Pain and body
❃ Pain and body
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ຂ້ອຍເຈັບແຂ້ວ
[ khoi chep khaew ] -
I have a toothache.
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ຂ້ອຍເຈັບຫູ
[ khoi chep hu ] -
I have an earache.
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ຂ້ອຍເຈັບຕາ
[ khoi chep ta ] -
My eyes hurt / I have an eye infection.
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ຂ້ອຍເຈັບຫຼັງ
[ khoi chep lang ] -
My back hurts.
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ຂ້ອຍເຈັບແຂນ
[ khoi chep khaen ] -
My arm hurts.
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ຂ້ອຍເຈັບຂາ
[ khoi chep kha ] -
My leg hurts.
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ກະດູກຫັກ
[ kaduk hak ] -
Broken bone.
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ຂໍ້ຕີນເຄັດ
[ kho tin khet ] -
Sprained ankle.
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ຂ້ອຍມີບາດແຜ
[ khoi mi bat phae ] -
I have a wound/cut.
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ເລືອດອອກ
[ luat ok ] -
It is bleeding.
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ເລືອດດັງອອກ
[ luat dang ok ] -
Nosebleed.
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ຂ້ອຍຖືກນໍ້າຮ້ອນລວກ
[ khoi thuek nam hon luak ] -
I got burned by hot water.
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ມານວດໃຫ້ແດ່
[ ma nuat hai dae ] -
Please massage here.
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ບີບຄ່ອຍໆແດ່
[ bip khoi khoi dae ] -
Press gently, please.
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ເຈັບບ່ອນນີ້ແຮງໆ
[ chep bon ni haeng haeng ] -
It hurts right here very much.
Expressing specific physical pain in the Lao language follows a remarkably simple and highly logical grammatical structure, which is a massive relief for travelers needing to point out an exact ailment. To say that a specific body part hurts, you just use the verb ເຈັບ (chep), which means "to hurt" or "to ache," followed immediately by the name of the body part. For instance, if you have a toothache, you simply combine "ache" and "tooth" to say ຂ້ອຍເຈັບແຂ້ວ (khoi chep khaew). If carrying a heavy backpack has strained your posture, you can say ຂ້ອຍເຈັບຫຼັງ (khoi chep lang - my back hurts). For a headache, the phrase is ຂ້ອຍເຈັບຫົວ (khoi chep hua). To treat muscle aches, stiffness, or strains like a sprained ankle (ຂໍ້ຕີນເຄັດ - kho tin khet), seeking out a traditional Lao massage is highly recommended and culturally enriching. Unlike soft, relaxing spa treatments in the West, authentic traditional Lao massage (similar to Thai massage) involves intense stretching and deep tissue pressure. When you lie down on the mat, you can point to your sore back and say ມານວດໃຫ້ແດ່ (ma nuat hai dae - please massage here). However, because the masseuses are exceptionally strong, Westerners often find the pressure too intense. To avoid being in agony, you absolutely must learn the phrase ບີບຄ່ອຍໆແດ່ (bip khoi khoi dae), which means "press gently, please." Conversely, if you have an acute, sharp pain from an injury, like a cut (ຂ້ອຍມີບາດແຜ - khoi mi bat phae) or a suspected broken bone (ກະດູກຫັກ - kaduk hak), clearly pointing to it and exclaiming ເຈັບບ່ອນນີ້ແຮງໆ (chep bon ni haeng haeng - it hurts right here very much) will ensure locals immediately understand the severity and help you seek medical attention.
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