Mutual Action
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the particle 'kan' (ກັນ) after a verb to show that two or more people are performing an action together or to each other.
- Add 'kan' after the verb to indicate mutual action: 'hao-hao kan' (love each other).
- Use 'kan' for collective actions: 'pai kan' (go together).
- In questions, 'kan' often implies 'with each other': 'hen kan bo?' (do you see each other?).
Meanings
The particle 'kan' (ກັນ) is used to express reciprocity or collective action, functioning similarly to 'each other' or 'together' in English.
Reciprocity
Action performed by two parties upon each other.
“ເຂົາເຈົ້າຕີກັນ (They hit each other.)”
“ເຮົາເວົ້າກັນ (We talk to each other.)”
Mutual Action Formation
| Subject | Verb | Particle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ພວກເຂົາ | ໄປ | ກັນ | They go together |
| ພວກເຂົາ | ຮັກ | ກັນ | They love each other |
| ພວກເຂົາ | ລົມ | ກັນ | They talk to each other |
| ພວກເຂົາ | ຊ່ວຍ | ກັນ | They help each other |
| ພວກເຂົາ | ຕີ | ກັນ | They hit each other |
| ພວກເຂົາ | ເບິ່ງ | ກັນ | They look at each other |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subj + Verb + Kan | ພວກເຂົາໄປກັນ |
| Negative | Subj + Bo + Verb + Kan | ພວກເຂົາບໍ່ໄປກັນ |
| Question | Subj + Verb + Kan + Bo? | ພວກເຂົາໄປກັນບໍ່? |
| Past | Subj + Dai + Verb + Kan | ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ໄປກັນ |
| Future | Subj + Cha + Verb + Kan | ພວກເຂົາຈະໄປກັນ |
| Continuous | Subj + Kamlang + Verb + Kan | ພວກເຂົາກຳລັງໄປກັນ |
Espectro de formalidad
ພວກເຮົາໄປນຳກັນ (Travel)
ໄປກັນ (Travel)
ໄປກັນເນາະ (Travel)
ໄປກັນດຸ (Travel)
Mutual Action Map
Social
- ລົມກັນ Talk to each other
Physical
- ຕີກັນ Hit each other
Travel
- ໄປກັນ Go together
Examples by Level
ໄປກັນ
Let's go together
ກິນກັນ
Eat together
ນັ່ງກັນ
Sit together
ເວົ້າກັນ
Talk together
ພວກເຂົາຫຼິ້ນກັນ
They play together
ເຮົາຮັກກັນ
We love each other
ເຂົາເຈົ້າເບິ່ງກັນ
They look at each other
ເຈົ້າກັບຂ້ອຍໄປກັນບໍ່?
Are you and I going together?
ພວກເຂົາກຳລັງຖຽງກັນ
They are arguing with each other
ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອກັນ
We helped each other
ເຂົາເຈົ້າບໍ່ໄດ້ລົມກັນດົນແລ້ວ
They haven't talked to each other for a long time
ພວກເຂົາແຕ່ງງານກັນ
They married each other
ການຮ່ວມມືກັນແມ່ນສິ່ງສຳຄັນ
Cooperating with each other is important
ເຂົາເຈົ້າໄດ້ຕົກລົງກັນແລ້ວ
They have agreed with each other
ພວກເຂົາແລກປ່ຽນຄວາມຄິດເຫັນກັນ
They exchanged opinions with each other
ເຂົາເຈົ້າປຶກສາຫາລືກັນ
They consulted with each other
ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ຜະເຊີນໜ້າກັນຢ່າງກົງໄປກົງມາ
They faced each other directly
ການເຂົ້າໃຈກັນເປັນພື້ນຖານຂອງມິດຕະພາບ
Understanding each other is the foundation of friendship
ເຂົາເຈົ້າໄດ້ແຂ່ງຂັນກັນເພື່ອຊະນະ
They competed with each other to win
ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ປະສານງານກັນຢ່າງໃກ້ຊິດ
They coordinated with each other closely
ການທີ່ເຂົາເຈົ້າຮັກແພງກັນນັ້ນເປັນເລື່ອງທີ່ໜ້າຊື່ນຊົມ
The fact that they cherish each other is admirable
ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ປັບຕົວເຂົ້າຫາກັນ
They adapted to each other
ເຂົາເຈົ້າໄດ້ແບ່ງປັນປະສົບການກັນ
They shared experiences with each other
ການພົວພັນກັນລະຫວ່າງສອງປະເທດ
The relationship between the two countries
Easily Confused
Both mean together.
Errores comunes
ຂ້ອຍຮັກກັນ
ພວກເຮົາຮັກກັນ
ພວກເຂົາໄປ
ພວກເຂົາໄປກັນ
ພວກເຂົາກັນໄປ
ພວກເຂົາໄປກັນ
ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ຖືກຮັກກັນ
ພວກເຂົາຮັກກັນ
Sentence Patterns
ພວກເຂົາ ___ ກັນ
Real World Usage
ໄປກັນບໍ່?
Plurality
Smart Tips
Always add 'kan' to sound natural.
Pronunciación
Tone
The 'kan' particle has a mid-tone.
Question
ໄປກັນບ໋ໍ? (Rising at the end)
Inviting someone to join.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Kan' as a 'Can' that holds two people together.
Visual Association
Imagine two people holding a giant 'ກັນ' sign between them, pulling them closer.
Rhyme
When you are two, and the action is fun, just add the particle 'kan'.
Story
Som and Noi are walking. They are walking together. Som says 'Pai kan!' (Let's go together). They talk to each other, 'Wao kan'. They are happy.
Word Web
Desafío
Find a partner and describe three things you do together using 'kan' in 5 minutes.
Notas culturales
Lao culture values collectivism; using 'kan' shows you are part of the group.
Derived from the verb 'to join'.
Conversation Starters
ເຈົ້າກັບໝູ່ໄປໃສກັນ?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
ພວກເຂົາຮັກ ___
Score: /1
Ejercicios de practica
1 exercisesພວກເຂົາຮັກ ___
Score: /1
Preguntas frecuentes (1)
No, it requires a plural subject.
In Other Languages
se
Lao uses a particle, Spanish uses a pronoun.
se
Lao particle is invariant.
einander
Lao 'kan' is more versatile.
tomo ni
Lao 'kan' is more frequent.
一起
Lao 'kan' can also mean 'each other'.
ba'd
Lao 'kan' is a particle.
