ตกน้ำไม่ไหล ตกไฟไม่ไหม้

Land on your feet

ตกน้ำไม่ไหล
ตก
dtòk
น้ำ
náam
ไม่
mâi
ไหล
lăi
ตก
dtòk
ไฟ
fai
ไม่
mâi
ไหม้
mâi

Vocabulary

dtòk = [to] fall ; drop (on/down onto/down into)

náam = water

mâi = no ; not

lăi = [to] flow

dtòk = [to] fall ; drop (on/down onto/down into)

fai = fire

mâi = no ; not

mâi = [to] burn ; be on fire ; be ablaze

Literal Meaning

Fall in the water, not get washed away. Fall in the fire, not get burnt.

English Proverb

Land on your feet

Explanation

  • Sharebar

If a person could face great danger and return unscathed, we would think that they could fall in the river and not get swept away by the current, or even fall in a fire and not get burnt. We would consider them to be extremely lucky. This Thai saying carries a different interpretation of this however. If a person has led a very good life and accumulated much positive karma, then misfortune cannot touch or harm them. Their “luck” in these unfortunate circumstances is due to their previous good deeds.

Example

  • Sharebar

เขาเป็นคนดีจริงๆ ถ้าเกิดปัญหาอะไร ก็ตกน้ำไม่ไหลตกไฟไม่ไหม้หรอก

kăo bpen kon dee  jing jing tâa gèrt bpan-hăa a-rai  gôr  dtòk náam  mâi  lăi  dtòk  fai  mâi  mâi  ròk

He is a really good person if he has any problem , will fall in the water, not get washed away. Fall in the fire, not get burnt.