“เรื่อง [reûang]” as a noun means “story, matter, affair.” “อะไร [arai]” is a question word meaning “what.” The literal meaning of “เรื่องอะไร [reûang arai]” is “what story” or “what matter.”

However, in colloquial Thai, it means “Why should I?” implying that there is no reason for you to do something or that there is no way you’re going to do something (because you don’t see a reason why you should do it).

This expression is usually used as a response to someone’s statement, which is often a command, a suggestion or an accusation. It can be used by itself or in a sentence. When it’s used in a sentence, it is a question asking why you should do something. But it is a question that you ask without expecting an answer. Therefore, it’s actually more like a strong “no.”

Example 1

A: ล้างรถให้เราหน่อยสิ
[láang rót hâi rao nòi sì]
“Wash my car for me, won’t you?”
B: เรื่องอะไร [reûang arai] “Why should I?”

Example 2

A: ช่วยเดวิดกินพริกก็ดีนะ
[chûai David gin prík gâw dii ná]
“Why don’t you help David eat the chilis?”
B: เรื่องอะไร [reûang arai] “Why should I?”

Example 3

A: ไม่ช่วยน้องทำการบ้านเหรอ
[mâi chûai náwng tham gaan bâan rǎw]
“Aren’t you going to help your little brother with his homework?”
B: เรื่องอะไรผมต้องทำ
[reûang arai phǒm tâwng tham]
“No, why should I?”

Example 4

A: แกชวนแฟนฉันไปกินข้าวใช่ไหม
[gae chuan fan chán pai gin kâao châi mái]
“You asked my boyfriend out for dinner, didn’t you?”
B: บ้า เรื่องอะไรฉันจะไปกับแฟนแก แฟนตัวเองก็มี
[bâa, reûang arai chán ja pai gàp fan gae, fan tua eeng gâw mii]
“Are you crazy? Why would I want to go with your boyfriend? I have my own.”

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