Breakdown of เขา รวย แท้ๆ แต่ ไม่เอาถ่าน เล่นเอา ตกอับ
เขา
he, she, they
แต่
but
รวย
rich
เล่นเอา
ended up causing / got to the point of
ไม่เอาถ่าน
irresponsible
แท้ๆ
actually / even though
ตกอับ
to fall on hard times
Questions & Answers about เขา รวย แท้ๆ แต่ ไม่เอาถ่าน เล่นเอา ตกอับ
How does แท้ๆ function here, and could it be placed at the very end of the sentence instead?
In this sentence, แท้ๆ comes immediately after the fact that sets up the contradiction: เขา รวย (he is rich). It emphasizes the irony of him being rich yet ending up destitute. You shouldn't put it at the very end of the sentence because it must directly follow the specific undeniable fact (the expectation) that the second half contradicts.
What does ไม่เอาถ่าน literally mean, and how does it become irresponsible?
It literally translates to not take charcoal. The origin refers to old charcoal irons or blacksmithing where charcoal was needed to produce heat and get work done. If someone doesn't take charcoal, they lack the fire or drive to do anything useful, which evolved into a common idiom for an irresponsible person or a deadbeat.
How does เล่นเอา work here to mean ended up making him?
เล่นเอา is a colloquial phrase used to show that a situation or action caused a specific, often unexpected or negative, result. While เล่น means to play and เอา means to take, together they act as a link introducing a consequence. You can think of it as resulting in or going so far as to cause.
Is ตกอับ related to the word ตก (to fall)?
Yes! ตก means to fall or to drop, and อับ means confined, cornered, or lacking. Together, ตกอับ paints a picture of falling into a cornered or hopeless situation, which perfectly translates to being destitute or down on your luck.
Learn เขา รวย แท้ๆ แต่ ไม่เอาถ่าน เล่นเอา ตกอับ and more in Thai
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free