Signification
Living in poverty.
Contexte culturel
Poverty is often discussed with a sense of 'Karna' (compassion). Using 'ក្រលំបាក' shows that you recognize the person's suffering, which is seen as more polite than just calling them 'poor'. Many classic novels, like 'Sophat', feature protagonists from 'ក្រលំបាក' backgrounds who eventually succeed through merit and hard work. Donating to those who are 'ក្រលំបាក' is a primary way for laypeople to 'make merit' (ធ្វើបុណ្យ). On Cambodian Facebook, 'ក្រលំបាក' is a keyword used in viral charity posts to attract donors and sympathy.
Use with Empathy
Always use this phrase with a sympathetic tone of voice. It's not just a fact; it's a description of a struggle.
Word Order
Never swap the words. 'Lombak Kro' is not a phrase and will confuse listeners.
Signification
Living in poverty.
Use with Empathy
Always use this phrase with a sympathetic tone of voice. It's not just a fact; it's a description of a struggle.
Word Order
Never swap the words. 'Lombak Kro' is not a phrase and will confuse listeners.
Add 'ណាស់'
In 90% of casual speech, people add 'ណាស់' (very) to the end of this phrase to emphasize the hardship.
Merit-making
If you are in a pagoda, you will hear this phrase often. It's the standard way monks refer to the less fortunate during blessings.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the phrase.
គ្រួសារគាត់ _____ លំបាកណាស់។
The phrase is 'ក្រលំបាក' (Kro-Lombak).
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'They are very poor and struggling'?
Choose the best option:
The word order must be 'ក្រ' then 'លំបាក'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
When would you use 'ក្រលំបាក'?
'ក្រលំបាក' refers to systemic poverty and hardship.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ហេតុអ្វីបានជាក្មេងនោះមិនទៅរៀន? B: ព្រោះគ្រួសារគេ __________ ។
Poverty is a common reason for children not attending school in this context.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Levels of Poverty in Khmer
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesគ្រួសារគាត់ _____ លំបាកណាស់។
The phrase is 'ក្រលំបាក' (Kro-Lombak).
Choose the best option:
The word order must be 'ក្រ' then 'លំបាក'.
When would you use 'ក្រលំបាក'?
'ក្រលំបាក' refers to systemic poverty and hardship.
A: ហេតុអ្វីបានជាក្មេងនោះមិនទៅរៀន? B: ព្រោះគ្រួសារគេ __________ ។
Poverty is a common reason for children not attending school in this context.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is not offensive. It is a descriptive and often sympathetic term. However, calling someone 'អាអ្នកក្រ' (you poor person) using the 'ah' prefix is very offensive.
Yes, you can use it to describe your own upbringing or current struggle, e.g., 'គ្រួសារខ្ញុំក្រលំបាក' (My family is poor and struggling).
'ក្រ' is just the status of being poor. 'ក្រលំបាក' describes the difficult life that comes with being poor.
Yes, 'ភាពក្រីក្រ' (poverty) or 'ខ្វះខាត' (lacking) are more formal.
You would use 'បន្ទាត់នៃភាពក្រីក្រ' (Bantoat nei pheap krey-kro).
Yes, you can say 'ប្រទេសក្រលំបាក' (a poor and struggling country), though 'ប្រទេសក្រីក្រ' is more common in news.
Primarily yes, but it implies a lack of all resources (food, shelter, health).
Very often! Many Khmer songs are about the struggles of the poor.
It is a slight trill or tap, but in Phnom Penh, it is often silent.
Yes, 'ក្រណាស់' (Kro-nah).
Expressions liées
ក្រីក្រ
synonymPoor (formal)
តោកយ៉ាក
specialized formDestitute
ខ្វះខាត
similarLacking
មានបាន
contrastWell-off / Rich
រកព្រឹកខ្វះល្ងាច
builds onHand-to-mouth
