Signification
Negating a statement or identifying something as incorrect.
Contexte culturel
When using 'bo maen' to correct an elder, it's polite to add 'khap/kha' and perhaps a slight bow of the head to avoid appearing confrontational. In markets, 'bo maen' is used frequently to clarify prices. It's part of the 'dance' of bargaining and isn't seen as rude. If someone praises you, saying 'bo maen' repeatedly is a standard way to show you are not arrogant. In rural areas, 'bo maen' is used to distinguish between physical ailments and those believed to be caused by spirits (phi).
The Noun Rule
If the next word is a person, place, or thing, use 'bo maen'.
Adjective Trap
Don't use it for 'not hot' or 'not good'. Just use 'bo'.
Signification
Negating a statement or identifying something as incorrect.
The Noun Rule
If the next word is a person, place, or thing, use 'bo maen'.
Adjective Trap
Don't use it for 'not hot' or 'not good'. Just use 'bo'.
Softening the Blow
Add 'dok' at the end (bo maen dok) to sound more natural and less blunt.
Modesty
Use it to deny compliments to fit in with Lao social norms.
Teste-toi
How do you say 'I am not a teacher'?
Choose the correct Lao sentence:
The pattern is Subject (Khoy) + Bo Maen + Noun (Khu).
Fill in the blank to say 'This is not water.'
ນີ້ ______ ນ້ຳ
Since 'water' (nam) is a noun, you must use 'bo maen'.
Match the response to the situation.
Someone asks: 'Is this your bag?' (but it's not)
'Bo maen, khong lao' means 'No, it's theirs.'
Complete the dialogue.
A: ເຈົ້າແມ່ນຄົນຈີນບໍ່? (Are you Chinese?) B: ________, ຂ້ອຍແມ່ນຄົນລາວ.
Use 'bo maen' to correct a nationality guess.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Bo Maen vs Bo
Use ບໍ່ແມ່ນ
- • Names
- • Jobs
- • Objects
- • Nationalities
Use ບໍ່
- • Actions
- • Feelings
- • Colors
- • Sizes
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesChoose the correct Lao sentence:
The pattern is Subject (Khoy) + Bo Maen + Noun (Khu).
ນີ້ ______ ນ້ຳ
Since 'water' (nam) is a noun, you must use 'bo maen'.
Someone asks: 'Is this your bag?' (but it's not)
'Bo maen, khong lao' means 'No, it's theirs.'
A: ເຈົ້າແມ່ນຄົນຈີນບໍ່? (Are you Chinese?) B: ________, ຂ້ອຍແມ່ນຄົນລາວ.
Use 'bo maen' to correct a nationality guess.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsUsually no. If someone asks 'Are you a doctor?', saying just 'Bo' sounds incomplete or slightly rude. 'Bo maen' is the proper way to negate a noun.
It's the same. 'Bor' is just a different way of transliterating the Lao script into English.
You say 'Bo maen naew nan' (ບໍ່ແມ່ນແນວນັ້ນ).
Yes, in the Isan dialect (Northeast Thailand), it is exactly the same. In Central Thai, they say 'mâi châi' (ไม่ใช่).
Only if you are correcting a fact. If someone asks 'Do you want coffee?', say 'Bo' or 'Bo ao', not 'Bo maen'.
Lao people will still understand you, but it will sound very 'foreign'. It's like saying 'I am not go' in English.
Add 'khap' (if you are male) or 'kha' (if you are female) at the end.
Not really, but in very fast speech, the 'bo' is very brief.
Yes, 'Bo maen khwam jing' is the full way, but 'Bo maen' alone works too.
No, the tones for 'bo' and 'maen' are stable in most contexts.
Expressions liées
ແມ່ນແລ້ວ
contrastYes, that's right
ບໍ່ຖືກ
similarIncorrect / Wrong
ບໍ່ແມ່ນຄວາມຈິງ
specialized formNot the truth
ບໍ່ໄດ້
contrastCannot / Not allowed
