do something first
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- 1 do something first、do something before proceeding、do something for the time being
A conversational expression placed after a verb or verb phrase to say that the action should be done first, before anything else, or for the time being.
do something first、do something before proceeding、do something for the time being
Emphasizes doing or completing an action before moving on to something else. In some contexts, it presents the action as a temporary measure for the time being.
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กินข้าวซะก่อน kin khâaw sá kɔ̀ɔn Eat something first. กินข้าวซะก่อน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The usual pattern is “verb or verb phrase + ซะก่อน.” ซะ is the conversationally contracted form of เสีย, while ก่อน means “first” or “before.” The common pattern “A + ซะก่อน แล้วค่อย + B” explicitly presents the sequence “do A first, then do B.” In expressions such as “เอาไว้…ซะก่อน,” it can instead mean leaving or doing something as a temporary measure for now. It occurs not only in commands but also in advice, suggestions, and remarks that stop someone from moving ahead too quickly.
Usage
Common in everyday conversation when telling a friend or family member to eat or rest first, urging someone to think before responding, or asking someone to leave an item somewhere temporarily.
Caution
ซะก่อน can sound forceful or commanding depending on tone. For requests to customers, superiors, or people requiring respectful language, a polite construction with ช่วย, กรุณา, or ขอ is usually more appropriate. In particular, ไปซะก่อน and กลับไปซะก่อน may sound dismissive—like “go away” or “go home”—if delivered sharply.
Differences from similar words
1 do something first synonyms
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ก่อน is the neutral, broadly used word for “first” or “before.” ซะก่อน follows a verb and more strongly urges someone to get that action done first, with a distinctly conversational tone.