Signification
Stating lack of possession.
Contexte culturel
Saying 'Khoy bor mee' is often a polite way to say 'No' without being blunt. It shifts the reason from personal choice to an external lack of resource. When speaking to monks, use 'Khanoy' instead of 'Khoy' to show humility. Monks themselves might use 'Atama' to refer to themselves. Vendors are persistent. A firm but smiling 'Bor mee ngern' or 'Bor mee kip' is a standard way to end a negotiation you don't want to continue. Older people might drop the 'Khoy' entirely and just say 'Bor mee'. As a learner, keeping 'Khoy' makes you sound more polite and clear.
Drop the 'Khoy'
In casual conversation, just say 'Bor mee' to sound more like a local.
Don't use for 'I am not'
Remember: 'Bor mee' is for things, 'Bor maen' is for identity.
Signification
Stating lack of possession.
Drop the 'Khoy'
In casual conversation, just say 'Bor mee' to sound more like a local.
Don't use for 'I am not'
Remember: 'Bor mee' is for things, 'Bor maen' is for identity.
Add 'Loei' for emphasis
Say 'Bor mee loei' to mean 'I don't have any at all'.
The 'Soft No'
Use 'Khoy bor mee' to decline requests gently without hurting feelings.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to say 'I don't have a pen'.
ຂ້ອຍ ___ ມີບິກ
'ບໍ່' (bor) is the standard negation word used before verbs.
Which sentence means 'I don't have time'?
Select the correct Lao translation:
Option B follows the correct Subject + Bor + Mee + Noun pattern.
Match the response to the situation.
Someone asks: 'ເຈົ້າມີເງິນບໍ່?' (Do you have money?)
You use 'bor mee' to state you lack the physical item requested.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ໄປກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່? (Go eat?) B: ຂໍໂທດ, ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມີ____.
'Time' (ເວລາ) is the most logical reason to decline an invitation to eat.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
What you can 'Bor Mee'
Physical
- • Money
- • Car
- • Pen
Abstract
- • Time
- • Idea
- • Luck
Social
- • Friends
- • Partner
- • Kids
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesຂ້ອຍ ___ ມີບິກ
'ບໍ່' (bor) is the standard negation word used before verbs.
Select the correct Lao translation:
Option B follows the correct Subject + Bor + Mee + Noun pattern.
Someone asks: 'ເຈົ້າມີເງິນບໍ່?' (Do you have money?)
You use 'bor mee' to state you lack the physical item requested.
A: ໄປກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່? (Go eat?) B: ຂໍໂທດ, ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມີ____.
'Time' (ເວລາ) is the most logical reason to decline an invitation to eat.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, for physical sensations, Lao uses 'chep' (hurt). You would say 'Khoy bor chep hua'.
It's neutral. Use 'Khanoy' for monks and 'Khaphachao' for very formal speeches.
Add 'leoa' (already) at the end: 'Khoy bor mee leoa'.
'Bor mee' is a flat 'no'. 'Yung bor mee' means 'not yet', which is often more polite.
Yes! 'Bor mee' also means 'There isn't'. For example, 'Bor mee khon' means 'There are no people'.
Yes, but add 'Doy' or 'Khon thod' (sorry) to be more respectful.
It's just a dialectal variation in pronunciation; the meaning is the same.
Khoy bor mee thang lueak.
No, Lao verbs never change form. Context or time words (like 'mue van ni' - yesterday) tell you the tense.
No, that's a common mistake. Just say 'Khoy bor hieu' (I'm not hungry).
Expressions liées
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ແມ່ນ
contrastI am not
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄດ້
similarI didn't / I cannot
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມີຫຍັງ
builds onI don't have anything
ບໍ່ມີບັນຫາ
specialized formNo problem
