Business Negotiations
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Master polite indirectness using 'Yak Ja' and 'Khuan' to negotiate effectively while maintaining social harmony and 'saving face' in Lao business.
- Use 'Yak Ja' (Would like to) instead of 'Yak' (Want) for polite proposals: 'ພວກເຮົາຢາກຈະສະເໜີ...'
- Soften disagreements with 'Hen Dee Nam, Tae...' (Agree with, but...) to avoid direct confrontation.
- Always end proposals with 'Dai Bor?' (Is it possible?) to show respect for the other party's authority.
Meanings
The set of linguistic strategies and specific vocabulary used in Lao to propose, counter-offer, and finalize business deals while adhering to cultural norms of politeness and hierarchy.
Making a Proposal
Using 'Sanoe' (to propose) with polite modals to initiate a deal.
“ພວກເຮົາຂໍສະເໜີແຜນການຮ່ວມມືນີ້.”
“ທ່ານມີຄວາມຄິດເຫັນແນວໃດຕໍ່ກັບຂໍ້ສະເໜີນີ້?”
Polite Rejection/Counter-offer
Softening a 'No' by acknowledging the offer first before presenting an alternative.
“ຂໍ້ສະເໜີນີ້ດີຫຼາຍ, ແຕ່ພວກເຮົາຢາກຂໍຫຼຸດລາຄາລົງອີກໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ.”
“ພວກເຮົາຍັງບໍ່ທັນພ້ອມທີ່ຈະຕົກລົງໃນເວລານີ້.”
Confirming Agreement
Using 'Tok Long' (Agree/Settle) to finalize the terms of a negotiation.
“ພວກເຮົາຕົກລົງຕາມເງື່ອນໄຂນີ້.”
“ຕົກລົງ, ພວກເຮົາຈະເຊັນສັນຍານຳກັນ.”
Polite Modal Verbs for Negotiation
| Lao Word | Transliteration | English Meaning | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ຢາກຈະ | yak ja | Would like to | Making a soft proposal |
| ຄວນ | khuan | Should | Suggesting a course of action |
| ຕ້ອງ | tong | Must / Need to | Stating requirements |
| ສາມາດ | samart | Can / Able to | Discussing capabilities |
| ຂໍ | khor | May I / Please | Asking for permission/favors |
| ອາດຈະ | at ja | Might / Perhaps | Expressing uncertainty/softening |
Common Business Abbreviations
| Full Form | Abbreviation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ບໍລິສັດ | ບສ | Company (Co.) |
| ມະຫາຊົນ | ມຊ | Public (PLC) |
| ຈຳກັດ | ຈກ | Limited (Ltd.) |
Reference Table
| Function | Lao Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Proposing | ພວກເຮົາຢາກຈະ + Verb | ພວກເຮົາຢາກຈະເຊັນສັນຍາ. |
| Disagreeing | ເຫັນດີ, ແຕ່ + Reason | ເຫັນດີ, ແຕ່ລາຄາສູງໂພດ. |
| Asking Permission | ຂໍອະນຸຍາດ + Verb | ຂໍອະນຸຍາດຖາມແດ່. |
| Confirming | ຕົກລົງຕາມ + Noun | ຕົກລົງຕາມເງື່ອນໄຂນີ້. |
| Requesting | ທ່ານສາມາດ + Verb + ໄດ້ບໍ່? | ທ່ານສາມາດຫຼຸດລາຄາໄດ້ບໍ່? |
| Suggesting | ພວກເຮົາຄວນຈະ + Verb | ພວກເຮົາຄວນຈະລົມກັນໃໝ່. |
| Expressing Hope | ຫວັງວ່າ + Sentence | ຫວັງວ່າຈະໄດ້ຮ່ວມງານກັນ. |
| Thanking | ຂອບໃຈສຳລັບ + Noun | ຂອບໃຈສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນ. |
Spectre de formalité
ພວກເຮົາຢາກຈະຂໍສ່ວນຫຼຸດໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງໄດ້ບໍ່ທ່ານ? (Price negotiation)
ຫຼຸດລາຄາໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາໄດ້ບໍ່? (Price negotiation)
ຫຼຸດໃຫ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່? (Price negotiation)
ຫຼຸດອີກແມ້! (Price negotiation)
Lao Business Etiquette Map
Politeness
- ໂດຍ (Doy) Polite Yes
- ທ່ານ (Than) Formal You
Action
- ສະເໜີ (Sanoe) Propose
- ຕົກລົງ (Tok Long) Agree
Direct vs. Indirect Negotiation
Decision Flow for Counter-offers
Do you agree with the price?
Is it a small difference?
Essential Business Vocabulary
Documents
- • ສັນຍາ (Contract)
- • ໃບສະເໜີລາຄາ (Quotation)
- • ບົດລາຍງານ (Report)
People
- • ລູກຄ້າ (Customer)
- • ຫົວໜ້າ (Boss)
- • ຄູ່ຮ່ວມງານ (Partner)
Examples by Level
ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ?
How much is the price?
ຫຼຸດໄດ້ບໍ່?
Can you discount?
ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.
Thank you very much.
ໂດຍ, ແມ່ນແລ້ວ.
Yes, that's right.
ຂ້ອຍຢາກຊື້ສິນຄ້ານີ້.
I want to buy this product.
ທ່ານມີສີອື່ນບໍ່?
Do you have other colors?
ຂ້ອຍເຫັນດີນຳທ່ານ.
I agree with you.
ມື້ອື່ນເຈົ້າມີເວລາບໍ່?
Do you have time tomorrow?
ພວກເຮົາຢາກຈະສະເໜີລາຄາໃໝ່.
We would like to propose a new price.
ທ່ານຄວນພິຈາລະນາຂໍ້ສະເໜີນີ້.
You should consider this proposal.
ຖ້າທ່ານຫຼຸດລາຄາ, ພວກເຮົາຈະຕົກລົງ.
If you lower the price, we will agree.
ຂໍອະນຸຍາດຖາມກ່ຽວກັບສັນຍາ.
May I ask about the contract?
ອີງຕາມສັນຍາ, ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງສົ່ງເຄື່ອງມື້ນີ້.
According to the contract, we must deliver today.
ພວກເຮົາມີຄວາມຍິນດີທີ່ຈະຮ່ວມມືກັບທ່ານ.
We are pleased to cooperate with you.
ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າລາຄາຈະສູງ, ແຕ່ຄຸນນະພາບດີຫຼາຍ.
Even though the price is high, the quality is very good.
ພວກເຮົາຫວັງວ່າຈະໄດ້ຮັບຄຳຕອບໃນໄວໆນີ້.
We hope to receive an answer soon.
ການຮ່ວມມືນີ້ຈະນຳມາຊຶ່ງຜົນປະໂຫຍດອັນມະຫາສານ.
This cooperation will bring immense benefits.
ພວກເຮົາຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງໄດ້ທົບທວນຄືນຍຸດທະສາດ.
We need to review the strategy.
ຂໍ້ສະເໜີຂອງທ່ານມີຈຸດເດັ່ນທີ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈຫຼາຍ.
Your proposal has very interesting highlights.
ພວກເຮົາຄວນຊອກຫາທາງອອກທີ່ຕ່າງຝ່າຍຕ່າງໄດ້ຮັບຜົນປະໂຫຍດ.
We should find a win-win solution.
ບົດບັນທຶກຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈນີ້ເປັນພື້ນຖານໃຫ້ແກ່ສັນຍາສະບັບສົມບູນ.
This MOU serves as the basis for the full contract.
ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງຄຳນຶງເຖິງຄວາມຜັນຜວນຂອງຕະຫຼາດໂລກ.
We must consider the volatility of the global market.
ການເຈລະຈາຄັ້ງນີ້ຖືເປັນຂີດໝາຍສຳຄັນຂອງບໍລິສັດ.
This negotiation is considered a major milestone for the company.
ພວກເຮົາພ້ອມທີ່ຈະປັບປ່ຽນເງື່ອນໄຂເພື່ອຄວາມຍືນຍົງ.
We are ready to adjust terms for sustainability.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'agree', but 'Tok Long' is for decisions/contracts, while 'Hen Dee' is for opinions.
Both mean 'want', but 'Yak Ja' is the polite, formal version used in business.
Both mean 'You', but 'Than' is formal/professional, while 'Chao' is neutral/friendly.
Erreurs courantes
ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄດ້ສ່ວນຫຼຸດ.
ຂໍສ່ວນຫຼຸດໄດ້ບໍ່ເຈົ້າ?
ບໍ່.
ຂໍໂທດ, ຍັງບໍ່ທັນໄດ້.
ເຈົ້າເອົາລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ?
ທ່ານສະເໜີລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ?
ຂອບໃຈ.
ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆໂດຍ.
ຂ້ອຍເຫັນດີ.
ຂ້ອຍເຫັນດີນຳທ່ານ.
ມື້ອື່ນມາຫາຂ້ອຍ.
ມື້ອື່ນຂໍເຊີນທ່ານມາພົບພວກເຮົາ.
ລາຄານີ້ແພງ.
ລາຄານີ້ສູງໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ.
ພວກເຮົາຢາກຕົກລົງ.
ພວກເຮົາຢາກຈະຕົກລົງ.
ທ່ານຕ້ອງເຊັນສັນຍາ.
ທ່ານຄວນຈະເຊັນສັນຍາ.
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ.
ຂໍໂທດ, ທ່ານສາມາດອະທິບາຍຄືນໄດ້ບໍ່?
ຂໍ້ສະເໜີນີ້ບໍ່ດີ.
ຂໍ້ສະເໜີນີ້ອາດຈະຍັງມີບາງຈຸດທີ່ຕ້ອງປັບປຸງ.
ຂ້ອຍຈະເຮັດເອງ.
ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະຮັບຜິດຊອບວຽກນີ້.
ພວກເຮົາຊະນະ.
ພວກເຮົາທັງສອງຝ່າຍໄດ້ຮັບຜົນປະໂຫຍດ.
Sentence Patterns
ພວກເຮົາຢາກຈະ ___ ໃຫ້ທ່ານພິຈາລະນາ.
ທ່ານສາມາດ ___ ໄດ້ບໍ່?
ອີງຕາມ ___, ພວກເຮົາຄວນຈະ ___.
ຂໍອະນຸຍາດ ___ ແດ່.
Real World Usage
ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຢາກຈະສະໝັກວຽກຕຳແໜ່ງນີ້.
ສະບາຍດີທ່ານ, ຂໍອະນຸຍາດສົ່ງໃບສະເໜີລາຄາເດີ້.
ພວກເຮົາຄວນຈະທົບທວນເງື່ອນໄຂຄືນໃໝ່.
ຫຼຸດໃຫ້ແດ່, ຊື້ຫຼາຍໃດ໋ນີ້!
ຫວັງວ່າພວກເຮົາຈະໄດ້ຮ່ວມງານກັນໃນໄວໆນີ້.
ເຊີນທ່ານດື່ມນຳກັນ, ຕຳຈອກ!
The 'Doy' Rule
Avoid 'Bor'
Body Language
Use 'Phuak Hao'
Smart Tips
Start with 'Khor anuyat' (Allow me) to soften the blow.
In business, 'Ja' often acts as a softener, making a statement sound like a polite intent rather than a cold fact.
Use 'Thuk Than' (Everyone/All of you) to show respect to the entire room.
Use 'Tae wa' instead of just 'Tae' for a more formal transition.
Prononciation
Tone of 'Doy'
The particle 'Doy' should be said with a polite, slightly rising tone to show respect.
Softening 'Bor'
When asking 'Dai bor?', keep the 'bor' short and light, not heavy or demanding.
Polite Inquiry
ທ່ານສະບາຍດີບໍ່? ↗
Rising intonation at the end indicates a polite question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'YAK JA' (Would like to) — it's like a 'Yak' (the animal) wearing a 'Jacket' to look professional for a meeting.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge connecting two people. On one side is 'Proposal' and the other is 'Agreement'. The bridge is made of 'Doy' (polite particles) and 'Than' (formal pronouns).
Rhyme
Don't be a bore, use 'Doy' and 'Khor'. If you want to stay, say 'Yak Ja' all day.
Story
Somchai went to a meeting. He didn't say 'I want' (Yak). Instead, he wore his business suit and said 'I would like to' (Yak ja). The partner smiled, said 'Doy', and they signed the 'Sanya' (contract).
Word Web
Défi
Write a 3-sentence email in Lao proposing a meeting next Tuesday at 10 AM using 'Yak ja' and 'Dai bor?'.
Notes culturelles
The concept of 'Face' is paramount. Never criticize a partner in front of others. Use indirect language to point out errors.
Many business deals are finalized with a Baci ceremony. It's a spiritual blessing that cements the relationship.
Always address the most senior person first. Use titles like 'Than Phou Am Nouy Kan' (Director) if known.
Lao business terminology is heavily influenced by Pali-Sanskrit (for formal terms) and more recently by French and English corporate structures.
Conversation Starters
ທ່ານມີຄວາມຄິດເຫັນແນວໃດຕໍ່ກັບລາຄານີ້?
ພວກເຮົາສາມາດເຊັນສັນຍາມື້ນີ້ໄດ້ບໍ່?
ຂໍອະນຸຍາດຖາມ, ບໍລິສັດຂອງທ່ານເຮັດວຽກກ່ຽວກັບຫຍັງ?
ທ່ານຢາກຈະຮ່ວມມືກັບພວກເຮົາໃນໂຄງການໃໝ່ບໍ່?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
How do you ask for a discount formally?
ພວກເຮົາ ___ ຈະຕົກລົງໃນລາຄານີ້.
Find and fix the mistake:
Correct the sentence to be professional.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Reorder the words.
True or False?
What should B say?
Sort: [ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ພວກເຮົາ, ຂ້ອຍ, ກູ]
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesHow do you ask for a discount formally?
ພວກເຮົາ ___ ຈະຕົກລົງໃນລາຄານີ້.
Find and fix the mistake:
Correct the sentence to be professional.
Match the following:
Reorder the words.
True or False?
What should B say?
Sort: [ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ພວກເຮົາ, ຂ້ອຍ, ກູ]
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
It is `ໂດຍ` (Doy). It shows respect, agreement, and attentiveness. Use it often!
In a neutral setting, `ເຈົ້າ` (Chao) is fine. But in a formal negotiation, `ທ່ານ` (Than) is much safer and more professional.
You can say `ຕ່າງຝ່າຍຕ່າງໄດ້ຮັບຜົນປະໂຫຍດ` (tang fai tang dai rap phon prayot), which means 'both sides receive benefits'.
In business, 'hard' bargaining is discouraged. It's better to be firm but always polite and indirect.
Say `ລາຄານີ້ສູງໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ` (This price is a bit high) and then ask `ຫຼຸດໄດ້ອີກບໍ່?` (Can it be lowered more?).
No, `ພວກເຮົາ` (We) or `ຂ້ອຍ` (I - neutral) is usually sufficient once the meeting has started and the atmosphere is relaxed.
It means 'to lose face'. If you embarrass someone or are too direct with a 'No', they 'Sia Na', and the deal will likely fail.
Say `ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆສຳລັບເວລາຂອງທ່ານ` (Thank you very much for your time).
In Other Languages
Usted / Quisiera
Lao uses sentence-final particles (Doy) which Spanish lacks.
Vouvoyer / Je voudrais
Lao grammar does not conjugate verbs for person or number.
Sie / Ich möchte
German values directness; Lao values indirectness to save face.
Keigo (敬語)
Japanese Keigo is much more grammatically complex than Lao polite forms.
Inshallah / Bargaining culture
Arabic bargaining is often louder and more energetic; Lao is quiet and reserved.
Guanxi (关系)
Lao uses more polite particles than modern Mandarin business talk.
