the phone rings and my wife goes to pick it up, i say 'i'm not here' is there a colloquial way to translate this phrase into thai?

or if my wifes friend calls how do i say "she is not here?".

thanks

ผมไม่อยู่นะครับ

pŏm mâi yòo

เขาไม่อยู่

kăo mâi yòo

You could add a na krap/ka on the end to be polite depending on who's speaking.

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

I think the OP was referring to a situation in which his wife goes to answer the phone and he whispers in her ear, "I'm not here" so that she will tell the caller that he's not home. In which case withnail's translation is fine just as long as his wife understands he's telling her what to say and not making (an obviously false) statement of his current status. I could, however, see his wife just looking at him confused if he said ผมไม่อยู่ so it might be necessary to first say ช่วยบอกน้อยว่า...ผมไม่อยู่ (chûay bòk nói wâa ... pŏm mâi yòo) while pointing at the telephone.

-edited to add the thai2english.com transliteration for the Thai text.

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

I think the OP was referring to a situation in which his wife goes to answer the phone and he whispers in her ear, "I'm not here" so that she will tell the caller that he's not home. In which case withnail's translation is fine just as long as his wife understands he's telling her what to say and not making (an obviously false) statement of his current status. I could, however, see his wife just looking at him confused if he said ผมไม่อยู่ so it might be necessary to first say ช่วยบอกน้อยว่า...ผมไม่อยู่ (chûay bòk nói wâa ... pŏm mâi yòo) while pointing at the telephone.

-edited to add the thai2english.com transliteration for the Thai text.

with reference to this phrase in the post,

ช่วยบอกน้อยว่า...ผมไม่อย

I wonder if it is appropriate to insert a ให้ into the phrase so it reads

ช่วยบอกให้น้อยว่า...ผมไม่อย

??

ps, the observation by soundman was

It seems it would be best to explain it once, and establish such a system in the household. Just saying: "I'm not here" is a culture-specific reference, for "I don't want to speak with anybody now, but I don't want to actually say that I don't want to talk with them, so please say that I am not here at the moment, even though I am here at the moment..."

Without prior explanation, it will not likely understood by many Thais - especially since they are so inextricably tied to their telephones (please excuse that obvious pun). Refusing to answer the telephone is a preposterous idea for many people - all over the world, come to think of it - not just Thai people.

Amazing how quickly people will relinquish their personal freedom whenever a phone rings.

It seems it would be best to explain it once, and establish such a system in the household. Just saying: "I'm not here" is a culture-specific reference, for "I don't want to speak with anybody now, but I don't want to actually say that I don't want to talk with them, so please say that I am not here at the moment, even though I am here at the moment..."

Without prior explanation, it will not likely understood by many Thais - especially since they are so inextricably tied to their telephones (please excuse that obvious pun). Refusing to answer the telephone is a preposterous idea for many people - all over the world, come to think of it - not just Thai people.

Amazing how quickly people will relinquish their personal freedom whenever a phone rings.

in my experience, waving a hand in front of the body and mouthing เราไม่อยู่นะ is understood by everyone. the นะ here functions as a sort of an 'urging' word (ie. urging the poor person holding the phone to lie for you). it is an uncomfortable power situation.

i think that the usual social hierarchy applies in this situation, and you either wouldn't ask a 'superior' to lie for you, or you should give them a proper explanation/justification well in advance.

all the best.

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

how about if it's done in a high-pitched, squeaky voice to conceal your identity?

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

how about if it's done in a high-pitched, squeaky voice to conceal your identity?

I suppose that is possible!

The comment was TIC though...

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

how about if it's done in a high-pitched, squeaky voice to conceal your identity?

I suppose that is possible!

The comment was TIC though...

As was mine.... even if you distorted the voice, it'd still involve saying, "I'm not here"....

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

how about if it's done in a high-pitched, squeaky voice to conceal your identity?

I suppose that is possible!

The comment was TIC though...

As was mine.... even if you distorted the voice, it'd still involve saying, "I'm not here"....

I'm sure that answering a phone and telling the caller that "I'm not here" is flawed....

how about if it's done in a high-pitched, squeaky voice to conceal your identity?

I suppose that is possible!

The comment was TIC though...

As was mine.... even if you distorted the voice, it'd still involve saying, "I'm not here"....

could pretend you are an answering maching "sorry, im not here at the moment.... "

probably get caught out at the "beep" imitation.

This conversation has always been a classic joke for Thai people.

Caller: สวัสดีครับ ขอสายจอห์นหน่อยครับ

Wife: สักครู่ค่ะ

A minute later the wife got back to the phone after telling John that he got a phone call.

Wife: ขอโทษค่ะ เขาบอกว่าเขาไม่อยู่บ้าน

Caller:

Khun Yoot: what is the most-common Thai way to say "joke" (the noun, not the verb)? Thanks.

Khun Yoot: what is the most-common Thai way to say "joke" (the noun, not the verb)? Thanks.

not k.yoot, but i'd suggest:

เรื่องตลก : funny story, of the kind k.yoot just shared

มุข : gag, one-liner, pun etc.

all the best.

Khun Yoot: what is the most-common Thai way to say "joke" (the noun, not the verb)? Thanks.

not k.yoot, but i'd suggest:

เรื่องตลก : funny story, of the kind k.yoot just shared

มุข : gag, one-liner, pun etc.

all the best.

How does the word " ขำขัน [V] humor; joke" fit in with these definitions?

Thanks aanon and David. I know the words, but am not sure which one(s) Thai people use, most commonly, to express the idea of "joke/to tell a joke."

Come to think of it, I've never actually heard a Thai person tell a joke. I have heard puns, plays-on-words, etc., but never a real joke. Surely, Thais must tell jokes - everyone does, no? Alas, I must not be in with the right crowds.

Come to think of it, I've never actually heard a Thai person tell a joke. I have heard puns, plays-on-words, etc., but never a real joke. Surely, Thais must tell jokes - everyone does, no? Alas, I must not be in with the right crowds.

Look at Rikker's blog at http://rikker.blogspot.com/2007/09/jokes-5.html for the fifth in his series of Thai jokes. His blog is under maintenance so it is not as attractive as it once was but he is working on a conversion to a new format. In his series on Thai jokes, he tells the joke in Thai than explains why it is funny. This might be a drag for the Thais but it helps us get on their wavelength. (Say; one penguin says to the other . . . .)

Thanks aanon and David. I know the words, but am not sure which one(s) Thai people use, most commonly, to express the idea of "joke/to tell a joke."

To tell a joke- มีเรื่องตลกมาเล่าให้ฟัง

Thanks aanon and David. I know the words, but am not sure which one(s) Thai people use, most commonly, to express the idea of "joke/to tell a joke."

To tell a joke- มีเรื่องตลกมาเล่าให้ฟัง

ไวดิดเดอะชิกเก้นคลอสเดอะโร้ด?

Soundman.

Thanks aanon and David. I know the words, but am not sure which one(s) Thai people use, most commonly, to express the idea of "joke/to tell a joke."

To tell a joke- มีเรื่องตลกมาเล่าให้ฟัง

ไวดิดเดอะชิกเก้นคลอสเดอะโร้ด?

Soundman.

Thanks, LookSaMoon. Is that how you'd say it when you're sitting with friends, in the context of: "Okay, na, I have a joke to tell you...."?

Soundman: I don't get that one. Can you explain?

EDIT: Never mind, soundman - I figured it out, finally. A bit slow on the uptake. Good one.