at first
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- 1 at first、initially
It refers to the initial stage of a situation, especially an opinion, plan, or condition that later changed.
at first、initially
It describes how something was initially, often implying that it later changed.
Learning notes
Explanation
ทีแรก is an adverb referring to the initial stage of a situation. It is commonly used for a first impression, an original plan, or an earlier condition. It often suggests a later change, so it frequently appears with แต่ “but,” แต่ตอนนี้ “but now,” or สุดท้าย “in the end.” Common patterns include ทีแรกคิดว่า… “at first, I thought…” and ทีแรกว่าจะ… “I was originally going to….”
Usage
It is often used when a first impression changed, an original plan was revised, or the beginning of an experience is contrasted with what happened later. It is especially common in everyday accounts of how a situation developed.
Caution
Do not confuse ทีแรก with ครั้งแรก, meaning “the first time.” ทีแรก describes the initial stage of a situation, whereas ครั้งแรก identifies the first occurrence of an event. Use ครั้งแรก, for example, when saying that you visited Thailand for the first time.