อยาก
want to
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 want to、feel like doing
Expresses a desire for an action, state, object, or outcome—what someone wants or feels like doing.
want to、feel like doing
Comes before a verb or verb phrase to express what someone wants to do, have, or become.
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อยากกินอะไร yàak kin aray What do you want to eat? อยากกินอะไร details
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ฉันอยากไปเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น chǎn yàak pay thîaw yîipùn I want to travel to Japan. ฉันอยากไปเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น details
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โตขึ้นอยากเป็นอะไร too khʉ̂n yàak pen aray What do you want to be when you grow up? โตขึ้นอยากเป็นอะไร details
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อยากให้คุณมาด้วย yàak hây khun maa dûay I want you to come too. อยากให้คุณมาด้วย details
Learning notes
Explanation
The basic pattern is อยาก + verb: อยากไป means “want to go,” and อยากเป็นครู means “want to be a teacher.” The subject is often omitted when it is clear from context. For negation, place ไม่ before อยาก: ไม่อยากไป, “not want to go.” อยากจะ + verb is also possible, though จะ is commonly omitted in everyday conversation. Use อยากได้ + noun for wanting an object, and อยากให้ + person or situation + verb/state for wanting someone to do something or wishing for a situation to occur.
Usage
Used throughout everyday life to talk about food, travel plans, future goals, shopping, and personal preferences. It also expresses physical urges or curiosity, as in อยากนอน (“want to sleep”) and อยากรู้ (“want to know”).
Caution
Do not normally put the name of an object directly after อยาก; say อยากได้หนังสือ for “want a book.” Also, using อยากให้ to tell someone what you want them to do may sound direct or demanding. For a polite request, a pattern such as ช่วย…หน่อยได้ไหม (“Could you please…?”) is often more appropriate.
Differences from similar words
1 want to synonyms
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ต้องการ expresses a definite need or requirement and is suitable for more formal contexts. อยาก is the everyday choice for personal wants and for saying that someone feels like doing something.
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ประสงค์ means “wish” or “desire” in formal language and is common in official notices and writing. อยาก is the natural everyday word.