Common Lao idioms and proverbs with their figurative meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Lao idiom. Back: English meaning and explanation.
33 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- ຂີ່ຊ້າງຈັບຕັ໊ກແຕນ (khi sang chap takkataen)
Show answer
Riding an elephant to catch a grasshopper (using excessive effort for a tiny result)- ນ້ຳຂຶ້ນໃຫ້ຮີບຕັກ (nam kheun hai hip tak)
Show answer
When the water rises, hurry to scoop it (seize an opportunity while it lasts)- ຄວາຍຢູ່ບໍ່ຮູ້ຄ່າຄວາຍ (khouay you bo hou kha khouay)
Show answer
You don't know the buffalo's worth until it's gone (you don't appreciate something until it's lost)- ປາກຫວານກ້ນເປรี้ยว (pak van kon priao)
Show answer
Sweet mouth, sour bottom (someone who speaks kindly but acts unkindly)- ໄກ່ເຫັນຕີນງູ ງູເຫັນນົມໄກ່ (kai hen tin ngou, ngou hen nom kai)
Show answer
The chicken sees the snake's feet, the snake sees the chicken's chest (two people who each know each other's secrets)- ຊ້າໆໄດ້ພ້າສອງເຫຼັ້ມ (sasa dai pha song lem)
Show answer
Slow and steady gets two knives (patience and care bring greater reward)- ຢູ່ບ້ານທ່ານຢ່າດູຖູກ ຢູ່ບ້ານເຮົາຢ່າດູຖູກໃຜ (you ban than nya doutouk)
Show answer
At another's home don't be looked down on, at your own don't look down on others (mutual respect)- ຮ້ອນຄືໄຟ ໃຈເຢັນຄືນ້ຳ (hon kheu fai, chai yen kheu nam)
Show answer
Hot like fire, but a heart cool like water (staying calm under pressure)- ຫົວອົກເບົ້າ (houa ok bao)
Show answer
One's chest feels hollow (to feel deep sorrow or emptiness)- ໃຈຮ້ອນ (chai hon)
Show answer
A hot heart (an impatient or hot-tempered person)- ໃຈເຢັນ (chai yen)
Show answer
A cool heart (a calm, composed person)- ໃຈດຳ (chai dam)
Show answer
A black heart (a cruel or heartless person)- ຫົວແຂງ (houa khaeng)
Show answer
A hard head (a stubborn person)- ປາກຫນັກ (pak nak)
Show answer
A heavy mouth (someone who rarely speaks)- ຕາໄວ (ta vai)
Show answer
Fast eyes (a sharp, observant person)
FlashKeepers