B2 Compound Verbs 1 min read かんたん

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Combine a main verb with a direction verb (like 'go' or 'come') to show exactly where an action is moving.

  • Place the directional verb immediately after the main verb: ຍ່າງໄປ (walk go = walk away).
  • Use 'ມາ' (ma) for movement towards the speaker and 'ໄປ' (pai) for movement away.
  • Directional verbs can also indicate the result of an action, not just physical movement.
Main Verb + Direction Verb (ມາ/ໄປ) + [Optional Destination]

Directional Compound Formation

Main Verb Direction Meaning
ຍ່າງ
ໄປ
Walk away
ຍ່າງ
ມາ
Walk towards
ແລ່ນ
ໄປ
Run away
ແລ່ນ
ມາ
Run towards
ບິນ
ໄປ
Fly away
ບິນ
ມາ
Fly towards

Meanings

Directional compounds in Lao combine a primary action verb with a secondary verb of motion to specify the trajectory of the action relative to the speaker.

1

Physical Motion

Indicates the physical direction of a subject moving.

“ລາວຍ່າງໄປຕະຫຼາດ (He walked to the market)”

“ນົກບິນມາຫາເຮົາ (The bird flew towards us)”

2

Resultative/Abstract

Indicates the completion or direction of an abstract process.

“ລາວຄິດອອກມາ (He thought it out/came up with it)”

“ເລື່ອງນີ້ຜ່ານໄປແລ້ວ (This matter has passed)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Directional Compounds
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
V + Dir
ຍ່າງໄປ
Negative
bo + V + Dir
ບໍ່ຍ່າງໄປ
Question
V + Dir + bo?
ຍ່າງໄປບໍ່?
Past
dai + V + Dir
ໄດ້ຍ່າງໄປ
Future
cha + V + Dir
ຈະຍ່າງໄປ

フォーマル度スペクトル

フォーマル
ລາວກຳລັງເດີນທາງກັບມາບ້ານ

ລາວກຳລັງເດີນທາງກັບມາບ້ານ (Returning home)

ニュートラル
ລາວກຳລັງກັບມາບ້ານ

ລາວກຳລັງກັບມາບ້ານ (Returning home)

カジュアル
ລາວກັບມາແລ້ວ

ລາວກັບມາແລ້ວ (Returning home)

スラング
ລາວມາລະ

ລາວມາລະ (Returning home)

Directional Logic

Speaker

Movement

  • ມາ Towards
  • ໄປ Away

レベル別の例文

1

ຂ້ອຍໄປໂຮງຮຽນ

I go to school

1

ລາວແລ່ນມາຫາຂ້ອຍ

He ran to me

1

ລາວຄິດອອກມາແລ້ວ

He has thought it out

1

ເຂົາເຈົ້າເດີນທາງກັບມາບ້ານ

They traveled back home

1

ຄວາມຈິງປະກົດອອກມາໃຫ້ເຫັນ

The truth appeared to be seen

1

ລາວໄດ້ແລ່ນໜີໄປໄກແລ້ວ

He has already run far away

間違えやすい

Directional Compounds Resultative vs Directional

Both use 'pai/ma'.

よくある間違い

ໄປຍ່າງ

ຍ່າງໄປ

Direction must follow the verb.

ຍ່າງ

ຍ່າງໄປ

Need to specify direction.

ຍ່າງມາໄປ

ຍ່າງໄປ

Don't double up.

ບໍ່ໄດ້ຍ່າງ

ບໍ່ຍ່າງໄປ

Keep the negative at the start.

ແລ່ນມາຫາ

ແລ່ນມາ

Redundant 'ha'.

ບິນໄປຫາ

ບິນໄປ

Simple direction is enough.

ລາວໄປ

ລາວໄປຫາ

Need 'ha' for people.

ຄິດມາ

ຄິດອອກມາ

Missing resultative marker.

ເວົ້າໄປ

ເວົ້າອອກມາ

Wrong direction for speech.

ເຫັນໄປ

ເຫັນອອກ

Wrong resultative.

ປະກົດໄປ

ປະກົດອອກມາ

Complex compound needed.

ແລ່ນໜີ

ແລ່ນໜີໄປ

Need the directional suffix.

文型パターン

ລາວ ___ ໄປ

Real World Usage

Texting constant

ຂ້ອຍມາຮອດແລ້ວ

💡

Focus on the speaker

Always ask: is it moving toward me or away?

Smart Tips

Use 'ma' for 'to me'.

ລາວມາ ລາວຍ່າງມາ

発音

ma (mid)

Tone of 'ma'

Ma (come) is mid-tone.

Question

ໄປບໍ່? ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of 'Ma' as 'Me' (coming to me) and 'Pai' as 'Pass' (passing away from me).

視覚的連想

Imagine a magnet. If it's 'Ma', the object is pulled to your chest. If it's 'Pai', you push it away with your hand.

Rhyme

Ma comes to see, Pai goes away from me.

Story

I am standing at the door. My friend walks towards me (ຍ່າງມາ). I wave and he walks away (ຍ່າງໄປ). I feel happy because he thought of a solution (ຄິດອອກມາ).

Word Web

ມາໄປຍ່າງແລ່ນບິນກັບ

チャレンジ

Describe your walk to the kitchen using 3 directional verbs in 5 minutes.

文化メモ

Directional verbs are used to show respect to the speaker's location.

Derived from independent verbs meaning 'to go' and 'to come'.

会話のきっかけ

ເຈົ້າຈະໄປໃສ?

日記のテーマ

Describe your walk to work.

よくある間違い

Incorrect

正解


Incorrect

正解


Incorrect

正解


Incorrect

正解

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

ລາວຍ່າງ___ (away)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໄປ
Pai means away.

Score: /1

練習問題

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

ລາວຍ່າງ___ (away)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໄປ
Pai means away.

Score: /1

よくある質問 (1)

No, choose one based on direction.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Ir + a

Lao verbs are serial, Spanish uses prepositions.

French partial

Aller + direction

Lao compounds are more integrated.

German moderate

Separable verbs

German prefixes are attached.

Japanese high

Iku/Kuru

Japanese uses particles.

Arabic low

Verbal phrases

Arabic is not serial.

Chinese high

Qulai/Ququ

Very similar structure.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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