should not
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 should not、ought not to
- 2 should not be、should not be expected to
Expresses either that an action is inadvisable or that an outcome is not reasonably expected.
should not、ought not to
Marks an action as inadvisable, inappropriate, or better avoided.
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คุณไม่ควรจะนอนดึก khun mây khuan cà nɔɔn dʉ̀k You should not stay up late. คุณไม่ควรจะนอนดึก details
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เราไม่ควรจะพูดแบบนั้น raw mây khuan cà phûut bɛ̀ɛp nán We should not say things like that. เราไม่ควรจะพูดแบบนั้น details
should not be、should not be expected to
Indicates that a situation or outcome is not expected given the available facts or what is considered reasonable.
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เรื่องนี้ไม่ควรจะยาก rʉ̂aŋ níi mây khuan cà yâak This should not be difficult. เรื่องนี้ไม่ควรจะยาก details
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ราคาไม่ควรจะแพงขนาดนี้ raakhaa mây khuan cà phɛɛŋ khanàat níi The price should not be this high. ราคาไม่ควรจะแพงขนาดนี้ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ไม่ควรจะ consists of ไม่ (negation), ควร (“should” or “be appropriate”), and จะ. Its most common use is to advise against an action: “should not.” Since ควรจะ can also express an expectation based on reason or circumstances, the negative phrase may instead mean that something “should not be” or is not expected to happen. The usual pattern is subject + ไม่ควรจะ + verb or state. In everyday speech, จะ is often omitted, giving ไม่ควร + verb, with little or no practical change in meaning.
Usage
It is widely used when giving advice about health, safety, manners, or other behavior best avoided. It also appears when a price, level of difficulty, arrival time, or similar outcome conflicts with reasonable expectations. It is natural in both everyday conversation and explanatory writing.
Caution
Some sentences are ambiguous between advice and expectation. For example, เขาไม่ควรจะมาสาย can mean either “He should not arrive late” or “He should not be late.” Using the listener as the subject may sound critical. Use ห้าม for a firm prohibition, and ไม่น่าจะ or คงไม่ when you simply mean that something is unlikely.
Differences from similar words
1 should not synonyms
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ห้าม gives a direct prohibition: something is forbidden or must not be done. ไม่ควรจะ is milder, presenting the action as inadvisable or inappropriate.
2 should not be synonyms
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ไม่น่าจะ more directly expresses that something is unlikely. ไม่ควรจะ often suggests that the outcome would be contrary to reason, expectations, or an appropriate standard.