Brutal
Heart
jai
ráay (adj.) ใจร้าย
This
is a commonly used jai phrase
that covers conduct ranging from meanness
to cruelty. At one end of the scale,
a person may have made a stupid, silly
mistake; he or she may have not taken
into account another’s feelings
or desire. Normally, however, jai
ráay is used for a person
who has acted with cruel disregard for
others. This kind of person might kick
a dog or sell his own daughter into
prostitution. Or she might be the kind
of mother who throws her daughter out
into the street because of a minor argument.
The phrase applies to those in the hotel
business who lock all fire-escape doors
to prevent guests from skipping out
on their bill, even though they know
that when a fire starts many people
may die. Such people are jai
ráay. Khon jai ráay
is a person who possesses a cruel, “brutal
heart.”
Black
Heart
jai
dam (adj.) ใจดำ
This
jai phrase is criticism hurled
at you in circumstances where you fully
understand another person’s problem
or setback and yet, despite your knowledge
of the urgent need for help, you turn
your back and walk away. A Thai friend
requests a loan to pay for the hospital
expenses of her mother and you refuse
even though you could easily afford
to make the loan. The friend may retort
that you have a “black heart.”
The closest English word to describe
the kind of person who bears the label
jai
dam is pitiless. The person
without pity doesn’t have empathy
for the hardships and travails endured
by others. Sometimes jai
dam is used as a substitute
word to describe someone’s selfish
behavior.
Sample jai
phrases from hearttalk
Learn more