A0 Questions & Negation 1 min read 쉬움

Yes/No Basics

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To turn any statement into a Yes/No question in Lao, simply add the particle 'ບໍ່' (bor) to the end of the sentence.

  • Add 'ບໍ່' at the end of a statement: 'ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່' (Are you eating?)
  • Keep the word order identical to the statement: 'ລາວໄປຕະຫຼາດ' becomes 'ລາວໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່'
  • Use rising intonation at the end of the sentence to signal a question.
Sentence + ບໍ່ = Question?

Meanings

The particle 'ບໍ່' (bor) acts as a grammatical marker to transform a declarative sentence into a polar (Yes/No) question.

1

Polar Question Marker

Used to request confirmation or information regarding a fact.

“ເຈົ້າຮັກຂ້ອຍບໍ່?”

“ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດບໍ່?”

Yes/No Question Formation

Statement Question Particle Resulting Question
ລາວໄປ ບໍ່ ລາວໄປບໍ່
ເຈົ້າກິນ ບໍ່ ເຈົ້າກິນບໍ່
ຝົນຕົກ ບໍ່ ຝົນຕົກບໍ່
ນີ້ແມ່ນປຶ້ມ ບໍ່ ນີ້ແມ່ນປຶ້ມບໍ່
ລາວມັກເຜັດ ບໍ່ ລາວມັກເຜັດບໍ່
ເຈົ້າຮູ້ ບໍ່ ເຈົ້າຮູ້ບໍ່

Reference Table

Reference table for Yes/No Basics
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Subject + Verb ລາວໄປ (He goes)
Negative Subject + ບໍ່ + Verb ລາວບໍ່ໄປ (He does not go)
Question Statement + ບໍ່ ລາວໄປບໍ່ (Does he go?)
Short Yes ໂດຍ / ແມ່ນ ໂດຍ (Yes)
Short No ບໍ່ / ບໍ່ແມ່ນ ບໍ່ (No)
Confirmation Statement + ບໍ່ ເຈົ້າຫິວບໍ່? (Are you hungry?)

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
ທ່ານຈະໄປບໍ່?

ທ່ານຈະໄປບໍ່? (Asking about travel plans)

중립
ເຈົ້າຈະໄປບໍ່?

ເຈົ້າຈະໄປບໍ່? (Asking about travel plans)

비격식체
ໄປບໍ່?

ໄປບໍ່? (Asking about travel plans)

속어
ໄປບໍ່?

ໄປບໍ່? (Asking about travel plans)

The 'ບໍ່' Particle Map

ບໍ່ (bor)

Question

  • Sentence + ບໍ່ Question

Negation

  • ບໍ່ + Verb Not
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Examples by Level

1

ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?

Are you well?

2

ລາວໄປບໍ່?

Is he going?

3

ກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່?

Are you eating?

4

ນີ້ແມ່ນປຶ້ມບໍ່?

Is this a book?

1

ເຈົ້າມັກຮຽນພາສາລາວບໍ່?

Do you like learning Lao?

2

ມື້ອື່ນເຈົ້າວ່າງບໍ່?

Are you free tomorrow?

3

ຮ້ານນີ້ເປີດບໍ່?

Is this shop open?

4

ເຈົ້າຮູ້ຈັກລາວບໍ່?

Do you know him?

1

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປຫຼວງພະບາງບໍ່?

Have you ever been to Luang Prabang?

2

ວຽກນີ້ສຳເລັດແລ້ວບໍ່?

Is this work finished yet?

3

ເຈົ້າຢາກໄປນຳກັນບໍ່?

Do you want to go together?

4

ລາວບອກເຈົ້າແລ້ວບໍ່?

Did he tell you already?

1

ເຈົ້າຄິດວ່າລາວຈະມາບໍ່?

Do you think he will come?

2

ເອກະສານນີ້ຕ້ອງເຊັນບໍ່?

Does this document need to be signed?

3

ເຈົ້າໄດ້ຮັບອີເມວຂອງຂ້ອຍບໍ່?

Did you receive my email?

4

ສະຖານະການນີ້ປ່ຽນແປງບໍ່?

Has this situation changed?

1

ເຈົ້າພິຈາລະນາທາງເລືອກນີ້ແລ້ວບໍ່?

Have you considered this option?

2

ການຕັດສິນໃຈນີ້ມີຜົນກະທົບບໍ່?

Does this decision have an impact?

3

ເຈົ້າສາມາດຢືນຢັນຂໍ້ມູນນີ້ໄດ້ບໍ່?

Can you confirm this information?

4

ຄວາມຄິດເຫັນຂອງເຈົ້າປ່ຽນໄປບໍ່?

Has your opinion changed?

1

ເຈົ້າໄດ້ໄຕ່ຕອງເຖິງຜົນສະທ້ອນຂອງການກະທຳນີ້ແລ້ວບໍ່?

Have you pondered the consequences of this action?

2

ສະພາບການດັ່ງກ່າວມີຄວາມສ່ຽງບໍ່?

Does the aforementioned situation entail risks?

3

ເຈົ້າປະຕິເສດຂໍ້ສະເໜີນີ້ບໍ່?

Are you rejecting this proposal?

4

ການປ່ຽນແປງນີ້ມີຄວາມຈຳເປັນບໍ່?

Is this change necessary?

Easily Confused

Yes/No Basics 대 Negation 'ບໍ່'

Learners confuse the question particle 'ບໍ່' with the negative 'ບໍ່'.

Yes/No Basics 대 Question Words (ໃຜ, ຫຍັງ)

Learners try to use 'ບໍ່' with question words.

Yes/No Basics 대 Intonation-only questions

Learners rely on intonation without the particle.

자주 하는 실수

✗

ບໍ່ ເຈົ້າໄປ

✓

ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່

Question particle must go at the end.
✗

ເຈົ້າໄປ

✓

ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່

Missing the particle makes it a statement, not a question.
✗

ເຈົ້າບໍ່ໄປບໍ່

✓

ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່

Don't mix negation and question particles unless asking negative questions.
✗

ເຈົ້າໄປ ບໍ່

✓

ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່

No space needed before the particle.
✗

ລາວມັກກິນບໍ່ເຜັດ

✓

ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດບໍ່

Placement of the particle is crucial.
✗

ເຈົ້າໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່ ໄປ

✓

ເຈົ້າໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່

Don't repeat the verb.
✗

ເຈົ້າແມ່ນໄປບໍ່

✓

ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່

Avoid unnecessary auxiliary verbs.
✗

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປບໍ່ຫຼວງພະບາງ

✓

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປຫຼວງພະບາງບໍ່

Particle must be at the end of the clause.
✗

ເຈົ້າຢາກໄປບໍ່ນຳກັນ

✓

ເຈົ້າຢາກໄປນຳກັນບໍ່

Particle at the end.
✗

ວຽກນີ້ສຳເລັດບໍ່ແລ້ວ

✓

ວຽກນີ້ສຳເລັດແລ້ວບໍ່

Particle at the end.
✗

ເຈົ້າພິຈາລະນາບໍ່ທາງເລືອກນີ້

✓

ເຈົ້າພິຈາລະນາທາງເລືອກນີ້ບໍ່

Particle at the end.
✗

ການຕັດສິນໃຈນີ້ບໍ່ມີຜົນກະທົບ

✓

ການຕັດສິນໃຈນີ້ມີຜົນກະທົບບໍ່

Negation vs question confusion.
✗

ເຈົ້າສາມາດຢືນຢັນບໍ່ຂໍ້ມູນນີ້

✓

ເຈົ້າສາມາດຢືນຢັນຂໍ້ມູນນີ້ບໍ່

Particle at the end.

Sentence Patterns

ເຈົ້າ ___ ບໍ່?

ລາວ ___ ບໍ່?

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍ ___ ບໍ່?

ເຈົ້າຄິດວ່າ ___ ບໍ່?

Real World Usage

Texting constant

ເຈົ້າຢູ່ໃສບໍ່?

Ordering Food very common

ມີເຜັດບໍ່?

Travel common

ລົດໄປບໍ່?

Job Interview occasional

ທ່ານມີຄຳຖາມບໍ່?

Social Media common

ເຈົ້າມັກຮູບນີ້ບໍ່?

Classroom very common

ເຂົ້າໃຈບໍ່?

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💡

Listen for the tone

The particle 'ບໍ່' has a low tone. Listen to native speakers to get the pitch right.
⚠️

Don't move the words

Keep the sentence order exactly as it would be in a statement.
🎯

Use it everywhere

This is the most versatile tool in your Lao kit. Use it for everything.
💬

Politeness

In formal settings, add 'ເຈົ້າ' or 'ທ່ານ' to make the question more polite.

Smart Tips

Always place 'ບໍ່' at the end.

ບໍ່ ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີ → ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່

Keep the verb and object together.

ເຈົ້າບໍ່ມັກກິນເຜັດ → ເຈົ້າມັກກິນເຜັດບໍ່

Add the particle after the time marker.

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປບໍ່ຫຼວງພະບາງ → ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປຫຼວງພະບາງບໍ່

Ensure the statement is complete before adding 'ບໍ່'.

ວຽກນີ້ບໍ່ສຳເລັດ → ວຽກນີ້ສຳເລັດບໍ່

발음

bor (low tone)

Low Tone

The particle 'ບໍ່' has a low tone. It should sound lower than the preceding words.

Rising Intonation

Sentence + ບໍ່ ↗

Signals that the sentence is a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'ບໍ່' as a 'Question Hook' that you throw at the end of your sentence to catch a Yes or No answer.

Visual Association

Imagine a fishing rod. The sentence is the line, and 'ບໍ່' is the hook at the end, waiting to catch a 'Yes' or 'No' fish.

Rhyme

At the end of the line, add 'ບໍ່' to make it fine.

Story

A traveler in Vientiane wants to know if the bus is leaving. He says 'ລົດໄປ' (The bus goes). He adds 'ບໍ່' to the end. The driver smiles and says 'ໄປ' (It goes).

Word Web

ບໍ່ເຈົ້າກິນໄປແມ່ນມັກ

챌린지

Write 5 questions using 'ບໍ່' about your daily routine and ask a friend or language partner.

문화 노트

Using 'ບໍ່' is very direct. In very formal situations, people might use more polite particles like 'ບໍ່ເຈົ້າ' or 'ບໍ່ທ່ານ'.

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

In the capital, it is common to drop the subject if it is clear from context.

The particle 'ບໍ່' is a native Lao grammatical marker derived from historical negation forms.

Conversation Starters

“

ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?

“

ເຈົ້າມັກກິນເຜັດບໍ່?

“

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປຫຼວງພະບາງບໍ່?

“

ເຈົ້າຄິດວ່າວຽກນີ້ຍາກບໍ່?

Journal Prompts

Write about your day using 5 questions with 'ບໍ່'.
Interview a friend about their favorite food using 'ບໍ່'.
Reflect on a recent trip and ask yourself questions using 'ບໍ່'.
Discuss a professional challenge and ask colleagues questions using 'ບໍ່'.
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Test Yourself

Add the correct particle to make a question.

ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່
The particle 'ບໍ່' is used for Yes/No questions.
Which sentence is a correct question? 객관식

Choose the correct one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່
Particle must be at the end.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ບໍ່ ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດບໍ່
Particle at the end.
Turn the statement into a question. Sentence Transformation

ລາວໄປຕະຫຼາດ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາວໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່
Add 'ບໍ່' at the end.
Match the statement to its question form. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່
Add 'ບໍ່' at the end.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___? B: ໂດຍ, ຂ້ອຍໄປ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່
The answer 'ໂດຍ' (Yes) implies a Yes/No question.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

ບໍ່ / ໄປ / ເຈົ້າ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່
Subject + Verb + Particle.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Lao questions change word order.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Lao keeps the same word order.

Score: /8

연습 문제

8 exercises
Add the correct particle to make a question.

ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່
The particle 'ບໍ່' is used for Yes/No questions.
Which sentence is a correct question? 객관식

Choose the correct one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່
Particle must be at the end.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ບໍ່ ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດບໍ່
Particle at the end.
Turn the statement into a question. Sentence Transformation

ລາວໄປຕະຫຼາດ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາວໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່
Add 'ບໍ່' at the end.
Match the statement to its question form. Match Pairs

Match: 'ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີ' -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່
Add 'ບໍ່' at the end.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___? B: ໂດຍ, ຂ້ອຍໄປ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່
The answer 'ໂດຍ' (Yes) implies a Yes/No question.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

ບໍ່ / ໄປ / ເຈົ້າ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່
Subject + Verb + Particle.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Lao questions change word order.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Lao keeps the same word order.

Score: /8

자주 묻는 질문 (8)

No, keep the word order exactly as it is in a statement.

No, it can also mean 'not' when placed before a verb.

No, 'ໃຜ' is already a question word.

Use 'ໂດຍ' for yes or 'ບໍ່' for no.

It is neutral and used in all situations.

Yes, use a rising tone at the end.

Yes, it is standard in written Lao.

Yes, but 'ບໍ່' is the most common.

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In Other Languages

Spanish low

¿...?

Lao does not change word order.

French partial

Est-ce que...

Position of the marker.

German low

Verb-first inversion

Word order change vs particle addition.

Japanese high

...か

Lao 'ບໍ່' is also used for negation.

Arabic low

هل

Position of the marker.

Chinese high

吗

Lao 'ບໍ່' has a distinct negative meaning.

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