รอ
wait for
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- 1 wait for、wait、be waiting for
รอ is the basic verb for waiting for someone or something that has not arrived or happened yet. It is used for people, vehicles, replies, results, timing, and similar situations.
wait for、wait、be waiting for
This means to wait for a person, thing, time, event, result, or condition. It can be followed directly by a noun, or by รอให้ + clause to mean waiting for something to happen.
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รอเพื่อน rɔɔ phʉ̂an wait for a friend รอเพื่อน details
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รอแป๊บหนึ่ง rɔɔ pɛ́ɛp nʉ̀ŋ wait a moment รอแป๊บหนึ่ง details
Show more (3)
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รอนานไหม rɔɔ naan mǎy Did you wait long? รอนานไหม details
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รอให้ฝนหยุด rɔɔ hây fǒn yùt wait for the rain to stop รอให้ฝนหยุด details
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เอกสารนี้รออนุมัติ èekkàsǎan níi rɔɔ anúmát This document is waiting for approval. เอกสารนี้รออนุมัติ details
Learning notes
Explanation
รอ is a neutral, everyday verb used in both casual and work settings. The basic pattern is รอ + noun, as in รอเพื่อน “wait for a friend,” รอรถเมล์ “wait for the bus,” and รอคำตอบ “wait for an answer.” With รอให้ + clause, it means “wait for something to happen,” such as รอให้เขามา “wait for him to come.” รออยู่ means “be waiting,” รอได้ means “can wait,” and รอไม่ได้ or รอไม่ไหว means “cannot wait.”
Usage
It is common when meeting someone, waiting for transportation, asking someone to hold on in a call or chat, or waiting for a reply, result, approval, or process at work.
Caution
Saying only รอ! can sound abrupt because it is a bare command. In conversation, รอก่อนนะ or รอแป๊บนะ sounds softer, while กรุณารอสักครู่ is appropriate in polite or service situations.
Differences from similar words
1 wait for synonyms
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คอย also means to wait, but it can suggest waiting attentively, keeping watch, or waiting while expecting something. รอ is the more basic and neutral verb for waiting.
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รอคอย often feels more drawn out or expectant than รอ, like awaiting or waiting with anticipation. For everyday phrases like “wait a moment,” รอ is the normal choice.