Suggestions with 'Di'
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Di' at the end of a sentence to suggest an action or make a friendly invitation, similar to 'let's' in English.
- Add 'Di' to the end of a verb phrase: 'ໄປກິນເຂົ້າດີ' (Let's go eat).
- Use it for soft suggestions: 'ນັ່ງລົງດີ' (Why don't you sit down?).
- It functions as a polite, casual invitation: 'ໄປຫຼິ້ນດີ' (Let's go hang out).
Meanings
The particle 'Di' is used to express a suggestion, invitation, or a soft command, often implying a shared activity.
Shared Suggestion
Proposing an activity for the speaker and listener to do together.
“ໄປກິນເຂົ້າດີ”
“ໄປຫຼິ້ນດີ”
Soft Advice
Suggesting an action for the listener's benefit.
“ນັ່ງລົງດີ”
“ກິນຢາດີ”
Formation of Suggestions
| Action | Particle | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ໄປ | ດີ | ໄປດີ | Let's go |
| ກິນ | ດີ | ກິນດີ | Let's eat |
| ນອນ | ດີ | ນອນດີ | Let's sleep |
| ຮຽນ | ດີ | ຮຽນດີ | Let's study |
| ເວົ້າ | ດີ | ເວົ້າດີ | Let's talk |
| ເຮັດ | ດີ | ເຮັດດີ | Let's do |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Verb + Di | ໄປດີ |
| Negative | Bor + Verb + Di | ບໍ່ໄປດີ |
| Question | Verb + Di + Bor | ໄປດີບໍ່ |
| Suggestion | Subject + Verb + Di | ເຮົາໄປດີ |
| Polite | Verb + Di + Der | ໄປດີເດີ |
| Advice | Verb + Di + Na | ໄປດີນາ |
Spectre de formalité
ພວກເຮົາໄປຮັບປະທານອາຫານດີ (Dining)
ໄປກິນເຂົ້າດີ (Dining)
ໄປກິນເຂົ້າດີ (Dining)
ໄປແດກເຂົ້າດີ (Dining)
The 'Di' Concept
Usage
- Invitation Inviting friends
- Suggestion Proposing ideas
Examples by Level
ໄປດີ
Let's go
ກິນດີ
Let's eat
ນອນດີ
Let's sleep
ຫຼິ້ນດີ
Let's play
ໄປຕະຫຼາດດີ
Let's go to the market
ດື່ມນ້ຳດີ
Let's drink water
ເບິ່ງໜັງດີ
Let's watch a movie
ພັກຜ່ອນດີ
Let's take a break
ພວກເຮົາໄປທ່ຽວຫຼວງພະບາງດີ
Let's go travel to Luang Prabang
ເຮົາໄປຮຽນພາສາລາວດີ
Let's go study Lao language
ໄປຊອກຫາບ່ອນນັ່ງດີ
Let's look for a seat
ໄປຖາມທາງດີ
Let's ask for directions
ມື້ນີ້ອາກາດດີ ໄປຍ່າງຫຼິ້ນດີ
The weather is nice today, let's go for a walk
ຖ້າເຈົ້າບໍ່ຟ້າວ ໄປກິນກາເຟດີ
If you're not in a rush, let's go have coffee
ວຽກນີ້ຍາກ ໄປຂໍຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອດີ
This work is hard, let's go ask for help
ໄປຊື້ເຄື່ອງຂອງກຽມງານດີ
Let's go buy things to prepare for the event
ເຫັນວ່າເຈົ້າເໜື່ອຍ ໄປພັກຜ່ອນດີ
I see you are tired, let's go rest
ເພື່ອຄວາມສະດວກ ໄປນັ່ງລົດເມດີ
For convenience, let's take the bus
ໄປປຶກສາຫາລືກັນດີ
Let's go discuss it together
ໄປສຳຫຼວດເບິ່ງດີ
Let's go explore and see
ໃນເມື່ອສະຖານະການເປັນແບບນີ້ ໄປຫາທາງອອກດີ
Given the situation, let's find a way out
ເພື່ອຮັກສາສຸຂະພາບ ໄປອອກກຳລັງກາຍດີ
To maintain health, let's go exercise
ໄປທົບທວນບົດຮຽນເກົ່າດີ
Let's go review the old lessons
ໄປສ້າງຄວາມຊົງຈຳທີ່ດີນຳກັນດີ
Let's go create good memories together
Easily Confused
Both are sentence-ending particles.
Erreurs courantes
Di pai
Pai di
Pai di khao
Pai kin khao di
Pai di na
Pai di
Pai di for us
Pai di
Sentence Patterns
ໄປ ___ ດີ
Real World Usage
ໄປກິນເຂົ້າດີ
ໄປທ່ຽວດີ
ໄປໂຮງແຮມດີ
ສັ່ງອາຫານດີ
ໄປປະຊຸມດີ
ໄປຊື້ເຄື່ອງດີ
Keep it simple
Smart Tips
Use Di.
Prononciation
Tone
Di is a mid-tone particle.
Rising
ໄປດີ?
Suggestive question
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Di is for 'Do it!' - just add it to the end to suggest doing it.
Visual Association
Imagine two friends holding hands and walking, with a big 'DI' sign above their heads.
Rhyme
When you want to suggest, put Di to the test.
Story
Somsak wanted to go to the market. He looked at his friend and said 'Pai talad di'. His friend smiled and agreed. They went together happily.
Word Web
Défi
Send a text to a Lao friend using '...di' to suggest a meeting.
Notes culturelles
Lao culture values harmony; 'Di' is a soft way to suggest without being bossy.
Derived from the Tai-Kadai root for 'good' or 'proper'.
Conversation Starters
ມື້ນີ້ໄປໃສດີ?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
ໄປກິນເຂົ້າ___
Score: /1
Exercices pratiques
1 exercisesໄປກິນເຂົ້າ___
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
No, it is for suggestions.
In Other Languages
Let's...
English puts it at the start; Lao at the end.
Vamos a...
Lao uses a particle.
Allons...
Lao is more informal.
Lass uns...
Lao is a particle.
~mashou
Japanese conjugates the verb.
ba
Chinese 'ba' is more versatile.
