หน้าบาง

Explanation

This is a figurative expression formed from หน้า “face; reputation” and บาง “thin.” It presents someone as having a “thin face”—being highly sensitive to embarrassment and to how others see them. It can describe more than simple introversion. The person may hesitate to ask for something, speak up, or act openly because they are afraid of embarrassment or losing face. A common pattern is เป็นคนหน้าบาง, meaning that someone is easily embarrassed by nature.

Usage

It is often used when someone hesitates to make a request, speak or act in public, bargain, or express affection because they feel embarrassed. It can also describe a person who reacts strongly to criticism because they are sensitive about losing face.

Caution

This idiom does not normally mean that the skin of someone's face is physically thin; ผิวหน้าบาง is used for that. หน้าบาง can also sound teasing or mildly sarcastic, as though the person is overly sensitive about embarrassment, so use care when saying it directly to someone. Its opposite, หน้าหนา, usually means “shameless” or “brazen,” not simply confident or outgoing.

1 shy synonyms

• ขี้อาย

  khîiaay shy

  ขี้อาย is the general word for a shy or timid personality. หน้าบาง more specifically suggests being easily embarrassed because one is sensitive to other people's opinions or to losing face.

• อาย

  aay be shy

  อาย describes the feeling of being embarrassed or ashamed in a particular situation. หน้าบาง usually describes a person's tendency to feel that way easily.