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Thai phrases › Idioms 2 and four-syllable expressions
How to say a little, a smattering
in Thai
งูๆ ปลาๆ
nguu-nguu-bplaa-bplaa
a little, a smattering
nguu midnguu midbplaa midbplaa mid
Snake-snake, fish-fish: you know enough to tell them apart and no more. The modest answer to "do you speak Thai?".
- Part of speech
- adv
In a sentence
- พูดไทยได้งูๆ ปลาๆpûut tai dâai nguu-nguu-bplaa-bplaaI speak a little Thai.
From the same situation: Idioms 2 and four-syllable expressions
- คำซ้อนpaired word, word doublet
- คำสัมผัสrhyming words, rhyme
- คำพังเพยsaying, adage
- โวหารrhetoric, way with words
- อุปมาsimile, analogy
- เปรียบเปรยto make a pointed comparison
- คมคายsharp, witty (of words)
- สละสลวยelegant, polished (of language)
All 98 words and phrases in “Idioms 2 and four-syllable expressions” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok teaches งูๆ ปลาๆ with audio, the tone drawn on screen, and a check on your own voice. Recognise and use 40 more Thai idioms and the paired and four-beat expressions (คำซ้อน) that give Thai speech its rhythm, and bring them into conversation the way Thais do.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
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