ปากหวานก้นเปรี้ยว
“Sweet in the mouth, sour underneath.”
A person who speaks sweetly and pleasantly but has an unkind or deceitful character.
— Traditional Thailand Wisdom, Thailand
Source: Traditional Thai proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Thailand
When the water rises, hurry to scoop it up.
Seize an opportunity while it lasts, because favourable moments do not last forever.
Slowly, slowly, and you get a fine blade.
Patience and careful, unhurried work produce excellent results.
Hot water, the fish lives; cold water, the fish dies.
Frank, sharp words can be more helpful than sweet, flattering ones that deceive.
If you love your cow, tie it up; if you love your child, discipline them.
True love sometimes requires firm guidance and discipline rather than indulgence.
By the time the beans are cooked, the sesame is burnt.
Being too slow or indecisive can cause you to lose everything at once.
Entering a town where people squint, you must squint along too.
Adapt to local customs when you are in a new place — the Thai equivalent of 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.'