뜻
Literally 'long hand'; prone to stealing things.
문화적 배경
Stealing is a violation of the second precept. Calling someone 'mue yao' is a serious moral judgment that can affect their 'face' in the community. Market culture is where this idiom is most alive. Vendors are constantly on the lookout for 'mue yao' individuals, especially during busy festivals. Lao parents use idioms like this to teach children ethics through vivid imagery rather than abstract rules. The term has found a new life on Facebook and TikTok in Laos, used in captions for crime-watch videos.
Avoid Literal Use
Never use this to describe someone's physical appearance unless you want to start a fight.
Use with 'Pen Khon'
Adding 'pen khon' (is a person who...) before 'mue yao' makes your Lao sound much more natural.
뜻
Literally 'long hand'; prone to stealing things.
Avoid Literal Use
Never use this to describe someone's physical appearance unless you want to start a fight.
Use with 'Pen Khon'
Adding 'pen khon' (is a person who...) before 'mue yao' makes your Lao sound much more natural.
Gossip Context
This is the perfect word for 'office gossip' when someone's lunch goes missing from the fridge.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the blank with the correct idiom.
ຢ່າປະເງິນໄວ້ບ່ອນນີ້, ຢູ່ຕະຫຼາດມີຄົນ____ຫຼາຍ.
The context of leaving money at a market suggests a warning about thieves ('mue yao').
What does 'ມືຍາວ' mean in this sentence: 'ລາວຖືກໄລ່ອອກຍ້ອນລາວມືຍາວ'?
What is the reason he was fired?
In a workplace context, 'mue yao' refers to stealing, which is a common reason for dismissal.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Which situation fits 'ມືຍາວ'?
The idiom specifically refers to the act of stealing.
🎉 점수: /3
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
3 연습 문제ຢ່າປະເງິນໄວ້ບ່ອນນີ້, ຢູ່ຕະຫຼາດມີຄົນ____ຫຼາຍ.
The context of leaving money at a market suggests a warning about thieves ('mue yao').
What is the reason he was fired?
In a workplace context, 'mue yao' refers to stealing, which is a common reason for dismissal.
Which situation fits 'ມືຍາວ'?
The idiom specifically refers to the act of stealing.
🎉 점수: /3
자주 묻는 질문
4 질문Yes, it's often used by parents as a gentle but firm way to correct behavior.
It's an insult to character, but it's not a 'curse word'. It's more of a descriptive label for a thief.
The opposite is 'mue sa-at' (clean hands), meaning honest.
Usually, it's reserved for petty theft, pickpocketing, or shoplifting. For big crimes, more formal words are used.
관련 표현
ມືໄວ
similarFast hand; quick at stealing.
ຂີ້ລັກ
synonymThief; someone who steals.
ມືສະອາດ
contrastClean hands; honest.
ມືເບົາ
specialized formLight hand; gentle or a skilled pickpocket.
