ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ
khob chai lai lai
The English phrase "thank you very much" is expressed in Lao as ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ (khob chai lai lai).
Use this phrase when you want to express a level of gratitude that is greater than the standard "thank you".
Meaning: greater gratitude than "thank you" (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ຂອບໃຈ (khob chai) meaning "thank you" and the reduplicated word ຫຼາຍໆ (lai lai) meaning "very much" or "a lot".
Which one should you use?
While ຂອບໃຈ (khob chai) is the standard way to say "thank you", ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ (khob chai lai lai) intensifies the expression to show significantly more gratitude.
How do you pronounce it?
khob chai lai lai
Did you know?
- Despite the phrase meaning 'thank you', in some close-knit Lao families, saying ຂອບໃຈ too often can actually feel too formal or distant.
- In the Lao script, the symbol ໆ used in ຫຼາຍໆ is a repetition mark called 'mai yam', which tells the reader to repeat the preceding word.
- The word ໃຈ (chai) in ຂອບໃຈ literally means 'heart'. Therefore, when you say 'thank you', you are essentially saying that the action has touched or entered your 'heart'.
Examples in context
- ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ ສໍາລັບຂອງຂວັນຊຸດນີ້.khop chai lai lai sam lap khong khuan xut ni.Thank you very much for this gift.
- ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ ທີ່ມາຫາຂ້ອຍມື້ນີ້.khop chai lai lai thi ma ha khoi mue ni.Thank you very much for coming to see me today.
Example conversation
A friend gives a person a warm drink on a cold day.
- Aເອົາກາເຟອຸ່ນໆ ໃຫ້ເຈົ້າ.ao ka fe un un hai chao.Here is some warm coffee for you.
- Bຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ ເດີ້!khop chai lai lai der!Thank you very much!
- Aບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, ດື່ມໃຫ້ແຊບເດີ້.bo pen yang, duem hai saep der.You're welcome, enjoy your drink.
- Bເຈົ້າໃຈດີແທ້ໆ.chao chai di tae tae.You are so kind.
