Signification
Literally 'light mouth'; someone who talks too much.
Contexte culturel
In traditional villages, 'Pak Bao' was a social label that could lead to exclusion. Maintaining 'face' for the whole community meant keeping internal matters private. The term is now used to describe 'oversharers' on Facebook and TikTok. It has evolved from verbal gossip to digital indiscretion. Discretion is highly valued in Lao business. Being 'Pak Nak' (heavy-mouthed) is seen as a sign of a good leader, while 'Pak Bao' is a career-killer. While used for everyone, there is a historical stereotype of 'Pak Bao' being associated with women in the market, though modern usage is gender-neutral.
Context is King
With close friends, calling them 'Pak Bao' can be a joke. With strangers, it's an insult.
Avoid in Business
Never use this to describe a client or boss, even if they talk a lot. Use 'ເພິ່ນມັກສົນທະນາ' (He likes to converse) instead.
Signification
Literally 'light mouth'; someone who talks too much.
Context is King
With close friends, calling them 'Pak Bao' can be a joke. With strangers, it's an insult.
Avoid in Business
Never use this to describe a client or boss, even if they talk a lot. Use 'ເພິ່ນມັກສົນທະນາ' (He likes to converse) instead.
The Antonym Trick
If you want to praise someone for being trustworthy, use 'ປາກໜັກ' (Pak Nak). It's the ultimate compliment for a confidant.
The 'Face' Factor
Remember that 'Pak Bao' is often used to describe someone who 'destroys face' by revealing things that should be private.
Teste-toi
Which sentence correctly describes someone who just told everyone your secret?
ສົມພອນບອກຄວາມລັບຂອງຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນຮູ້. ສົມພອນເປັນຄົນ...
ປາກເບົາ (light mouth) is the idiom for someone who can't keep secrets.
Fill in the blank to complete the warning.
ຢ່າບອກລາວເດີ້, ລາວ...ຫຼາຍ.
The context of 'Don't tell him' implies the person is a blabbermouth (ປາກເບົາ).
Match the idiom to the person.
Match 'ປາກເບົາ' with the correct person:
Pak Bao refers to indiscretion and gossiping.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ເຈົ້າຮູ້ບໍ່ວ່າໃຜເຮັດຈອກແຕກ? B: ຂ້ອຍຮູ້, ແຕ່ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ບອກດອກ. ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ແມ່ນຄົນ...
B is saying they aren't a blabbermouth, so they won't tell.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
The Weight of Words
When to use 'Pak Bao'
Social
- • Friends
- • Parties
- • Markets
Digital
- • TikTok
- • Group Chats
Family
- • Siblings
- • Cousins
- • Aunties
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesສົມພອນບອກຄວາມລັບຂອງຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ທຸກຄົນຮູ້. ສົມພອນເປັນຄົນ...
ປາກເບົາ (light mouth) is the idiom for someone who can't keep secrets.
ຢ່າບອກລາວເດີ້, ລາວ...ຫຼາຍ.
The context of 'Don't tell him' implies the person is a blabbermouth (ປາກເບົາ).
Match 'ປາກເບົາ' with the correct person:
Pak Bao refers to indiscretion and gossiping.
A: ເຈົ້າຮູ້ບໍ່ວ່າໃຜເຮັດຈອກແຕກ? B: ຂ້ອຍຮູ້, ແຕ່ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ບອກດອກ. ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ແມ່ນຄົນ...
B is saying they aren't a blabbermouth, so they won't tell.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questions90% of the time, yes. It implies a lack of control. However, it can be used playfully between very close friends or to describe a cute, talkative child.
Yes! You can say 'ຂ້ອຍປາກເບົາ' (I'm a chatterbox) as a way of apologizing for talking too much or accidentally revealing something.
'ເວົ້າຫຼາຍ' (Veua Lai) just means 'talks a lot'. 'ປາກເບົາ' adds the nuance that they shouldn't be talking that much or are revealing secrets.
You say 'ຢ່າປາກເບົາເດີ້' (Ya pak bao der).
Not a direct idiom, but you would say 'ຮັກສາຄວາມລັບບໍ່ໄດ້' (cannot keep secrets).
Usually no. It's almost exclusively used for spoken communication or 'speaking' through social media posts.
Yes, it is completely gender-neutral in modern Lao.
It's more of a traditional idiom that is used informally. It's not 'new' slang, but it's not formal either.
Use 'ເວົ້າສຽງດັງ' (Veua siang dang). 'ປາກເບົາ' is about the *amount* and *content* of speech, not the volume.
Yes, it is understood throughout Laos and even in Isan (Northeast Thailand).
Expressions liées
ປາກໜັກ
contrastHeavy mouth; tight-lipped.
ປາກດີ
similarGood mouth; sassy or eloquent.
ເວົ້າພື້ນ
builds onTo gossip.
ປາກຮ້າຍ
similarMean mouth.
ປາກຫວານ
similarSweet mouth.
