General health

❃ General health

ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກບໍ່ສະບາຍ [ khoi hu suk bo sabai ]: I don't feel well.
ຂ້ອຍເປັນໄຂ້ [ khoi pen khai ]: I am sick / I have a fever.
ຂ້ອຍເມື່ອຍຫຼາຍ [ khoi muay lai ]: I am very tired.
ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກອ່ອນເພຍ [ khoi hu suk on phia ]: I feel weak.
ຂ້ອຍຢາກພັກຜ່ອນ [ khoi yak phak phon ]: I want to rest.
ຂ້ອຍນອນບໍ່ຫຼັບ [ khoi non bo lap ]: I can't sleep.
ຂ້ອຍເບື່ອອາຫານ [ khoi bua ahan ]: I have no appetite.
ອາການບໍ່ດີຂຶ້ນ [ akan bo di khun ]: I am not getting better.
ຮູ້ສຶກດີຂຶ້ນໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ [ hu suk di khun noi nung ]: I feel a little better.
ເຊົາແລ້ວບໍ່? [ sao laew bo? ]: Are you recovered?
ຂ້ອຍເຊົາແລ້ວ [ khoi sao laew ]: I am recovered.
ຂ້ອຍເຄີຍປ່ວຍແບບນີ້ມາກ່ອນ [ khoi khoei puay baep ni ma kon ]: I have been sick like this before.
ຂ້ອຍແພ້ອາກາດ [ khoi phae akat ]: I am allergic to the weather/climate.
ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການນໍ້າອຸ່ນ [ khoi tong kan nam un ]: I need warm water.
ກິນນໍ້າຫຼາຍໆເດີ້ [ kin nam lai lai doe ]: Drink plenty of water.

Cultural notes

Traveling in a tropical environment like Laos is exhilarating but can take a heavy toll on your body. The intense heat, extreme humidity, and constant movement mean that occasionally, your body will demand a break. Being able to communicate your health status is a vital survival skill. If you wake up feeling drained or unwell, the most important phrase to know is ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກບໍ່ສະບາຍ (khoi hu suk bo sabai - I don't feel well). Lao people are deeply compassionate; telling a guesthouse owner or a tour guide that you are unwell will instantly elicit sympathy and offers of help. Sometimes the issue isn't a specific illness, but simply sheer exhaustion from the climate. Expressing ຂ້ອຍເມື່ອຍຫຼາຍ (khoi muay lai - I am very tired) or ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກອ່ອນເພຍ (khoi hu suk on phia - I feel weak) is perfectly acceptable. Do not push yourself to maintain a rigorous Western travel itinerary. In Southeast Asia, resting during the hottest parts of the day is a cultural norm. If you have a temperature, stating ຂ້ອຍເປັນໄຂ້ (khoi pen khai - I have a fever) is critical. Interestingly, many locals attribute vague feelings of lethargy or minor illnesses to the climate itself, a condition you can describe by saying ຂ້ອຍແພ້ອາກາດ (khoi phae akat - I am sensitive/allergic to the weather). The best remedy, aside from rest, is hydration. A local will likely advise you to "drink a lot of water" (ກິນນໍ້າຫຼາຍໆເດີ້ - kin nam lai lai doe). Do not feel guilty about missing a temple visit to sleep and recover (ຂ້ອຍຢາກພັກຜ່ອນ - khoi yak phak phon). Prioritizing your well-being ensures you have the energy to truly enjoy the rest of your Lao adventure.

✣

← Post and parcels Contents Common symptoms →

Other sections

Greetings and pronouns Politeness and thanks Understanding Introducing yourself Basic questions Short answers Numbers and classifiers Time and dates Polite requests Asking directions Tuk-tuk and fares Buses and songthaews Train Boats and river crossings Two-wheeler rental Tickets and tours Airport and borders Road and safety Duration and delays Restaurant and street food Lao dishes Flavors and chili Diets and allergies Drinks Bill and takeaway Markets Bargaining Crafts and souvenirs Convenience stores and money Guesthouse and hotel v Room facilities Hotel problems Phone and Wi-Fi Laundry Toilets and hygiene Electricity Post and parcels Common symptoms Stomach issues and heatstroke Pain and body Bites and skin allergies Pharmacy Doctor and clinic Hospital and emergencies Police and safety Lost documents Lost or broken items Breaking the ice Family and age Religion and temples Traditional festivals Emotions Opinions Work and daily life Weather and nature Tourism and impressions Invitations and socializing Farewells and keeping in touch