Jingjok
Thai phrases › Argument and persuasion
How to say to spare someone's face
in Thai
ไว้หน้า
wái-nâa
to spare someone's face
wái highnâa falling
Leaving a person a dignified way out, especially in front of others. The key skill when you disagree upward.
- Part of speech
- verb
In a sentence
- ไว้หน้าเจ้านายwái-nâa jâo-naaispare the boss's face
The culture behind it
CULTURE
Disagreeing with someone senior
From the same situation: Argument and persuasion
- โน้มน้าวto persuade, to win over
- ชักจูงto induce, to lead (someone) into
- หว่านล้อมto coax, to talk (someone) round
- เกลี้ยกล่อมto persuade gently, to talk round
- ขอร้องto beg, to plead, to ask earnestly
- อ้อนวอนto implore, to beseech
- จูงใจto motivate, to entice
- แรงจูงใจmotivation, incentive
All 99 words and phrases in “Argument and persuasion” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok teaches ไว้หน้า with audio, the tone drawn on screen, and a check on your own voice. Make and answer a case in Thai: give evidence, concede and counter, spot weak arguments, disagree with a senior without costing anyone face, and steer a group to a decision.
- 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.