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”
Thai | Romanization | "English” |
---|---|---|
เมื่อวานนี้ | (mûuea-waan-níi) | "yesterday" |
วันนี้ | (wan-níi) | "today" |
พรุ่งนี้ | (phrûng-níi) | "tomorrow" |
อาทิตย์ก่อน | (aa-thít gàawn) | "last week" |
อาทิตย์นี้ | (aa-thít níi) | "this week" |
อาทิตย์หน้า | (aa-thít nâa) | "next week" |
เดือนก่อน | (duuean gàawn) | "last month" |
เดือนนี้ | (duuean níi) | "this month" |
เดือนหน้า | (duuean nâa) | "next month" |
ปีก่อน | (bpii gàawn) | "last year" |
ปีนี้ | (bpii níi) | "this year" |
ปีหน้า | (bpii nâa) | "next year" |
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.