excuse oneself first
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 excuse oneself first、leave before others、step away
A polite expression used when you are leaving a place, group, call, or conversation before others.
excuse oneself first、leave before others、step away
Used to politely excuse yourself before leaving or stepping away ahead of others.
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ขอตัวก่อนนะคะ khɔ̌ɔ tua kɔ̀ɔn ná khá I’ll be leaving now. ขอตัวก่อนนะคะ details
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งั้นผมขอตัวก่อนนะครับ ŋán phǒm khɔ̌ɔ tua kɔ̀ɔn ná khráp Well then, I’ll excuse myself now. งั้นผมขอตัวก่อนนะครับ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ขอตัวก่อน is built from ขอ “to ask/request,” ตัว “self/body,” and ก่อน “first.” The core idea is asking permission to remove yourself from the situation first. It is polite without sounding overly formal, and it is common in everyday and workplace settings. In practice, it often appears as ขอตัวก่อนนะครับ or ขอตัวก่อนนะคะ. To give a reason or destination, use ขอตัวไป...ก่อน.
Usage
Use it in meetings, workplaces, meals, gatherings, phone calls, and online meetings when you are leaving, signing off, or stepping away before others.
Caution
Do not use it as a general goodbye every time. It fits situations where you are the one leaving or stepping away first. With close friends, ไปก่อนนะ is natural; with seniors or at work, ขอตัวก่อนนะครับ/คะ is safer and more polite.
Differences from similar words
1 excuse oneself first synonyms
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ลาก่อน means goodbye and focuses on the farewell itself. ขอตัวก่อน specifically says that you are excusing yourself and leaving before others.