Which one should you use?
While วันนี้คุณทำอะไร is the standard way to ask, you may encounter other variations depending on the social context: คุณทำอะไรวันนี้เหรอ? is an informal way to ask the same question and วันนี้คุณทำอะไรอยู่เอ่ย? is a colloquial version used in casual speech. If you want to ask about a variety of activities or a list of plans rather than just one single action, you can use วันนี้คุณทำอะไรบ้าง.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase วันนี้คุณทำอะไร is the default form. In casual conversation, the pronoun คุณ is often dropped to make the sentence sound more natural, resulting in วันนี้ทำอะไร. For male speakers, adding the particle ครับ to the end of a sentence is a way to show politeness.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding บ้าง to the end of the phrase, as in วันนี้คุณทำอะไรบ้าง, changes the nuance to imply that you are asking about multiple activities or a list of various plans.
How do you pronounce it?
wan-níi khun tham a-rai
Did you know?
- If you use ทำอะไร ('what are you doing') as a greeting, it functions similarly to 'what's up' and does not always require a detailed itinerary of your day in response.
- In casual Thai, people often replace the pronoun คุณ ('you') with the name of the person they are talking to, or even a kinship term like พี่ ('older sibling') regardless of blood relation.
- In very close relationships, Thai speakers might use the word ทำไร instead of ทำอะไร, dropping the 'a' sound to create a contracted, slangy version of 'doing what'.
Examples in context
- สวัสดีครับ คุณทำกิจกรรมอะไรวันนี้ครับ?Hello, what activities are you doing today?
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting on the phone.
- ณิชา Nichaสวัสดีค่ะ วันนี้คุณทำอะไรคะsa-wat-dee kha wan-nii khun tham arai khaHello, what are you doing today?
- วิทวัส Witthawatผมจะไปอ่านหนังสือที่ห้องสมุดครับphom ja pai aan nang-sue thee hong-sa-mut khrapI am going to read books at the library.
- ณิชา Nichaน่าสนใจจังเลยค่ะnaa-son-jai jang loey khaThat sounds very interesting.
- วิทวัส Witthawatคุณอยากไปด้วยกันไหมครับkhun yak pai duay kan mai khrapDo you want to go together?
