Daily Thai Confidence — Using ตั้งตารอ (dtâng-dtāa-rāw)

Verb: ตั้งตารอ (dtâng-dtāa-rāw)
Meaning: to eagerly wait / to look forward to / to wait with anticipation

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the verb ตั้งตารอ (dtâng-dtāa-rāw), which means ‘to eagerly wait,’ ‘to look forward,’ or ‘to wait anticipation.’ It expresses a feeling of excitement and expectation about something that is going to happen.

This verb phrase is made up of two words:

• ตั้งตารอ (dtâng-dtāa) = to fix one’s eyes / to focus one’s gaze
• รอ (rāw) = to wait

Together, ตั้งตารอ (dtâng-dtāa-rāw) literally means ‘to fix your eyes while waiting,’ which conveys the idea of waiting eagerly for something.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: subject + ตั้งตารอ (dtâng-dtāa-rāw) + event / thing.

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

ฉันตั้งตารอที่จะได้ร่วมงานกับคุณจริงๆ

chǎn dtâng-dtāa-rāw t^hêe-jà dâi rûam-ngāan gàb k^hūn jīng-jīng
Literal: I look forward to get work together with you real-real.
I am really looking forward to working with you.

The verb phrase ร่วมงานกับ (rûam-ngāan gàb) means ‘to work with,’ ‘to collaborate with,’ or ‘to work together with.’ It is used when talking about doing work together with another person, team, or organisation. It is literally ‘to be involved in work with’ someone.

เขาทำงานหนักและได้ตั้งตารอการเกษียณของเขา

k^hǎo t^hām-ngāan ^hnàk láe dâi dtâng-dtāa-rāw gāan-gà-sǐan k^hǎwng-k^hǎo
Literal: He do-work heavy and have looking forward to retirement belonging to-him.
He had worked hard and has been looking forward to his retirement.

พวกเขาได้ตั้งตารอการไปเที่ยวพักร้อนนั้นเป็นเวลาหลายเดือน

p^hûak-k^hǎo dâi dtâng-dtāa-rāw gāan-bpāi-t^hîew p^hák-ráwn nán bpēn wāy-lāa ^hlǎai dēuan
Literal: They have look forward to the action of sightseeing that to be time many month.
They had looked forward to that holiday for months.

The phrase การไปเที่ยวพักร้อน (gāan-bpāi-t^hîew p^hák-ráwn) means ‘going on holiday’ or ‘a vacation trip’. It refers to the activity of travelling somewhere to relax and take a break from work or daily life.

เราตั้งตารอการเดินทางครั้งนี้

rāo dtâng-dtāa-rāw gāan-dēuhn-t^hāang k^hráng née
Literal: We look forward to the action of travelling occasion this.
We are looking forward to this trip.

The noun การเดินทาง (gāan-dēuhn-t^hāang) means ‘travel’ or ‘the act of travelling.’ It refers to the activity or process of going from one place to another.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

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

1. I am looking forward to the weekend.
2. She is looking forward to seeing her friend.
3. He is looking forward to the results of the exam.
4. He is looking forward to working with the new boss.
5. They are looking forward to the trip next month.

---

About Post Author