Please Help Yourself

[loong]

Recently, a girl I know asked if she could have a cigarette. I said without thinking, "Help yourself", translating it literally into Thai. It was already out of my mouth before I realised what I had said .

I know it's not too big a thing, and should be understood in the context, but I'm sure that there must be a correct way to say "Help yourself"

Would it be better to simply say...

เชิญ chern invite, please do, etc

Any other ways to say it?

Thanks

[jdinasia]

nope ... that is the most common useful way to say it

[meadish_sweetball]

เชิญ is the best alternative. You can add ตามสบาย after it too, if you like.

[loong]

เชิญตามสบาย

Meadish, would this translate to " Please help yourself" in the situation in my OP? I just want to be sure.

I would use this in a situation such as somebody enters my home as

เชิญ นั่งลง ตามสบาย

Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.

Thanks

[p_brownstone]

Recently, a girl I know asked if she could have a cigarette. I said without thinking, "Help yourself", translating it literally into Thai. It was already out of my mouth before I realised what I had said .

So - come on, enquiring minds want to know!

What exactly did you say?

Patrick

[Gappui]

ได้สิ หรือ เอาเลย would sound more natural.

[meadish_sweetball]

So - come on, enquiring minds want to know!

What exactly did you say?

I would guess ช่วยตัวเอง , since it is a euphemism for 'masturbate'.

[IvanLaw]

Recently, a girl I know asked if she could have a cigarette. I said without thinking, "Help yourself", translating it literally into Thai. It was already out of my mouth before I realised what I had said .

So - come on, enquiring minds want to know!

What exactly did you say?

Patrick

Nearest translation would be:

Relieve yourself

i.e.

Relating to masturbation

EDDIT

Meadish

You type quicker than I

[loong]

So - come on, enquiring minds want to know!

What exactly did you say?

I would guess ช่วยตัวเอง , since it is a euphemism for 'masturbate'.

Yes, that's what I said!

ได้สิ หรือ เอาเลย would sound more natural.

Is this one phrase or is it meant to read

You can use ได้สิ OR you can say เอาเลย

Sorry if I'm a bit thick at times!

[OneeyedJohn]

Up in the north we say Thaam sabaii meaning help yourself.

Not aware of any rude connotation

[meadish_sweetball]

So - come on, enquiring minds want to know!

What exactly did you say?

I would guess ช่วยตัวเอง , since it is a euphemism for 'masturbate'.

Yes, that's what I said!

ได้สิ หรือ เอาเลย would sound more natural.

Is this one phrase or is it meant to read

You can use ได้สิ OR you can say เอาเลย

Sorry if I'm a bit thick at times!

It's an OR.

But you can say: ได้สิ เอาเลย as well: 'Sure! Just take one!'. This is more informal than เชิญ ตามสบาย - so it depends on the relation you have to the person, and also what relation you want to establish by using this kind of language. I might use that with friends, but not with people who I am not so close to.

[yoot]

Recently, a girl I know asked if she could have a cigarette. I said without thinking, "Help yourself", translating it literally into Thai. It was already out of my mouth before I realised what I had said .

I know it's not too big a thing, and should be understood in the context, but I'm sure that there must be a correct way to say "Help yourself"

Would it be better to simply say...

เชิญ chern invite, please do, etc

Any other ways to say it?

Thanks

In this situation, I would say "เชิญเลยครับ" or "ตามสบายครับ" to mean "Help yourself". Or you can simply say เชิญ . It depends on who you are talking with.