Kee Nee-Ho Sticky Sh*t

[salavan]

hi im not sure whether this should be in the language forum, i recently used the word "kee nee-ho" which im sure all the farang are familiar with. I was politly corrected by a well educated thai man that the proper word for stingy is "jai keap", im informed that "kee nee-oh is mainly used by bar girls and people of low class in thailand.

[krisb]

kee ne ouu means sh@t sticky. so there you go.

Not really 'lower class' as such or bar girl talk if you wanna call it that, more slang kinda.

[TommoPhysicist]

It means tight with money ...... almost only ever used by sex workers (and people who associate with sex workers). Not the kee that means shit, the kee that gives a negative personality trait to a person.

as in

kee bon ...... nagging person

kee luum ..... forgetful person

kee maw ..... drunkard

From the dictionary

ขี้ kêe (prefix that indicates the following adjective is a negative quality of the person being referred to)

One of the many clever ways Thais have of spotting sexpats ..... never repeat any words you hear from a Thai prozzy in front of a respectable Thai at all.

Sorry krisb but you are wrong on all levels of understanding that word.

But also, your educated Thai ...... maybe?

ใจแคบ jai kâep narrow-minded ; selfish

Edited October 24, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[stoneyboy]

It means tight with money ...... almost only ever used by sex workers.

Not the kee that means shit, the kee that gives a negative personality trait to a person.

as in

kee bon ...... nagging person

kee luum ..... forgetful person

kee maw ..... drunkard

Sorry krisb you are wrong on all levels of understanding that word.

Can you give us the upmarket alternative then please ?

[poanoi]

lol at last comment,

but anyways, kee is both a negative prefix & the actual word for shit.

and btw, the only sensible reply to these insults is '-no suckie suckie no tip'

because they are insults in an extortion to make you give away money just to end the endless insults

[Semper]

It means tight with money ...... almost only ever used by sex workers.

Not the kee that means shit, the kee that gives a negative personality trait to a person.

as in

kee bon ...... nagging person

kee luum ..... forgetful person

kee maw ..... drunkard

Sorry krisb you are wrong on all levels of understanding that word.

Can you give us the upmarket alternative then please ?

It means tight with money ...... almost only ever used by sex workers.

Not the kee that means shit, the kee that gives a negative personality trait to a person.

as in

kee bon ...... nagging person

kee luum ..... forgetful person

kee maw ..... drunkard

Sorry krisb you are wrong on all levels of understanding that word.

Can you give us the upmarket alternative then please ?

Slow cash flow?

[TommoPhysicist]

Can you give us the upmarket alternative then please ?

Best to avoid all such words in polite company.

But if you really had to, Mr. Educated said

ใจแคบ jai kâep narrow-minded ; selfish

Edited October 24, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[Songhua]

Kee in this context almost has a meaning of 'one who has the character of' ... eg

kee niaw (one who is sticky) -stingy;

kee maw (one who gets drunk) - drunkard;

kee luum (one who forgets) - forgetful

These are simply terms and the kee element is not being used in the sh-t context whatsoever. ie they are not swear words or cursing.

Jai kaep (narrow hearted) gives off more of a 'tight fisted' or 'selfish' meaning.

Almost the same but not quite.

[Neeranam]

I get tired of newbies thinking that 'kee neeiow' means sticky shit - it doesnt!

Also 'farang kee ngok' doesn't mean farang bird-shit.

[Neeranam]

From the dictionary

ขี้ kêe (prefix that indicates the following adjective is a negative quality of the person being referred to)

Not necessarily negative, but often - I don't know what dictionary you got that from.

Kee Nao , for example is not a negative quality. I am this and it means I feel the cold. I am also Kee mao, which isn't negative as I don't drink anymore.

Also - kee sanook - someone who likes fun.

It means more - having an inclination for, addicted to, prone to.

Edited October 24, 2012 by Neeranam

[Rancid]

I learned my Thai at language schools, not in bars, and I use the term keeniow. If the hi-so look down on me for that who gives a... It isn't difficult to tear down Thai English speakers if they deserve it but seems criticising non-native speakers is somewhat infantile and really about floating an ego sinking in quicksand.

[Scully]

I get tired of newbies thinking that 'kee neeiow' means sticky shit - it doesnt!

Also 'farang kee ngok' doesn't mean farang bird-shit.

It's the first time I personally have heard this being discussed, I couldn't possibly say I was tired of it.

Maybe I hang around with a different crowd ?

[Neeranam]

I learned my Thai at language schools, not in bars, and I use the term keeniow. If the hi-so look down on me for that who gives a... It isn't difficult to tear down Thai English speakers if they deserve it but seems criticising non-native speakers is somewhat infantile and really about floating an ego sinking in quicksand.

I agree - I use the term too, although more often say, prayat or pramaat, which mean economical. This is not bargirl Thai like poom pui, same same, ting tong.

But it could be mistaken for bargirl Thai as they are the only ones who would say it to your face. It's not a nice thing to say but I assure you even hi-so Thais use it.

Edited October 24, 2012 by Neeranam

[craigt3365]

I think this is better off in the Thai Language forum. Topic Moved.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Snobby Thais have much higher standards about "polite language" usage for foreigners than what they'd apply themselves, and assume that knowledge of normal (colloquial) speech patters implies a monger.

In fact just knowing Thai full stop is suspect in many circles.

Of course as with any language, until you are truly fluent and immersed in the local culture, you should default on the side of politeness.

But it is true that many of us associate with Thais whose socio-cultural background and lack of formal educations makes them relatively unaware of the distinctions themselves, so of course they can't teach them to us - if they even care.

If you really want to learn proper Thai for business reasons, or have other reasons for wanting to be accepted by the snobby sectors of Thai society, you have to learn your Thai from a well-educated person with at least some exposure to that class. Ideally a native central Thai and even more ideally a proper teacher of the language.

None of which is a problem if you have the money and motivation.

Otherwise you will indeed be perceived as a habitual long-term monger.

[Neeranam]

I learned my Thai at language schools, not in bars, and I use the term keeniow. If the hi-so look down on me for that who gives a... It isn't difficult to tear down Thai English speakers if they deserve it but seems criticising non-native speakers is somewhat infantile and really about floating an ego sinking in quicksand.

I agree - I use the term too, although more often say, prayat or pramaat, which mean economical. This is not bargirl Thai like poom pui, same same, ting tong.

But it could be mistaken for bargirl Thai as they are the only ones who would say it to your face. It's not a nice thing to say but I assure you even hi-so Thais use it.

I must apologize as I made a mistake here - pramaat actually means the opposite. What I meant was มัธยัสถ์ (mat a yaat) which means thrifty, frugal or economical.

Edited October 25, 2012 by Neeranam

[tgeezer]

It means tight with money ...... almost only ever used by sex workers.

Not the kee that means shit, the kee that gives a negative personality trait to a person.

as in

kee bon ...... nagging person

kee luum ..... forgetful person

kee maw ..... drunkard

Sorry krisb you are wrong on all levels of understanding that word.

Can you give us the upmarket alternative then please ?

Downmarket people don't make up language themselves. they simply use it differently perhaps.

If you want to describe someone as stingy ขี่เหนียว is good because the specific meaning of เหนียว here is: doesn't want to give away somthing which he has to someone who needs it. Knowledge and money are the two things in the definition of this meaning of เหนียว and the word is ตระหนี่ .

We, and perhaps those you call hi-so, would use it in situations where someone is not prepared to pay his share, sex workers use it when they think that they should be given more.

Can you see why you may be disparaged for using it?

[Johpa]

I get tired of newbies thinking that 'kee neeiow' means sticky shit - it doesnt!

Also 'farang kee ngok' doesn't mean farang bird-shit.

I find it even more vexing when people transliterate Thai words so poorly that I initially have no clue what they are talking about. But the phrase is quite common, and although may be used to slightly offend someone, the phrase itself is not in poor taste nor "bar girl" vernacular.

[TommoPhysicist]

But the phrase is quite common, and although may be used to slightly offend someone, the phrase itself is not in poor taste nor "bar girl" vernacular.

I would always assume anyone using 'kee neow' is either (or was) a prostitute in a foreigner bar, or hangs out with prostitutes that worked in a foreigner bar. I am absolutely 100% certain that any Thai person would make exactly the same judgment. Your opinion as a non native Thai speaker is hardly relevant.

Edited October 26, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[craigt3365]

But the phrase is quite common, and although may be used to slightly offend someone, the phrase itself is not in poor taste nor "bar girl" vernacular.

I would always assume anyone using 'kee neow' is either (or was) a prostitute in a foreigner bar, or hangs out with prostitutes that worked in a foreigner bar. I am absolutely 100% certain that any Thai person would make exactly the same judgment. Your opinion as a non native Thai speaker is hardly relevant.

I just checked with my native Thai speaking wife. This phrase is used commonly in her village. 99% of the villagers rarely travel very far and hardly ever see foreigner.

[Tywais]

But the phrase is quite common, and although may be used to slightly offend someone, the phrase itself is not in poor taste nor "bar girl" vernacular.

I would always assume anyone using 'kee neow' is either (or was) a prostitute in a foreigner bar, or hangs out with prostitutes that worked in a foreigner bar. I am absolutely 100% certain that any Thai person would make exactly the same judgment. Your opinion as a non native Thai speaker is hardly relevant.

I just checked with my native Thai speaking wife. This phrase is used commonly in her village. 99% of the villagers rarely travel very far and hardly ever see foreigner.

I have no idea how some member(s) think it is predominately used in the bar scene as I also know that is not the case. The difference is you may not hear it publicly, that is in polite company, as much as you would in the 'scene' but it is out there more than you may think.

[DrTuner]

I've overheard it in Thai-Thai conversations involving people who haven't travelled more than 70km from their rice farm in their lifetime. Could still be imported, of course.

As for being judged for messing with bar scene, being a farang before even opening your mouth does the trick. I don't think there's a single Hi-So qualified farang in the whole of Thailand. Wrong race to begin with.

[tgeezer]

I would always assume anyone using 'kee neow' is either (or was) a prostitute in a foreigner bar, or hangs out with prostitutes that worked in a foreigner bar. I am absolutely 100% certain that any Thai person would make exactly the same judgment. Your opinion as a non native Thai speaker is hardly relevant.

Gosh! I think that you are right in respect of a farang who has very little knowledge of Thai, as Dr Tuner implies, most of us have experience of the bar scene and the fact of being farang is enough to dam_n one in some people's eyes, even if you don't betray yourself with ขี่เหนียว. I researched the word in the official dictionary of the the Thai language; it is not bar slang.

Without a dictionary we understand words by their context and if the point of contact with native speakers is limited to situations where communication has broken down already, misunderstanding over a bill for instance, it is easy to see how both ขี่เหนียว, ฟรัง etc. connote disparagement.

When we spread our wings and find ourselves in other situations we must be open to amending our perceptions.

Edited October 26, 2012 by tgeezer

[Johpa]

But the phrase is quite common, and although may be used to slightly offend someone, the phrase itself is not in poor taste nor "bar girl" vernacular.

I would always assume anyone using 'kee neow' is either (or was) a prostitute in a foreigner bar, or hangs out with prostitutes that worked in a foreigner bar. I am absolutely 100% certain that any Thai person would make exactly the same judgment. Your opinion as a non native Thai speaker is hardly relevant.

I just checked with my native Thai speaking wife. This phrase is used commonly in her village. 99% of the villagers rarely travel very far and hardly ever see foreigner.

Alas, your wife and my wife (a former school teacher) have been deemed as being but irrelevant prostitutes,. By the way I suppose we should shut down this particular forum now that the opinions of non-native speakers has been so thoroughly and absolutely dismissed. Or is it just that somehow, beyond expectation and straining credulity, that ThaiVisa has found someone who has some how yet again brought the bar down another notch. Khun Tommo, I salute you! But yes, everyone who has seen my posts here on ThaiVisa for the past decade and on SCT the previous decade knows just how much time I have dedicated my life to the hooker bars in Bangkok and Pattaya.

[p_brownstone]

As basically already mentioned.

ขี้ as a Noun actually means "waste" - not necessarily "sh#t" but obviously that meaning is incorporated.

ขี้ as an Adjective means "has a tendency to" or "likes to" . (Not always a negative tendency however, as already stated).

Both have the same spelling and - obviously - the same pronunciation in Thai.

My own reading of common Farang usage is that unless one has already been recognised within the Thai Group, wherein the word is being used, as a reasonably knowledgeable Thai speaker the Thai listeners immediately assume that you learnt the word from Bargirs and you believe ขี้ means simply, only, "Sh#t" and thus, in YOUR mind, the phrase ขี่เหนียว in total means "sticky sh#t".

It's not "Bargirl" Thai at all, simply, like any Thai phrase, it should only be used it in the right place and the right situation.

Patrick

[TommoPhysicist]

Alas, your wife and my wife (a former school teacher) have been deemed as being but irrelevant prostitutes,. By the way I suppose we should shut down this particular forum now that the opinions of non-native speakers has been so thoroughly and absolutely dismissed. Or is it just that somehow, beyond expectation and straining credulity, that ThaiVisa has found someone who has some how yet again brought the bar down another notch. Khun Tommo, I salute you! But yes, everyone who has seen my posts here on ThaiVisa for the past decade and on SCT the previous decade knows just how much time I have dedicated my life to the hooker bars in Bangkok and Pattaya.

I'm sorry I've only heard sex workers and the families of sex workers use this phrase.

But I'm only telling it as I hear it. Insulting me for what I hear in everyday Thai live is fairly pointless.

But if you had to ask your wife, surely that means you aren't hearing the phrase often either?

[AbeSurd]

Also 'farang kee ngok' doesn't mean farang bird-shit.

So what does it mean?

[stoneyboy]

Also 'farang kee ngok' doesn't mean farang bird-shit.

So what does it mean?

Big bird from Sesame Street.

[DavidHouston]

From the Royal Institute website:

ฝรั่งขี้นก น. ชื่อฝรั่งพันธุ์หนึ่ง ผลเล็ก ไส้แดง, โดยปริยายหมายถึงคนที่วางท่าเป็นฝรั่ง.

. . . noun. common name for a species of small guava with red fruit; metaphorically this word is used to refer to a person who puts on airs acting like a Westerner.

[TommoPhysicist]

From the Royal Institute website:

ฝรั่งขี้นก น. ชื่อฝรั่งพันธุ์หนึ่ง ผลเล็ก ไส้แดง, โดยปริยายหมายถึงคนที่วางท่าเป็นฝรั่ง.

. . . noun. common name for a species of small guava with red fruit; metaphorically this word is used to refer to a person who puts on airs acting like a Westerner.

Here it is .......

Edited October 27, 2012 by TommoPhysicist