Obligation (ต้อง)

Expressing Obligation with ต้อง

To express that someone "must" or "has to" do something, use the word ต้อง. This word is placed directly before the main verb of the sentence.

This applies to any type of obligation, such as following a rule (กฎ). To follow or respect rules, Thai uses the verb เคารพ (to respect).

Everyday Necessities

You will frequently use ต้อง for regular daily duties, whether it is a personal hygiene habit like brushing your teeth, or making a necessary purchase.

"Clean" vs. "To Clean"

In Thai, the word for "clean" as a descriptive word (an adjective) is สะอาด. To say "to clean" (the action verb), you add the prefix ทำความ to form ทำความสะอาด (literally "make clean").

Notice how the adjective describes the room, while ต้อง pairs with the action verb to show obligation.

Finally, ต้อง is useful for financial obligations, such as paying rent (ค่าเช่า).