Expressing the future in Thai with “jà”
จะ (jà) means “will” in English. Although Thai tenses are mainly based on context, the word “jà” also helps to make it clear that you are talking about the future and not the present or past.
Structure
Important: Know that not all sentences that talk about future need the word จะ (jà) because Thai tenses are mainly based on the context.
In the examples below, the จะ (jà) that are in parenthesis means you can omit it and the meaning stays the same because the time words already make it clear you are talking about the future.
⭐️ จะ (jà) + verb/adjective
Examples
- คุณ(จะ)ทำอะไรพรุ่งนี้ kun (jà) tam à-rai prûng-née 👉 "prûng-née" already makes it clear it's in the future so "jà" is optional. ➜ What will you do tomorrow?
- คุณจะวิ่งมาราธอนไหม kun jà wîng maa-raa-ton măi ➜ Will you run the marathon? 👉 since there are no time words in this sentence, if you don't use "jà" it can mean "do you usually run in marathons?" or "would you like to run in a marathon?".
- ถ้าฉันไม่เข้าใจจะไปถามครู tâa chăn mâi kâo jai jà bpai tăam kroo ➜ If I don’t understand, I will ask the teacher.
- คุณจะให้คำตอบเมื่อไร kun jà hâi kam dtòp mêuua rai ➜ When will you give the answer?
- อาทิตย์หน้าฉัน(จะ)ไปเที่ยวประเทศสวิตเซอร์แลนด์ aa-tít nâa chăn (jà) bpai tîieow bprà-têt sà-wìt-sêr-laen ➜ Next week I will go to Switzerland.
- เดือนหน้าฉัน(จะ)สอบเข้ามหาลัย deuuan nâa chăn (jà) sòp kâo má-hăa-lai ➜ Next month I will take the university entrance test.
- ไม่รู้เราจะทำงานเสร็จหรือเปล่า mâi róo rao jà tam ngaan sèt rĕu bplào ➜ I don’t know if we will finish work.
- ฉันจะรักเธอตลอดไป chăn jà rák ter dtà-lòt bpai ➜ I will love you always.
- เราจะไม่มีวันลืมคุณสองคน rao jà mâi mee wan leum kun sŏng kon ➜ I will forget never you two.
- คุณจะกินกล้วยหรือส้ม kun jà gin glûuay rĕu sôm ➜ Will you eat bananas or oranges?