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Thai phrases › Humour, sarcasm, register-switching
How to say aloof, stand-offish
in Thai
ถือตัว
tǔue-dtua
aloof, stand-offish
tǔue risingdtua mid
Holds oneself apart. One of the least liked traits; a foreigner who isn't ถือตัว gets let in fast.
- Part of speech
- adj
In a sentence
- ผู้จัดการใหม่ไม่ถือตัวเลย คุยกับทุกคนpûu-jàt-gaan mài mâi tǔue-dtua loei kui gàp túk konThe new manager isn't aloof at all, chats with everyone.
The culture behind it
CULTURE
กาลเทศะ: the right Thai for the room
From the same situation: Humour, sarcasm, register-switching
- ประชดประชันto be sarcastic and spiteful
- แดกดันto sneer, make cutting remarks
- เหน็บแนมto make a veiled jibe
- กระแนะกระแหนto snipe, needle
- เสียดสีto satirise
- ถากถางto mock, ridicule
- จิกกัดto take a dig, needle (playfully)
- แซะto snipe at, throw shade
All 98 words and phrases in “Humour, sarcasm, register-switching” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok teaches ถือตัว with audio, the tone drawn on screen, and a check on your own voice. Recognise sarcasm and veiled digs, be funny on purpose (set up, take and land a joke), and switch smoothly between boss-formal, everyday-polite and close-friend Thai.
- 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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