People of the Heart

Lao people are people of the heart. Check out the many different phrases they have which involve the word "heart."

-to understand is to enter the heart -khao chai
-to be glad is to Feel good at heart -di chai
-to be angry is to feel bad in the heart -chai hai
-to be sorry is to have lost the heart -sia chai
-to have empathy is to see the heart-hen chai
-to feel upset is to be unhappy at heart -ouk chai
-to be sensitive (touchy) is to have a small heart -chai noy
-to be stingy is to have a narrow heart -chai khap khaep
-to be startled is to drop the heart -tok chai
-to be absent minded is to have a heart which floats -chai loy
-to hesitate is to have many hearts -lai chai
-to be worried is to have a sick heart -bo sabai chai
-to be content is to have a serene heart -sabai chai
-to be without worries is to feel cool in the heart -chai yen
-to be generous is to have a large heart -chai kuang
-to have a heavy heart -thouk chai
-to be happy -souk chai
-to be easily persuaded is to have an easy heart -chai ngai
-to be decisive -chai det
-to be bitter to the point of revenge is to have a black heart -chai dum
-to be charitable is to have a festive heart -chai boun
-to be generous is to be big hearted -chai nyai
-to be impatient is to have a hot heart -chai hon
-to be patient is to have a persevering heart -chai ot thon
-to be honest is to have a pure heart -chai bolisud
-to be brave is to have a daring heart -chai ka
-to be timid is to have a cautious heart -chai boh ka
-to control one's emotions is to have a strong heart -chai kaeng
-to die is to have your heart torn apart -chai khart

- Understanding Lao Culture

Picture(s): Courtesy of KTP.