จวนจะ
be about to
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 be about to、almost do、be on the verge of
Indicates that an action or change is very close to happening.
be about to、almost do、be on the verge of
Shows that circumstances have progressed to the point where an event or change is about to occur.
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จวนจะค่ำแล้ว cuan cà khâm lɛ́ɛw It’s almost nightfall. จวนจะค่ำแล้ว details
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ฝนจวนจะตกแล้ว fǒn cuan cà tòk lɛ́ɛw It is about to rain. ฝนจวนจะตกแล้ว details
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รถไฟจวนจะออกแล้ว rót fay cuan cà ɔ̀ɔk lɛ́ɛw The train is about to leave. รถไฟจวนจะออกแล้ว details
Learning notes
Explanation
จวนจะ is placed before a verb or expression of state to show that its realization is only a short step away. จวน conveys closeness, and its combination with จะ presents a future event as imminent. It therefore expresses more than an ordinary future plan: the timing or visible circumstances suggest that the event is close to happening. It commonly appears in the pattern จวนจะ…แล้ว. Here, แล้ว highlights that the situation has already reached this near-final stage. With suitable context, it can also describe an event that nearly happened but was interrupted or avoided.
Usage
It is used when rain appears ready to start, a train is close to leaving, exam time is nearly over, or a container is almost full. It can also describe being on the verge of falling asleep or nearly having an accident.
Caution
Do not use it merely to state a future plan when the event is not imminent; จะ is more appropriate in that case. It also does not directly mean “most” or “nearly all” when modifying a quantity. Expressions such as เกือบทั้งหมด are used for that meaning.
Differences from similar words
1 be about to synonyms
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กำลังจะ is the common expression for being just about to do something or for an immediate plan. จวนจะ emphasizes that time or circumstances have advanced to the very edge of the event.