Daily Thai Confidence — Using ดู (dūu)

Complementary Verb: ดู (dūu)
Meaning: and see what happens

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the verb ดู (dūu) as a complementary verb, which is used along another verb when we want to soften a suggestion. In this usage, it is like saying ‘try doing it (the verb that comes before it) and see what happens’

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: verb + ดู (dūu).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

(p^hǒm jà lāwng t^hǎam k^hǎo dūu wâa k^hǎo jà chûay p^hǒm dâi ^hmǎi)
Literal: I will try asking him and see (what happens) if he will help me can or not.
I’ll try asking him to see if he can help me.

The verb phrase ลองถามเขาดู (lāwng t^hǎam k^hǎo dūu = try asking him to see) indicates that the subject will try asking and see what happens. The conjunction ว่า (wâa) meaning ‘that,’ ‘if,’ or ‘whether,’ is used to introduce indirect speech and give more information about the content of the question: เขาจะช่วยผมได้ไหม (k^hǎo jà chûay p^hǒm dâi ^hmǎI = whether he can help me).

(t^hēr bàwk wâa t^hēr jà t^hǎam k^hǎo dūu)
Literal: She tell that she will ask him and see what happens.
She said that she will ask him and see.

The verb บอก (bàwk) is followed by the conjunction ว่า (wâa) meaning ‘that,’ ‘if,’ or ‘whether,’ which introduces the reported speech: เธอจะถามเขาดู (t^hēr jà t^hǎam k^hǎo dūu = she will ask him and see) which explains what she said. The verb phrase ถามเขาดู (t^hǎam k^hǎo dūu = ask him and see) conveys the idea of trying to ask in order to see the result, making the action sound tentative and less forceful.

(chǎn jà lāwng t^hām dūu p^hrót wâa chǎn ^awyàak t^hām āa-hǎan Thāi bpēn)
Literal: I will try make and see what happens because I want to make food Thai can.
I will try making it because I want to be able to cook Thai food.

The verb phrase ลองทำดู (lāwng t^hām dūu = try making it) indicates that the subject will try making (the dish) and see what happens. The conjunction เพราะว่า (p^hrót wâa) meaning ‘because’ is used to introduce the reason clause: ฉันอยากทำอาหารไทยเป็น (chǎn ^awyàak t^hām āa-hǎan Thāi bpēn = I want to be able to cook Thai food). Please note: The verb เป็น (bpēn) can be used as a linking verb meaning ‘to be,’ ‘is,’ ‘am,’ or ‘are’ when giving more information about the subject — subject + เป็น (bpēn) + noun. For example: เขาเป็นหมอ (k^hǎo bpēn ^hmǎw = He is a doctor.); ผู้หญิงคนนั้นเป็นลูกสาวของพวกเขา (p^hôo-^hyǐng k^hōn nán bpēn luuk-sǎow k^hǎwng-p^hûak-k^hǎo = That woman is their daughter.). However, in this sentence, the verb เป็น (bpēn) is used as a modal verb which is used to talk about skills and abilities. In this usage, เป็น (bpēn) is placed after the main verb or verb phrase — subject + verb / verb phrase + เป็น (bpēn). For example: เธอขับรถเป็นแต่เธอไม่อยากขับเพราะว่าเธอง่วงนอน (t^hēr k^hàb-ród bpēn, dtàe t^hēr mâi ^awyàak k^hàb p^hrót wâa t^hēr ngûang-nāwn = She can drive, but she doesn’t want to drive because she is tired.); เธอว่ายน้ำเป็นแต่เธอไม่อยากเล่นน้ำ (t^hēr wâai-nám bpēn, dtàe t^hēr mâi ^awyàak lên nám = She can swim, but she doesn’t want to play in the water.).

(k^hūn dtâwng rāw dūu wâa k^hǎo jà t^hām ^awyàang-rāi gìew-gàb rêuang née)
Literal: You have to wait and see what happens that he will do how about matter this.
You have to wait and see what he will do about his matter.

The verb phrase ต้องรอดู (dtâwng rāw dūu = have to wait and see) suggests patience before knowing the outcome. The conjunction ว่า (wâa) meaning ‘that,’ ‘if,’ or ‘whether,’ is used to introduce indirect an indirect question clause: เขาจะทำอย่างไรเกี่ยวกับเรื่องนี้ (k^hǎo jà t^hām ^awyàang-rāi gìew-gàb rêuang née = what he will do about this matter) explaining what will be seen. The overall tone of the sentence implies that the result is not yet known and requires time to unfold.

Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.

1. Try eating it and see. I think you will like it.
2. Try it on and see if it fits.
3. Why don’t you try talking to him and see.
4. You have to ask your friends and see what they think.
5. I’ll try sending him a message.

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Urai Khomkham

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