ต้อง
must
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 must、have to、need to、should
- 2 must be、be sure to、be bound to、will definitely
ต้อง is a very common word used before a verb to show necessity, obligation, or strong expectation. Its core idea is that something is unavoidable or naturally follows from the situation.
must、have to、need to、should
Used before a verb to show that an action is necessary, required, or unavoidable.
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ฉันต้องไปแล้ว chǎn tɔ̂ŋ pay lɛ́ɛw I have to go now. ฉันต้องไปแล้ว details
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ต้องทำการบ้าน tɔ̂ŋ tham kaan bâan I have to do homework. ต้องทำการบ้าน details
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ไม่ต้องห่วง mây tɔ̂ŋ hùaŋ You don’t have to worry. ไม่ต้องห่วง details
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คุณต้องจ่ายเงินก่อน khun tɔ̂ŋ càay ŋən kɔ̀ɔn You must pay first. คุณต้องจ่ายเงินก่อน details
must be、be sure to、be bound to、will definitely
Used before a verb or phrase to express a strong assumption or expectation, meaning something is very likely or bound to be true.
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เขาต้องรู้แน่ๆ khǎw tɔ̂ŋ rúu nɛ̂ɛ nɛ̂ɛ He must know for sure. เขาต้องรู้แน่ๆ details
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พรุ่งนี้ต้องฝนตก phrûŋníi tɔ̂ŋ fǒn tòk It’s definitely going to rain tomorrow. พรุ่งนี้ต้องฝนตก details
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คุณต้องทำได้แน่ๆ khun tɔ̂ŋ tham dâay nɛ̂ɛ nɛ̂ɛ You’ll definitely be able to do it. คุณต้องทำได้แน่ๆ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The most important pattern is ต้อง + verb. It can express obligation or practical necessity, as in ต้องไป “have to go” or ต้องกินยา “need to take medicine.” The negative ไม่ต้อง + verb means “do not have to,” not “must not.” For a direct prohibition, use อย่า + verb. ต้อง can also express strong certainty, so เขาต้องรู้ may mean “He must know” in the sense of “I’m sure he knows,” depending on context.
Usage
It is used constantly in everyday conversation, school, work, travel, procedures, and rules. You use it to talk about obligations, necessary actions, requirements, and also strong expectations such as “must be” or “definitely will.”
Caution
Saying คุณต้อง... directly to someone can sound commanding. To soften it, use ควร for advice or add a polite particle such as นะครับ/นะคะ. Treat ต้องการ as a separate word meaning “want” or “need,” rather than freely splitting it into ต้อง + การ.
Differences from similar words
1 must synonyms
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ควร means “should” in the sense of advice or what is appropriate. ต้อง is stronger and usually means the action is required or necessary.
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จำเป็นต้อง explicitly stresses necessity. ต้อง is broader and more common in everyday speech, covering rules, plans, obligations, and practical needs.