Question Particle 'Nai'
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Add 'nai' to the end of a sentence to turn it into a question, just like adding a question mark.
- Place 'nai' at the very end of a statement: 'You eat?' becomes 'Jao kin khao nai?'
- Keep the word order exactly the same as the statement: 'He is happy' -> 'Lao muan nai?'
- Use a rising intonation at the end of the sentence to signal the question clearly.
Meanings
The particle 'nai' is used to transform a declarative sentence into a yes/no question. It functions as the spoken equivalent of a question mark.
Yes/No Question
Used to ask for confirmation or information regarding a fact.
“Jao sabai dee nai?”
“Lao hen nai?”
Question Formation
| Statement | Particle | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Jao pai | nai | Jao pai nai? |
| Lao kin | nai | Lao kin nai? |
| Nee dee | nai | Nee dee nai? |
| Jao sabai | nai | Jao sabai nai? |
| Lao hen | nai | Lao hen nai? |
| Jao mee | nai | Jao mee nai? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + Verb | Jao pai |
| Question | Subject + Verb + nai | Jao pai nai? |
| Negative | Subject + bo + Verb | Jao bo pai |
| Negative Question | Subject + bo + Verb + nai | Jao bo pai nai? |
| Short Answer | Yes/No | Mae / Bo |
| Formal Question | Subject + Verb + nai + chao | Jao pai nai chao? |
Formality Spectrum
Jao kin khao nai chao? (Dining)
Jao kin khao nai? (Dining)
Kin khao nai? (Dining)
Kin khao nai? (Dining)
The 'Nai' Particle Map
Usage
- Yes/No Confirmation
Position
- End Sentence-final
Examples by Level
Jao kin khao nai?
Do you eat rice?
Lao pai nai?
Does he go?
Nee dee nai?
Is this good?
Jao sabai nai?
Are you well?
Jao yak pai nai?
Do you want to go?
Lao hen jao nai?
Did he see you?
Nee pen khong jao nai?
Is this yours?
Jao mee wela nai?
Do you have time?
Jao khit wa man thuk nai?
Do you think it is correct?
Lao dai pai ha jao nai?
Did he go to see you?
Jao ja pai nai?
Are you going to go?
Nee khue sing tee jao tong kan nai?
Is this what you want?
Jao dai hen khwam plian paeng nai?
Have you noticed the change?
Man pen kan yak nai?
Is it a difficult task?
Jao khuan ja pai nai?
Should you go?
Lao dai bok jao nai?
Did he tell you?
Jao mee khwam hen nai?
Do you have an opinion?
Man pen sing tee rao tong kan nai?
Is it something we need?
Jao dai triam tua nai?
Have you prepared yourself?
Lao dai hai khwam ruam mue nai?
Did he cooperate?
Jao dai phijarana nai?
Have you considered it?
Man pen kan khat kan nai?
Is it a contradiction?
Jao dai yom rap nai?
Have you accepted it?
Lao dai sadang khwam khit hen nai?
Did he express his opinion?
Easily Confused
Both are question particles.
Both ask questions.
Both look the same.
Common Mistakes
Nai jao pai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao nai pai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai bor?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai ma?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Jao pai nai?
Sentence Patterns
Jao ___ nai?
Lao ___ nai?
Nee pen ___ nai?
Jao yak ___ nai?
Real World Usage
Sabai dee nai?
Mee khao pad nai?
Pai nai?
Jao mee khwam samat nai?
Jao hen nai?
Nee dee nai?
Rising Intonation
Don't change word order
Combine with polite particles
Use it everywhere
Smart Tips
Add 'nai' and raise your pitch.
Add 'chao' after 'nai'.
Use 'nai' for quick check-ins.
Use 'nai' to check availability.
Pronunciation
Rising Intonation
Raise your pitch at the end of the sentence to signal a question.
Question
Jao pai nai? ↑
Seeking information
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Nai is like a 'Nai-ce' little question mark at the end of your sentence.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant question mark made of the letters N-A-I hanging at the end of a sentence.
Rhyme
To make a question, don't be shy, just add the particle 'nai'!
Story
A traveler in Vientiane wants to know if the bus is coming. He says 'Bus ma nai?' The driver smiles and nods. He learned that 'nai' is the key to every answer.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 questions using 'nai' about your daily routine in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
In the capital, 'nai' is used frequently in both formal and informal settings.
The usage is similar but often accompanied by local particles.
Southern dialects might use slightly different particles, but 'nai' is universally understood.
The particle 'nai' is a native Lao interrogative marker.
Conversation Starters
Jao sabai dee nai?
Jao kin khao nai?
Jao yak pai nai?
Jao mee wela nai?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Jao pai ___
A: Nai jao pai? B: Jao pai nai?
Find and fix the mistake:
Nai jao kin khao?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Do you eat?
Answer starts with: Jao...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Jao / sabai / nai
Which is the question particle?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJao pai ___
A: Nai jao pai? B: Jao pai nai?
Find and fix the mistake:
Nai jao kin khao?
nai / jao / pai
Do you eat?
Jao pai nai? - Are you going?
Jao / sabai / nai
Which is the question particle?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
It is for yes/no questions. For specific info, use question words.
No, keep the statement order.
It is neutral and used in all settings.
Usually no, they are different particles.
Add 'chao' or 'der' at the end.
Yes, it is widely understood.
People might think you are making a statement.
No, 'nai' as a particle is different from 'nai' meaning 'in'.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Intonation/Question marks
Lao uses an explicit particle.
Est-ce que
Placement is opposite.
Verb inversion
Lao does not invert.
ka
Both are sentence-final particles.
Hal
Placement is opposite.
ma
Both are sentence-final particles.
