Daily Thai Confidence — Using อยาก (awyàak)

Verb: อยาก (^awyàak)
Meaning: to want to / to want to be

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the verb อยาก (^awyàak), which means ‘to want to’ do something. It is used to express a desire to perform an action or experience a state.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: subject + อยาก (^awyàak) + verb.

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

ฉันอยากดื่มกาแฟ

chǎn ^awyàak dèum gāa-fāe
Literal: I want to drink coffee.
I want to drink coffee.

ผมอยากกินอาหารไทย

p^hǒm ^awyàak gīn āa-hǎan Thāi
Literal: I want to eat food Thai.
I want to eat Thai food.

เขาอยากซื้อรถใหม่

k^hǎo ^awyàak séu ród ^hmài
Literal: He want to buy car new.
He want to buy a new car.

เธออยากมีเวลาพักผ่อน

t^hēr ^awyàak mēe wāy-lāa p^hák-p^hàwn
Literal: She want to have time rest.
She wants to have time to rest.

The verb อยาก (^awyàak) can also be used to express a desire for a state of being, meaning ‘to want to be.’ It is typically followed by a word or phrase expressing a condition, experience, or identity you want to become or feel. It is like saying, ‘want to be in the state of…’ or ‘want to exist in a state of…’

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: subject + อยาก (^awyàak) + state (adjective / condition verb phrase).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

ฉันอยากอยู่คนเดียว

chǎn ^awyàak ^awyùu k^hōn-dīew
Literal: I want to be in the state of being alone.
I want to be alone.

ผมอยากประสบความสำเร็จ

p^hǒm ^awyàak bprà-sòb k^hwāam-sǎm-^hrèd
Literal: I want to be in the state of experiencing success.
I want to be successful.

เขาอยากรวย

k^hǎo ^awyàak rūay
Literal: He want to be in the state of being rich.
He want to be rich.

เธออยากมีความสุข

t^hēr ^awyàak mēe k^hwāam-sùk
Literal: She want to be in the state of being happy.
She wants to happy.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

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

1. He wants to feel about himself.
2. He wants to stay at home.
3. She wants to have some free time.
4. She wants to eat pizza tonight.
5. They want to go to the cinema this afternoon.

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