Signification
Literally 'eye delicious'.
Contexte culturel
In Laos, food presentation often involves 'Sabaidi' (freshness). A dish that is 'Ta Saep' usually has lots of fresh herbs like mint and cilantro visible. The Isan region of Thailand speaks a dialect very close to Lao and uses 'Pen Ta Saep' identically. It is a shared cultural marker of the Mekong valley. Lao youth use 'Ta Saep' as a common hashtag (#ຕາແຊບ) for food photography, similar to #foodporn in English. Saying 'Ta Saep' when visiting someone's home is considered a high compliment to the matriarch of the family.
The 'Pen' Secret
Adding 'Pen' (ເປັນ) makes you sound much more like a native speaker. 'Pen Ta Saep' is the most natural way to say it.
Food Only!
Remember, never use this for people unless you want to sound very strange or accidentally creepy.
Signification
Literally 'eye delicious'.
The 'Pen' Secret
Adding 'Pen' (ເປັນ) makes you sound much more like a native speaker. 'Pen Ta Saep' is the most natural way to say it.
Food Only!
Remember, never use this for people unless you want to sound very strange or accidentally creepy.
Social Media Etiquette
If a Lao person shares a food photo, commenting 'Ta Saep' is the easiest way to build rapport.
Use with 'De'
Adding 'De' (ເດ) at the end like 'Ta Saep De!' adds a sense of longing, like 'It looks so good (and I want some)!'
Teste-toi
Which phrase would you use when you see a photo of a cake?
ເບິ່ງຮູບເຂົ້າໜົມນີ້ແມ້, ... ຫຼາຍ!
'Ta Saep' is for food. 'Ta Hak' is for cute things, 'Ta Sung' is not a common idiom, and 'Ta Daeng' means red eyes.
Complete the sentence to say 'It looks very delicious.'
ເປັນ...ແຊບຫຼາຍ.
The idiom is 'Pen Ta Saep' (looks delicious).
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are eating a very good bowl of Pho. What do you say?
Since you are already eating, you drop the 'Ta' and just say 'Saep' (delicious).
Complete the dialogue.
A: ມາເດີ້, ກິນເຂົ້າປຽກນຳກັນ. B: ໂອ້, ...!
Both 'Ta Saep tae' (looks really delicious) and 'Khop chai' (thank you) are appropriate responses.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesເບິ່ງຮູບເຂົ້າໜົມນີ້ແມ້, ... ຫຼາຍ!
'Ta Saep' is for food. 'Ta Hak' is for cute things, 'Ta Sung' is not a common idiom, and 'Ta Daeng' means red eyes.
ເປັນ...ແຊບຫຼາຍ.
The idiom is 'Pen Ta Saep' (looks delicious).
You are eating a very good bowl of Pho. What do you say?
Since you are already eating, you drop the 'Ta' and just say 'Saep' (delicious).
A: ມາເດີ້, ກິນເຂົ້າປຽກນຳກັນ. B: ໂອ້, ...!
Both 'Ta Saep tae' (looks really delicious) and 'Khop chai' (thank you) are appropriate responses.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, if a drink looks colorful and refreshing, you can say it's 'Ta Saep'.
Absolutely, it is a great compliment to their presentation skills.
'Saep' is for the actual taste in your mouth. 'Ta Saep' is for the visual appeal before you eat.
Yes, 'Na hap pa than' (ໜ້າຮັບປະທານ) is the formal equivalent.
Yes, it's very common to describe fresh fruit as 'Ta Saep'.
Rarely. It's almost exclusively for things you can consume.
Say 'Baw pen ta saep' (ບໍ່ເປັນຕາແຊບ).
Yes, especially in the Isan region where the language is nearly identical to Lao.
No, that is considered rude or slangy in a bad way. Use 'Na hak' (cute) or 'Lau' (handsome) instead.
It means 'eye'.
It is two words (Ta + Saep) but functions as a single idiomatic unit.
No, for smell you would use 'Hom' (fragrant).
Expressions liées
ເປັນຕາຮັກ
similarLooks lovable / Cute
ໜ້າກິນ
synonymLooks good to eat
ແຊບ
builds onDelicious
ເປັນຕາຢ້ານ
contrastLooks scary
ເປັນຕາໜ່າຍ
specialized formLooks annoying/tiresome
