opalred Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 most Thais greet you with where are you going and every time i feel like saying MIND YOUR OWN BLOODY BUSINESS my wife says that is a normal way to greet another one what did you eat i find intruding and nosy on my privacy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamkyong Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 some say where have you been ?? bah humbug!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Yes, that is the difference between the West and Thailand. Here we still care about others, still social responsibility.Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theguyfromanotherforum Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 most Thais greet you with where are you going and every time i feel like saying MIND YOUR OWN BLOODY BUSINESS my wife says that is a normal way to greet another one what did you eat i find intruding and nosy on my privacy Some young guy asked me this the other day while waiting for bus. Frankly last time I heard this was when I was a naive tourist on ksr. I asked rudely why he wants to know and he tells me he just wants to practice English. I felt stupid for being rude and spoke English for a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrahmm Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Not much difference from "what's up" - "what's new" - "what's happening" - "how are you" - "what you up to"...... Just a friendly inquiry.....Interested in you.....You can easily turn it around & find out how their day is doing......Most are not long on conversation - unlike some farangs with an opinion/life story & unsolicited & usually untimely advice.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1FinickyOne Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 (edited) It is just a typical Thai phrase/greeting which can be translated as hello... a perfectly acceptable answer is "Hi" - - there is absolutely no ill intent in this phrase and if you see it that way, you are going to be walking around angry and put upon an awful lot. At some point you have to understand that this is another culture and things are just not done the same way as your home country... Their country, their phrases. ps - the 2nd saying you used would be translated as "Have you eaten yet" - a very common greeting and what a nice thing as if you answer no and that you are hungry, a good Thai will likely offer you some food... Edited December 31, 2016 by kenk24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrasmussen Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 It's just a greeting.Like when in an English speaking country you greet someone politely with "How do you do?", the reply is just another "How do you do?". You don't expect an answer to the question, do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiBiker Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 Limited ability to understand new concepts and quick to anger. As ever, the farang world sends its best to Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samsensam Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 1 hour ago, Lamkyong said: some say where have you been ?? bah humbug!!!! only those who can use the present perfect. many can't even use the present continuous so utter ''where you go'. urgh. what's worse is native speakers (usually with a certain type of lady on their arm) say 'where you go'. so dont knock the non-native speakers too much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongTimeLurker Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 I always reply 'nowhere' as the question usually comes from someone who wants to 'help' you in a way that benefits them. The other scenario is from bargirls as you walk down a soi so no need to even answer, just smile and walk on by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiBiker Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 1 hour ago, LongTimeLurker said: I always reply 'nowhere' as the question usually comes from someone who wants to 'help' you in a way that benefits them. The other scenario is from bargirls as you walk down a soi so no need to even answer, just smile and walk on by. You should try to spend more time on a soi that isn't full of people hoping to part you from your money. It really gives you a different spin on the whole Thai experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwasaki Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 OP you miserable soul l have a laugh and joke with what Thais ask me most of the time. Something like this.....A onetime friend was sitting in the dentist and a Thai who knew him was walking by stopped and "Asked what you doing" he said "l've hurt my leg" the Thai said "Oh no no your in the wrong place this is a dentist " . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeahSiam Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 OP needs to get his head out of his ass. What privacy is he so concerned about? Does he really think the average Thai genuinely gives a rat's ass where he's going. World doesn't revolve around surly farangs with self-importance issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkerry Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 A simple answer as you continue to walk on by... seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1FinickyOne Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 16 hours ago, LongTimeLurker said: I always reply 'nowhere' as the question usually comes from someone who wants to 'help' you in a way that benefits them. The other scenario is from bargirls as you walk down a soi so no need to even answer, just smile and walk on by. You know, I live in Central Thailand, no tourists around, and the phrase is used very frequently and never ever in the manner you are referring to... but it sounds like your answer is right on the money... going nowhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockwomble Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 The OP is rather dull, so maybe we should excuse his post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sipi Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 I enjoy going through the checkout in Australia and the checkout says " Hello Sir, how are you today?" I reply "Not bad dear, my right knee is a bit sore and my back is playing up a little bit. Actually it reminds me of the time back in 1992 when I fell of my bicycle. The front wheel hit some gravel on the road and down I went. Mind you the road was a little wet after a quick shower. Have you noticed the changes in the weather lately or is it just me? That might be why my knee is playing up. A sign........" The looks lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotheruser Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 In the west we say "how are you?" We don't actually care.grow up.Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongTimeLurker Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 On 12/31/2016 at 10:52 PM, SoiBiker said: You should try to spend more time on a soi that isn't full of people hoping to part you from your money. It really gives you a different spin on the whole Thai experience. You should try walking along a soi that doesn't have motocy taxis drivers on!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannot Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 (edited) On 12/31/2016 at 6:58 PM, stevenl said: Yes, that is the difference between the West and Thailand. Here we still care about others, still social responsibility. Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app "we"? Edited January 1, 2017 by kannot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donutz Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 The OP is either trolling, very grumphy or out of touch with the world. Nothing odd about a 'pai nai?' (where are you going?) or 'kin khao rue yang?' (have you eaten yet?). Just a normal question like the 'How are you, how do you do?' in the west. You could reply with a question of your own, a short general answer or take the oppertunity for a conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saastrajaa Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 1 hour ago, Donutz said: The OP is either trolling, very grumphy or out of touch with the world. Nothing odd about a 'pai nai?' (where are you going?) or 'kin khao rue yang?' (have you eaten yet?). Just a normal question like the 'How are you, how do you do?' in the west. You could reply with a question of your own, a short general answer or take the oppertunity for a conversation. I think his problem is a little bit of everything you list. But most of all, he's just not accepting that other languages and cultures have literal ways of communicating that are different from our own. The *literal* mean of "pai nai" when casually asked of someone is NOT "where are you going?"...if you were going to translate its *meaning* into colloquial English, it would be, as others have noted in this thread, "what's up?" or "how are you?" We don't necessarily want to know every detail of someone's life when we use those casual greetings in English, and neither do Thais necessarily want to know where the OP is literally going when they ask pai nai. So to the OP, I would say the same words I'll bet he uses towards immigrants in his own country: "learn the language and culture, or go home". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 "we"?Yes, us people living in Thailand. But maybe you're an exception and don't care.Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shunter Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Durn lehn always works for when in Thailand. When in the U K questions tend to be about the day, weather etc hence answers vary, All good decent social interaction and politeness, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockwomble Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 28 minutes ago, shunter said: Durn lehn always works for when in Thailand. When in the U K questions tend to be about the day, weather etc hence answers vary, All good decent social interaction and politeness, OP probably works on grunts and facial expressions, way to advanced for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nausea Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 It's a Thai thing. For us it's the weather, but for Thais the weather is pretty much the same everyday, correct answer is " bai teaow" which means going to have fun, I always say "bai ha gig", which means going to see my bit on the side, a comical response which usually raises a smile. It means nothing, and is not meant to be intrusive, on a level with " looks like rain today". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace of Pop Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Ferangs who use Thai for no reason make me wince Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotheruser Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 There is no correct answer and pai tee aow wouldn't be my first choice. Maybe I would say I am going shopping, meeting my mistress or whatever. I wouldn't say I am taking a trip. I also agree with Ace that people that use Thai in an otherwise English conversation are cringe worthy. They never show up in the Thai language section with perfect Thai just regurgitate the nauseating bar Thai they know. This is directed at nobody in general as we all paak pa dek sometimes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiBiker Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 11 hours ago, Ace of Pop said: Ferangs who use Thai for no reason make me wince Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Didn't you just do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace of Pop Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Do what ?..They remind me of Brits on Benidorm Series .'Pooor Favor as the any Bisto. Also I find it funny when Ferang does an exaggerated Sawadeeee Craaaaap and the Thai says HI,been here to long I guess,novelty has warn offSent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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