ทำไม
tam mai
Meanings
1NounA1
why (question word)
used to ask for a reason or explanation
Examples
ทำไมtam maiทำไมtam mai1why (question word)2why (expressing disbelief/complaint)คุณkunคุณkun1you (polite)2Mr.; Ms.; Mrs. (title)3quality; virtue; meritมาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2come to (result/state)3past/as of now aspect markerสายsăaiสายsăai1line; wire; cable2route; line (transport/communication)3late (in the day); running late4strand; string; thread (long thin piece)5lineage; affiliation; branch6classifier for long, flexible things (wires, ropes, necklaces)7morning (late morning period)
Why are you late?
2NounA2
why (expressing disbelief/complaint)
used rhetorically to show surprise, disagreement, or complaint about a reason
Examples
ทำไมtam maiทำไมtam mai1why (question word)2why (expressing disbelief/complaint)พูดpôotพูดpôot1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutแบบนั้นbàep nánแบบนั้นbàep nán1like that; in that way2that kind of; that type of3that kind/that sort (of thing/person)ล่ะlâล่ะlâ1topic/contrast particle; question tag2sentence-final particle (casual emphasis)3elliptical answer markerฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me (1st person pronoun)2[to] eat (polite/old-fashioned)ตกใจdtòk jaiตกใจdtòk jaibe startled; be frightenedนะnáนะná1[!] persuasive/confirming particle2[!] softener; friendly particle3[!] attention-getter (initial position)
Why say that? I’m shocked.
Related Words
Similar Meaning
เป็นหยังbpen yăngเป็นหยังbpen yăng1why; how come (Isan/NE Thai, Lao)2what's wrong?; what's the matter? (Isan/NE Thai, Lao)
- why; how come (Isan/NE Thai, Lao)
- what's wrong?; what's the matter? (Isan/NE Thai, Lao)
เพราะอะไรprór à-raiเพราะอะไรprór à-raiwhy; for what reason (more neutral/polite than ทำไม)
why; for what reason (more neutral/polite than ทำไม)
ด้วยเหตุผลใดdûuai hèt-pŏn daiด้วยเหตุผลใดdûuai hèt-pŏn daifor what reason
for what reason
เป๋นหยังbpĕn yăngเป๋นหยังbpĕn yăngwhy?; what's the matter?
why?; what's the matter?
เหตุใดhèt daiเหตุใดhèt daiwhy; for what reason (formal)
why; for what reason (formal)
Word Breakdown
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ทำไมtam maiทำไมtam maiwhy (question word)