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Asking 'What is this?'

علامت‌گذاری به عنوان یادگرفته
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To ask 'What is this?' in Lao, simply place the word for 'this' before the word for 'what' and add a question particle.

  • Use 'ອັນນີ້' (an-ni) for 'this'.
  • Use 'ແມ່ນຫຍັງ' (maen-nyang) for 'is what'.
  • End with 'ບໍ' (bor) or just use rising intonation for informal speech.
ອັນນີ້ (This) + ແມ່ນຫຍັງ (is what) + ? (question)

Meanings

This structure is used to identify objects or ask for the name of an item in your immediate vicinity.

1

Direct Identification

Asking for the identity of a physical object.

“ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?”

“ນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?”

Basic Question Formation

Demonstrative Verb Question Word Full Sentence
ອັນນີ້ (This) ແມ່ນ (is) ຫຍັງ (what) ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
ອັນນັ້ນ (That) ແມ່ນ (is) ຫຍັງ (what) ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
ອັນນັ້ນ (That over there) ແມ່ນ (is) ຫຍັງ (what) ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Casual Short Forms

Full Casual
ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ? ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງ?

Reference Table

Reference table for Asking 'What is this?'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Subject + ແມ່ນ + Noun ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນປຶ້ມ (This is a book)
Negative Subject + ບໍ່ແມ່ນ + Noun ອັນນີ້ບໍ່ແມ່ນປຶ້ມ (This is not a book)
Question Subject + ແມ່ນ + ຫຍັງ? ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ? (What is this?)
Confirmation Subject + ແມ່ນ + Noun + ແມ່ນບໍ່? ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນປຶ້ມແມ່ນບໍ່? (This is a book, right?)
Short Answer ແມ່ນ + Noun ແມ່ນປຶ້ມ (It's a book)
Negative Answer ບໍ່ແມ່ນ + Noun ບໍ່ແມ່ນປຶ້ມ (It's not a book)

طیف رسمیت

رسمی
ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງບໍ?

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງບໍ? (General)

خنثی
ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ? (General)

غیر رسمی
ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງ?

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງ? (General)

عامیانه
ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງວະ?

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງວະ? (General)

Lao Interrogatives

ຫຍັງ (What)

Objects

  • ອັນນີ້ This

People

  • ໃຜ Who
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Examples by Level

1

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

What is this?

2

ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

What is that?

3

ນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

What is this?

4

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງນໍ?

What is this, I wonder?

1

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງບໍ?

What is this? (formal)

2

ໂຕນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

What is this animal?

3

ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງແທ້?

What exactly is that?

4

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກັນ?

What is this (all about)?

1

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ.

I don't know what this is.

2

ເຈົ້າຮູ້ບໍ່ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Do you know what this is?

3

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກໍຕາມ, ມັນສວຍງາມ.

Whatever this is, it is beautiful.

4

ບອກຂ້ອຍແດ່ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ.

Tell me what this is.

1

ຂ້ອຍສົງໄສວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ.

I wonder what this is.

2

ບໍ່ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ, ມັນກໍມີຄ່າ.

No matter what this is, it has value.

3

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງທີ່ເຈົ້າກຳລັງຖື?

What is this that you are holding?

4

ຂ້ອຍຢາກຮູ້ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກັນແທ້.

I want to know what this really is.

1

ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນອັນໃດກໍຕາມ, ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Regardless of what it is, what is this?

2

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຈົ້າສົນໃຈ?

What is this that makes you interested?

3

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ແນ່ໃຈວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ.

I am not sure what this is.

4

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງທີ່ເຮົາຄວນຮູ້.

This is what we should know.

1

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ, ຖ້າບໍ່ແມ່ນຄວາມຮັກ?

What is this, if not love?

2

ການທີ່ເຈົ້າຖາມວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ, ມັນສະແດງເຖິງຄວາມສົນໃຈ.

The fact that you ask what this is shows interest.

3

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງທີ່ເຮົາຕ້ອງພິຈາລະນາ.

This is what we must consider.

4

ບໍ່ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ, ມັນກໍມີຜົນກະທົບ.

Whatever this is, it has an impact.

Easily Confused

Asking 'What is this?' در مقابل ຫຍັງ vs ໃຜ

Learners mix up 'what' and 'who'.

Asking 'What is this?' در مقابل ແມ່ນ vs ມີ

Learners use 'ແມ່ນ' for existence.

Asking 'What is this?' در مقابل ນີ້ vs ນັ້ນ

Mixing up 'this' and 'that'.

اشتباهات رایج

✗

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງແມ່ນ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Wrong word order.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນໃຜ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Using 'who' instead of 'what'.
✗

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Missing the copula.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງບໍ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Redundant question particle.
✗

ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງບໍ?

✓

ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Using 'bor' with a 'wh-' question.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງແທ້ບໍ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງແທ້?

Double question markers.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກັນບໍ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກັນ?

Incorrect particle usage.
✗

ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງບໍ?

✓

ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ.

Using question structure in a statement.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງທີ່?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Incorrect relative pronoun usage.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກໍ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກໍຕາມ.

Incomplete phrase.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຈົ້າສົນໃຈ?

Incomplete sentence.
✗

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ, ຖ້າບໍ່ແມ່ນ?

✓

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ, ຖ້າບໍ່ແມ່ນຄວາມຮັກ?

Incomplete comparison.
✗

ການທີ່ເຈົ້າຖາມວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງບໍ?

✓

ການທີ່ເຈົ້າຖາມວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ.

Question particle in a noun clause.

Sentence Patterns

ອັນ___ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນ___?

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນ___.

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກັນ___?

Real World Usage

Market constant

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Restaurant very common

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Classroom very common

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Texting common

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງ?

Travel common

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Shopping common

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

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💡

Use your hands

Always point when you ask 'An-ni maen nyang?' to be clear.
⚠️

Don't confuse 'who'

Remember 'phai' is for people, 'nyang' is for things.
🎯

Listen to the tone

Try to mimic the rising tone of native speakers.
💬

Be polite

Add 'bor' at the end for a more formal tone.

Smart Tips

Always use 'An-ni maen nyang?' to be clear.

An-ni nyang? → An-ni maen nyang?

Switch 'nyang' to 'phai'.

An-ni maen nyang? (pointing at a person) → An-ni maen phai?

Add 'bor' at the end.

An-ni maen nyang? → An-ni maen nyang bor?

Use a classifier instead of 'An-ni'.

An-ni maen nyang? → To-ni maen nyang? (for an animal)

تلفظ

IPA: /ɲaŋ/

Nyang

The 'ny' is a palatal nasal. Press the middle of your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

Rising

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ↗

Standard question intonation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'Nyang' sounds like 'Young'. 'What is this young thing?'

Visual Association

Imagine holding a mysterious box and asking 'Nyang?' while looking confused.

Rhyme

An-ni maen nyang, what is this thing?

Story

You are in a Lao market. You see a strange fruit. You point at it and say 'An-ni maen nyang?'. The vendor smiles and tells you the name.

Word Web

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງອັນນັ້ນໃຜບໍ

چالش

Point at 5 objects in your room and ask 'An-ni maen nyang?' for each.

نکات فرهنگی

Lao people are very helpful. Asking 'An-ni maen nyang?' is a great way to start a conversation.

The word 'ຫຍັງ' comes from Proto-Tai roots for 'what'.

Conversation Starters

“

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

“

ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

“

ເຈົ້າຮູ້ບໍ່ວ່າອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

“

ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງກັນແທ້?

Journal Prompts

Describe an object you see and ask what it is.
Write about a time you didn't know what something was.
Reflect on the importance of asking questions.
Discuss a mysterious object.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

ອັນນີ້___ຫຍັງ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ແມ່ນ
The verb 'ແມ່ນ' is required.
Choose the correct translation. چند گزینه‌ای

What is this?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Correct structure.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງແມ່ນ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Correct word order.
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: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Translate to Lao. ترجمه

What is that?

Answer starts with: ອັນ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Use 'ອັນນັ້ນ' for 'that'.
Match the word to meaning. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What
ຫຍັງ means what.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ມັນແມ່ນປຶ້ມ
Answering the question.
Sort into categories. Grammar Sorting

Which is for people?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໃຜ
ໃຜ is for people.

Score: /8

تمرین‌های عملی

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

ອັນນີ້___ຫຍັງ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ແມ່ນ
The verb 'ແມ່ນ' is required.
Choose the correct translation. چند گزینه‌ای

What is this?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Correct structure.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງແມ່ນ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Correct word order.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

ຫຍັງ / ອັນນີ້ / ແມ່ນ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Translate to Lao. ترجمه

What is that?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນັ້ນແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Use 'ອັນນັ້ນ' for 'that'.
Match the word to meaning. Match Pairs

ຫຍັງ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What
ຫຍັງ means what.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ມັນແມ່ນປຶ້ມ
Answering the question.
Sort into categories. Grammar Sorting

Which is for people?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໃຜ
ໃຜ is for people.

Score: /8

سوالات متداول (8)

Yes, but it is very casual. It is better to use 'An-ni maen nyang'.

It is the standard copula. You can omit it in very casual speech.

Lao doesn't have grammatical gender, so it doesn't matter!

Use 'An-ni maen phai?'.

No, it's optional for questions.

It's better to use more formal language, but it's not rude.

It's just the vocabulary of the language.

Yes, tones are vital in Lao, but focus on word order first.

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Qué es esto?

Spanish conjugates the verb.

French high

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

French has more complex syntax.

German high

Was ist das?

German uses case markers.

Japanese high

これは何ですか？

Japanese uses topic markers.

Arabic moderate

ما هذا؟

Arabic is VSO/SVO flexible.

Chinese high

这是什么？

Chinese lacks copula in this context.

Previous
Basic Nouns
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Basic Survival Phrases

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Question Particle 'Bo'
A1

Who, What, Where
A1

Question Particle 'Nai'
A1

Tag Questions
A1

Asking for Directions
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