Mak-ngaai (มักง่าย)

My wife uses this word frequently to describe "lazy" or non-conforming behavior. Sometimes she will sound disgusted.

Some recent มักง่าย interjections have been with "wrong-way" motorists, line (queue) jumpers, and the like.

Anyone else hear/see this word? Is it always pejorative? Looking for the "easy" way is not always a bad thing.

-NG

It is also used when someone is doing something carelessly. Obviously, it is quite negative but like anything it depends on how you use it. In quite a few cases it can be used and no offence will be taken. I would be careful in using it if your Thai isn't so good.

Mak-ngaai (มักง่าย)

My wife uses this word frequently to describe "lazy" or non-conforming behavior. Sometimes she will sound disgusted.

Some recent มักง่าย interjections have been with "wrong-way" motorists, line (queue) jumpers, and the like.

Anyone else hear/see this word? Is it always pejorative? Looking for the "easy" way is not always a bad thing.

-NG

Not a bad thing at all but it is not only what the combination of words say (like easy) มักง่าย is actually a word on its own.

The dictionary describes it as มีนิสัยขอบเอาแตะความสะดวกเข้าว่า which is abnormal (เข้าว่า) so I would say it is pejorative. I did cheat and look at a T/E dictionary which had all bad meanings like careless, rude or words to that effect.

I think 'sloppy' often describes มักง่าย throwing litter out of the bus window, painting with drops falling on the floor, too lazy to do a good job, like to have it easy and can't be bothered to do it right.

From Dr. Wit's dictionary:

มักง่าย

(ว.) สะเพร่า, เอาแต่ได้ไม่ถี่ถ้วน, ชอบเอาแต่ความสะดวกเข้าว่า, หยาบ. adj. careless, heedless, thoughtless, unmindful, regardless, negligent, inconsiderate, inattentive.

It's always pejorative.

It's similar to "sloppy" as Khun Bannork mentioned.

sloppy - ทำอย่างลวก ๆ, ลวก ๆ, สุกเอาเผากิน, สะเพร่า