Prepositions: "For" in Thai
What are the right Thai words to use in which situation? Let's go through all the different functions of "for", e.g. for you, for your cold, for three years.
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· published July 3, 2021
The English preposition "for" has numerous grammatical functions. Thai uses different words for many of these functions, so we will need to cover them one by one:
- doing something for someone - e.g. I bought a book for you
- to be used by - e.g. games for kids
- concerning - e.g. for that, we will ...
- for the benefit of - e.g. I am working for our future
- in case of - e.g. I carry an umbrella for the rain
- on behalf of / representing - e.g. I am here for my parents
- Introducing someone's opinion - e.g. As for me, ...
- duration of time - e.g. I studied for three years
- giving reasons - e.g. I am sorry for being late
Doing something for someone
For this, we use the word ให้ Let; give
See in Dictionary "to give".
Note: Quite often Thai speakers omit who is doing something for whom (the "actors"), if they are clear from context. So you often find ให้ Let; give
See in Dictionary at the end of a sentence, while the actors are implied from context.
See in Dictionary "to give".
Note: Quite often Thai speakers omit who is doing something for whom (the "actors"), if they are clear from context. So you often find ให้ Let; give
See in Dictionary at the end of a sentence, while the actors are implied from context.
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Examples
He bought a book for her
เขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryซื้อ buy
See in Dictionaryหนังสือ Book
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryเธอ she; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: he - buy - book - give - her
He bought a book for (her)
เขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryซื้อ buy
See in Dictionaryหนังสือ Book
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionary
Literally: he - buy - book - give
He cooks for her
เขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryทำ do, make, cook
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryเธอ she; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: he - cook - food - give - her
Please shut the door for me
ช่วย help
See in Dictionaryปิด close
See in Dictionaryประตู door
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryหน่อย a little; please (for a simple favor)
See in Dictionary
Literally: please - close - door - give - I - little/request
Please shut the door for (me)
ช่วย help
See in Dictionaryปิด close
See in Dictionaryประตู door
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryหน่อย a little; please (for a simple favor)
See in Dictionary
Literally: please - close - door - give - little/request
I will tell him for you
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryจะ will (in the future)
See in Dictionaryบอก tell, inform
See in Dictionaryเขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryคุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - will - tell - he - give - you
I will tell (him) for (you)
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryจะ will (in the future)
See in Dictionaryบอก tell, inform
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - will - tell - give
เขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryซื้อ buy
See in Dictionaryหนังสือ Book
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryเธอ she; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: he - buy - book - give - her
He bought a book for (her)
เขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryซื้อ buy
See in Dictionaryหนังสือ Book
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionary
Literally: he - buy - book - give
He cooks for her
เขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryทำ do, make, cook
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryเธอ she; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: he - cook - food - give - her
Please shut the door for me
ช่วย help
See in Dictionaryปิด close
See in Dictionaryประตู door
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryหน่อย a little; please (for a simple favor)
See in Dictionary
Literally: please - close - door - give - I - little/request
Please shut the door for (me)
ช่วย help
See in Dictionaryปิด close
See in Dictionaryประตู door
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryหน่อย a little; please (for a simple favor)
See in Dictionary
Literally: please - close - door - give - little/request
I will tell him for you
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryจะ will (in the future)
See in Dictionaryบอก tell, inform
See in Dictionaryเขา he; she, they
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionaryคุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - will - tell - he - give - you
I will tell (him) for (you)
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryจะ will (in the future)
See in Dictionaryบอก tell, inform
See in Dictionaryให้ Let; give
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - will - tell - give
"To be used by" and "concerning" in Thai
Here we use the word สำหรับ for
See in Dictionary.
At the beginning of the sentence, สำหรับ for
See in Dictionary means "for / concerning".
See in Dictionary.
At the beginning of the sentence, สำหรับ for
See in Dictionary means "for / concerning".
Examples
games for kids / games to be used by kids
เกมส์ game
See in Dictionaryสำหรับ for
See in Dictionaryเด็ก child, children
See in Dictionary
Literally: game - for - children
This is for you
นี่ this; here
See in Dictionaryสำหรับ for
See in Dictionaryคุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: this - for - you
For dinner, we will eat out. / Concerning dinner, we will eat out.
สำหรับ for
See in Dictionaryอาหารเย็น dinner
See in Dictionaryเรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionaryจะ will (in the future)
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionaryกิน eat
See in Dictionaryข้าง side, a single object in a pair
See in Dictionaryนอก outside
See in Dictionary
Literally: for - dinner - we - will - go - eat - side - outside
เกมส์ game
See in Dictionaryสำหรับ for
See in Dictionaryเด็ก child, children
See in Dictionary
Literally: game - for - children
This is for you
นี่ this; here
See in Dictionaryสำหรับ for
See in Dictionaryคุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionary
Literally: this - for - you
For dinner, we will eat out. / Concerning dinner, we will eat out.
สำหรับ for
See in Dictionaryอาหารเย็น dinner
See in Dictionaryเรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionaryจะ will (in the future)
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionaryกิน eat
See in Dictionaryข้าง side, a single object in a pair
See in Dictionaryนอก outside
See in Dictionary
Literally: for - dinner - we - will - go - eat - side - outside
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For the benefit of ... in Thai
The word เพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionary is used to express who the beneficiary of an action is, or in other words, who benefits from the action. To do that, we use the simple pattern:
See in Dictionary is used to express who the beneficiary of an action is, or in other words, who benefits from the action. To do that, we use the simple pattern:
- verb + เพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionary + beneficiary
This word is used in many organizations' names, e.g. Consumer Foundation = foundation for consumers
Examples
I am working for our future
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryทำงาน work
See in Dictionaryเพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionaryอนาคต future
See in Dictionaryของ of
See in Dictionaryเรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - work - for (the benefit of) - future - of - us
Consumer Foundation
มูลนิธิ foundation
See in Dictionaryเพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionaryผู้บริโภค consumer
See in Dictionary
Literally: foundation - for (the benefit of) - consumers
Working for one's family
ทำงาน work
See in Dictionaryเพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionaryครอบครัว family
See in Dictionary
Literally: work - for (the benefit of) - family
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryทำงาน work
See in Dictionaryเพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionaryอนาคต future
See in Dictionaryของ of
See in Dictionaryเรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - work - for (the benefit of) - future - of - us
Consumer Foundation
มูลนิธิ foundation
See in Dictionaryเพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionaryผู้บริโภค consumer
See in Dictionary
Literally: foundation - for (the benefit of) - consumers
Working for one's family
ทำงาน work
See in Dictionaryเพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionaryครอบครัว family
See in Dictionary
Literally: work - for (the benefit of) - family
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In case of ... in Thai
To express "(just) in case of", we use the word เผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionary. This word is also used for "on behalf of", which is covered in the next section of this article.
See in Dictionary. This word is also used for "on behalf of", which is covered in the next section of this article.
Examples
(I) have an umbrella for the rain. / ... in case it rains.
มี have, own; include
See in Dictionaryร่ม Umbrella
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryฝน rain
See in Dictionaryตก to fall, to drop something
See in Dictionary
Literally: have - umbrella - in case of - rain - fall
มี have, own; include
See in Dictionaryร่ม Umbrella
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryฝน rain
See in Dictionaryตก to fall, to drop something
See in Dictionary
Literally: have - umbrella - in case of - rain - fall
On behalf of ... in Thai
The word เผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionary (in case of) is also used to express "on behalf of" in Thai.
This describes situations where someone has to do something, but external reasons obstruct that person from doing it. In that situation, someone else might do it on behalf of the first person. For example, if your mother had an accident, but needs to go to the district office, she might ask you to go there on her behalf.
See in Dictionary (in case of) is also used to express "on behalf of" in Thai.
This describes situations where someone has to do something, but external reasons obstruct that person from doing it. In that situation, someone else might do it on behalf of the first person. For example, if your mother had an accident, but needs to go to the district office, she might ask you to go there on her behalf.
Examples
I do (it) for/on behalf of (my) mother
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryทำ do, make, cook
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryแม่ mother
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - do - on behalf of - mother
Eat (something) for/on behalf of (me). (E.g. because I can't be at the party)
กิน eat
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryด้วย request word; also, too
See in Dictionary
Literally: Eat - on behalf of - request
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryทำ do, make, cook
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryแม่ mother
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - do - on behalf of - mother
Eat (something) for/on behalf of (me). (E.g. because I can't be at the party)
กิน eat
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryด้วย request word; also, too
See in Dictionary
Literally: Eat - on behalf of - request
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เผื่อ vs เพื่อ
เผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionary is low tone and means "in case of", or "on behalf"
เพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionary is falling tone and means "for the benefit of"
This is one of the few cases in Thai, where accidentally mixing up the tones can change the meaning of the sentence.
See in Dictionary is low tone and means "in case of", or "on behalf"
เพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionary is falling tone and means "for the benefit of"
This is one of the few cases in Thai, where accidentally mixing up the tones can change the meaning of the sentence.
Examples
I do (it) for/on behalf of (my) mother
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryทำ do, make, cook
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryแม่ mother
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - do - on behalf of - mother
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryทำ do, make, cook
See in Dictionaryเผื่อ for, in case of
See in Dictionaryแม่ mother
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - do - on behalf of - mother
I do (it) for (the benefit of) (my) mother
ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryทำ do, make, cook
See in Dictionaryเพื่อ for, on behalf of, for the benefit of
See in Dictionaryแม่ mother
See in Dictionary
Literally: I - do - for (the benefit of) - mother
Introducing opinions in Thai
If you want to introduce opinions, you use the word ส่วน part; fraction; as for
See in Dictionary.
See in Dictionary.
Example
As for me, (I) think it is extremely bad
ส่วน part; fraction; as for
See in Dictionaryตัว body; animals, clothing, furniture
See in Dictionaryผม I (for men); hair
See in Dictionaryคิดว่า think that
See in Dictionaryไม่ no, not
See in Dictionaryดี good
See in Dictionaryเลย etremely; Loei (a province in northeast Thailand)
See in Dictionary
Literally: as for - body - I - think that - no - good - extremely
ส่วน part; fraction; as for
See in Dictionaryตัว body; animals, clothing, furniture
See in Dictionaryผม I (for men); hair
See in Dictionaryคิดว่า think that
See in Dictionaryไม่ no, not
See in Dictionaryดี good
See in Dictionaryเลย etremely; Loei (a province in northeast Thailand)
See in Dictionary
Literally: as for - body - I - think that - no - good - extremely
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Duration of Time
Durations of time do not require any prepositions in Thai.
Examples
(I) studied Thai for 3 years.
เรียน study
See in Dictionaryภาษาไทย Thai Language
See in Dictionaryสาม 3
See in Dictionaryปี year
See in Dictionaryแล้ว already; and, so
See in Dictionary
Literally: study - Thai language - 3 - year - already
Drive to Phuket for 10 hours.
ขับ drive
See in Dictionaryรถ Vehicle
See in Dictionaryสิบ 10
See in Dictionaryชั่วโมง an hour
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionaryภูเก็ต Phuket
See in Dictionary
Literally: drive - car - 10 - hour - go - Phuket
เรียน study
See in Dictionaryภาษาไทย Thai Language
See in Dictionaryสาม 3
See in Dictionaryปี year
See in Dictionaryแล้ว already; and, so
See in Dictionary
Literally: study - Thai language - 3 - year - already
Drive to Phuket for 10 hours.
ขับ drive
See in Dictionaryรถ Vehicle
See in Dictionaryสิบ 10
See in Dictionaryชั่วโมง an hour
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionaryภูเก็ต Phuket
See in Dictionary
Literally: drive - car - 10 - hour - go - Phuket
Introducing reasons
In Thai, reasons are introduced using ที่ at (for locations)
See in Dictionary.
See in Dictionary.
Example
(I) am sorry for being late
ขอโทษ excuse me; sorry
See in Dictionaryที่ at (for locations)
See in Dictionaryมา come, arrive
See in Dictionaryช้า slow
See in Dictionary
Literally: Excuse - for - come - late
ขอโทษ excuse me; sorry
See in Dictionaryที่ at (for locations)
See in Dictionaryมา come, arrive
See in Dictionaryช้า slow
See in Dictionary
Literally: Excuse - for - come - late