意思
Referring to a distant past.
文化背景
Lao people often use 'don laeo' to avoid being specific about dates, as traditional culture focuses more on seasons and events than exact calendar days. The concept of 'don' (long time) is often used in Buddhist teachings to describe the long cycle of Samsara (rebirth). For Lao people living abroad, 'don laeo' is frequently used with a sense of 'longing' (khit hot) for their homeland they haven't visited in years. In the fast-growing capital, 'don laeo' is increasingly used to complain about internet speeds or traffic, reflecting a shift in the perception of time.
The 'Noh' Add-on
Add 'ເນາະ' (noh) at the end to make it 'Don laeo noh!' This makes you sound much more like a native speaker by seeking agreement.
Avoid 'Sam lap'
Don't say 'sam lap don laeo' (for a long time). Just say 'don laeo'. Prepositions of duration are unnecessary in Lao.
意思
Referring to a distant past.
The 'Noh' Add-on
Add 'ເນາະ' (noh) at the end to make it 'Don laeo noh!' This makes you sound much more like a native speaker by seeking agreement.
Avoid 'Sam lap'
Don't say 'sam lap don laeo' (for a long time). Just say 'don laeo'. Prepositions of duration are unnecessary in Lao.
Subjective Time
Remember that 'don laeo' is relative. If a Lao person says they'll be there 'soon' but they've been 'don laeo', they might just be enjoying the journey!
Standalone Power
You can use 'Don laeo' as a one-word answer to almost any 'How long' or 'When' question.
自我测试
Fill in the blank to say 'I have lived in Laos for a long time.'
ຂ້ອຍຢູ່ປະເທດລາວ ____.
'ດົນແລ້ວ' is used for time duration. 'ຍາວ' is for physical length, and 'ຫຼາຍ' is for quantity.
Which sentence correctly says 'I haven't eaten in a long time'?
Select the correct Lao sentence:
The negative marker 'ບໍ່ໄດ້' goes before the verb, and 'ດົນແລ້ວ' goes at the end.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You see a friend you haven't seen since last year. What do you say?
'Don laeo noh!' is the standard way to acknowledge a long time has passed between meetings.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ເຈົ້າລໍຖ້າຂ້ອຍດົນແລ້ວບໍ່? B: ________, ປະມານສອງຊົ່ວໂມງ.
The speaker is confirming they have been waiting for a long time (2 hours).
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Don vs. Yao
Common 'Don Laeo' Scenarios
Social
- • Meeting friends
- • Dating
- • Family
Daily
- • Waiting for food
- • Traffic
- • Work
练习题库
4 练习ຂ້ອຍຢູ່ປະເທດລາວ ____.
'ດົນແລ້ວ' is used for time duration. 'ຍາວ' is for physical length, and 'ຫຼາຍ' is for quantity.
Select the correct Lao sentence:
The negative marker 'ບໍ່ໄດ້' goes before the verb, and 'ດົນແລ້ວ' goes at the end.
You see a friend you haven't seen since last year. What do you say?
'Don laeo noh!' is the standard way to acknowledge a long time has passed between meetings.
A: ເຈົ້າລໍຖ້າຂ້ອຍດົນແລ້ວບໍ່? B: ________, ປະມານສອງຊົ່ວໂມງ.
The speaker is confirming they have been waiting for a long time (2 hours).
🎉 得分： /4
常见问题
12 个问题No, use 'yao' (ຍາວ) for physical length. 'Don' is strictly for time.
'Don' is common and colloquial. 'Nan' is more formal and poetic. They both mean long time.
In this context, yes. It marks that the 'long time' has already been established.
You can say 'ດົນໆແລ້ວ' or 'ດົນນານແລ້ວ'.
Yes, it is neutral and can be used with anyone.
No, 'don laeo' is for the past or present-perfect. For the future, just use 'don'.
'Teup' adds a sense of 'quite' or 'rather' to the duration.
Yes, Thai uses 'nan laeo', which is very similar.
Ask 'Don pan dai?' (ດົນປານໃດ?).
Yes, it's perfectly fine to describe project durations.
It means 'haven't done [verb] in a long time'.
You can say 'ດົນໂພດ' (don phot) which means 'too long!'
相关表达
ດົນໆ
similarOccasionally / Seldom
ບໍ່ດົນ
contrastNot long / Soon
ດົນນານ
specialized formA very long time
ແຕ່ກ່ອນ
similarBefore / In the past
ຫວ່າງບໍ່ດົນມານີ້
contrastRecently
