Jingjok
"Tight belly, drooping eyelids"
nǎng-táawng dtueng nǎng-dtaa yàwn
There's a Thai saying for the sleepiness after a big lunch: หนังท้องตึง หนังตาหย่อน, 'when the belly skin is tight, the eyelid skin droops'. People say it with a laugh around 2 pm, when the office goes quiet. A short nap, นอนกลางวัน, is normal for children, older people and anyone working shifts, and you'll see motorbike-taxi drivers, shopkeepers and taxi drivers dozing in the afternoon between customers. In offices it's more discreet, a few minutes with the head on the desk. Nobody will judge you for admitting ง่วง (sleepy) after lunch; they'll probably agree and suggest a coffee.
Try this today
After lunch today, say หนังท้องตึง หนังตาหย่อน to someone and see if they laugh.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Daily routine” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- 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.