A1 Negation 1 min read 쉬움

Negation with 'Baw'

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Lao, simply place 'baw' (ບໍ່) before the verb or adjective to make it negative.

  • Place 'baw' before the verb: 'baw kin' (not eat).
  • Place 'baw' before the adjective: 'baw di' (not good).
  • Use 'baw' at the end of a sentence to form a yes/no question.
Subject + ບໍ່ (baw) + Verb/Adjective

Negation Structure

Subject Negation Verb/Adjective Example
ຂ້ອຍ (I)
ບໍ່ (baw)
ກິນ (eat)
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນ
ລາວ (He/She)
ບໍ່ (baw)
ໄປ (go)
ລາວບໍ່ໄປ
ມັນ (It)
ບໍ່ (baw)
ດີ (good)
ມັນບໍ່ດີ
ເຮົາ (We)
ບໍ່ (baw)
ຮູ້ (know)
ເຮົາບໍ່ຮູ້
ເຈົ້າ (You)
ບໍ່ (baw)
ມັກ (like)
ເຈົ້າບໍ່ມັກ
ພວກເຂົາ (They)
ບໍ່ (baw)
ມາ (come)
ພວກເຂົາບໍ່ມາ

Meanings

The particle 'baw' (ບໍ່) is the standard way to negate verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in Lao.

1

Verbal Negation

Negating an action.

“ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ (Khoy baw pai) - I am not going.”

“ລາວບໍ່ມັກ (Lao baw mak) - He/she does not like it.”

2

Adjectival Negation

Negating a quality.

“ອັນນີ້ບໍ່ດີ (An ni baw di) - This is not good.”

“ອາກາດບໍ່ຮ້ອນ (Akad baw hon) - The weather is not hot.”

3

Interrogative Tag

Used at the end of a sentence to ask 'or not?'.

“ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່? (Chao pai baw?) - Are you going?”

“ກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່? (Kin khao baw?) - Are you eating?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Negation with 'Baw'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
ຂ້ອຍກິນ (I eat)
Negative
Subject + ບໍ່ + Verb
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນ (I don't eat)
Question
Subject + Verb + ບໍ່?
ເຈົ້າກິນບໍ່? (Do you eat?)
Adjective Negation
Subject + ບໍ່ + Adj
ມັນບໍ່ດີ (It's not good)
Past Negation
Subject + ບໍ່ໄດ້ + Verb
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄດ້ກິນ (I didn't eat)
Future Negation
Subject + ບໍ່ + Verb
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ (I won't go)

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ຕ້ອງການ

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ຕ້ອງການ (Declining an offer)

중립
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຕ້ອງການ

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຕ້ອງການ (Declining an offer)

비격식체
ບໍ່ເອົາ

ບໍ່ເອົາ (Declining an offer)

속어
ບໍ່ເອົາລະ

ບໍ່ເອົາລະ (Declining an offer)

The Power of Baw

ບໍ່ (Baw)

Verbs

  • ບໍ່ກິນ not eat

Adjectives

  • ບໍ່ດີ not good

Questions

  • ໄປບໍ່? going?

수준별 예문

1

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ

I am not going.

2

ລາວບໍ່ມັກ

He/she does not like it.

3

ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່?

Are you going?

4

ອັນນີ້ບໍ່ດີ

This is not good.

1

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນຊີ້ນ

I do not eat meat.

2

ມື້ນີ້ບໍ່ຮ້ອນ

It is not hot today.

3

ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?

Are you well?

4

ລາວບໍ່ມາໂຮງຮຽນ

He/she is not coming to school.

1

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄດ້ໄປວຽກ

I did not go to work.

2

ລາຄານີ້ບໍ່ແພງປານໃດ

This price is not that expensive.

3

ເຈົ້າບໍ່ຢາກໄປກັບຂ້ອຍບໍ່?

Don't you want to go with me?

4

ເຮົາບໍ່ຮູ້ເລື່ອງນີ້

We do not know about this matter.

1

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຄິດວ່າລາວຈະມາ

I do not think he/she will come.

2

ມັນບໍ່ແມ່ນຄວາມຜິດຂອງຂ້ອຍ

It is not my fault.

3

ເຈົ້າບໍ່ຄວນເຮັດແບບນັ້ນ

You should not do that.

4

ບໍ່ມີໃຜຮູ້ຄຳຕອບ

Nobody knows the answer.

1

ເຖິງວ່າລາວຈະບໍ່ພ້ອມ, ລາວກໍຕ້ອງໄປ

Even though he/she is not ready, he/she must go.

2

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ສາມາດອະທິບາຍໄດ້

I cannot explain it.

3

ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເກີດຫຍັງຂຶ້ນ, ຂ້ອຍຈະຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້

No matter what happens, I will be here.

4

ມັນບໍ່ໄດ້ໝາຍຄວາມວ່າເຈົ້າຜິດ

It does not mean that you are wrong.

1

ບໍ່ມີສິ່ງໃດທີ່ເປັນໄປບໍ່ໄດ້

There is nothing that is impossible.

2

ລາວບໍ່ໄດ້ສະແດງຄວາມຄິດເຫັນໃດໆ

He/she did not express any opinion.

3

ບໍ່ຄວນຈະມີການຊັກຊ້າເກີດຂຶ້ນ

There should not be any delays.

4

ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນທາງໃດ, ຜົນລັດກໍຄືກັນ

No matter which way, the result is the same.

혼동하기 쉬운

Negation with 'Baw' 대 Baw vs. Bo

Learners often confuse the spelling and tone.

Negation with 'Baw' 대 Baw vs. Mai

Both are used in negation contexts.

Negation with 'Baw' 대 Baw as Negation vs. Baw as Question

Learners forget it changes meaning based on position.

자주 하는 실수

✗

ກິນບໍ່

✓

ບໍ່ກິນ

Negation particle must come before the verb.
✗

Do ເຈົ້າກິນ?

✓

ເຈົ້າກິນບໍ່?

Lao does not use 'do' as an auxiliary verb.
✗

ບໍ່ ດີ

✓

ບໍ່ດີ

It is one word, no space needed.
✗

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່

✓

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນ

You need the verb after 'baw'.
✗

ບໍ່ໄດ້ກິນບໍ່

✓

ບໍ່ໄດ້ກິນ

Don't add 'baw' if it's not a question.
✗

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ແມ່ນໄປ

✓

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ

'baw maen' is for nouns, not verbs.
✗

ບໍ່ຮັກ

✓

ບໍ່ມັກ

Use 'mak' for like, 'hak' for love.
✗

ບໍ່ເຄີຍໄປບໍ່

✓

ບໍ່ເຄີຍໄປ

Redundant question marker.
✗

ບໍ່ແມ່ນບໍ່ດີ

✓

ບໍ່ດີ

Keep it simple.
✗

ບໍ່ໄດ້ບໍ່ໄປ

✓

ບໍ່ໄດ້ໄປ

Incorrect tense structure.
✗

ບໍ່ວ່າບໍ່ໄປ

✓

ບໍ່ວ່າຈະບໍ່ໄປ

Missing auxiliary verb.
✗

ບໍ່ແມ່ນບໍ່ແມ່ນ

✓

ບໍ່ແມ່ນ

Avoid repetition.
✗

ບໍ່ສາມາດບໍ່ເຮັດ

✓

ບໍ່ສາມາດເຮັດ

Double negative logic.

문장 패턴

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່___

ມັນບໍ່___

ເຈົ້າ___ບໍ່?

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄດ້___

Real World Usage

Ordering Food constant

ບໍ່ໃສ່ຜັກ (No vegetables)

Texting very common

ບໍ່ວ່າງ (Not free)

Job Interview common

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມີປະສົບການ (I don't have experience)

Travel common

ໄປບໍ່? (Are you going?)

Social Media very common

ບໍ່ມັກ (Don't like)

Shopping common

ບໍ່ເອົາ (Don't want it)

💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink tense. 'Baw' works for everything.
⚠️

Watch the tone

Ensure 'baw' is low tone or it might sound like a different word.
🎯

Use it for questions

It's the easiest way to ask a yes/no question.
💬

Softening

Add 'dai' or 'pen yang' to soften your refusal.

Smart Tips

Always put 'baw' immediately before the verb.

ຂ້ອຍກິນບໍ່ → ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນ

Move 'baw' to the end of the sentence.

ບໍ່ເຈົ້າໄປ? → ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່?

Treat the adjective like a verb.

ມັນດີບໍ່ → ມັນບໍ່ດີ

Add 'dai' after 'baw'.

ບໍ່ → ບໍ່ໄດ້

발음

IPA: /bɔː˨/

Low Tone

The word 'baw' has a low tone. Start from a low pitch and keep it steady.

Question Intonation

ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່? ↗

The pitch rises at the end of the sentence to indicate a question.

암기하기

기억법

Baw is like a 'Baw-stop' sign. It stops the action.

시각적 연상

Imagine a big red 'NO' sign with the word 'BAW' written on it, placed right in front of a person trying to walk.

Rhyme

When you want to say no, just use baw, it's the only way to go.

Story

Som is hungry. She sees a bowl of spicy soup. She says 'Baw kin' (I don't eat). Her friend asks 'Kin baw?' (Are you eating?). Som shakes her head.

Word Web

ບໍ່ບໍ່ກິນບໍ່ໄປບໍ່ດີບໍ່ມັກບໍ່ແມ່ນ

챌린지

For the next 5 minutes, try to negate every thought you have in Lao using 'baw'.

문화 노트

Lao people are often indirect. Using 'baw' can sometimes be softened with other particles to avoid sounding rude.

In some northern dialects, the negation particle might sound slightly different, but 'baw' is universally understood.

In formal settings, you might use more polite particles after 'baw' to soften the refusal.

The word 'baw' is a Proto-Tai negation particle.

대화 시작하기

“

ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່?

“

ເຈົ້າມັກອາຫານລາວບໍ່?

“

ເຈົ້າບໍ່ຢາກໄປທ່ຽວບໍ່?

“

ເຈົ້າບໍ່ຄິດວ່າອາກາດຮ້ອນບໍ່?

일기 주제

Write 3 things you don't like to eat.
Write about a place you have not visited yet.
Describe a day where nothing went right.
Argue why you don't like a specific trend.

자주 하는 실수

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

ຂ້ອຍ ___ ກິນເຂົ້າ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່
Negation particle goes before the verb.
Choose the correct sentence. 객관식

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່ກິນ
Standard negation order.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ຂ້ອຍກິນບໍ່.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນ
Negation before verb.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ
Subject-Negation-Verb.
Translate to Lao. 번역

I do not like it.

Answer starts with: ຂ້ອ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກ
Standard negation.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ໄປບໍ່? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່ໄປ
Full negative answer.
Build a question. Sentence Building

You eat?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າກິນບໍ່?
Question marker at the end.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Not good
Baw + di = not good.

Score: /8

연습 문제

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

ຂ້ອຍ ___ ກິນເຂົ້າ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່
Negation particle goes before the verb.
Choose the correct sentence. 객관식

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່ກິນ
Standard negation order.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ຂ້ອຍກິນບໍ່.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນ
Negation before verb.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

ບໍ່ / ຂ້ອຍ / ໄປ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ
Subject-Negation-Verb.
Translate to Lao. 번역

I do not like it.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກ
Standard negation.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ໄປບໍ່? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່ໄປ
Full negative answer.
Build a question. Sentence Building

You eat?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າກິນບໍ່?
Question marker at the end.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match 'ບໍ່ດີ'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Not good
Baw + di = not good.

Score: /8

자주 묻는 질문 (8)

No, 'baw' is invariant. You use it for past, present, and future.

No, use 'baw maen' for nouns.

It can be direct. Use 'baw pen yang' to soften it.

At the very end of the sentence.

Say 'Khoy baw hu'.

Yes, it is the standard way to say no.

Usually no, it's redundant.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

no

Spanish doesn't use 'no' as a question tag.

French low

ne...pas

Lao is much simpler.

German moderate

nicht

Lao placement is fixed.

Japanese moderate

nai

Lao is a prefix.

Arabic moderate

la

Lao 'baw' is tense-neutral.

Chinese high

bu

Chinese 'ma' is the question particle, while Lao uses 'baw'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Negation with 'Bo'
Next
Negative Imperatives

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Negation with 'Bo'
A1

Double Negation
A2

Negative Past Tense
A1

Negative Imperatives
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