ຂອບໃຈ
khǭp chai[kʰɔːp̚˧˩.t͡ɕaj˩(˧)]
ຂອບໃຈ (khǭp chai) is the Lao way to say thank you.
ຂອບໃຈ is an expression used to show gratitude.
Meaning: an expression of gratitude (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ຂອບໃຈ is composed of ຂອບ (to appreciate/to be grateful) and ໃຈ (heart).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ຂອບໃຈ is an informal way to say thank you. For a more polite and respectful expression, you can add the particle ເຈົ້າ to the end of the phrase to say ຂອບໃຈເຈົ້າ. In casual speech, you can also express a deeper level of appreciation by doubling the word ຫຼາຍ to ຫຼາຍໆ, resulting in ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ຂອບໃຈ does not change its form based on the subject or the person being thanked.
How do you pronounce it?
khǭp chai
When do people say it?
When someone says thank you to you, the standard response is ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, which means 'it's nothing' or 'you're welcome'.
Did you know?
- If you were to say 'thank you' to a monk or an elder, you would often accompany the phrase with a 'nop' gesture, pressing your palms together.
- The word ຂອບ (khǭp) can also mean 'edge' or 'border', suggesting a concept of 'enclosing' or 'surrounding' the heart with gratitude.
- The word ໃຈ (chai) used in 'thank you' also refers to the 'spirit' or 'soul' in Lao culture, making the phrase a way of literally giving gratitude from one's essence.
Examples in context
- ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍThank you very muchThis sentence shows how to say thank you very much using ຂອບໃຈ.
- ຂອບໃຈ!Thank you!This sentence is a simple way to say thank you using ຂອບໃຈ.Tatoeba #1897951 by LanguageExpert, translation #374827 by sysko
- ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍ.Thank you very much.This sentence provides a way to say thank you very much using ຂອບໃຈ.Tatoeba #8975752 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #1839560 by CK
Example conversation
A person receives a glass of water from a friend.
- Aຂອບໃຈ.Khop chai.Thank you.
- Bບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ.Bo pen nyang.You're welcome.
- Aນ້ຳນີ້ເຢັນດີຫຼາຍ.Nam ni yen dee lai.This water is very cold.
- Bດີແລ້ວ.Dee laew.That's good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries ຂອບໃຈ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
