Signification
Appreciate small things and food.
Contexte culturel
Rice is the staple food, and wasting it is often seen as a minor sin or bad luck in animist traditions. The Isan people share the same proverb and rice culture as the Lao, using it to maintain community bonds. For Lao families living abroad, this proverb is a way to keep their heritage alive and teach children about their roots. Monks rely on the daily rice offerings of the community, making this proverb a literal truth for their survival.
Finish your rice
In Laos, leaving rice in your bowl is considered disrespectful to the host and the farmer. Use this proverb to explain why you are finishing every bit!
The 'Med' Classifier
Mastering the classifier 'med' here will help you with other small things like pills, seeds, and gems.
Signification
Appreciate small things and food.
Finish your rice
In Laos, leaving rice in your bowl is considered disrespectful to the host and the farmer. Use this proverb to explain why you are finishing every bit!
The 'Med' Classifier
Mastering the classifier 'med' here will help you with other small things like pills, seeds, and gems.
Don't be sarcastic
This is a sincere proverb. Using it to mock someone's small portion of food is a major social faux pas.
Use it for money
You can use this to justify saving small amounts of money. It makes you sound very wise and culturally integrated.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the proverb.
ເຂົ້າ____ດຽວລ້ຽງຊີວິດ
'ເມັດ' (med) is the correct classifier for grains of rice.
What is the figurative meaning of this proverb?
When someone says 'Khao med diao liang sivit', they mean:
The proverb teaches gratitude and the value of resources.
Match the situation to the correct use of the proverb.
A child leaves two grains of rice in their bowl.
This is the perfect context to teach a child about the value of food.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ຢ່າຖິ້ມເງິນ 500 ກີບນັ້ນແມ໋! B: ມັນໜ້ອຍໂພດ. A: ບໍ່ໄດ້ເດີ້, ________.
The proverb can be used metaphorically to talk about small amounts of money.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Where to use 'Med'
Food
- • Rice
- • Seeds
- • Beans
Medicine
- • Pills
- • Tablets
Nature
- • Gems
- • Small stones
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesເຂົ້າ____ດຽວລ້ຽງຊີວິດ
'ເມັດ' (med) is the correct classifier for grains of rice.
When someone says 'Khao med diao liang sivit', they mean:
The proverb teaches gratitude and the value of resources.
A child leaves two grains of rice in their bowl.
This is the perfect context to teach a child about the value of food.
A: ຢ່າຖິ້ມເງິນ 500 ກີບນັ້ນແມ໋! B: ມັນໜ້ອຍໂພດ. A: ບໍ່ໄດ້ເດີ້, ________.
The proverb can be used metaphorically to talk about small amounts of money.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsLiterally yes, but figuratively it applies to any small resource, money, or effort that contributes to a larger goal.
Yes, especially if you are eating together and want to show you appreciate the food.
It has roots in animism and Buddhism, but today it is a general cultural proverb used by everyone.
It means to feed or nurture. It's the same word used for raising children or pets.
People sometimes just say 'Khun khong khao' (The value of rice).
'Med' is the classifier for small, round, or seed-like objects. You can't count rice without it!
It might be a bit too formal/philosophical for a waiter. Better to say it to your dining companions.
Absolutely! Sticky rice (Khao Niao) is the heart of Lao culture, and this proverb is most often associated with it.
It's 'See-wit'. The 'v' sound is often soft, almost like a 'w'.
Yes, it is known by every Lao person, from the city to the most remote villages.
Expressions liées
ກິນເຂົ້າໃຫ້ໝົດເມັດ
similarEat every grain of rice.
ຮູ້ບຸນຄຸນຂອງເຂົ້າ
builds onTo be grateful for rice.
ຊາວນາແມ່ນກະດູກສັນຫຼັງຂອງຊາດ
similarFarmers are the backbone of the nation.
ຟຸມເຟືອຍ
contrastExtravagant/Wasteful.
