Can anyone give me an accurate definition/description of the word "gwun theen" A Thai hip hop band called "Thaitanium" sings this in a song. I know it's derogatory, but I want to know what it means and how to use it.

Thanks,

Jeff

กวนตีน > kuan tin (or guan teen)

it is an expression that is usually refered to someone "looking for trouble", "asking for a kick in the pants", "messing up with someone".

Litterally is composed by

กวน > to vex; to bother; to annoy; disturb; harass; cause trouble, irritate

ตีน > foot

It can be interpreted like "irritate someone at the point that he has an itchy foot (is keen to kick the other)"

Used in serious situation is quite an insult, but I have heard it between friends and in that cases I think it has a softer meaning, but it also indicate that the jocke, words or attitude that caused this comment were pretty "heavy".

This is my personal interpretation, but maybe I missed some hidden meaning.

Meaning as riga said above but remember this is a slang expression. Speaking between friends it has a mild meaning. A close word is Guan Jai กวนใจ (not slang).

Please note that ตีน is considered to be a vulgar word in Thai.

Edited June 11, 200818 yr by 5tash

Not really, unless you use it the wrong way (for people).

You can safely use this words (meaning 'foot') in:

ตีนสัตว์ Tin Sat (animal paw or animal foot)

ตีนเขา Tin Kao (foothill)

and of course between friends, especially if you are a Falang, because there are many different pronunciations of "Tao" with different meanings (among them: 'breast', 'oven', 'foot', turtle') while you will always be understood saying 'Tin' (which as far as I know can be only 'foot', 'location' and a name of ethnic group).