กว่าจะ
gwàa-jàMeaning
1ConjunctionB2
not until; by the time (introducing a clause)
a conjunction introducing a time clause meaning something happens only after a delay or much effort; often used in the pattern “กว่าจะกว่าจะgwàa-jànot until; by the time (introducing a clause) … ก็ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption marker …” to emphasize lateness/difficulty
Examples
กว่าจะgwàa-jàกว่าจะgwàa-jànot until; by the time (introducing a clause)เดินทางdəən-taangเดินทางdəən-taang[to] travel; make a journeyถึงบ้านtʉ̌ng-bâanถึงบ้านtʉ̌ng-bâan[to] arrive homeรถrótรถrót1vehicle (general)2car; automobileก็gɔ̂ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerติดdtìtติดdtìt1[to] stick; attach; fasten2[to] be stuck; be attached; adhere3[to] catch; pick up (disease/odor/habit)4addicted to; hooked on; attached to5close to; adjacent; touching; contiguous6owing; indebted; behind on payments7busy; occupied; tied up8[to] catch fire; light; start; come on9[to] follow closely; keep close toนานมากnaan-mâakนานมากnaan-mâakfor a very long timeจนมืดjon-mʉ̂ʉtจนมืดjon-mʉ̂ʉtuntil darkค่ำkâmค่ำkâm1evening; dusk2in the evening; at nightfall3to become evening; grow lateพอดีpɔɔ-diiพอดีpɔɔ-dii1just right; exactly suitable2exactly; just (in time/amount)3just enough4happen to; by chance5[to] fit exactly; be just right
By the time I got home, the traffic had been bad for so long that it was already dark.
3 more examplesShow less
เมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waanกว่าจะgwàa-jàทำการบ้านtam-gaan-bâanเสร็จsètก็gɔ̂ดึกdʉ̀kมากmâakแล้วlɛ́ɛoเลยləəiต้องdtɔ̂ngรีบrîipเข้านอนkâo-nɔɔn
Yesterday, it was very late by the time I finished my homework, so I had to go to bed right away.
กว่าจะgwàa-jàเก็บเงินgèp-ngənสร้างsâangบ้านbâanในฝันnai-fǎnได้สำเร็จdâai-sǎm-rètเขาkǎoก็gɔ̂ต้องdtɔ̂ngทำงานหนักtam-ngaan-nàkและlɛ́ประหยัดอดออมbprà-yàt-òt-ɔɔmมาเป็นmaa-bpenสิบsìpปีbpii
It took him ten years of hard work and saving before he could finally succeed in building his dream house.
กว่าจะgwàa-jàรู้ตัวrúu-dtuuaว่าwâaหลงทางlǒng-taangพวกเราpûuak-raoก็gɔ̂เดินdəənลึกlʉ́kเข้ามาkâo-maaในnaiป่าbpàaมากเกินไปmâak-gəən-bpaiแล้วlɛ́ɛo
By the time we realized we were lost, we had already walked too deep into the forest.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid classConsonant clusterIn the cluster กว, the first consonant ก sets the class.
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
gwàa
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + Mai ek → Low
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
+
จะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)will; shall (future/intention marker)Part 2
กว่าจะgwàa-jàกว่าจะgwàa-jànot until; by the time (introducing a clause)not until; by the time (introducing a clause)Word