B Level 2.10: Relative Time in Thai

Study Focus: Relative Time

• In Thai there are particular words for:

  • เมื่อวานนี้ (mûuea-waan-níi) ➤ "yesterday"

  • พรุ่งนี้ (phrûng-níi) ➤ "tomorrow"

  • วันนี้ (wan-níi) ➤ "this day" or “today”

• To say "this week," "this month," or "this year," we simply add the adjective "this," นี้ (níi), to the unit of time.

  • ปีนี้ (bpii níi) ➤ “this year”

• To say "last week," "last month," or "last year," we add the word "before," ก่อน (gàawn), to the unit of time.

  • อาทิตย์ก่อน (aa-thít gàawn) ➤ “last week”

• To say "next week," "next month," or "next year," we add the word "in front," หน้า (nâa), to the unit of time.

  • เดือนหน้า (duuean nâa) ➤ “next month”

• To say that an action occurred a certain number of days, weeks, months, or years ago, the formula is: Number + Time Unit + ที่แล้ว (thîi láaeo)

  • เขามาเมืองไทยห้าเดือนที่แล้ว (khǎo maa muueang-thai hâa duuean thîi láaeo)

    ➤ "He came to Thailand five months ago."

  • ฉันดูหนังตลกมากสามวันที่แล้ว (chǎn duu nǎng dtà-lòk mâak sǎam wan thîi láaeo)

    ➤ "I saw a really funny movie three days ago."

• To say that an action is going to occur a certain number of days, weeks, months, or years in the future, the formula is: อีก (ìik) + Number + Time Unit

  • อีกสองปีผมจะซื้อบ้านเอง (iik sǎawng bpii phǒm jà súue bâan eeng)

    ➤ "In two years, I will buy my own house."

  • อีกสี่วันจะเป็นวันเกิดของคุณแม่ (ìik sìi wan jà bpen wan-gòoet khǎawng khun-mâae)

    ➤ "In another four days, it will be Mother's birthday."

Vocabulary & Phrases

• เคย (khooei)

  • This is an adverb that means "ever" or “once”

  • It comes right before a verb to say whether the subject has ever done that action.

    • ผมเคยกินเนื้อจระเข้ (phǒm khooei gin núuea jaaw-rá-khêe)

      ➤ "I have eaten crocodile meat."

  • We can also use it in the negative sense to say that the subject has never done something:

    • เขาไม่เคยกินหมา (khǎo mâi khooei gin mǎa)

      ➤ "He has never eaten dog."

• ว่าแต่ (wâa dtàae)

  • We use it at the beginning of a sentence, much like an English speaker might begin a sentence with "As for…” ; “Anyway…” ; “What about…” to make the transition more smooth.

• เมื่อ (mûuea)

  • When used as a preposition, เมื่อ (mûuea) means "when" or "at the time of." We can use it to place an action at a specific time.

    • ผมพบเขาเมื่อเช้านี้ (phǒm phóp khǎo mûuea cháao níi)

      ➤ "I met him this morning."

  • We can also use it to place the time of some event in relative terms based on some condition.

    • เมื่อเขามาฉันจะไป (mûuea khǎo maa chǎn jà bpai)

      ➤ "I’ll leave when she comes."

Why You Should Visit Pai

• Pai, in the province of Mae Hong Son, has grown quite famous among both international and domestic tourists.

• Several tourists travel there for the hot springs, waterfalls, trekking to hill-tribe settlements, rafting on rubber or bamboo rafts, and jungle elephant rides.

• As the number of backpacking visitors has expanded, an art community with numerous small restaurants, cafes, and shops has developed.

• It is also a highly popular resort for Bangkok residents who want cooler temperatures.