ทำอะไรอยู่
tham arai yu
ทำอะไรอยู่ (tham arai yu) is the Thai phrase for "what are you doing?"
This phrase is used to ask someone about the activity they are currently performing.
What does it mean word for word?
The word อะไร (arai) means "what".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a casual and straightforward approach, you can use คุณทำอะไรอยู่. A shorter, informal version used among close friends or people of the same age is ทำอะไรอยู่. To be formal, you can say คุณกำลังทำอะไรอยู่ครับ/ค่ะ. For an even more polite and respectful way to ask, use ท่านกำลังทำอะไรอยู่ครับ/ค่ะ.
How do you pronounce it?
tham arai yu
Did you know?
- The word อยู่ in this phrase serves as a marker for a continuous action, similar to the English 'ing' suffix, but it is actually a verb meaning 'to stay' or 'to be present'.
- In many Thai social contexts, asking 'what are you doing?' can be a way to start a conversation rather than a literal request for information about an activity.
- If a Thai person responds to ทำอะไรอยู่ with เปล่า (plao), they aren't saying 'nothing' in a literal sense but are implying 'I am not doing anything worth mentioning'.
Examples in context
- คุณกำลังทำอะไรอยู่ครับ?What are you doing?
- น้องทำอะไรอยู่ครับnong tham a-rai yu khrapWhat are you doing, little one?
Example conversation
Kanokwan calls Thanakrit on the phone.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanธนกฤต ทำอะไรอยู่คะThanakrit tham arai yu khaThanakrit, what are you doing?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritผมกำลังอ่านหนังสือครับphom kam lang an nang sue khrapI am reading a book.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanอ่านเรื่องอะไรอยู่เหรอคะan rueang arai yu ro khaWhat story are you reading?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritอ่านเรื่องประวัติศาสตร์ครับan rueang prawattisat khrapI am reading about history.
