Learn how to use ก็ (gâaw)
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Intro |
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| Hi everybody! Jay here. Welcome to Ask a Teacher, where I’ll answer some of your most common Thai questions. |
| The Question |
| The question for this lesson is: How do I use ก็ gâaw in Thai sentences? |
| Explanation |
| ก็ gâaw is a word that’s used informally in Thai. There are various meanings to this word. It can be used in almost any conversational situation. Most of the time, it’s a connection word, mainly used to further explain things and to mean “then.” Let’s begin to explore the usage of this word in Thai sentences so you can master it. |
| One simple usage of ก็ is to use it to say “then.” It’s a connection word in a sentence, just like the word “then” in English. For instance, ฉันจะไปห้างแล้วก็ไปร้านทำผมต่อ chăn jà bpai hâang láaeo gâaw bpai ráan tham phŏm dtàaw. (“I am going to the mall and then to the salon.”) This form of ก็ is usually used with the word แล้ว láaeo, which by itself means “already.” When แล้ว láaeo combined with ก็, the meaning of the phrase changes to “...and then.” Here are some more examples: เรากินข้าวแล้วก็ดูหนังต่อ rao gin khâo láaeo gâaw duu nǎng dtàaw. (“I’m eating and then watching a movie later.”) กวาดบ้านแล้วก็ถูบ้าน gwàat bâan láaeo gâaw thuu bâan. (“Sweep the floor and then mop the floor.”) |
| We also use ก็ gâaw to help clarify our explanations. This can be used to reply to a “why” question. For example, somebody asked ทำไมถึงทำแบบนี้ tham-mai thǔeng tham bàep níi. (“Why did you do this?”) In response, the other speaker says, ก็เขามาทำก่อน gâaw khăo maa tham gàawn. (“‘Cause he did it first.”) When replying to a “why” question, ก็ is used at the beginning of the sentence. The most common meaning to English is probably “‘cause,” the short form of “because.” ก็ is the shortened form of ก็เพราะว่า gâaw phróe wàa (equivalent to “because”). In an informal sentence, we only use ก็ at the beginning of the sentence to say “because.” |
Outro |
| Pretty interesting, right? |
| If you have any more questions, please leave a comment below! |
| Bye! สวัสดีค่ะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ) |
13 Comments
HideWhat Thai learning question do you have?
Hi Questions in Thai,
Thank you. ็ is máai-dtài-khûu ไม้ไต่คู้ normally use for short vowel to keep word written shorter. Ex. เล็กlék แป็ก bpɛ̀k น็อกnɔ́k เป็นต้นbpen-dtôn. ก็gâaw is a special exception spelling word. Khmer also have this word.👍Hope that helps. Please feel free to let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Which vowel is above gâaw? I am not sure if I have seen it yet.
Thank you very much for this lesson it’s very helpful.
Hi Tae,
Thank you. Here are common meaning and way of using เรา 1. we; us; our and 2. [the singular pronoun] I, me, my. So you see เรา can also use as I / I'm / me / my. Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Doesn't เรา mean we? Why is it mentioned as "I'm eating...."
Hello Oliver,
Thank you. ก็ is just special exception, we speak it with long vowel sound actually. Please let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help.
Have a good day.
ปริษา Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Why is ก็ pronounced with a falling tone, even though it is implied to be low tone by a mid class consonant and a dead short ending? Is it an exemption to the tone rules?
Hello James,
Thank you very much for your comment and positive feedback. We're really appreciated. Please feel free to let me know if you have any future questions. I will be glad to help. We wish you will have a good progress with Thai.
Have a nice day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
Very helpful - khaawp khun khrap
Hello Eugene,
Thank you very much for your comment and pointed out the mistake. We're really appreciated your help.Your're right. I already inform our team about it. Please let me know if you have any questions about Thai language. I will be glad to help. We wish you will have a good progress with Thai. Thank you very much for your support.
Have a great day.
Parisa
Team ThaiPod101.com
"ก็เพราะว่า Gâaw phroe wàa" - "ว่า" - Is that not a falling tone? (wâa) Or I don't know some rule?)