- Human Offspring
- Used to describe a son or daughter in a family structure, highlighting the direct bloodline and generational descent.
ຂ້ອຍມີ ລູກ ສອງຄົນ.
- Classifier Usage
- Functions as a grammatical counter for items like fruits, balls, keys, and even large geographical features like mountains.
ຂໍໝາກກ້ຽງສາມ ລູກ.
ພູເຂົາ ລູກ ນັ້ນສູງຫຼາຍ.
- Hierarchical Prefix
- Attaches to other nouns to indicate a person who belongs to a group, holds a lesser rank, or is a patron of a business.
ລາວເປັນ ລູກ ຄ້າປະຈຳ.
ຫົວໜ້າແລະ ລູກ ນ້ອງກຳລັງປະຊຸມ.
- Subject or Object Position
- It acts as the main entity performing the action or receiving the action, just like any standard noun in the language.
ລູກ ຂອງຂ້ອຍໄປໂຮງຮຽນ.
- Compound Noun Formation
- It binds to the front of another noun to create a new, distinct vocabulary word indicating offspring or affiliation.
ແມວມີ ລູກ ແມວສາມໂຕ.
ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງການ ລູກ ຈ້າງໃໝ່.
- Classifier Syntax
- Mandatory grammatical structure used when counting or specifying demonstratives (this, that) for round objects.
ຊື້ໝາກປຸມເປົ້າຫ້າ ລູກ.
ກະແຈ ລູກ ນີ້ແມ່ນຂອງໃຜ?
- Domestic and Social Environments
- Frequent in homes, family gatherings, schools, and casual small talk when discussing family members, ages, and well-being.
ເຈົ້າມີ ລູກ ຈັກຄົນ?
- Commercial and Market Settings
- Essential vocabulary for buying and selling produce, ordering items, and specifying quantities of round or spherical goods.
ໝາກພ້າວ ລູກ ນີ້ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ?
ເອົາໝາກມ່ວງສອງ ລູກ.
- Professional and Business Contexts
- Used constantly to define professional relationships, client interactions, and hierarchical structures within workplaces.
ມື້ນີ້ມີ ລູກ ຄ້າຫຼາຍ.
ລາວເປັນ ລູກ ຈ້າງທີ່ດີ.
- Omission of the Classifier
- Failing to include the word when counting round objects, which makes the sentence sound broken or incomplete to native speakers.
ຜິດ: ຂໍໝາກໂປມສອງ. (Incorrect: Want apple two.)
ຖືກ: ຂໍໝາກໂປມສອງ ລູກ. (Correct: Want apple two [classifier].)
- Incorrect Modifier Placement
- Placing the gender or age modifier before the word 'child', violating the strict head-initial rule of Lao noun phrases.
ຜິດ: ຍິງ ລູກ (Incorrect: Female child)
ຖືກ: ລູກ ຍິງ (Correct: Child female -> Daughter)
- Classifier Overgeneralization
- Using this specific round-object classifier for items that require a different classifier, such as animals (which use 'ໂຕ') or flat things (which use 'ຜືນ' or 'ໃບ').
ຜິດ: ໝາສອງ ລູກ. (Incorrect: Two dogs using round object classifier.)
- Age vs. Relationship
- Use the main word to say 'my child', but use 'dek noy' to say 'the children are playing in the park', referring to youth generally without implying ownership or direct lineage.
ເດັກນ້ອຍກຳລັງຫຼິ້ນ, ແຕ່ ລູກ ຂອງຂ້ອຍນອນແລ້ວ.
- Extended Family
- The term 'lan' represents the next step out in the family tree or the next generation down from your own offspring.
ລາວບໍ່ແມ່ນ ລູກ ຂອງຂ້ອຍ, ລາວແມ່ນຫຼານ.
- Formal and Legal Register
- Words like 'but' elevate the language to a formal level, demonstrating respect and official capacity, similar to the difference between 'kid' and 'descendant' in English.
ໃນເອກະສານນີ້, ຕ້ອງຂຽນຊື່ຂອງບຸດ.
ພະອົງມີພະຣາຊະບຸດ.
수준별 예문
ຂ້ອຍມີລູກສອງຄົນ.
I have two children.
Uses 'khon' (person) as the classifier for counting human children.
ລາວເປັນລູກຊາຍຂອງຂ້ອຍ.
He is my son.
Compound noun 'luk' (child) + 'sai' (male) = son.
ລູກສາວຂອງເຈົ້າອາຍຸຈັກປີ?
How old is your daughter?
'Luk' + 'sao' (young woman/female) = daughter.
ນີ້ແມ່ນລູກໃຜ?
Whose child is this?
'Phai' means 'who/whose'. Placed at the end of the sentence.
ລູກໄປໂຮງຮຽນແລ້ວ.
The child has already gone to school.
'Laew' at the end indicates completed action (already).
ຂ້ອຍຮັກລູກຫຼາຍ.
I love my child very much.
'Lai' means 'very much' or 'a lot'.
ລູກນອນແລ້ວບໍ່?
Is the child sleeping already?
'Bo' at the end turns the statement into a yes/no question.
ລູກກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວ.
The child has eaten food.
'Kin khao' literally means 'eat rice', used generally for eating a meal.
ແມວໂຕນີ້ມີລູກສີ່ໂຕ.
This cat has four kittens.
Uses 'luk' as a prefix for baby animals, and 'to' as the classifier for animals.
ຂ້ອຍຢາກຊື້ໝາກກ້ຽງຫ້າລູກ.
I want to buy five oranges.
Uses 'luk' as the numerical classifier for round fruits.
ລູກໝາໜ້າຮັກຫຼາຍ.
The puppy is very cute.
'Luk' (child) + 'ma' (dog) = puppy.
ບານລູກນີ້ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ?
How much is this ball?
Uses 'luk' as the classifier for the ball, followed by the demonstrative 'ni' (this).
ລູກໄກ່ກຳລັງກິນເຂົ້າ.
The chicks are eating rice.
'Luk' (child) + 'kai' (chicken) = chick.
ເອົາໝາກມ່ວງສາມລູກ.
I'll take three mangoes.
'Ao' means 'to take/want', commonly used when ordering or buying.
ລູກຊ້າງຍ່າງຕາມແມ່.
The baby elephant walks behind its mother.
'Yang tam' means 'walk following'.
ກະແຈລູກນັ້ນເສຍແລ້ວ.
That key is lost.
'Luk' is used as the classifier for keys.
ຮ້ານນີ້ມີລູກຄ້າຫຼາຍທຸກມື້.
This shop has many customers every day.
'Luk kha' (child of trade) means customer/client.
ລາວເປັນລູກນ້ອງທີ່ດຸໝັ່ນ.
He is a hardworking subordinate.
'Luk nong' (child younger sibling) refers to an employee or subordinate.
ບໍລິສັດຕ້ອງການຮັບລູກຈ້າງໃໝ່.
The company wants to hire new employees.
'Luk jang' (child of hiring) means a hired worker or wage earner.
ພູເຂົາລູກນັ້ນສູງທີ່ສຸດໃນປະເທດ.
That mountain is the highest in the country.
'Luk' acts as the classifier for large geographical features like mountains.
ອາຈານມີລູກສິດຫຼາຍຄົນ.
The professor has many students.
'Luk sit' (child of disciple) is a respectful term for a student or follower.
ພາຍຸລູກນີ້ຈະເຂົ້າຝັ່ງມື້ອື່ນ.
This storm will make landfall tomorrow.
'Luk' is used as the classifier for storms and typhoons.
ລູກໜີ້ຕ້ອງຈ່າຍເງິນຄືນ.
The debtor must pay the money back.
'Luk ni' (child of debt) means debtor.
ເຂົາເຈົ້າເປັນລູກບ້ານຂອງຜູ້ໃຫຍ່ບ້ານ.
They are the villagers of the village headman.
'Luk ban' (child of village) refers to the constituents or residents under a village head.
ລູກໄມ້ລົ່ນບໍ່ໄກຕົ້ນ.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
A common proverb. Literally: 'Fruit falls not far from tree'.
ລາວຮັກລູກລ້ຽງຄືກັບລູກຄີງ.
She loves her stepchild like her biological child.
'Luk liang' (raised child) vs 'luk khing' (biological child).
ລູກກະແຈນ້ອຍໆລູກນີ້ໄຂປະຕູໃຫຍ່ໄດ້.
This tiny key can open a giant door.
Repetition of 'luk': first as part of the noun 'luk ka jae' (key), then as its classifier.
ການລ້ຽງລູກໃນຍຸກນີ້ມີສິ່ງທ້າທາຍຫຼາຍ.
Raising children in this era has many challenges.
'Kan liang luk' turns the verb phrase 'raising children' into a noun phrase (gerund).
ຜູ້ຈັດການຕ້ອງເບິ່ງແຍງລູກນ້ອງໃຫ້ດີ.
The manager must take good care of their subordinates.
'Boeng yaeng' means to look after or take care of.
ລາວເປັນລູກຊາຍກົກຂອງຄອບຄົວ.
He is the eldest son of the family.
'Kok' is used to specify the eldest or firstborn child.
ລູກຫຼ້າຂອງລາວກຳລັງຮຽນຢູ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ.
Her youngest child is studying at the university.
'La' is used to specify the youngest or lastborn child.
ລູກປືນໜຶ່ງລູກສາມາດປ່ຽນແປງປະຫວັດສາດໄດ້.
A single bullet can change history.
'Luk peun' (child of gun) means bullet, and 'luk' is also its classifier.
ໃນທາງກົດໝາຍ, ລາວເປັນບຸດບຸນທຳທີ່ຖືກຕ້ອງ.
Legally, he is a legitimate adopted child.
Uses the formal 'but' (child) combined with 'bun tham' (merit-made) for adopted child.
ລູກນ້ຳໃນໜອງນີ້ເປັນແຫຼ່ງອາຫານຂອງປາໃຫຍ່.
The mosquito larvae in this pond are a food source for large fish.
'Luk nam' (child of water) is the specific term for mosquito larvae.
ຄວາມສຳພັນລະຫວ່າງນາຍຈ້າງແລະລູກຈ້າງຕ້ອງອີງໃສ່ກົດໝາຍແຮງງານ.
The relationship between employer and employee must be based on labor laws.
Formal contrast between 'nai jang' (boss) and 'luk jang' (employee).
ລູກຂຸນໃນສານໄດ້ຕັດສິນໃຫ້ລາວພົ້ນຜິດ.
The jury in the court acquitted him.
'Luk khun' is a specific legal term for jury members.
ພະຍາດນີ້ສາມາດສົ່ງຜ່ານຈາກແມ່ສູ່ລູກໃນທ້ອງໄດ້.
This disease can be transmitted from mother to the fetus in the womb.
'Luk nai thong' (child in stomach) refers to a fetus or unborn baby.
ລາວປະຕິບັດຕໍ່ທຸກຄົນດ້ວຍຄວາມເມດຕາ, ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນລູກທ່ານຫຼານເທີ.
He treats everyone with kindness, regardless of whether they are children of high-ranking officials.
'Luk than lan thoe' is an idiom referring to offspring of the elite or nobility.
ການອະນຸລັກປ່າໄມ້ແມ່ນເພື່ອປະໂຫຍດຂອງລູກຫຼານໃນອະນາຄົດ.
Forest conservation is for the benefit of future generations.
'Luk lan' (children and grandchildren) is used collectively to mean 'future generations' or 'descendants'.
ຄື້ນສຶນາມິລູກນັ້ນໄດ້ທຳລາຍຊາຍຝັ່ງທັງໝົດ.
That tsunami wave destroyed the entire coastline.
'Luk' is used as the classifier for massive, distinct waves like tsunamis.
ພຣະສົງໄດ້ເທດສະໜາສັ່ງສອນພຸດທະສາສະນິກະຊົນຜູ້ເປັນລູກສິດ.
The monk preached and instructed the Buddhists who are his disciples.
Highly formal religious context using 'luk sit' for followers of a spiritual teacher.
ໃນວັນນະຄະດີບູຮານ, ກະສັດມັກຈະມອບໝາຍວຽກງານສຳຄັນໃຫ້ພະຣາຊະບຸດ.
In ancient literature, kings would often assign important tasks to the royal son.
Uses the royal vocabulary (Rachasap) 'pha la sa but' for a king's son.
ລະບົບອຸປະຖຳໃນສັງຄົມລາວມັກຈະສະແດງອອກຜ່ານສາຍພົວພັນແບບພໍ່ລ້ຽງ-ລູກນ້ອງ.
The patronage system in Lao society is often expressed through patron-client (godfather-subordinate) relationships.
Sociological analysis using 'pho liang' (patron) and 'luk nong' (client/subordinate).
ຄຳວ່າລູກໃນບໍລິບົດນີ້ບໍ່ໄດ້ໝາຍເຖິງສາຍເລືອດ, ແຕ່ເປັນການສະແດງຄວາມເອັນດູຈາກຜູ້ໃຫຍ່.
The word 'luk' in this context does not denote bloodline, but is an expression of endearment from an elder.
Metalinguistic description of the pragmatic use of the word as a term of endearment.
ລູກປັດບູຮານເຫຼົ່ານີ້ເປັນຫຼັກຖານສະແດງເຖິງການຄ້າຂາຍໃນຍຸກກ່ອນປະຫວັດສາດ.
These ancient beads serve as evidence of prehistoric trade.
'Luk pat' means bead, using 'luk' as a prefix for small round objects.
ອະສຸຈິໜຶ່ງໂຕຕ້ອງແຂ່ງຂັນກັນເພື່ອປະສົມພັນກັບໄຂ່ໜຶ່ງລູກ.
A single sperm must compete to fertilize a single egg.
Scientific/medical context using 'luk' as the classifier for a human egg cell (khai).
ການປ່ຽນແປງໂຄງສ້າງປະຊາກອນເຮັດໃຫ້ອັດຕາການເກີດລູກຫຼຸດລົງຢ່າງມີໄນສຳຄັນ.
Changes in demographic structure have led to a significant decline in the birth rate.
Academic demographic terminology: 'at ta kan koet luk' (birth rate).
ທຸກໆການກະທຳຍ່ອມມີຜົນສະທ້ອນຄືກັບລູກໂສ້.
Every action inevitably has repercussions like a chain reaction.
'Luk so' (child of chain) is used metaphorically for a chain reaction or domino effect.