Syntactic Embedding
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'ທີ່' (thī) or 'ຜູ້' (phū) to glue a whole sentence onto a noun to describe it in detail.
- Use ທີ່ (thī) for objects and general descriptions: ປຶ້ມທີ່ຂ້ອຍອ່ານ (The book I read).
- Use ຜູ້ (phū) specifically for people to sound more natural: ຄົນຜູ້ທີ່ມາ (The person who came).
- Place the relative clause immediately after the noun it describes, no commas needed usually.
Meanings
Syntactic embedding allows a speaker to nest one clause inside another to provide more information about a noun without starting a new sentence.
General Relativization
Using 'ທີ່' (thī) to link a noun to a descriptive action or state.
“ອາຫານທີ່ລາວເຮັດແຊບຫຼາຍ (The food that he makes is very delicious).”
“ລົດທີ່ຈອດຢູ່ຫັ້ນແມ່ນຂອງຂ້ອຍ (The car that is parked there is mine).”
Human-Centric Relativization
Using 'ຜູ້' (phū) or 'ຜູ້ທີ່' (phū thī) to specifically describe people.
“ນັກຮຽນຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງຈະໄດ້ລາງວັນ (The student who studies well will get a prize).”
“ຂ້ອຍຢາກລົມກັບຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນຫົວໜ້າ (I want to talk to the person who is the boss).”
Formal/Abstract Linking
Using 'ຊຶ່ງ' (sưng) for non-restrictive clauses or abstract concepts in formal writing.
“ບັນຫາຊຶ່ງພວກເຮົາກຳລັງຜະເຊີນຢູ່ນີ້... (The problem which we are currently facing...)”
“ຄວາມຮັກ ຊຶ່ງແມ່ນສິ່ງທີ່ສວຍງາມ (Love, which is a beautiful thing...)”
Relative Marker Selection
| Marker | Usage | Example (Lao) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ທີ່ (thī) | General / Objects | ລົດທີ່ຂ້ອຍຊື້ | The car I bought |
| ຜູ້ (phū) | People (Specific) | ຄົນຜູ້ມາໃໝ່ | The person who newly arrived |
| ຜູ້ທີ່ (phū thī) | People (Common) | ນັກຮຽນຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນ | The student who studies |
| ຊຶ່ງ (sưng) | Formal / Non-restrictive | ບັນຫາຊຶ່ງເກີດຂຶ້ນ | The problem which occurred |
| ອັນ (an) | Abstract / Formal | ຄວາມດີອັນປະເສີດ | The goodness which is excellent |
| ບ່ອນທີ່ (bon thī) | Places | ບ່ອນທີ່ຂ້ອຍຢູ່ | The place where I live |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Noun + ທີ່ + Verb | ໝາທີ່ເຫົ່າ (The dog that barks) |
| Negative | Noun + ທີ່ + ບໍ່ + Verb | ໝາທີ່ບໍ່ເຫົ່າ (The dog that doesn't bark) |
| Object Focus | Noun + ທີ່ + Subject + Verb | ປຶ້ມທີ່ຂ້ອຍອ່ານ (The book that I read) |
| Subject Focus | Noun + ຜູ້ທີ່ + Verb | ຄົນຜູ້ທີ່ຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍ (The person who helped me) |
| Possessive | Noun + ທີ່ + ຂອງ + Noun + Verb | ຄົນທີ່ລົດຂອງລາວເພ (The person whose car is broken) |
| Formal | Noun + ຊຶ່ງ + Clause | ເຫດຜົນຊຶ່ງລາວອ້າງ (The reason which he claimed) |
| Place | Noun + ບ່ອນທີ່ + Clause | ໂຮງແຮມບ່ອນທີ່ເຮົາພັກ (The hotel where we stayed) |
| Time | ເວລາທີ່ + Clause | ເວລາທີ່ຂ້ອຍໄປ (The time that I went) |
フォーマル度スペクトル
ບຸກຄົນຜູ້ທີ່ມາເມື່ອວານນີ້ ແມ່ນນ້ອງຊາຍຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ. (Family introductions)
ຄົນທີ່ມາເມື່ອວານນີ້ແມ່ນນ້ອງຊາຍຂ້ອຍ. (Family introductions)
ຜູ້ທີ່ມາແຕ່ຫວານນີ້ແມ່ນນ້ອງຂ້ອຍ. (Family introductions)
ຜູ່ມາແຕ່ຫວານຫັ້ນນ້ອງຂ້ອຍເອງ. (Family introductions)
Lao Relative Markers
General
- ທີ່ (thī) that/which
People
- ຜູ້ (phū) who
Formal
- ຊຶ່ງ (sưng) which (formal)
Abstract
- ອັນ (an) that (abstract)
Thī vs. Wā
Choosing the Right Marker
Is the noun a person?
Is it formal/abstract?
Common Relative Phrases
People
- • ຄົນທີ່...
- • ຜູ້ທີ່...
- • ໃຜທີ່...
Things
- • ອັນທີ່...
- • ສິ່ງທີ່...
- • ເຄື່ອງທີ່...
Places
- • ບ່ອນທີ່...
- • ສະຖານທີ່ທີ່...
- • ບ້ານທີ່...
Examples by Level
ປຶ້ມທີ່ຂ້ອຍມັກ
The book that I like
ອາຫານທີ່ແຊບ
Food that is delicious
ຄົນທີ່ມາເຮືອນ
The person who came to the house
ລົດທີ່ສີແດງ
The car that is red
ຜູ້ຊາຍຜູ້ທີ່ສູງໆ
The man who is very tall
ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄດ້ເສື້ອທີ່ລາວໃສ່
I want the shirt that he is wearing
ນີ້ແມ່ນບ້ານທີ່ຂ້ອຍຢູ່
This is the village where I live
ໝູ່ທີ່ຮຽນນຳກັນ
The friend who studies together (with me)
ຮູບເງົາທີ່ພວກເຮົາເບິ່ງເມື່ອວານນີ້ແມ່ນມ່ວນຫຼາຍ
The movie that we watched yesterday was very fun
ຄູຜູ້ທີ່ສອນພາສາລາວເປັນຄົນໃຈດີ
The teacher who teaches Lao is a kind person
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈສິ່ງທີ່ລາວເວົ້າ
I don't understand the thing that he said
ເມືອງທີ່ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປທ່ຽວແມ່ນຫຼວງພະບາງ
The city that I want to visit is Luang Prabang
ໂຄງການຊຶ່ງພວກເຮົາກຳລັງຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດນັ້ນມີຄວາມສຳຄັນຫຼາຍ
The project which we are currently implementing is very important
ຜູ້ຍິງທີ່ນັ່ງຢູ່ຂ້າງເຈົ້າແມ່ນຄົນທີ່ຂ້ອຍເຄີຍເຮັດວຽກນຳ
The woman sitting next to you is the person I used to work with
ເຫດຜົນທີ່ລາວບໍ່ມາແມ່ນຍ້ອນລາວບໍ່ສະບາຍ
The reason why (that) he didn't come is because he is unwell
ເອກະສານທີ່ເຈົ້າຊອກຫາຢູ່ນັ້ນວາງຢູ່ເທິງໂຕະ
The document that you are looking for is lying on the table
ຫຼັກການອັນເປັນພື້ນຖານຂອງກົດໝາຍສະບັບນີ້ແມ່ນຄວາມສະເໝີພາບ
The principle which is the basis of this law is equality
ສະພາບແວດລ້ອມຊຶ່ງມີການປ່ຽນແປງຢ່າງໄວວາເຮັດໃຫ້ເຮົາຕ້ອງປັບຕົວ
The environment, which is changing rapidly, forces us to adapt
ບຸກຄົນຜູ້ທີ່ມີຄວາມຮູ້ຄວາມສາມາດຄວນໄດ້ຮັບໂອກາດ
Individuals who possess knowledge and ability should receive opportunities
ຄວາມຊົງຈຳອັນແສນຫວານທີ່ຂ້ອຍມີຕໍ່ເຈົ້າຈະຄົງຢູ່ຕະຫຼອດໄປ
The sweet memories that I have of you will remain forever
ມໍລະດົກທາງວັດທະນະທຳ ຊຶ່ງສືບທອດມາຈາກບັນພະບຸລຸດ ແມ່ນສິ່ງທີ່ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງຫວງແຫນ
The cultural heritage, which has been passed down from our ancestors, is something we must cherish
ປັດໄຈອັນໜຶ່ງທີ່ສົ່ງຜົນກະທົບຕໍ່ເສດຖະກິດແມ່ນການເໜັງຕີງຂອງລາຄານ້ຳມັນ
One factor that impacts the economy is the fluctuation of oil prices
ທັດສະນະຄະຕິອັນຄັບແຄບຊຶ່ງກີດກັ້ນການພັດທະນາຄວນໄດ້ຮັບການແກ້ໄຂ
The narrow mindset which hinders development should be addressed
ຄວາມຍຸດຕິທຳ ອັນເປັນສິ່ງທີ່ທຸກຄົນສະແຫວງຫາ ນັ້ນຍັງເປັນເລື່ອງທີ່ທ້າທາຍ
Justice, which is what everyone seeks, remains a challenging matter
Easily Confused
Both can translate to 'that' in English, leading to misuse in Lao.
Both refer to people, but 'phū' is a marker/classifier while 'khon' is a noun.
Learners use 'thī' for everything, missing the formal nuance of 'sưng'.
よくある間違い
ປຶ້ມຂ້ອຍມັກ
ປຶ້ມທີ່ຂ້ອຍມັກ
ທີ່ຂ້ອຍມັກປຶ້ມ
ປຶ້ມທີ່ຂ້ອຍມັກ
ຄົນທີ່ລາວມາ
ຄົນທີ່ມາ
ອາຫານວ່າແຊບ
ອາຫານທີ່ແຊບ
ຄົນທີ່ສູງ
ຄົນຜູ້ທີ່ສູງ
ບ່ອນຂ້ອຍໄປ
ບ່ອນທີ່ຂ້ອຍໄປ
ສິ່ງທີ່ຂ້ອຍຢາກເວົ້າວ່າ...
ສິ່ງທີ່ຂ້ອຍຢາກເວົ້າແມ່ນ...
ເຫດຜົນຊຶ່ງຂ້ອຍມາ
ເຫດຜົນທີ່ຂ້ອຍມາ
ຄົນທີ່ລົດເພ
ຄົນທີ່ລົດຂອງລາວເພ
ຂ້ອຍເຫັນຄົນທີ່ທີ່ມາ
ຂ້ອຍເຫັນຄົນທີ່ມາ
ບັນຫາທີ່ພວກເຮົາຜະເຊີນ...
ບັນຫາຊຶ່ງພວກເຮົາຜະເຊີນ...
ອັນທີ່ຄວາມດີ...
ຄວາມດີອັນ...
Sentence Patterns
ຂ້ອຍມັກ ___ ທີ່ ___
___ ຜູ້ທີ່ ___ ແມ່ນ ___
ນີ້ແມ່ນ ___ ບ່ອນທີ່ ___
ບັນຫາ ___ ຊຶ່ງ ___ ຕ້ອງໄດ້ຮັບການແກ້ໄຂ
Real World Usage
ຮູບທີ່ຂ້ອຍໂພສມື້ວານນີ້ (The photo I posted yesterday)
ປະສົບການທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີ... (The experience that I have...)
ອາຫານທີ່ສັ່ງມາບໍ່ຖືກ (The food that was ordered is incorrect)
ເຫດການຊຶ່ງເກີດຂຶ້ນຢູ່ຕ່າງປະເທດ (The event which occurred abroad)
ຄົນທີ່ເຮົາເວົ້າຮອດຫັ້ນນ່າ (The person we were talking about, you know)
ວັດທີ່ຢູ່ໃກ້ຕະຫຼາດ (The temple that is near the market)
The 'Phū' Rule
Don't Double Up
Place Markers
Formal 'Sưng'
Smart Tips
Use 'ຜູ້ທີ່' (phū thī) instead of just 'ທີ່' (thī) to sound more natural and respectful.
Replace 'ທີ່' with 'ຊຶ່ງ' for abstract nouns like 'problems', 'policies', or 'ideas'.
Remove the second pronoun. The relative marker already represents the noun.
Use 'ບ່ອນທີ່' (bon thī) to specifically mean 'the place where'.
発音
Tone of ທີ່
The word 'ທີ່' (thī) has a middle-falling tone. Ensure you don't pronounce it with a high tone, or it might sound like 'ທີ' (time/turn).
Tone of ຜູ້
The word 'ຜູ້' (phū) has a high-falling tone. It should be short and sharp.
Relative Clause Pause
ຄົນທີ່ມາ... ແມ່ນໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ
A slight pause after the relative clause helps clarify the subject of the main verb.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'thī' as the 'TIE' that binds the noun to the sentence.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge with the word 'ທີ່' written on the middle arch, connecting a person on one side to a house on the other side.
Rhyme
Use 'thī' for a thing, 'phū' for a king.
Story
A traveler arrived at a village (ບ້ານທີ່) and met a guide (ຜູ້ທີ່) who showed him a secret path (ທາງທີ່) which led to a treasure (ຊຶ່ງ).
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write 3 sentences about your favorite things using 'ທີ່' and 2 sentences about your best friends using 'ຜູ້ທີ່'.
文化メモ
In formal speeches, speakers often use 'ຊຶ່ງ' (sưng) repeatedly to sound authoritative and educated. It creates a rhythmic, flowing style.
In Vientiane, 'ທີ່' is often shortened or spoken very quickly, almost sounding like 'ທິ' (thi).
In the south, you might hear 'ອັນ' used more frequently as a general relative marker than in the north.
The word 'ທີ່' (thī) originally meant 'place' or 'position' in Tai-Kadai languages.
Conversation Starters
ເຈົ້າມັກອາຫານທີ່ເຮັດຈາກຫຍັງ?
ໃຜແມ່ນຄົນທີ່ເຈົ້າເຄົາລົບທີ່ສຸດ?
ບ່ອນທີ່ເຈົ້າຢາກໄປທ່ຽວທີ່ສຸດແມ່ນບ່ອນໃດ?
ເຈົ້າຄິດແນວໃດຕໍ່ກັບບັນຫາຊຶ່ງສັງຄົມກຳລັງຜະເຊີນຢູ່?
ຮູບເງົາທີ່ເຈົ້າເບິ່ງຫຼ້າສຸດແມ່ນເລື່ອງຫຍັງ?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
ນັກຮຽນ ___ ຮຽນເກັ່ງຈະໄດ້ລາງວັນ.
ນີ້ແມ່ນປຶ້ມ ___ ຂ້ອຍຢາກອ່ານ.
Find and fix the mistake:
ທີ່ຂ້ອຍຊື້ລົດແມ່ນສີແດງ.
Combine these into one sentence.
Select the formal marker.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ທີ່ລາວຊິມາ.
A: ເຈົ້າຊອກຫາຫຍັງ? B: ຂ້ອຍຊອກຫາເອກະສານ ___ ວາງຢູ່ຫັ້ນ.
Score: /8
練習問題
8 exercisesນັກຮຽນ ___ ຮຽນເກັ່ງຈະໄດ້ລາງວັນ.
ນີ້ແມ່ນປຶ້ມ ___ ຂ້ອຍຢາກອ່ານ.
Find and fix the mistake:
ທີ່ຂ້ອຍຊື້ລົດແມ່ນສີແດງ.
Combine these into one sentence.
Select the formal marker.
1. ທີ່, 2. ຜູ້, 3. ບ່ອນທີ່
ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ທີ່ລາວຊິມາ.
A: ເຈົ້າຊອກຫາຫຍັງ? B: ຂ້ອຍຊອກຫາເອກະສານ ___ ວາງຢູ່ຫັ້ນ.
Score: /8
よくある質問 (8)
In very casual, fast speech, it is sometimes omitted, but for B2 learners, it is highly recommended to keep it for clarity and correctness.
'ຜູ້' is a bit more formal/literary, while 'ຜູ້ທີ່' is the standard way to say 'who' in neutral speech.
Yes, you can say 'ເວລາທີ່...' (The time that...) to create a relative clause of time.
Yes, specifically the 'non-restrictive' which (e.g., 'The car, which is blue, ...'). It adds extra info.
'ອັນ' is used for abstract nouns or to emphasize a specific item in a formal way.
You use 'ທີ່' + 'ຂອງ' + 'pronoun'. For example: 'ຄົນທີ່ລົດຂອງລາວເພ' (The person whose car is broken).
No, if it's after a verb like 'think' or 'say', you must use 'ວ່າ' (wā).
No, Lao uses the same markers ('thī' or 'phū') regardless of whether the person is the subject or object.
In Other Languages
que / quien
Spanish relative pronouns change if there is a preposition (e.g., 'con el que').
qui / que
Lao doesn't distinguish between subject and object relative markers.
der / die / das
Lao has no grammatical gender or case for its markers.
Noun-modifying form (no marker)
Word order is reversed; Lao uses a marker, Japanese does not.
الذي (al-ladhī)
Arabic requires a 'resumptive pronoun' in the clause, which Lao usually avoids.
的 (de)
Opposite word order (Head-initial in Lao vs Head-final in Chinese).
