Significado
Stating a lack of information.
Contexto cultural
Lao people often use 'Bor hoo' accompanied by a gentle smile to avoid the awkwardness of not being able to help a foreigner. In Isan, people speak a dialect very similar to Lao and will use 'Bor hoo' instead of the Central Thai 'Mai roo'. Second-generation Lao speakers might mix 'Bor hoo' with English or French, often using it as a filler phrase. In modern offices, 'Bor hoo' is being replaced by 'Bor nae jai' (not sure) to sound more professional and less definitive.
Add 'Der'
Always add 'der' (ເດີ) at the end of 'Khoy bor hoo' to sound much more polite and less like you're shutting down the conversation.
Tones Matter
If you say 'Hoo' with a rising tone, it might sound like 'ear'. Make sure it falls!
Significado
Stating a lack of information.
Add 'Der'
Always add 'der' (ເດີ) at the end of 'Khoy bor hoo' to sound much more polite and less like you're shutting down the conversation.
Tones Matter
If you say 'Hoo' with a rising tone, it might sound like 'ear'. Make sure it falls!
The 'I don't know' Shrug
Lao people often tilt their head slightly when saying this to show they are genuinely trying to be helpful but can't.
Face Saving
If someone says 'Bor hoo' to you, don't press them. It's a polite way of saying they can't help.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word to say 'I don't know'.
ຂ້ອຍ ___ ຮູ້
'ບໍ່' (bor) is the standard word for 'not' in Lao.
Which phrase is the most polite way to say 'I don't know' to a teacher?
Choose the best option:
'Khapachao bor sap' uses the formal 'I' and the formal 'know'.
Match the Lao phrase to its English meaning.
Match them up:
These are common phrases for expressing uncertainty.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: ຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າຢູ່ໃສ? (Where is the Morning Market?) B: ຂໍໂທດ, _______.
'I don't know the way' is the logical response to a direction question.
Which phrase fits a casual chat with a friend?
Your friend asks what you want for dinner.
'Don't know, up to you' is a very common casual response.
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
5 ejerciciosຂ້ອຍ ___ ຮູ້
'ບໍ່' (bor) is the standard word for 'not' in Lao.
Choose the best option:
'Khapachao bor sap' uses the formal 'I' and the formal 'know'.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are common phrases for expressing uncertainty.
A: ຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າຢູ່ໃສ? (Where is the Morning Market?) B: ຂໍໂທດ, _______.
'I don't know the way' is the logical response to a direction question.
Your friend asks what you want for dinner.
'Don't know, up to you' is a very common casual response.
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it's neutral. However, adding 'der' or 'khaw thod' (sorry) makes it much more polite.
Yes, in informal settings with friends or street vendors, dropping the 'Khoy' is very common.
'Hoo' is everyday language; 'Sap' is formal/royal language used for high-status people.
Add 'thua' (ເທື່ອ) at the end: 'Khoy bor thun hoo thua'.
It's a regional variation, especially common in Southern Laos or among the older generation.
Yes, it's the most common neutral pronoun for 'I' in Lao.
Say 'Khoy bor hoo sang loei' (ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້ສັງເລີຍ).
Almost. Thai uses 'Mai roo'. Lao uses 'Bor hoo'. They are mutually intelligible.
Technically yes, but 'Bor khao jai' (I don't understand) is more accurate.
Use 'Khoy bor hoo jak lao' (ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້ຈັກລາວ).
Frases relacionadas
ບໍ່ແນ່ໃຈ
similarNot sure
ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ
similarDon't understand
ບໍ່ຊາບ
specialized formDon't know (Formal)
ຮູ້ແລ້ວ
contrastAlready know
ບໍ່ຮູ້ຈັກ
similarDon't know (person/place)
ໃຜຊິຮູ້
builds onWho knows?
