Tua-khrai-tua-mun

[NaiGreg]

Speaking with the family doctor this morning about the unhealthy air problem here in Chiangmai, he said that everyone is aware of the health risk and [therefore] "tua-khrai-tua-mun"

My wife [Thai] said it is an idiom akin the the phrase "every man for himself" but that seems a little bit like "hen gae tua" to me. My guess is that it is more like "everyone must take responsibility for themselves"

I hope someone can explain the nuances of this phrase.

Thanks,

NG

[p_brownstone]

Speaking with the family doctor this morning about the unhealthy air problem here in Chiangmai, he said that everyone is aware of the health risk and [therefore] "tua-khrai-tua-mun"

My wife [Thai] said it is an idiom akin the the phrase "every man for himself" but that seems a little bit like "hen gae tua" to me. My guess is that it is more like "everyone must take responsibility for themselves"

I hope someone can explain the nuances of this phrase.

Thanks,

NG

“hen gae tua” means “to be selfish” or “only concerned about oneself” i.e an action deliberately taken to the possible detriment of others.

“tua krai tua man” means more like “everyone makes their own decisions (about what’s best for himself)” or “it’s an individuals own choice”.

Patrick

[jeabsun]

I think it means like that you have to help yourself. The other people cannot help you because they also have the same problem as you do.

[OM3N]

"Your body is yours" I think is a close translation in that situation.

Edited March 20, 2007 by OM3N

[NaiGreg]

I think I understand the gist of the idiom now, and it is what i suspected.

But what I really want to know is if it has an important meaning in Thai culture, akin to "mai pen rai"

I have no reason to think so except intuition based on 2 experiences with this phrase. And the fact that it seems to have a universal survivalist appeal.

-NG