wonder whether ...
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 wonder whether ...、wonder why/how ...
- 2 suspect that ...、figure that ... may be the case
This expression introduces something the speaker wonders about or tentatively suspects may be true.
wonder whether ...、wonder why/how ...
Expresses an unresolved question in the speaker’s mind about whether, why, or how something is the case.
suspect that ...、figure that ... may be the case
Introduces a tentative conclusion based on circumstances or clues, while leaving room for uncertainty.
Learning notes
Explanation
สงสัย expresses doubt, uncertainty, or suspicion, while ว่า introduces the content of that thought. The expression has two common uses: wondering about an unanswered question and tentatively inferring something from available clues. The following clause and the situation usually make the intended meaning clear. In conversation, the subject is often omitted, so speakers commonly begin directly with สงสัยว่า....
Usage
It is common in everyday conversation when thinking aloud about an unanswered question, introducing a question to someone, or guessing a cause or likely outcome from the situation. Adding ครับ or ค่ะ makes the utterance polite.
Caution
When ไหม marks an embedded yes-or-no question, place it at the end of the following clause, as in สงสัยว่าเขาจะมาไหม, not immediately after ว่า. The expression does not necessarily imply distrust or accusation; it often conveys ordinary curiosity or a mild guess. The dots in the headword simply show that a clause must follow and are not part of the expression itself.