“Well, you know Thais, they're f-word lazy, man”, said the expat on the adjacent table in the coffee shop.
This is a statement I've heard many times over the years.
It's an easy thing to say off the cuff, particularly if that has been your experience.
But that experience is usually very limited: limited to a lazy girlfriend you adopted into your home, a lazy laborer you employed cheaply to fix your roof, or a lazy mother-in-law who thinks you're not good enough for her daughter – despite the fact that you paid for her house.
In reality it's a sweeping generalization that isn't applicable to the millions of Thais who work hard every day, for what is often a pitiful wage.
But is there some truth to this generalization? I mean, there's no smoke without fire, right? Why do people keep saying it? Why has this label been stuck on the Thai people?
This perception of laziness is coming from somewhere, and it seems to be the experience of quite a large number of expats.
I'll share my experience and thoughts on this stereotype below, and then you can give me your take in the comments section.

I snapped this security guard at BACC asleep on the job. Lazy or just bored senseless!
Are Thai People Lazy?
Since I came to Thailand, some 14 years ago, I have to say that the majority of Thais I have encountered are pretty hard-working.
From the maid to the market trader to the Som Tum seller to the lady serving coffee in Starbucks, most of the Thais I see on a daily basis are working a lot of hours.
Most are up at the crack of dawn, many working 6 or 7 days a week, particularly those with their own businesses.
The guys and gals in the local 7-Eleven seldom have a day off, taxi drivers sleep just a few hours in their taxis before hitting the road again, and go up country and you have OAPs toiling the fields for 8 hours a day.
So where are all the lazy people?
Some might say, “But that's out of necessity, not because they want to. Given the chance, they'd put their feet up and live off someone else's labour”.
But how many people around the world don't work out of necessity? And how many wouldn't take it easier if they could?
I will concede that most Thais have no choice but to work. There is no comparable social security system. If you don't work, you don't eat. Simple.
Is It a Class Issue?
Even in the middle classes I see little evidence of this stereotype.
For example, the experiences I've had with Thai colleagues at my friend's Bangkok-based company is comparable to that of staff in the UK. Most work very hard. Sre, some are keener than others, some work faster than others, and some are more organized than others.
This is no different to any other office around the world.
You have a very wealthy upper class in Thailand, and I'd argue that that's where you're more likely to find laziness.
The sons and daughters (some) of rich Bangkok businessmen tend to do little more than drive flash cars and do lunch with friends.
But again, that's the same all over the world, isn't it?
So who are we talking about being lazy here?
Bar girls that sit around of an evening, occasionally playing pool and waiting to be bought a drink and taken home? The privileged wives of pension-rich expats who don't need to work?
These groups don't represent all Thai people. This is a minority.
The “Sabai Sabai” Approach to Life
Perhaps Thais don't work as efficiently as Brits, Aussies, Americans or Europeans, and perhaps that gives a perception of laziness. A lack of efficiency, taking longer to do things, a seemingly reluctant attitude at times, this could be perceived as laziness.
But the latter, in most cases, is because they are doing a boring job for little money, with no real career prospects.
It's also horribly hot in Thailand; the humidity makes you feel sweaty and tired. If you're working outside, you're not going to be over the moon about the sun beating down on you all day.
Or is the case that Thais will cut corners if they can, knock off early if no one is looking, and take the easy way out if possible?
I can attest to this being the case in some people I know and in some dealings I've had in Thailand, but part of me feels this is cultural – the “sabai sabai” (comfortable) approach to life, mixed with a little “mai bpen rai” (never mind).
But then aren't we all aiming for this to some degree?
We'd all like to earn the most we can doing as little work as possible, unless we truly love our work and would do it despite the money.
Is It a Penchant for Laziness?
Or maybe the difference is in the what you'd do if you weren't working.
Is it the case that us expats spend our free time getting things done: tidying out the garage, washing the car, learning the guitar, playing golf, etc. Whereas the Thai would rather just sit down and watch a drama series and eat snacks.
I don't know where you're from, but in the UK, generally speaking, we are a nation of doers. We keep busy: “Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today”. Of course there are many who aren't like that, and in my opinion this culture is changing.
Look, I am a pretty productive person, I don't like idly sitting around wasting time. But that doesn't make other people lazy. It's my personality. Maybe I need to relax more…
The Problem with Generalizations
For every Thai person I could label as “lazy” there's three I know who are the complete opposite.
My grand-mother-in-law is 90 and still gets up at the crack of dawn to go into town to buy vegetables to sell at a local market. Even with Covid lurking there was no keeping her down. She could never be labelled as “lazy”.
My wife's sister works six days a week, as does her husband. When I met my wife she was working six days a week and waking up at 5.30am.
Then I think about the Thai wives of expats I know who moved to Europe. Surely these are lazy Thai women who, as soon as they got the chance, put their feet up and sponged off their husbands!
Well, no. There are three couples I know very well. All three wives work in their adopted country. Their husbands could support them, but they choose to work and earn their own money instead.
I do know the stereotype, though.
I know of one guy's partner who doesn't work yet insists on having a maid and a nanny, when clearly she could fill these roles. She prefers to adopt the hi-so life, immersed in fashion and selfies. But man, this isn't exclusive to Thailand, this is happening the world over.
And this is the problem with generalizations; it really depends on your experience, on your interactions, on your social circle.
Of course, every country has its lazy people – those who don't want to work or don't want to work very hard – and there are certainly some lazy Thai people.
The reality is, however, that most Thais don't have the privilege of being lazy. Period.
Do they have more of a penchant for laziness than us western expats? Maybe… You tell me.
Last Updated on
AC says
Apr 14, 2022 at 11:05 am
Philip Fletcher says
Apr 05, 2022 at 10:16 pm
TheThailandLife says
Apr 05, 2022 at 10:35 pm
Philip Fletcher says
Apr 05, 2022 at 10:53 pm
ChrisH says
"Most of the Thai women working in the bar scene of Pattaya are incredibly lazy. Basically all they want to do is sit on their backsides all day and stuff their faces with food. They don't seem to realise or care that they get fatter and fatter and **become less and less attractive to the customers they're hoping to attract. I really wish they'd stop f***ing EATING!"**
LOL, Here's a suggestion, find a different place to shop with better 'customer' service. Your obviously shopping in the wrong store if you don't like the 'staff'. And I think it fair to say a majority of the 'bar girls' would rather not have to work this way just to perhaps feed and house themselves (or family). The saying " walk a mile in my shoes" comes to mind.
Apr 05, 2022 at 10:06 am
ChrisH says
"Or using people for money. Having someone else take care of them and doing nothing to contribute. Just greedy people is all ive met."
Maybe you need to venture outside of your cave every now and then, have a look at the real world and meet more people.
And of course, no sarcasm intended (lmao). Just a suggestion!
Apr 05, 2022 at 9:28 am
Steve Bentley says
Apr 04, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Philip Fletcher says
I don't think hard physical work does anyone any good over a long period, certainly not me. And once your health is ruined you've got the dilemma of taking care of yourself to deal with; heaven help anyone who has no income coming in and in Asia this is an ever increasing problem.
Mar 24, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Derek says
Mar 24, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Mike Brien says
Thai civilians working in military establishments are also lazy .
Most other Thais are hard working / work long hours for little rewards . Would you be full of energy and enthusiasm for your work if you where in this position .?
Mar 24, 2022 at 1:58 pm
steve says
Mar 24, 2022 at 9:19 am
Tim says
My wife works all the time when we stay in America. Where the wages are good. Worked for total six years there. I met her in Thailand at a fulltime 7 day week job clothing retail shop 14 years ago. She couldn't finish school, because she had to support her ailing father will cancer Her family all hard fulltime workers. Can't say all Thais are lazy here!
I have seen it though! But not in this family.
Mar 24, 2022 at 4:58 am
Peter Dean says
Mar 24, 2022 at 1:30 am
Sam says
Jun 08, 2021 at 5:31 pm
Simon says
Feb 08, 2022 at 9:13 pm
Min says
Ethnic Thai culture usually emphasize having fun instead of doing hard work. And if they do hard work, it's usually menial work so that they can go home and not think about anything else. Their outlook on life usually focuses on simple objects such as; having fun, being relaxed, eating and reproducing. While education might be limited to wealthier classes, it does not change the fact that Thai Chinese and Thai Indians are better off in the society. This is not to say that they are less capable, rather, their attitude towards hard work is usually filled with ideas of just being comfortable and but below an outstanding threshold.
Men are encouraged to have no committment to anything, living lavishly as kings and women are raised to be housewives. Tell me, how does this mentality create efficiency and a hardworking society? Compared to it's East Asian cousins, ethnic South East Asians are definitely more prone to this lazy mentality. It could be due to the historical past of lying around in small communities, or it could be due to a lack of a strong cultural identity which encourages hard work (due to inherent diversity and influences from the west).
At the end of the day, even the political situation seems to encourage the lazy behaviour, as there is corruption and minimal welfare - parents and families expect to be provided for by their children. This results in a society where the young would never be able to fully be independent and grow with their own careers as half of it has to go to their families.
Nevertheless, the results are shown even here in Europe. The women marrying an overweight European would brag all day about doing less - receiving more. When it comes to their teens, I have yet to see an ambitious young thai person with good morals. Usually, they just repeat their old pattern despite having access to free education in Europe; having fun, being relaxed, eating and reproducing. This is definitely contrary to east asian or western mentality, and definitely not efficient. Lastly, thais might not be lazy. But this attitude is deeply ingrained in the culture.
Jan 14, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Lily says
Mar 23, 2022 at 2:23 am
TheThailandLife says
This is a really good point, that a child's progression and potential is limited by the need to provide for their family. They can never be fully independent of their parents.
Mar 23, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Andreas says
I wanted to continue that though that something is in grained in culture.
change comes from people doing something differently right? It easy to say anything you do is only because your elders or society tells you to do it. but nothing is technically stopping thais from becoming "busy". the kids in Europe could study but dont. so lazy does apply. hence the stereotype. is it less valid because its culturally ingrained?
your not less racist just because its culturally acceptable in nazi Germany or trump area USA. its easy to swim with the flow.
I think expats like us do compare our "can do attitude" or "greed for money, wealth and status" against they may ben rai attitude of thais and think we come out on top. measured by outcome we do right, higher wages, more money. measured by how comfortable we are is a different metric. we work 70 hours instead of 30, is the extra money more important than the extra time spent "eating, relaxing and prodcreating" ? everybody has to decide that or themselves I feel. HOWEVER, and that is my experience as a supervisor and manager I get extremely frustrated with "lazy" workers (whatever race) when they are hired into a western style business and are expected to perform/output in that manners and just fail. Ive been called racist or pushy when I tried to motivate/push/complain of missed deadlines and low output.
so while I dont think all south East Asians & Indians are lazy I think that too many are due to the cultural differences that dont work when put into a western situation. thats then on the western company for not understanding but also on the sea people for resenting the Westerners that only pay them cents on the dollar for exactly that lack of efficiency and output.
if you pay for. Ferrari you expect it to go vroom. not slough along at 30km/h.
the problem is expectation mismatch on both sides.
Mar 24, 2022 at 12:23 pm
David says
My partners brother chose to stay in the country near Phitsanulok as his country born wife didn’t want to be away from her mother. He became a farmer (although the family comes from Bangkok) and spends long hours working his mixed vegetable farm. He can only afford a motorbike because he is paying to put his daughter through a medicine degree in a Bangkok university. His son is studying electrical engineering. The extended family (except the Chinese ones) help him with the expense, but he is very proud and accepts very little help, despite now being nearly 60 and having a few health problems. His daughter finishes her degree next year. We give her money to afford a few small things so that she doesn’t get so much bullying from the mostly very wealthy other students at the university. She gets teased for being a farmers daughter and not having designer handbags etc. My partners family are very devout Buddhists as her grandfather was a senior monk for many years before marrying at an older age. They take the teachings of Buddha very much to heart. Fortunately for Fon she is steeped in Buddhist thought and knows the values that cause the bullying are shallow and ignorant and come from the spiritually poor. She knows from her Buddhism and her father’s huge sacrifice for her, that she is not poorer than the bullies at all. Quite the opposite. She is a very strong young Thai woman as were her mother and aunties.
Mar 25, 2022 at 4:45 am
John says
Jan 01, 2020 at 11:25 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jan 01, 2020 at 11:57 pm
John says
Jan 02, 2020 at 11:58 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jan 03, 2020 at 12:15 am
John says
Jan 03, 2020 at 12:59 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jan 03, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Martin Tschumi says
May 25, 2021 at 12:58 pm
ChrisH says
Whoa....."no good looking man". Me thinks you have tickets on yourself.
"the women have had to welcome inside 'Indians and Pakistanis', cos they're now desperate".
That sounds very racist.
These girls are there to make money and I doubt if a persons race/country of origin has any effect on that side of things.
And......There may be many "fat ugly lazy greedy hookers" (as there are all over the world in that profession) but, there are far far more slim(ish), good looking hookers.
And why would you be worried about the "fat ugly lazy greedy hookers" anyway. It's not as though you are forced to have anything to do with them if you choose not to.
Come on man, show a little compassion. I'd say 80-85 % of these "hookers" would rather not be doing what they do, but hey, we all gotta eat = $'s
Mar 24, 2022 at 11:00 am
Paul says
I would have to agree that if you are working in a situation where you need to look attractive to keep your good paying job, Than eating all the time and not exercising is the best way to get fired.
Every Thai woman I know loves to eat, And exercise is not a concern to them ever.
Mar 24, 2022 at 9:32 am
Mike Brien says
Mar 24, 2022 at 2:02 pm
AC says
Mar 20, 2022 at 4:13 pm
AC says
Mar 22, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Rene says
Once work is done you can't see them do anything as well, even if it comes to house keeping only what is visible on the eye is being cleaned properly, and takes forever. I think many expats can testify on this, even most Thai friends admit it.
The exceptions are a minority of X million Thais.
Perhaps if you referring to farmers, yes they work hard, but that is only in the seasons. The rest of the year nothing is been done as well.
Sep 17, 2018 at 1:56 pm
TheThailandLife says
Sep 17, 2018 at 4:21 pm
J.Shelly says
Jan 29, 2019 at 9:51 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jan 30, 2019 at 7:09 pm
Martin Tschumi says
May 25, 2021 at 1:00 pm
yetanother says
Jul 25, 2018 at 4:19 am
TheThailandLife says
Jul 26, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Tami Ashley says
Nov 24, 2019 at 3:06 pm
TheThailandLife says
Nov 24, 2019 at 6:54 pm
Jayson says
Yes, many people from many countries do this. But Thai's take it to the extreme. They can identify goals, things they want in life in idle conversation, but aren't willing to put the (non-physical) energy it takes to make it a reality.
If they are content with life as it is, more power to them. And there are systematic socio-cultural barriers in effect. But it's hard to sympathize with someone complaining about a problem who isn't willing to even try to fix it in a creative way.
Conversely, Thai's don't complain all that much.
Jun 27, 2018 at 2:04 am
TheThailandLife says
Jun 28, 2018 at 5:17 pm
Hugh says
Jun 17, 2018 at 1:52 am
Rhonda Maza says
During snow storms when every other restaurant and even Walmart is closed and DURING a hurricane only restaurants or even.business of any kind open was Thai restaurants. I see the strongest work ethic i .the world for sure and least lazy.
Mar 22, 2018 at 3:17 am
TheThailandLife says
Mar 22, 2018 at 4:15 pm
James says
Feb 17, 2018 at 10:21 pm
Darren says
Take for example all the piles of rubbish that are everywhere.
People too lazy to walk to a bin.
The officials too lazy to provide bins or even bother to consider it.
Have a picnic on the beach, just get up and leave.
I like Thais, I am lazy too. Great for socializing, but generally useless getting things done or doing things properly.
Nov 15, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Martin1 says
So they prefer to give 10 THB to a motorbike taxi to drive them to the end of the street instead of walking by themselves.
Consider this with their cheap Charly mentality as a background!
Sep 26, 2018 at 11:25 pm
TheThailandLife says
Sep 26, 2018 at 11:52 pm
matt jones says
Nov 14, 2017 at 4:44 am
TheThailandLife says
You do also realise there are hundreds of thousands of men and women from the region who go to University in Bangkok and other parts of the country and go on to get great jobs?
I think the disproportionate amount of women you meet from poor backgrounds working in bars - from provinces in Issan - has caused you to tarnish all Isaan people with a misinformed stereotype.
The people are not ethnic Lao or Khmer, either, they are generally considered one or the other, with the Khmer speaking population down in the South of Isaan. That said, you will find that many Isaan people don't acknowledge a Lao lineage, because their roots may well be from elsewhere. Actually, depending on the kingdom in rule, at one time the people of the region would have been considered Khmer, before that Dvaravati (Mon), after that Lao.
But! It's not as simple as that. Isaan people are an ethno-regional group not an ethnic minority - because the area has a mix of different people who have inhabited the area at different times. Regardless, it is broadly accepted that the majority of people in the region belong to the Tai group of peoples, as do Thai and Lao people.
Many ethic Thai settled in the region in the 17th Century too, so a family who've lived in Isaan for 400 years may actually have originally been from Southern Thailand anyway. So the term Isaan is simply a regional term for people born in the area; it's not a race of people. It's a fascinating history. you should read this post: https://www.thethailandlife.com/origin-thai-people
Nov 14, 2017 at 5:36 am
Martin1 says
Chinese people usually have a whiter skin than Isan people, and also the shape of Isan people's heads is completely different than Chineses' or Thais'! Even Thai-Chineses'.
When being in Bangkok I can easily identify people from Isan.
According to your theory they would look like the Central Thai-Chinese. But actually they don't!
Sep 26, 2018 at 11:30 pm
TheThailandLife says
Sep 26, 2018 at 11:48 pm
ChrisH says
Mar 24, 2022 at 11:31 am
Jim Josperine says
This being the case, isn't it therefore impossible to form an opinion on the majority of Thais, given such a narrow base from which to draw any range of competence?
Perhaps a more reasonable question posited by this article might therefore be "Are Thai People [of lower economic status] Really Lazy?", in which case the answer would perhaps be less challenging for the typical Westerner to debate, than has appeared to be the case within this thread. The foregoing notwithstanding, there is of course the rampant inequality to factor into the argument, such that there is little wonder those from less privileged backgrounds find it difficult to motivate themselves to do better. Furthermore that the nation’s wealth comes from those working in the fields and the factories – not from those driving the Benzes in Bangkok who exploit the poor.
And of course the present non-elected military crowd in power appear to be doing nothing other than to further strengthen those with power, to the detriment of the common people.
Jul 21, 2017 at 2:14 am
TheThailandLife says
Jul 21, 2017 at 3:16 am
Yasin yip says
Lol and trash fills the streets,in deference to thai trash "politrness" - ask any farang how difficult it is to meet good thai. The best rule to follow is: if a that stranger talks to you protect your wallet. A thai wife allows me to be willing to endure this, if not for her.......
Jul 12, 2017 at 3:20 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jul 14, 2017 at 3:47 am
no fake smile says
Sep 09, 2016 at 8:28 am
CJ Green says
May 14, 2017 at 12:16 am
TheThailandLife says
May 14, 2017 at 4:06 am
B C says
1. PHYSICS
a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.
2. lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.
Thai's love entropy!
It always makes me laugh to watch those soap operas on TV. Thai's living in impossibly large and wealthy houses which are always immaculate. The wealth always seems to be inherited or from a large family company... what reality is this?!
May 15, 2017 at 1:04 pm
Brad says
- the Thai/Thai fake but legal marriage. This way only one of the two needed to study to remain in Australia. I know of two 'couples' personally who did this.
- paying someone to sit in and study for you. Yes, they would have a proxy study.
- the Thai restaurant (in Australia) that pays Thai wages or not much better when minimum wage is about $15/hr. My wife worked in a Thai restaurant on about $4 an hour - no payslip, no insurance, no superannuation. The restaurant would turn over up to $12,000/night and the owner rolled in dressed to the hilt in a Mercedes. Needless to say that job was quit after 3 nights. I'm not a communist by any means but if you can't see what's wrong with that much pay difference, well...
- the Thai which rents out an appartment, sticks in a bunch of bunk beds and sub-rents to students at quite a profit. Incredibly, I've heard of these 'landlords' threatening to deport the students if they talk about it - funny, I didn't realise that they had the power of Australian immigration officers.
When you consider things like this you start to understand why Thailand has corruption. To me, corruption is a product of general society immaturity.
From the get go. I said to my wife, if we do something we put in the work and do it properly. We declare all earnings, went properly through the driving/riding licence testing, all legit with immigration, etc. In the long run we are better of and in a much better position than her friends who took the easy path.
Jun 03, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Immy says
- eg. Security guardare who is sleeping because the most boring job which sees people acting opiates. He is lazy and his boss boss dismissed him, of course.
- eg. women massage who sitting storefront massage, Maybe she will relax in during a break Or waiting for customers.
- Most Chinese people Thailand are hard work because Their
Culture Life.
- eg. Work while you work, and play while you play. So they are serious work done.
I don't Know Why this post is important why the debate. It affects people who are not well known in Thailand. I wanna tell you that if you meet Thai who are strill lazy or bad Thais, please reminded them. If you have Lazy Thai worker, please warned and chased them out of work. If you meet who is patience and perseverance, always seeking new knowledge, you have Good Gift. Thank you
May 18, 2016 at 11:35 am
TheThailandLife says
May 18, 2016 at 5:24 pm
Joe Tan says
That is the stupid attitude they have.
I have open spa, ktv and food store in bangkok and have first hand experience with them.
All they know is ใช่ ใช่ (yes yes)...
All NATO no action talk only.
I am not saying all thais are like that but majority of them are... sorry to say.
Even my friends who have thai wife also speak the same. If given another chance they would not find a thai wife... spoken out by them.
Feb 05, 2017 at 3:03 pm
Scott says
Apr 25, 2017 at 6:54 am
Brad says
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:18 am
CJ Green says
May 14, 2017 at 12:20 am
ChrisH says
Mar 24, 2022 at 11:50 am
Stan Church says
You Need To Open Your Eyes And Ears To Understand What Thai Life Is All About... Don't So Quick To Judge.....
Feb 25, 2016 at 9:01 am
TheThailandLife says
Feb 25, 2016 at 11:31 am
Brad says
Conversely, many look at westerners as being lazy. But again, why is the west better developed. Why does lazy produce better outcomes?
Feb 25, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Arson says
Mar 17, 2016 at 8:17 am
Auan says
And what a waste of time to find cloths. But thai people do not want to think,
what happens tomorrow. They just are happy, what is now. They have food,
You can sleep where every You want.
All the house are just half made, not finished. And still they say I like beauty.
But if You go to thai home, everything is on the floor in boxes and boxes are every where.
So lazy or not, but I will say thais are lazy to think and make changes. Everything have to be like Grand Mother said.
This is big problem here, if thai's do not start thinking. How many invention have made in Thailand? Not many I know.
And working, what is that? They are at the work place 10 hours and work 8 hours. Because they sleep and eat too.
Lazy or not, but they have here big problems.
Auan
Mar 29, 2016 at 8:45 pm
David says
Feb 06, 2017 at 4:14 am
Brad says
One only needs to look at a Thai house. There is stuff around the yard everywhere, most of it is junk that's been there for years and will never be used. Where is the pride of home? There is no inititive to clean up the place let alone landscape and actually improve the house.
Future though? Many Thai I have met don't have a concept of finance beyond the next meal. They complain about not having enough money to travel, for example, but don't understand overseas travel requires months of saving, even for westerners... Traditionally the kids looked after the elders but with many Thai's not having children now and not even getting married, well, something will have to give.
Lazy, no. But if they want what we have in the west then a solid kick up the bum in many areas is required.
Jul 18, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Nathan says
Jun 08, 2015 at 2:23 am
TheThailandLife says
Jun 08, 2015 at 11:38 am
Tommy says
That is my experience anyway .
Feb 22, 2015 at 8:39 am
TheThailandLife says
Feb 22, 2015 at 4:56 pm
ChrisH says
Mar 24, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Matt says
At government level it is usually a male boss doing all the talking, but when it comes to doing the actual work, it is passed on to his secretaries who are predominantly female.
I have been told by many Thai females that the problem is thai boys are taught and treeted as though they are incapable and so there sisters, mother, aunts etc must always help them. As the men get older this reliance on women to everything persists and men will only do the easiest of jobs. The majority of builders I see in Thailand at least in Bangkok are women, most office workers are women, most teachers are women. Men seem to get top jobs, like doctors, but there are lazy and often just talk and send you off with a female nurse to be treated.
I know a lot of thai guys and their work ethic is nothing compared to their other halves.
I know a few busines owners who say thepat if they could, they would hire an all female staff.
It's not that Thai people are lazy in general, because at least 50% of them work harder than most people! it just that the other 50% are more visible and often hold positions of authority.
Jul 13, 2014 at 10:22 am
Nick says
May 08, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Persona says
Thais are pretty good at giving first impressions simply because in this country, saving face is everything (which leads to why many Thai people are insecure). So if they give a good impression, for example, they claim they are rich, you will start to believe the reason they are rich is because they're hardworking. But the truth is that most of them lie (only when you know them enough to see through their masks).
Thai people love cars because cars = you have $$$. I know a ton of Thais who say they bought their car with cash on hand and they worked very hard for that cash when in reality, they earn minimum wage due to their laziness and are most likely going to be in debt for the rest of their lives.
Thais complain they don't earn enough yet when I find them freelance jobs to do which pays way more than their fulltime job, they don't take it. In fact, some are so lazy that they want me to contact them to give them the job. If they really were hardworking, calling me back wouldn't be a problem at all considering I am helping them to begin with.
I know some Thais who are happy with their minimum wage jobs simply because they do just about nothing at work, even if they have to sit around for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. I would die of boredom and would rather use all that time to get paid more.
Majority of Thais would rather spend the night going out than to work for extra money. They complain about money yet don't expect to do anything about it. The only reason you see people work 6 days a week and all that is because if they don't, they're going to starve to death, and starving to death isn't a good feeling. Try offering them something more difficult but with better pay and I'm quite sure they will either find excuses not to do it or flat out say they don't want it.
I think the problem with this article is that the author doesn't know these Thais well enough to see their true colors.
Also to make sure, I'm Thai, fluent in both English and Thai therefore I'm quite sure my opinion is different from say, how a farang sees a Thai.
May 28, 2014 at 8:26 pm
Martin says
I mean there never "All Thais are like ...", "All Germans are like...", "All Britons are like.." and so on.
But what I see in Thailand is women sitting all day long in their massage Studios (real one, not the boom-boom massage, but even there, too).
And I swear if they were offered free classes to get higher education and subsequently get higer payment, they would not take those classes.
There may be a cultural difference in Thailand: There is native Thai, there is People from Isaan, and there is Thai-Chinese! The last Group is really far from anyone could call lazy!!!
People from Isaan have been Born in a 45 degree Environment... So, how much working would we do in such an Environment?
And: Who says that working hard, and making mucho $$ is really the key to happiness?
I mean maybe People from Tahiland, Jamaica etc. are much happier in their life than many greedy Westeners...
Our income is taxed away, and in case of a divorce the women take it.
Haha. ;-)
Feb 16, 2016 at 3:16 am
TheThailandLife says
Feb 16, 2016 at 10:54 am
Brad says
Feb 16, 2016 at 7:52 am
TheThailandLife says
Feb 16, 2016 at 10:48 am
Arson says
Mar 17, 2016 at 8:20 am
Professor says
This is very accurate persona. As is your descriptions of the average Thai. Yes, there are hardworking Thais, and there are lazy people in all places and ethnic groups, but the author seems to speak with authority whilst not having had a well rounded experience. He has perhaps spent much of his time within a certain social strata in Thailand. I have noticed this in his other articles, where he glosses over very real issues in Thailand and somehow only finds fault not in the Thais themselves but in the type of person that is drawn to Thailand/Thais.
I have lived and worked around Thailand over 15 years, as well as in other countries, can speak Thai fluently, and agree 100% with your view.
TTL: These massage girls/masseuses you speak of, the majority of them sit around in their free time doing practically nothing. They have a golden opportunity in that free time to study and exit the industry. But most won't do that EVEN if presented the opportunity on a golden platter. I have personal experience with this.
Even in the office environment, I have never seen a more lazy, shallow people, perhaps with the exception of the Middle East.
I've often met lazy Brits or Americans or even Canadians, they may be lazy but that is not the average.
No, we shouldn't generalize. But either way you slice it, you will be generalizing from your experience.
The bottom line is this...if you were to give an AVERAGE Thai the opportunity to something better, that would require much harder work, you will discover in many cases that they will either not accept the opportunity, or they won't live up to their end of the bargain.
Interestingly, the hardest working Thais I have met and known, including my wife, are those who could care less for the THAI WAY or culture. They break free from that and somehow that gives them a totally different perspective of life. It also seems to eliminate their addiction to saving/gaining face.
Jul 10, 2016 at 4:08 pm
TheThailandLife says
Oct 09, 2013 at 9:41 pm
David says
Oct 07, 2013 at 6:07 am
Jules says
Westerners from temperate climates in the northern hemisphere, have a cultural, evolutionary impetus to excel in economic terms, to "store" the result of excessively productve behaviour for when the cold weather comes. The evolution of the SE Asia and Thailand imparticular simply does not have the same drivers. Fall asleep under a coconut tree for they day, and theres every chance you can still eak out a meal of somekind before the sun goes down. Work for Thai's has not been an evolutionary necessity.
Jul 15, 2013 at 9:54 am
TheThailandLife says
Jul 16, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Brad says
Feb 16, 2016 at 8:01 am
Ying says
Gilbert M. Grosvenor
President, National Geographic Society
July, 1989
Feb 26, 2013 at 1:07 am
Annette says
She is 37 years old living in North America for 6 years. I asked why she wants to leave Thailand while the rest of her family still live in Thailand. She wants to have a change. She didn't say explicitly. But through the conversations, I guess one thing from her is that she wants to look for a husband. But I don't know if she can find one soon because she fits into the Thai characteristics that Chris said.
Feb 11, 2013 at 1:50 pm
TheThailandLife says
Feb 11, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Erik says
I do not believe Thais are lazy at all, they're exceptional at service fields for example in most better hotels and the food cart lady making 100s if not 1000s of meals a day is not exactly lazy either, neither is her son/daughter who goes from school to work every day.
The Thais who are lazy are the Thais spoiled in the tourist industry where people tip them for nothing and they get used to people coming and going with no repurcusions for bad work ethic.
You get what you pay for. If you pay your security guard the minimum wage, don't be surprised when he goes to sleep on his nightshift.
Oct 14, 2012 at 4:40 am
Chris says
In my own experience, having worked for both Thai companies and foreign-run companies employing Thais, I would say that Thais in general will take the shortest and easiest path to get something done. I suppose this is not necessarily laziness per se, as they are at least getting from Point A to Point B, but I would certainly never expect them to do so with any flare, creativity, or "above and beyond" demonstration of effort. I would call them "lazy thinkers". A prime example would be that If they can get away with copying and pasting something into reports, they will. If asked to think for themselves and put any level of creative input into something, it is like a deer in headlights. They aren't taught to think independently in their school systems, and this translates to copy-and-paste mentality. I have never seen plagiarism on the same level as in Thai society. Certainly, many will stay late hours, but I have learned that this is mostly because air conditioning and internet in the office are free.
As another example, I just asked my wife her thoughts on the issue, and she responded: "Yes, of course Thai people are lazy. Look at the red shirts taking 500 baht hand outs as vote bribes. They will do anything to get money without working. Some Thais sell their kids to avoid working hard. Prostitution is also a form of laziness, trying to get money through the least exertion possible, and is obviously rampant throughout Thailand."
I am not one of those grumpy anti-Thai forum posters on thaivisa.com, and I do not have any hatred towards Thais. I would, however, say that there is a tendency to laziness in their society.
Apr 22, 2012 at 11:25 am
TheThailandLife says
Apr 22, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Chris says
Apr 22, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Cardero says
One of the things I immediately noticed as unique to Thailand is the motorcycle taxis taking a nap on their bike, Shop girls sleeping with their head on the counter, Tuk Tuk Drivers pulled over to the side of the road sleeping in the back seat.
It is simply something you do not see where I am from. If you were to take a nap at work, particularly with your head on the service counter, you would be fired!
Personally, the four years I have been here in Bangkok, the Thai's that I have developed relationships with both personal and professional are not lazy. They just have a completely different perspective on life, one that I personally admire.
Apr 21, 2012 at 5:21 pm
TheThailandLife says
Apr 21, 2012 at 11:55 pm
valerie says
Apr 14, 2012 at 1:03 pm
TheThailandLife says
Apr 14, 2012 at 8:07 pm
suzie says
Has nothing to do with being lazy.
Of course there Thais who minimize their efforts in order to save energy, as I do too, sometimes...
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:18 am
TheThailandLife says
Mar 29, 2012 at 1:03 am
suzie says
It is getting hotter and hotter!
I am actually considering of getting into the skytrain and riding over Bangkok all day long until it cools down in the evening. If I get off at the same station its only 15 baht ...
Apr 23, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Thai Eagle says
lazy. You must always take culture and upbringing into consideration when analyzing any situation. Now American's there f--kin lazy;)
Mar 27, 2012 at 7:05 am
V F says
If one works hard but has no talent, they won’t get far. You may obtain similar results with talent but an unwillingness to work at it. Only with talent and hard work can one expect to excel.
I think we do people a disservice by telling them all they have to do is work hard or not be lazy and they will succeed.
Mar 22, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Lloyd says
I would beg to differ, a person who is visibly working harder surely deserves respect for their effort, it is highly likely that person is simply in a role that is not suited to their own talents, by not acknowledging their efforts we are more likely to give them reason to regret putting in the effort.
Mar 22, 2012 at 6:38 pm
V F says
Granted in a personal relationship we often make exceptions based on different objectives and expectations. It doesn’t pay to be too honest or critical in all situations. Still I find the “I work so hard” line does not often sway me. I would rather see someone work smart, rather than work hard, but that is just me.
Mar 22, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Lloyd says
The propensity for many "rural" Thais not to cleanup their homes, properties and the levels of polution on most main highways. This is not unique to Thais however it is arguably more abundant in Thailand than the rest of SE Asia, look at KL and Singapore now. Polution in Thailand is a major issue and something the ASEAN members have listed as an item to be addressed.
Failure to "finish" one project before moving onto the next, it could be called "laziness" but it is a very common Thai trait that many Government departments, business owners and employees never seem to finish one project or task and seem to jump about as if avoiding the obvious work left to be done.
I lasted just under 3 weeks working as a senior development consultant at Kasikorn bank, I walked out because I had no hope of achieving what I had been brought onboard to do simply because of the "cultural" traits like what @Vansi lists. Management too "lazy" too implement real change and bring about stricter and yet more open work policies allowing staff to work harder for rewards, very senior management avoiding bring attention to problems, of laziness and slow delivery schedules etc, for fear of having their own work and practices reviewed. And the list went on and on, my personal impression of large corporate policies and workers in the banking industry in Thailand was that the vast majority of the staff were "lazy" compared to the likes of Singapore, KL, HK, Seoul and even Indonesia.
Mar 20, 2012 at 7:24 pm
TheThailandLife says
Mar 21, 2012 at 12:27 am
Lloyd says
Mar 21, 2012 at 8:06 pm
TheThailandLife says
Mar 22, 2012 at 12:18 am
valerie says
Lazy people are everywhere, You can find them wherever you go. There's lazy people here in Philippines too. Whatever nationality or Country you're from.
Apr 14, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Jimbob80 says
We spend many times each year travelling to Thailand to see her family and our friends there. Her family is from Chanthaburi which is just far enough out of BKK to be much more relaxed, but not easy!
Her family own fruit orchards and also work in the local University, they work bloody hard. Much harder than I would ever want to. In that aspect, I am lazy! I am like this, because I come from a country (Australia) where if I did not want to work, I could live on Government payments for the rest of my life. Like so many of the Aussies here!!!
But I am not like that....
I have witnessed the lives of many Thai friends whom come from families in the country and the big cities and all of them work extremely hard.
I would say that any fellow Farang's whom say that Thai's are lazy, they really need to spend time with Thai's. Live with them, experience their life, spend weeks/months with them. Then you will have a whole new idea of how they live and then will realise that we are fortunate to live in countries that pay us to be lazy!
Mar 19, 2012 at 9:45 am
neale @ living in thailand says
Mar 20, 2012 at 10:08 am
TheThailandLife says
Mar 22, 2012 at 12:24 am
David says
Oct 10, 2013 at 12:50 am
Craig says
Feb 14, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Chris says
Thais have a saying "Northern lazy, Isaan money, central selfish, and southerners are bad". This is a generalization however there is more than a little truth to this.
Mar 18, 2012 at 10:27 pm
vansi says
But I live in CM and my cousin runs a small-medium office here, and boy, do I wish my business in Bangkok would be half as productive AND sanouk as his business and workers.
This is my observations so far, and I am a noob here, only a year, living in CM but running a fast-paced business in Bangkok employing staffers and service-providers as outsource.
1. Thais are very hard-working
2. Thais want to take pride in their work
3. Thais have a healthy attitude towards insane farangs demands
4. Thais can draw a line saying "enough is enough"
But
1. Thais are not problem-solvers
2. Thais are uncomfortable being forth coming with problems at work
3. Thais tend to keep things buried inside and act a little passive-aggressive sometimes
4. Thais need guidance in technical tasks as they tend to think below the horizon.
AND
1. Some Thais SAY Thais are lazy
2. There is a serious culture gap, (and I can write a book about this, some of the stigmas deriving from westerners using western filters to decipher Thai social behavior.)
3. Westerners don't take Buddhism as part of the equation. Hell, I heard some very prominent westerners here saying "It's not really a buddhist country". Well, it is! And, for example, the concept of middle-way (Not too tight not to loose) is so imbued in the culture but so not understood by western expats, that it turns into "They are all lazy, just looking for sanouk-sabai")
My conclusion?
Thais are not lazy. Westerners, at least some of them, are. Lazy in an imperial, white-man burden sort of way, imposing western concepts on a host culture that is way more subtle and intricate then their own binary, lazy way of perceiving the world around them.
Mar 18, 2012 at 10:57 pm
TheThailandLife says
Mar 19, 2012 at 12:37 am
TheThailandLife says
Mar 19, 2012 at 12:16 am
Chris says
Mar 19, 2012 at 12:19 am
Tom says
Sorry to this blog owner for jumping in with this, but it is kinda relevant to Chris's comments above and it's nice to know that the readers still have freedom of speech even if they have to go about posting it on a different blog!
Mar 28, 2012 at 6:06 pm
TheThailandLife says
Mar 29, 2012 at 1:02 am
chris says
Mar 29, 2012 at 1:11 am
Ploi says
But I do agree with the blog, finding the easiest way to do things is a very Thai trait... but that doesn't mean the person is being lazy.
Apr 19, 2012 at 6:13 pm
TheThailandLife says
Apr 19, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Chris says
Just because you go to work for 10 hours a day every day doesn't make you diligent nor does it make you hardworking, it's what you do while you're there and how productive you are determines whether you are hardworking or not.
Feb 11, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Tony says
It’s too depressing to continue writing, so I’ll stop here. But please keep in mind, it is a developing country so you cannot place the same standards/values on its citizens. Of the fifty countries I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, Thais are certainly the most unique... and not in the most flattering sense.
Dec 28, 2014 at 1:35 pm
TheThailandLife says
Dec 28, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Craig says
Feb 14, 2015 at 9:10 pm