก' (stingy) instead. 'หน้าเลือด' is for serious exploitation.
Expressions liées
ขูดรีด
similarTo extort or fleece.
เห็นแก่เงิน
similarTo care only about money.
ใจยักษ์
similarHeart of a giant/demon.
เค็ม
contrastStingy (literally salty).
ใจดี
contrastKind-hearted.
