ขอให้

Explanation

ขอให้ combines ขอ, “to ask or wish for,” with ให้ and introduces an event, condition, or action the speaker wants to become reality. For wishes, the usual pattern is ขอให้ followed by a desirable condition or event. It is common in birthday messages, congratulations, farewells, and other expressions of goodwill. For requests, a common pattern is ขอให้ + person + verb, meaning that the person is asked to perform the action. At the beginning of an announcement, ขอให้ทุกคน... politely directs everyone to do something. Both uses share the basic idea of wanting the following situation to happen.

Usage

It is frequently used to wish someone happiness, success, or safety on occasions such as birthdays, weddings, exams, and trips. It also appears in classroom instructions, customer notices, public announcements, and other situations where an action is politely requested.

Caution

Do not normally use ขอให้ to ask for an object. Use ขอ + noun or a pattern such as ขอ...หน่อย instead. A short expression such as ขอให้เขามา can mean either “I hope he comes” or “ask him to come,” depending on context. The intended meaning depends on whether the speaker is merely wishing for the event or directing a request to someone who can make it happen.

1 may... synonyms

• หวังว่า

  หวังว่า means “hope that” and states the speaker's expectation. ขอให้ directly introduces a desired outcome and is especially common in blessings and good wishes.

2 ask someone to... synonyms

• ขอร้อง

  khɔ̌ɔ rɔ́ɔŋ ask earnestly

  ขอร้อง means to plead with or earnestly ask someone and can convey urgency. ขอให้ introduces the requested action and is also widely used for polite or formal requests.

• ช่วย...หน่อย

  ช่วย...หน่อย is a natural, friendly way to ask someone to do something in conversation. ขอให้ is also common in announcements and instructions, so it may sound more formal or directive depending on context.