A0 · Zero Point Chapter 5

Survival Basics

4 Total Rules
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the essential Lao phrases to navigate daily life and identify objects with confidence.

  • Identify common objects using basic Lao nouns.
  • Ask 'What is this?' to build your vocabulary on the go.
  • Use simple yes/no responses to communicate your needs.
Speak survival Lao, one simple phrase at a time.

What You'll Learn

Learning to ask for help and identify basic objects. Focuses on simple noun phrases and common survival vocabulary.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Identify common objects and ask for help in simple situations.

Tips & Tricks (4)

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Classifier Cheat Sheet

Keep a list of the 5 most common classifiers on your phone.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Nouns
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Use your hands

Always point when you ask 'An-ni maen nyang?' to be clear.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'What is this?'
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Smile

Lao people value smiles.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Survival Phrases
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Listen for the tone

The particle 'ບໍ່' has a low tone. Listen to native speakers to get the pitch right.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Yes/No Basics

Key Vocabulary (6)

ອັນນີ້ (an-ni) this ແມ່ນ (maen) to be ຫຍັງ (nyang) what ໂດຍ (doy) yes (polite) ບໍ່ (bor) no/not ນ້ຳ (nam) water

Real-World Preview

shopping-cart

At the Market

Review Summary

  • [Noun]
  • ອັນນີ້ + ແມ່ນ + ຫຍັງ?
  • [Phrase]
  • ໂດຍ / ບໍ່

Common Mistakes

In Lao, the subject 'this' (ອັນນີ້) comes before the verb 'is' (ແມ່ນ).

Wrong: ແມ່ນອັນນີ້ຫຍັງ?
Correct: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Adding a comma after 'ບໍ່ແມ່ນ' clarifies the distinction between negation and confirmation.

Wrong: ບໍ່ແມ່ນນ້ຳ.
Correct: ບໍ່ແມ່ນ, ແມ່ນນ້ຳ.

You must include the verb 'ແມ່ນ' (to be) to form a complete question.

Wrong: ຫຍັງອັນນີ້?
Correct: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?

Next Steps

You have done an amazing job reaching the end of this level! Keep practicing your survival phrases daily to stay sharp.

Label objects in your home using sticky notes.

Continue to: Who is Who: Pronouns

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the correct classifier.

ໝາສອງ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໂຕ
Animals use the classifier ໂຕ.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Nouns

Fill in the blank.

Hong nam yoo ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sai
Standard question.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Survival Phrases

Fill in the blank.

ອັນນີ້___ຫຍັງ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ແມ່ນ
The verb 'ແມ່ນ' is required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'What is this?'

Choose the correct noun phrase.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໝາໃຫຍ່ສອງໂຕ
Noun + Adj + Num + Class.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Nouns

Add the correct particle to make a question.

ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ບໍ່
The particle 'ບໍ່' is used for Yes/No questions.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Yes/No Basics

Which sentence is a correct question?

Choose the correct one:

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

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Yes/No Basics

Choose the correct polite particle for a man.

Khop chai ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: chao
Chao is for men.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Survival Phrases

Choose the correct translation.

What is this?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Correct structure.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'What is this?'

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

ບໍ່ ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາວມັກກິນເຜັດບໍ່
Particle at the end.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Yes/No Basics

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

ອັນນີ້ຫຍັງແມ່ນ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Correct word order.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'What is this?'

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, Lao nouns are invariant.
A word used to count nouns based on their shape.
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.
A polite particle for men.
Use 'bor'.
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Hello and Goodbye
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Who is Who: Pronouns
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