Jingjok
Thai phrases › Problems and complaints
How to say to lose face
in Thai
เสียหน้า
sǐa-nâa
to lose face
sǐa risingnâa falling
Lose + face: to be embarrassed in front of others. The reason Thai complaints are made quietly and with a smile.
- Part of speech
- verb
In a sentence
- ไม่อยากให้เขาเสียหน้าmâi yàak hâi kǎo sǐa-nâaI don't want to embarrass him.
The culture behind it
CULTURE
Complaining without anyone losing face
From the same situation: Problems and complaints
- ปัญหาproblem
- ถูกcorrect, right
- แย่bad, terrible
- บริการservice
- ใช้to use
- แตกto break, crack (glass, plates)
- เสียหายdamaged
- เปื้อนstained, dirty (marked)
All 66 words and phrases in “Problems and complaints” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok teaches เสียหน้า with audio, the tone drawn on screen, and a check on your own voice. Fix a wrong order or bill, report a lost or stolen item, and ask a neighbour to change something without anyone losing face.
- 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.
The first week is free.