Significado
Cleaning hands with water.
Contexto cultural
Washing hands is the first act of hospitality. When you visit a village home, you will often be directed to a plastic basin or a tap before the meal is served. Water is used to 'wash' away bad luck. During the Lao New Year, washing the hands of monks and elders is a way to show respect and receive merit. Because sticky rice is rolled into a ball with the fingers, clean hands are a non-negotiable social requirement. Eating with dirty hands is considered extremely rude. Since COVID-19, the Lao government has integrated 'ລ້າງມື' into pop songs and street art to promote public health, making it a very visible phrase in urban areas.
Sound like a local
Use 'ລ້າງໄມ້ລ້າງມື' (lāng mai lāng meu) when inviting friends to eat. It sounds much more natural and friendly than the clinical 'ລ້າງມື'.
Don't use 'Sak'
Never use 'ຊັກ' (sak) for hands. It’s a common beginner mistake that sounds very strange to Lao ears.
Significado
Cleaning hands with water.
Sound like a local
Use 'ລ້າງໄມ້ລ້າງມື' (lāng mai lāng meu) when inviting friends to eat. It sounds much more natural and friendly than the clinical 'ລ້າງມື'.
Don't use 'Sak'
Never use 'ຊັກ' (sak) for hands. It’s a common beginner mistake that sounds very strange to Lao ears.
The Right Hand
Even after washing both hands, always use your right hand to pick up sticky rice. It's the 'clean' hand for eating.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct verb for washing hands.
ກ່ອນກິນເຂົ້າ, ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງ ____ ມື.
'ລ້າງ' is the correct verb for hands. 'ຊັກ' is for clothes and 'ອາບ' is for the body.
Which sentence uses the figurative meaning of 'ລ້າງມື'?
Choose the correct sentence:
This sentence means 'He washed his hands of the gambling world,' which is the figurative use.
Complete the dialogue between a mother and her child.
ແມ່: 'ລູກ ____ ມືແລ້ວບໍ່?' ລູກ: 'ໂດຍ, ລ້າງແລ້ວ.'
The mother is asking if the child washed their hands.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: Someone is retiring from a long career in boxing.
This means 'washing hands of the boxing circle,' implying retirement.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
The Three 'Wash' Verbs in Lao
ລ້າງ (Lāng)
- • Hands (ມື)
- • Dishes (ຖ້ວຍ)
- • Car (ລົດ)
- • Face (ໜ້າ)
ຊັກ (Sak)
- • Clothes (ເຄື່ອງ)
- • Socks (ຖົງຕີນ)
- • Curtains (ຜ້າມ່ານ)
ສະ (Sa)
- • Hair (ຜົມ)
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosກ່ອນກິນເຂົ້າ, ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງ ____ ມື.
'ລ້າງ' is the correct verb for hands. 'ຊັກ' is for clothes and 'ອາບ' is for the body.
Choose the correct sentence:
This sentence means 'He washed his hands of the gambling world,' which is the figurative use.
ແມ່: 'ລູກ ____ ມືແລ້ວບໍ່?' ລູກ: 'ໂດຍ, ລ້າງແລ້ວ.'
The mother is asking if the child washed their hands.
Situation: Someone is retiring from a long career in boxing.
This means 'washing hands of the boxing circle,' implying retirement.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your parents, or your friends. It's never inappropriate.
Technically, 'ລ້າງ' implies water. For sanitizer, people usually say 'ທາເຈວ' (applying gel) or 'ຂ້າເຊື້ອ' (killing germs).
It means to quit a specific social circle or industry permanently, often one that was stressful or shady.
No. In Lao, possessive pronouns like 'ຂອງຂ້ອຍ' (my) are usually omitted if the context is clear.
You can say 'ບ່ອນລ້າງມືຢູ່ໃສ?' (Where is the hand-washing place?)
Yes, the tone of 'ລ້າງ' might be slightly higher or lower depending on the regional accent, but the meaning is identical.
Yes! 'ລ້າງລົດ' (wash car) is perfectly correct.
Literally, 'ມືເປື້ອນ' (dirty hands). Figuratively, there isn't a direct opposite, but 'ພົວພັນ' (to be involved) is often used.
Frases relacionadas
ລ້າງຖ້ວຍ
similarTo wash dishes
ລ້າງໜ້າ
similarTo wash one's face
ວາງມື
synonymTo retire/stop doing something
ຊັກເຄື່ອງ
contrastTo wash clothes
