How Do You Say "keep Still"?

[GuyDow]

If you want a Thai or a group of Thais to keep still (e.g. so you can take a photo), how do you ask them to do that?

[DavidHouston]

If you want a Thai or a group of Thais to keep still (e.g. so you can take a photo), how do you ask them to do that?

Domnern Sathienpong uses the phrase "นิ่งๆ" to which one might add "หน่อย" to add a bit of politeness, to produce "นิ่งๆ หน่อย" [nîng nîng nòi]. If noise is the issue, then "เงียบๆ หน่อย" [ngîap-ngîap nòi] would be appropriate.

[siamesekitty]

"Stay still" = อยู่นิ่งๆ (yoo ning-ning)

now to be more polite:

อยู่นิ่งๆหน่อยครับ! (yoo ning-ning noi krub) = "Stay still krub!" (to be yelled out goodnaturedly)

ช่วยอยู่นิ่งๆหน่อยนะครับ (chuay yoo ning-ning noi na krub) = "Please stay still krub!" (a bit more politely, with a hint of polite begging)

Both should be followed with a "Khob khun krub!" and a smile

[siamesekitty]

for a more informal, friendly feel:

อยู่นิ่งๆกันหน่อยได้มั้ย?? (yoo ning-ning gan noi dai mai??) = "Can't you guys stay still for a bit??" - said with or without a "krup" at the end, and always with a smile, this can envoke laughter from the group of wiggling Thais

for me & my friends:

อยู่นิ่งๆกันเป็นมั้ยเนี่ย (yoo ning-ning gan bpen mai nia??) = "Don't you guys know how to stay still at all??"

As you can tell, I'm having fun with this

Edited January 7, 2008 by siamesekitty

[Jay_Jay]

อย่ากระดุ๊กกระดิ๊กนะ....เดี๋ยวโดน!

[siamesekitty]

อย่ากระดุ๊กกระดิ๊กนะ....เดี๋ยวโดน!

Brings to mind a guy with a camera in one hand and a whip in the other!

[bannork]

"Stay still" = อยู่นิ่งๆ (yoo ning-ning)

now to be more polite:

อยู่นิ่งๆหน่อยครับ! (yoo ning-ning noi krub) = "Stay still krub!" (to be yelled out goodnaturedly)

ช่วยอยู่นิ่งๆหน่อยนะครับ (chuay yoo ning-ning noi na krub) = "Please stay still krub!" (a bit more politely, with a hint of polite begging)

Both should be followed with a "Khob khun krub!" and a smile

เเมวสยามอยู่นิ่งนานเเล้ว ไปไหนมาครับ ?!

[siamesekitty]

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