ใจเย็นๆ
jai yen yen
To say 'calm down' in Thai, use ใจเย็นๆ (jai yen yen).
This phrase is used both to tell someone to stop being angry and to tell someone to stop being in a rush or being impatient.
Meaning: To become less excited (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the concept of a 'cool heart'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Reduplicating the word 'เย็น' to 'เย็นๆ' makes the instruction sound softer and more like a suggestion than a command.
How do you pronounce it?
jai yen yen
When do people say it?
The Thai concept of 'jai yen' (cool heart) means keeping calm and collected even in tense situations.
Did you know?
- In Thai, 'coolness' is the conceptual opposite of 'hotness' in temperament, where 'hot-hearted' people are those prone to anger.
- The word ใจ (heart) serves as a linguistic prefix for a vast array of emotional states, acting as the fundamental building block for the Thai emotional vocabulary.
- Telling someone to have a 'cool heart' is viewed as a way to restore social harmony and balance in a tense environment.
Examples in context
- ใจเย็นๆ นะครับchai yen yen na khrapPlease calm down.
- คุณต้องใจเย็นๆ ก่อนkhun tong chai yen yen konYou need to calm down first.
- ใจเย็นๆ อย่าเพิ่งโกรธเลยchai yen yen ya phueng krot loeiCalm down, don't be angry yet.
Example conversation
A man is trying to comfort a woman who is upset about a mistake.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitณิชา ใจเย็นๆ นะครับNicha chai yen yen na khrapNicha, please calm down.
- ณิชา Nichaฉันโกรธมากเลยค่ะchan krot mak loei khaI am very angry.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมเข้าใจ แต่ใจเย็นๆ ก่อนนะphom khao chai tae chai yen yen kon naI understand, but please calm down first.
- ณิชา Nichaโอเคค่ะ ฉันจะพยายามok kha chan cha pha ya yamOkay, I will try.
