Bargaining Phrases
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Bargaining in Lao is polite and indirect; use 'lot dai bor?' to ask for a discount.
- Always use polite particles like 'der' or 'jow' to soften your request.
- Ask 'lot dai bor?' (Can you lower the price?) to initiate negotiation.
- Use 'paeng lai' (too expensive) followed by a smile to show you are friendly.
Meanings
These phrases are used to negotiate prices in markets or shops where fixed pricing is not strictly enforced.
Initiating Negotiation
Expressing that an item is expensive to start the bargaining process.
“ອັນນີ້ແພງຫຼາຍ”
“ມີລາຄາພິເສດບໍ່?”
Accepting/Declining
Concluding the negotiation.
“ຕົກລົງ”
“ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, ຂອບໃຈ”
Bargaining Phrase Structure
| Step | Lao | English | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ອັນນີ້ | This item | Subject |
| 2 | ແພງ | Expensive | Adjective |
| 3 | ຫຼາຍ | Very | Intensifier |
| 4 | ລົດ | Lower | Verb |
| 5 | ໄດ້ | Can | Ability |
| 6 | ບໍ່ | Question | Interrogative |
Common Shortened Phrases
| Full Phrase | Short Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ລົດລາຄາໄດ້ບໍ່ | ລົດໄດ້ບໍ່ | Can you lower it? |
| ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ | ເທົ່າໃດ | How much? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + paeng | An nee paeng (This is expensive) |
| Negative | Subject + bor + paeng | An nee bor paeng (This is not expensive) |
| Question | Verb + dai + bor? | Lot dai bor? (Can you lower it?) |
| Polite | Phrase + jow/der | Lot dai bor jow? (Can you lower it, please?) |
| Acceptance | Tok long | Tok long (Agreed) |
| Decline | Bor pen yang | Bor pen yang (No problem/No thanks) |
Spectre de formalité
Khor thot, lot raka dai bor? (Market)
Lot dai bor? (Market)
Lot dai bor? (Market)
Lot dai bor? (Market)
Bargaining Flow
Opening
- ສະບາຍດີ Hello
Negotiating
- ລົດໄດ້ບໍ່ Can you lower it?
Closing
- ຂອບໃຈ Thank you
Examples by Level
ອັນນີ້ແພງຫຼາຍ
This is very expensive.
ລົດໄດ້ບໍ່?
Can you lower it?
ຂອບໃຈ
Thank you.
ເທົ່າໃດ?
How much?
ອັນນີ້ແພງຫຼາຍ, ລົດໄດ້ບໍ່?
This is very expensive, can you lower it?
ລາຄານີ້ໄດ້ບໍ່?
Is this price okay?
ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, ຂອບໃຈ.
It's okay, thank you.
ມີລາຄາພິເສດບໍ່?
Is there a special price?
ຖ້າຊື້ສອງອັນ, ລົດໄດ້ອີກບໍ່?
If I buy two, can you lower it more?
ລາຄານີ້ແພງໂພດ, ຫຼຸດໃຫ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່?
This price is too high, can you give me a discount?
ຂ້ອຍຂໍຄິດເບິ່ງກ່ອນເດີ້.
I will think about it first.
ລາຄາສຸດທ້າຍເທົ່າໃດ?
What is the final price?
ຂ້ອຍມັກອັນນີ້, ແຕ່ລາຄາສູງເກີນໄປ.
I like this, but the price is too high.
ເຈົ້າຫຼຸດໃຫ້ໄດ້ເທົ່າໃດ?
How much can you discount for me?
ຖ້າລາຄານີ້, ຂ້ອຍຊື້ເລີຍ.
If it's this price, I will buy it now.
ຂໍໂທດ, ລາຄານີ້ຂ້ອຍຊື້ບໍ່ໄດ້.
Sorry, I cannot buy at this price.
ລາຄານີ້ຍັງສູງຢູ່, ເຈົ້າພໍຈະຫຼຸດໃຫ້ໄດ້ອີກບໍ່?
This price is still high, can you lower it a bit more?
ຂ້ອຍເຫັນຮ້ານອື່ນຂາຍຖືກກວ່ານີ້.
I saw another shop selling it cheaper than this.
ພວກເຮົາຕົກລົງກັນທີ່ລາຄານີ້ໄດ້ບໍ່?
Can we agree on this price?
ຂອບໃຈທີ່ຫຼຸດລາຄາໃຫ້.
Thank you for the discount.
ລາຄານີ້ຖືວ່າສົມເຫດສົມຜົນ, ຕົກລົງ.
This price is reasonable, agreed.
ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄດ້ລາຄາທີ່ດີກວ່ານີ້ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ.
I would like a slightly better price.
ຖ້າເຈົ້າຫຼຸດໃຫ້, ຂ້ອຍຈະກັບມາຊື້ອີກ.
If you give me a discount, I will come back to buy again.
ລາຄານີ້ແມ່ນລາຄາສຸດທ້າຍແລ້ວບໍ່?
Is this the absolute final price?
Easily Confused
Learners often ask for the price and then stop.
Direct translations can sound rude.
Bargaining everywhere.
Erreurs courantes
Paeng!
An nee paeng lai, jow.
Lot!
Lot dai bor?
How much cost?
Tao dai?
No expensive.
Bor paeng.
You lower price.
Lot hai dai bor?
Very expensive, no.
Paeng lai, bor pen yang.
I want cheap.
Khor raka thuk.
Why so expensive?
Pen yang paeng lai?
Give me discount.
Lot hai dai bor?
I buy for 10.
10 dai bor?
I am not paying this.
Raka nee paeng lai.
You must lower.
Lot hai dai bor?
This is bad price.
Raka nee bor som.
Sentence Patterns
An nee ___, lot dai bor?
___, lot dai bor?
___, lot hai dai bor?
___, lot raka dai bor?
Real World Usage
An nee paeng lai, lot dai bor?
Lot dai bor?
Lot dai bor?
Tao dai?
Lot dai bor jow?
Mi raka phiset bor?
Smile
Don't be rude
Use particles
Know the place
Smart Tips
Always smile first.
Use 'paeng lai'.
Add 'jow' or 'der'.
Use 'bor pen yang'.
Prononciation
Tone
Lao is a tonal language. Ensure your tones are correct to avoid confusion.
Question
Lot dai bor? ↑
Rising intonation at the end indicates a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'Lot' like 'Lottery'—you want to win a lower price!
Visual Association
Imagine a friendly market seller smiling as you both agree on a price.
Rhyme
Price is high, say 'paeng lai', ask to 'lot', and give a smile.
Story
You walk into a market. You see a beautiful scarf. You ask the price. It is high. You smile and say 'paeng lai'. The seller laughs and says 'lot dai'. You are happy.
Word Web
Défi
Go to a local shop and ask for the price of three items using 'tao dai'.
Notes culturelles
Bargaining is a social interaction. Always smile.
Lao bargaining phrases evolved from traditional market trade practices.
Conversation Starters
An nee tao dai?
Paeng lai, lot dai bor?
Raka nee dai bor?
Mi raka phiset bor?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
An nee paeng ___, lot dai bor?
Which is most polite?
Find and fix the mistake:
Fix: 'I want cheap.'
Order: 'bor / lot / dai / ?'
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Seller: '100 kip'. You: '___'
Bargaining is okay in supermarkets.
Change 'Lot dai' to question.
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesAn nee paeng ___, lot dai bor?
Which is most polite?
Find and fix the mistake:
Fix: 'I want cheap.'
Order: 'bor / lot / dai / ?'
Match 'Paeng lai' to meaning.
Seller: '100 kip'. You: '___'
Bargaining is okay in supermarkets.
Change 'Lot dai' to question.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, only in traditional markets.
Say 'bor pen yang' and walk away.
Not if you are polite and smile.
It is a polite particle.
Use 'lot dai bor'.
Never.
Smile and say hello.
No, prices are fixed.
In Other Languages
Regatear
Lao is more indirect.
Marchander
Lao relies on politeness markers.
Handeln
Lao is more social.
Negoshie-shon
Lao uses particles.
Mufawada
Lao is less intense.
Kan jia
Lao is softer.
