The phrase “ Dek Om Mue ” has become a trending term online after Mr. Panat Thailuan, an eight-term former Social Security board member, arrived in a wheelchair to vote in the Social Security Board election and described his competitor as a “Dek Om Mue.” Mr. Panat said that if competing one-on-one, scoring 100 points would already be impressive. Before deciding who is truly the “Dek Om Mue,” Thairath Online invites readers to revisit the meaning of this Thai idiom.
The Royal Institute Dictionary defines the phrase “ Dek Om Mue ” as someone naive or inexperienced. It refers to a person who lacks knowledge or experience in dealing with various matters. When used metaphorically, it usually describes someone who is immature, lacking cunning, or insufficiently experienced compared to others.
However, the term “Dek Om Mue” does not necessarily refer to young children by age. Adults may also be called “Dek Om Mue” if they are naive in certain matters, just as some younger people may have greater knowledge or skills than older individuals in specific areas.
The idiom “ Dek Om Mue ” is likely linked to the natural behavior of infants aged 0-12 months, who often put their hands or fingers in their mouths, especially during their first year when their brains and bodies are still developing. At this stage, infants have limited knowledge and experience of the outside world and depend on adults for survival.
Some children may continue thumb-sucking until age 2-4 before gradually stopping as they grow older. This image of a young child sucking their hand has become a metaphor for someone inexperienced or naive.
Returning to the heated phrase used in the Social Security Board election, the term “ Dek Om Mue ” carries an interesting meaning. Linguistically, it is not based on age or years of work experience. Calling someone “Dek Om Mue” reflects the speaker’s perspective of the other person but is not definitive proof that the individual lacks knowledge or ability.