Bargaining
❃ Bargaining
-
ອັນນີ້ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ?
[ an ni lakha thao dai? ] -
How much is this price?
-
ແພງຫຼາຍ!
[ phaeng lai! ] -
Too expensive!
-
ຫຼຸດລາຄາແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ lut lakha dae dai bo? ] -
Can you give a discount?
-
ລາຄາສຸດທ້າຍເທົ່າໃດ?
[ lakha sut thai thao dai? ] -
What is your final price?
-
ຊື້ສອງອັນຫຼຸດໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ su song an lut dai bo? ] -
If I buy two, can I get a discount?
-
ຂ້ອຍມີເງິນບໍ່ພໍ
[ khoi mi ngoen bo pho ] -
I don't have enough money.
-
ຊາວພັນກີບໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ sao phan kip dai bo? ] -
20,000 kip, okay?
-
ຮ້ານອື່ນຂາຍຖືກກວ່ານີ້
[ han uen khai thuek kwa ni ] -
Other shops sell it cheaper.
-
ບໍ່ເອົາ, ຂອບໃຈ
[ bo ao, khop chai ] -
I don't want it, thank you.
-
ຖ້າລາຄານີ້ ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຊື້
[ tha lakha ni khoi bo su ] -
If it's this price, I won't buy it.
-
ຕົກລົງ, ຂ້ອຍເອົາອັນນີ້
[ tok long, khoi ao an ni ] -
Okay, I'll take it.
-
ແຖມໃຫ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ thaem hai dae dai bo? ] -
Can you throw in an extra (for free)?
-
ຂາຍຖືກໆແດ່
[ khai thuek thuek dae ] -
Sell it to me cheap, please.
-
ຂ້ອຍຈະຊື້ຫຼາຍອັນ
[ khoi cha su lai an ] -
I will buy many items.
-
ຂ້ອຍເປັນນັກສຶກສາ, ຫຼຸດໃຫ້ແດ່
[ khoi pen nak suek sa, lut hai dae ] -
I'm a student, please give a discount.
-
ລາຄານີ້ບໍ່ແພງ
[ lakha ni bo phaeng ] -
This price is not expensive.
-
ນັບເງິນກ່ອນເດີ້
[ nap ngoen kon doe ] -
Let me count the money first.
-
ເງິນທອນບໍ່ຄົບ
[ ngoen thon bo khop ] -
The change is not correct.
-
ຂໍໃບຮັບເງິນແດ່
[ kho bai hap ngoen dae ] -
Receipt, please.
-
ຂອບໃຈທີ່ຫຼຸດລາຄາໃຫ້
[ khop chai thi lut lakha hai ] -
Thank you for the discount.
Haggling over prices in Lao markets, particularly night markets selling textiles, souvenirs, and art, is an expected and fundamental part of the shopping experience. However, the art of Lao negotiation is vastly different from the aggressive, hard-bargaining styles found in some other parts of the world. Here, haggling is a polite, smiling social game governed by the overarching philosophy of saving face and the *Bor pen nyang* attitude. When a vendor quotes a price, it is almost customary to smile broadly and exclaim ແພງຫຼາຍ! (phaeng lai! - too expensive!). You then follow up with a gentle ຫຼຸດລາຄາແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່? (lut lakha dae dai bo? - can you give a discount?). A highly effective strategy is to buy in bulk. Vendors are much more likely to lower the price if you propose a larger purchase, so asking ຊື້ສອງອັນຫຼຸດໄດ້ບໍ່? (su song an lut dai bo? - if I buy two, can I get a discount?) works wonders. The most important rule to remember is to never lose your temper over a trivial amount. Arguing fiercely over the equivalent of 50 cents will cause the vendor to lose face and will instantly sour the interaction. If the final price is acceptable, seal the deal by saying ຕົກລົງ, ຂ້ອຍເອົາອັນນີ້ (tok long, khoi ao an ni - okay, I'll take it). If you cannot reach an agreement, simply smile, say ຂອບໃຈ (thank you), and walk away peacefully. Often, walking away might prompt the vendor to call you back with a better offer! By keeping the negotiation cheerful, respectful, and playful, you not only secure a fair price but also engage in a meaningful cultural exchange with the local artisans.
Other sections
Keep your progress
Enjoying the phrasebook?
Create a free account to save favorites, track your study, and continue where you stopped.