cowardly
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 cowardly、spineless
Describes someone as extremely cowardly and unwilling to face danger or difficulty, usually with a critical or contemptuous tone.
cowardly、spineless
Describes a person or their behavior as shamefully lacking the courage to act or confront a difficult situation.
Learning notes
Explanation
ขี้ขลาด already means “cowardly,” while the addition of ตาขาว makes the criticism more emphatic. ตาขาว is idiomatic here and does not describe the physical appearance of someone’s eyes. The expression can modify a noun, as in คนขี้ขลาดตาขาว (“an utter coward”), or serve as the predicate, as in เขาขี้ขลาดตาขาว (“He is extremely cowardly”). It judges someone’s character or conduct rather than merely saying that the person feels afraid.
Usage
Used to criticize someone who avoids danger, refuses to act out of fear, or lacks the nerve to speak up. It is common in confrontational conversation and in dialogue in stories, movies, or comics. Among friends, it may sometimes be used as a taunt or teasing challenge.
Caution
This can sound insulting because it labels someone a coward. Avoid using it in polite or professional situations. To state neutrally that someone is afraid at a particular moment, use กลัว instead.
Differences from similar words
1 cowardly synonyms
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ขี้ขลาด means “cowardly” and is already critical. ขี้ขลาดตาขาว intensifies that judgment and sounds more openly contemptuous.