next life
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 next life、future life、future incarnation
ชาติหน้า means “the next life” or “a future life after this one.” It is often tied to Buddhist ideas of rebirth, but it can also be used casually in jokes or sarcasm.
next life、future life、future incarnation
This refers to the life one may be born into after the present life.
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ไว้ชาติหน้าค่อยทำ wáy châat nâa khɔ̂y tham Do it in the next life. ไว้ชาติหน้าค่อยทำ details
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Learning notes
Explanation
ชาติหน้า is made from ชาติ, meaning a life or birth, and หน้า, meaning next. Literally, it is “the next life.” It often appears with words related to rebirth and karma, such as เกิด “to be born,” กรรม “karma,” ทำบุญ “to make merit,” and เจอกัน “to meet.” In casual speech, phrases like ไว้ชาติหน้า can also be joking or sarcastic, meaning something like “maybe in the next life,” or “that is not happening anytime soon.”
Usage
It is used in conversations about religion, life, death, love, separation, and wishes, such as wanting to meet again in the next life. Among friends, it can also be used jokingly when something feels impossible or too far off.
Caution
ชาติหน้า means “next life,” not “next year,” “next month,” or “next time.” Use ปีหน้า for next year, เดือนหน้า for next month, and ครั้งหน้า for next time. Because it can touch on death and beliefs about rebirth, joking with it in a serious situation may sound insensitive.
Differences from similar words
1 next life synonyms
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ภพหน้า also means “the next existence” and sounds more religious or Buddhist. ชาติหน้า is more common in everyday speech and can also be used jokingly.