Foreword

With the increased international interest shown towards the Myanmar language in recent
years, the need for modem textbooks that effectively and systematically teach authentic
and \vritten in Myanmar today has been acutely felt. This
in Myanmar Language" is the first in the series of
Textbooks to be the University of Foreign Languages, Yangon, in
response to this need. of Professor U Tin Shwe of the University of
U Aung Win Naing, who has taught the Myanmar language
of Foreign Languages, Yangon, for several years, has
made a laudable 0H"'-'-'~T this textbook to further the teaching of Myanmar.

~V,'W~'HVUand piloted by a Myanmar university teacher who has

of his life to the teaching of Myanmar as a foreign language,
liAn Language" systematically sets out to lay a sound
as it is used by native speakers in the country today. With
the it constitutes a self-contained learning package at the
basic level that can be used in the classroom as well as by motivated learners of the
on their own or with the guidance of a Myanmar language

The publication of "An Introductory Course in Myanmar Language" has been an

occasion of excitement for those involved in the undertaking. As a sound linguistic
knowledge is essential for a serious student of any culture, it is hoped that this textbook,
together with the other textbooks in the same series, will make a substantial contribution
to facilitating Myanmar studies.

Dr Soe Win
Rector
of Foreign Languages, Yangon

October 2000
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to responsible personnel

of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education Department (Lower
Myanmar), and the then Director General tJ l\fyo Nyunt, Deputy
Minister for Ministry of Education, for encouraging and guiding me to
bring forth this book"An lntl'oductory Course in Myanmar Language," a
teaching material designed for foreign learners of the Myanmar language.
I also owe my sincere thanks to Dr. Soe Win, Rector, University 'of
. Foreign Languages, Yangon, Professor U Daya Ram, Head of English
Department, Professor U Tin Shwe, Head of Myanmar Department,
University of Foreign Languages, Yangon, Professor U Khin Aye, Head
of Myanmar Department, University of Yangon, Associate Professor Daw
Shein Paing, Monywa University, who had given me much help in writing
this book.
I also owe my sincere thanks to an my teachers who taught me the
Myanmar language, literature and linguistics. Special thanks are due to
Emeritus Professor U Tun Myint, Emeritus Professor Daw Thi Tbl Htut
and Emeritus Associate Professor Daw Mar Lay.

Aung Win Naing

 CONTENTS
Acknowledgements

Introduction to Myanmar Pronunciation

1. The sound of Myarunar l~

2. Vowels
2: 1 Phonetic vowel symbols
2:2 Diphthongs 11
2:3 Nasalized vowel 111
2:4 Vowels followed by glottal stop l1l
2:5 Neutral vowel 111
2:6 Tones 111
2:7 How to pronounce Myarunar vowel and diphthong sounds IV

3. Consonants V111
3: 1 How to pronounce Myanamar consonant sounds Vlll
3:2 Initial consonant clusters x

4. Pronunciation practice for Myarunar syllable structure x

4:1 Consonant + Vowell i / Xl
4:2 Consonant + Vowell ei I Xl
4:3 Consonant + Vowel! e I xu
4:4 Consonant + Vowell ai XU
4:5 Consonant + Vowell 0 I Xlll
4:6 Consonant + Vowell oul XlV
4:7 Consonant + Vowel lui XlV
4:8 Consonant + Nasalized vowell in I xv
4:9 Consonant + Nasalized vowel! an / xv
4:10 Consonant + Nasalized vowel/un / XVI
4:11 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowel i ein I XVII
4:12 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowel I oun I XVII
4:13 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowell ain I XVlll
4:14 Consonant + Nasalized diphthong vowell aun I XVIll
4:15 Consonant + Glottal stop / i' /, I e' /, 1 a' I and / u' / XIX
4:16 Consonant + Diphthong vowel with glottal stop
/ ei' /, lou' I, 1 ai' / and 1 au' .I xx
Lesson 1 min g!la ba 1
Good morning! ')
"'-
I. Imperative sentence 3
2. Politeness 3

Lesson 2 nan me b!lou kilo ba dba!,le: 8

What's your name? 9
1. Personal pronouns (polite form) 10
2. Equational sentence 10
3. Question particle for yes-no question 11

Lesson 3 bpa'sa out sbi. ba db!la: 16

Do you have a textbook? 17
1. Declarative sentence 18
2. The verb of existence 18
3. Negative sentence 19
4. Yes and No 20
5. The particle for sameness/ identity 20

Lesson 4 di ba ba Ie: 25
W'hat's this? 26
1. Demonstrative 27
2. Question particle for wh-question 27
3. Topic marker 28

Lesson 5 twei. ja. da wan: tba ba de 32

I am glad to meet you. 33
1. Nominalizing SuffLX '-dalta' 34
2. Nominalizing suffix '-ja. da' 35
3. Differences between nominalizing sufii.xes between
'--dalta' and '~ja. 00' 35

Lesson 6 nain gan gja: ba dba te' ga!,dbou 38

University ofForeign Languages 39
1. The locative suffix '~hma' 40
2. The locative suffIx '-ga.(nei)! ka.(nei)' 40
Lesson 7 sa kji. dai' kou thwa: gjin ba de 44
I want to go to the library. 45
1. The locative sutTlX '--goul kou' 46
2. The auxiliary '--gjinlchin' 46
3. Declarative sentence-fmal verb ending for future time 46

4. Future and non-future time 47

5. Plural particle 47
6. Sentence final question ending '--gja./kja. m!!la:' 48

Lesson 8 ba hpa' chin ba dh!!,le: 55

What do you want to read? 56
1. Object marker 57
2. Conjunction '-ne.' 57
3. Particle '-no' 57

Lesson 9 nei. dain: 't!!,naji sa bpa' te 62

I read one hour everyday. 63
1. The Myanmar Numerals 64
2. The numeral classifiers 64
3. The particle for starting point 65
4. The particle for finishing point 66
5. from ... to 66

Lesson 10 !!,guo be hn!!,na ji htou: bi Ie: 70

What is the time now? 71
1. Sentence fmal ending'-ba/pa' 72
2. Sentence fmal ending '-zou.!sou.' 72

Lesson 11 ba sa: gjin ba dh!!,le: 78

What do you want to eat? 79
1. Auxiliary '--gjinlchin' 80
2. Auxiliary' -nain' (or) '-hnain' 80

Lesson 12 zun: kh!,jin: ne. sa: me 87

I will eat (it) with spoon and/ork. 88
1. Sentence fmal particle '-no' 89
2. Adverbial case particle '-ne.' 89
Lesson 13 ~. ba lou' Dei Ie: 92
What are you doing now? 93
1. Auxiliazy '--nei' 94
2. Auxiliary '4'/ta" 94

Lesson 14 di throe' thi: b!!,lau' Ie: 101

How much is this mango? 102
1. Auxiliary '--pei:' 103
2. Myanmar currency 103

Lesson 15 b!,lau' wei: Ie: 108

How far is it? 109
1. The noun modifier ending 110
2. The suffIx '~lau' 111

Lesson 16 di nei. m!,nei. gao de' pou pu de 115

Today is hotter than yesterday. 116
1. The Comparison 117
2. The sentence-fmal ending '~ne. tu de' 118
3. The sutIlX '~lau' 118
4. The superlative 119

Lesson 17 ju. z!,na. koun dai' 124

Yuzana Department Store 125
1. The particle '~ne.' 126
2. The particle '~ge.! khe.' 126
3. Adjectivals and adverbials in Myanmar langauge 127
 Introduction to
Myanmar Pronunciation

1. The Sound of Myanmar language

The sound system of Myanmar language comprises eleven vowels including four
diphthongs with four tones and thirty one consonants.
The syllable consists of an initial consonants Of clustef of consonants plus!
vowel, spoken on one of the four tones.

2. Vowels

Vowel is a speech sound in which the airstream from the lungs is not blocked
in any way in the mouth or throat, and which is usually pronounced with vibra-
tion of the vocal cords.
There are seven simple vowels, four diphthongs and neutral vowel [ (} ] in
Myanmar language. Each of the vowels are discribed in terms of the positions of
tongue and lips.

front (of the tongue) back (of the tongue)

(lips) close j~7u

(lips) hal/-close el........... . / ou
(lips) hal/-tJpen e~o
(lips) open a

2: 1 Phonetic vowel symbols

Those who understand phonetic symbols look at the following table and
picture.

Roman Phonetic Phonetic description

character symbol
i Ul closed front unrounded vowel
ei reI half-close front unrounded vowel
e [e] half-open front unrounded vowel
a ra 1 open front unrounded vowel
0 [:> ] half-open back rounded vowel
ou r0 1 half-close back rounded vowel
u fu I close back rounded vowel
 J!

2: :2 Diphthongs

Diphthong is a speech sound is usually considered as one distinctive vowel

of a particular language but really involves two vowels, one vowel gliding
to the other. For example, the diphthong [ ai J in Myanmar language,
consists of the vowel [ a ] gliding into the vowel [ i ].
There are four diphthongs. They are ein [ ei ], mm [ ou], am [ ai ] and aun
[au]. The four diphthongs can be described in terms of the changing positions of
the tongue during formation. Those who understand phonetic symbols look at the
following diagram.

I ein [ ei ]
!
oun [ou]
e 0
, ain [ ai ]

0 I aun [ au]
 iii

No diphthong can be pronounced as it is. In order to have a diphthongs being

pronounced, either a glottal stop or one of the three tones with a nasality must
follow.

2: 3 Nasalized vowel

Myanmar has three nasalized vowels in [ i ], an [ a ], un [ u ] and four

nasalized diphthongs ein [ ei], oun [ ou ], ain [ ai ], aun [au l-
In the production of speech sounds, nasalized vowels are produced by letting
the air from the lungs escape through the nose and the mouth. This can be done
by lowering the soft palate ( the velum) at the back of the mouth.

2: 4 Vowels followed by glottal stop

There are four vowel followed by glottal stop i' [ C], e' [ f,?], a' [ a? ], u'
[u?] and four diphthongs followed by glottal stop in Myanmar language.
Glottal stop is a speech sound which is produced by the rapid closing of the
glottiS (the space between the VOCAL CORDS), which traps the airstream from the
lungs behind it, followed by a sudden release of the airas the glottis is opened.
?
The phonetic symbol is [ . ].

2: 5 Neutral vowel

Neutral vowel [ () ] is very important and frequently used in Myanmar

language. It is a vowel sound, usually unstressed, pronounced with the tongue in
a neutral position, i.e, mid central, not high, not low, not front, not back. One
such sound is represented in phonetic transcription as [ 0 ] as in about [o'baut]. It
is also called CENTRAL VOWEL, MID VOWEL, SCHWA.

2: 6 Tones

When we listen to people speaking, we can hear some sounds or groups of

sounds in their speech to be relatively higher or lower than others. This relative
height of speech sounds as perceived by a listener is called "pitch".
Tone is height of PITCH and change of pitch which is associated with the
pronunciation of syllables or words and which affects the meaning of the word. A
tone language is a language in which the meaning of a word depends on the tone
used when pronouncing it
 iv

Myanmar language is a tone language. That is, the inflection of the voice
determines the meaning of what is said. There are four tones in Myanmar
language.
These are:-
1. Low-falling Tone e.g. to be dumb (with a post-scripted dot)
2. Level Tone e.g. mouth (without any tone mark)
3. High-falling Tone e.g. to be free (with two post-scripted dots)
4. Stop Tone e.g. needle(with the mark' after the symbol)

Rom.an Phonetic Approximate indications ofthe symbol's value

charadeI' symbol in terms of Enldish sounds.
t [ ·i] Like English ea in beat, heat, seat (without articulating
the final consonants). I
i . [ -i] Low, level and long tone, close to the unstressed I
English e in regain, repose, return (no English equi- I
valent). I
i: , I i] Higb,long and falling tone, like English ea in sea, tea. I
et [ . e] High, short and falling tone of eli (No English equi- I
I I ~~). I
ei [ -e] Low, level and long tone, which might be obtained by
1 producing an entirely iIDstressed a in English may
! (model verb). (No English equivalent)
ei;
I Ie] I High, long and falling tone; like English a in bay, day, I
I
e. [ . ~] I hay.
High, short and falling tone; close 10 English. bat,
cat, hat (without articulating the final consonants). (No I
! Enf1lish equivalent} I
e [.t]

[ . a]

consonant .
Low, level and long tone, like the unstressed English a
in martini, Meotis.
a: [ a] High, long and falling tone, like English a: in car, far,
mar.
 v

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value

character symbol in terms of English sounds.
~ [a] Like English a in about, arise, around.
o. ['0 ] High, short and falling tone, similar to English 0 in cot,
ho~ lot(final consonants unarticulated),
0 [ -0 ] Low, level and long tone, similar to English 0 in un-
stressed or for.
0: (0 ] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in bore,
more, tore.
00.. [ '0] Like English 0 in bolt, colt, holt (without articulating the
final consonants).
00. [ -0] Low, level and long tone like English 0 in obey,
November.
ou: [ 0] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in oh, grow,
know.
0.. [ ,u] High, short and falling tone, like English 00 in boot,
coot hoot (without articulatinK the flnal consonants).
! u [-u] Low, level and long tone, like English u in humility,
nutrition.
u: [ u] High, long and falling tone, ending in a glottal stop, like
English u in put or 00 in foot (flnal consonants not
I articulated).
in. [ 'i] Nasalized high, short and falling tone; like English in in
ink, sink wink(without articu1atin~ the fmal consonants)
in [ ~i] Like the nasalized, unstressed English in in informal,
intensive.
I in: [i] Like English in in bin, tin, sin, win (without articulating
I the flnal consonants).
&m. [, u] Like English 0. in hunt, punt, runt (but ending with a
I glottal stop).
an J ~a] Like English un in ui1fading, ui1failing, unparalelled.
I
am [ a] Nasalized high, long and falling tone; like English un in
bun, run, sun.
un. [ . u] Nasalized short and falling tone; no English equivalent.
un [-u] Nasalized low, level and long tone; no English
I equivalent; dose to the unstressed un in such proper
names as Grundig and Lundy.
un: [ u] Nasal.ized long, high and falling tone; no English
equivalent; close to the Lancashire dialectal production
of the union in Sunday, Monday or the un sound in the
proper names: Grudi}?, Lundy.
 vi

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value

character symbol in terms of English sounds.
~ U71 Like English a in about, arise, around.
o. ['0 ] High, short and falling tone, similar to English 0 in cot,
hot lot (final consonants unarticulated).
0 [ -0 ] Low, level and long tone, similar to English 0 in un-
stressed or, for.
0: (0 ] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in bore,
more, tore.
ou. [, 0] Like English 0 in bolt, colt, holt (without articulating the
final consonants1-
ou [ -0 1 Low, level and long tone like English 0 in obey,
November.
ou: [ 0] High, long and falling tone, like English 0 in oh, grow,
know.
u. r,u] High, short and falling tone, like English 00 in boot,
coot, hoot (without articulating the fmal consonants).
u [ -u] Low, level and long tone, like English u in humility,
nutrition.
11: [ u] High, long and falling tone, ending in a glottal stop, like
English u in put or 00 in foot (final consonants not
articulated) .
in. [ 'i] Nasalized high, short and falling tone; like English in in
ink, sink, wink (without articulating the final consonants)
in [ -i] Like the nasalized, unstressed English in in informal,
intensive.
in: [i] Like English in in bin, tin, sin, win (without articulating
the final consonants).
an. [, u J Like English 11 in hunt, punt, runt (but ending with a
glottal stop).
an [ -a] Like English un in unfadin~, unfailin~, unparalelled
an: [ a] Nasalized high, long and falling tone; !ike English un in
bun, run, sun.
un. [, u 1 Nasalized short and falling tone; no English equivalent.
un [-u] Nasalized low, level and long tone; no English
equivalent; close to the unstressed un in such proper
names as Grundi~ and Lundy.
un: [ u] Nasalized long, high and falling tone; no English
equivalent; close to the Lancashire dialectal production
of the union in Sunday, Monday or the un sound in the
proper names: Grudi~, Lundy.
 vii

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value

charadeI' ~bol in terms of ED&lisb sounds.
em. [ ·ei] Like English ai in paint, faint, saint (without articulating
the final consonants).
em [~] Nasalized low, level and long tone, which might be
obtained by producting an entirely unstressed ai in
English pain, gain, stain. (No English equivalent)
em: [ ei] Nasalized high, long and falling tone like English ai or a
in gain, pain, lane, wane.
oun. [ .ou] Nasalized bigh, short and falling tone like English 0 in
don 'I, won't. (without articulating the final consonants).
oun [ -on] Nasalized low, level and long tone, somewhat close to
the unstressed English 0 in bone, cone, tone.
oun: [ ou] Nasalized bigh, long and falling tone, like the stressed
English 0 in bone, cone, tone.

• [. ai] Nasalized high, short and falling tone, somewhat similar

to the English in in pint.
am [ -31] Nasalized low, level and long tone; dose to the
ruwilized English diphthong in in bind, find, but
unstressed. (No English equivalent)
run: [ ai] Nasalized high, long and falling tooe; like English i in
fine, line. mine.
aWL [ ·an] Like English 00. in court, fount. mount (without articula-
ting the final consonants).
aWl [-an ] Nasalized low, level and long tone~ close to the ruwiliz·
ed English diphthong ali in bound, found (without
articulating the final consonants)
[ an] Nasalized high, long and falling tone; like English Oli in
aWl:
! bound, round, sound (without articulating the final con-
sonants)
i' fi? ] High, extrem.ely short tone, ending in a glottal stop as in
English bit, hit sit, wit (final consonants not articulate)
e' 1 Like English e in bet. fret, get (but ending with a glottal
[e ]
stop)
!
14'" 1 High, exttem.ely short tone, ending with 3 sharp check of
[3 ]
the breath. by sharp glottal closure, as when pronouncing
the English u in such words as but. cut. hut (without
articulating the final consonants)
u' [u" ] High. extremely short tone, ending in a glottal stop, like
English u in put or 00 in foot (final consowmts not
. articulated)
 vm

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value

maracter sYmbol in tenns of Ens.tlisb sounds.
ei' [ei'l ] High, extremely short tone; like English a in bake, cake,
late (but ending with a glottal stop)
ou' [ ou?] High, extremely short tone, ending in a glottal stop as
English 08 in boat, coat, moat (without articulating the
final consonants)
81'
1 High, extremely short tone, ending with a sharp check or
[ai ]
the breath by sharp glottal closure, as when pronouncing
the English i in such words as bite, kite, light (without
articulating the final consonants)
au' [au"!] Like English u in hunt, punt, nmt (but ending with a
glottal stop)

3. Consonants

Points of articulation
Manaerof ~ DetAl AI-.,. A"-lo- PIIkII4I. Vdrr GI«Ift
IU'dl:uJatioB IHIiIttM
PWsives p,hp,b t, ht, d k,kh.,g
Ajfricmes lei. cb. 1J;j
NfL,td m,hm n,hn nj, hnj M.hng
Lateral l,hl
Fric6Jives th.db. s.hs.z sh h
GIMks W i

3: 1 How to pronounce Myanmar ronsooant sounds

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications oHIle symbol's value

character symbol in terms of Enlllish sounds
p [p] Like English p in spar, speak, spit (without any aspi-
ration)
hp [ph] Like English p in J2S!l; l1!l!Jlf J2i1 (but with aspiration
more pronounced than in En1ilish)
b fb1 Like English b in bar bee boat

t [t] Like English t in sta~ steam stick

ht [th 1 Like English t in!Q!:, team, lick (but with more pro-
nounced aspiration)
d [dl Like English d in dare dear. doe
 ix

Roman Phonetic Approximate indications of the symbol's value

character symbol in terms of Enl!lish sounds
k [k] Like English k in ski skit (without aspiration)
kit [kh ] Like English kin Is!ili kit (with aspiration more pro-
nounced than in English)
g {g] Like Englishg in ggt gjye,s:..oat

kj Like the unaspirated eh in English char (no English

[tG J equivalent; the closest English)
til Like English eh in char, chit, church (but with aspira-
[1Gh]
tion more pronounced than in English)
e:.i fd.4] Like English j in_Lar. jpJI., lOJ{

m fm] Like English m in mar. moo mug

hm [hIn] AsI!irated m {no English equivalent}

n In] Like Eng!ish n in no, not nigftt

1m [hn ] Strongly aspirated n (no English equivalent)

nj [nl Like English ny in !>anyan (but in Myanmar the posi-

tion is initial, and the articulation is markedly simulta-
neous)
Imj [hn] Aspirated nj (no English equivalent)

ng [n] Like English ng in sing, bring (but in terms of

position, this sound is always initial in Myanmar)
bng [hn] Aspirated ng (no EngJish equivalent)

i £11 Like English I in [OJ!, lihb love

hi [hI ] Like I but voiceless and aspirated or devoiced

til [e] Like English til in thick. thin, thistle

dh 1 'DJ Like EIlglish til in that this them

s [8} Like English s in saJ!., sin some

Its r sh 1 Strongly aspirated s {no Englisbequivalent)
z [z] Like English z in zebrq, z!J2, zoo

sh Like English IIh in shark, shirt, shut

[<; ]
 Roman
character

[w] IbyLikea consonant

I
English w ~. ~ ~icJ" u:ater or when prec~ed I
like Enghsh w m sweat, sweet, sWift or I
I
u
.
ill quarto !Lueen guava II

There are two basic consonant combination sounds in Myanmar language. These
consonants sounds may be combined with appropriate consonants. j and w
combine with other consonants to form synable~initial dusters. For example:

Roman
cnaracter
p + j = pj

m + j :;:: mj [mj]

4. Pronunciation practice for Myanmar

The beginners need to practice the pronunciation of

The foHowing tables are exercises for
should listen their teacher's pronunciation
to imitate especially the
chrous and.
 xi

4: 1 Consonant + Vowel Ii I

pi. pi pi: hpi. hpi Iwi:

bi. bi bi:
ti. n ti: htl. htl htl:
di. di i ..,. . "=
w-
'.
ki. ki ki: khi. khi khi:
~. gi gi:
kji. kji kji: chi. chi chi:
~i. gji gji:
mi. mi w: hmi. hmi bini:
ni. m m: hni. hni hni:
n,ii. nji nii: bnji. hnii hnji:
ngi. ngi ngi: hngi. hngi hngi:
Ii. Ii Ii: hli. hli hli:
thi. thl thl: dhi. dhi dhi:
si. si si: " his. hsi hsi:
Zl. zi Zl:
shi. shi sm:
wi. wi WI:
ji. ii ji:

4: 2 Consonant + Vowel I ei I

pei. pei pei: hpei. hpei hpei:

beL bei bei:
teL tei tei: htei. htei htei:
dei. dei dei:
kei. kei kei: khei. khei khei:
gei. gei gei:
kjei. kjei kjei: chei. chei chei:
mei. roei ~ei: !
I mei. mei mel: hmei. hmei hmei:
nei. nei nel: hnei. I -- hnei hnei:
I
njei. njei njei: hnjei. hnjei ! hnjei:
-f'i
ngei. ngei ngei: I ~ei. ~i hngei: I
,--lei lei lei: J hlei.
I
I hJei ! hlei: I
 xii

thei. thei thei: dhei. dhei dhei:

sel. sel sel: hsei. hsei hsei:
zel. zel zel:
shei. shei shei:
wei. weI wei:
jei. jei jei:

4: 3 Consorumt + Vowel I e I

pe. pe pe: hpe. hpe hpe:

be. be be:
teo te te: hte. hte hte:
de. de de:
ke. ke ke: khe. khe khe:
ge. ge ge:
kie. kie ~ie: .che. che cke:
gje. gje gje:
me. me me: hme. hme hme:
ne. ne ne: hne. hne hne:
nie. nje nje: hnje. hnje hnje:
nge. nge nge: hnge. hnge hnge:
Ie. Ie Ie: hIe. hle hIe:
the. the the: dhe. dhe dhe:
se. se se: hse. hse hse:
ze. ze ze:
she. she she:
we. we we:
je. je je:

4: 4 Consorumt + Vowel I a I

j)a. P!i. pa: hpa. hpa hpa:

ba. ba ba:
ta. ta ta: hta. hta hta:
da. da da:
ka. ka ka: kha. kha kha:
gao ga ga:
 xiii

kja. kja kja: eha. eha cha:

gja. gja gja:
rna. rna rna: hma. hma hma:
na. na na: hna. hna hna:
l!ia. nja n,ia: hnja. hnja hnja:
n~a. nga nga: hnga. hnga hnga:
la. la la: hla. hla hla:
tha. tha tha: dha. dha dha:
sa. sa sa: hsa. hsa hsa:
za. za za:
sha. sha sha:
wa. wa wa:
ja. ja ia:

4: 5 Consonant + Vowel 101

po. po po: hpo. hpo hpo:

boo bo bo:
to. to to: hto. hto hto:
do. do do:
ko. ko ko: kho. kho kho:
go. go go:
kjo. kjo kjo: cho. cho eho:
gjo. gjo gjo:
mo. mo mo: hmo. hmo hmo:
no. no no: hno. hno hno:
njo. njo njo: hnjo. hnjo hnjo:
ngo. ngo ngo: hngo. hngo hngo:
10. 10 10: hIo. hlo hIo:
tho. tho tho: dho. dho dho:
so. so so: hso. hso hso:
zoo zo zo:
shoo sho sho:
woo wo wo:
jo. jo jo:
 XIV

4: 6 Consonant + Vowel I 011 !

POll. pou poU: hpou. hpou hpou:

bou. bou bou:
tou. tou tou: htou. htou htou:
dou. dou dou:
kou. kou kou: khou. khou khou:
gou. gou gou:
kjou. kjou Iqou: chou. chou chou:
gjou. gjou gjou:
mou. mou mou: hmou. hmou hmou:
nou. nou nou: MOU. MOU hnou:
njou. njou njou: hnjou. hnjou hnjou:
ngou. ngou ngou: hngou. hngou hngou:
lou. lou lou: hlou. hiou hIou:
thou. thou thou: dhou. dhou dhou:
sou. sou sou: hsou. hsou hsou:
zOU. zou zou:
shou. shou shou:
wOU. wou wou:
jou. jou jou:

4: 7 Comorumt + Vowel ! 11!

pU. pu pu: hpu. hpu hpu:

bu. bu bu:
tu. tu tu: htu. htu htu:
duo du du:
ku. ku ku: mu. mu . mu: I
guo gu gu:
kju. kju kju: chu. chu chu:
gju. gju gju:
mu. mu mu: hmu. hmu hmu:---I
nu. nu flU: MU. MU . MU: i
 xv

1
i lu. lu Iu: hlu. hIu hIu:
I thu. thu thu: dhu. d.hu d.hU:
I. suo su su: hsu. hsu hsu:
zu. H.
I :zu ZU:
1
I
I shu. I shu shu:
wu:
I "NU. WU I
I
I JU. ju jU:

4: 8 Consonant + Nasalized vowel I in I

I pin. pin pin: hpin. hpin hpin:

I bin. bin bin:
I
1
tin. tin tin: htin. htin htin:
I din. I din din:
I
I kin. kin kin: khin. khin khin:
II gm. I gm
I gin: I i
kjin. II kjin kjin: chin. chin I
chin:
I
I
gjin.
i
gjin I gjin: I
f-
I mm. mm mm: hmin. I hmin hmin:
I nm. I
mn nm: hnin. I hnin hnm:
I nJ1n. npn njin: hnjin. hnjin hnjin:
i ngin. IL ngin I ngin: hugin. hugin hngin:
II lin. lin I lin: hUn. Win hlin:
I
I thin. I thin thin: dhin. dhin dhin:
r
I
sm. sm sm: hsin. hsin hsin:
I zm. zm zm: I
I I
shin. shin shin: 1

---'-~-1n-.--~----W-l-n---+---Wl--n-:--+------~,---------r------~
jm. pn Jln:

9 Consonant + Nasalized vowel I an I

pan. pan p!ln:

I
ban. ban ban: I
I
tan. tan tan: htan. htan htan: i
I

dan. dan dan: I I

 xvi

kan. kan kan: khan. khan khan:

gan. ~an gan:
kjan. kjan kjan: chan. chan chan:
gjan. gjan gian:
man. man man: broan. hman broan:
nan. nan nan: hnan. hnan hnan:
rijan. njan njan: hnjan. hnjan hnjan:
ngan. ngan ngan: hngan. hngan hngan:
Ian. Ian Ian: hlan. hIan hlan:
than. than than: dhan. dhan dhan:
san. san san: hsan. hsan hsan:
zan. zan zan:
shan. shan shan:
wan. wan wan:
jan. jan jan:

4: 1.0 Consonant + Nasalized vowel fum f

p_un. pun p_un: hpun. hpun hpun:

bun. bun bun:
tun. tun tun: hron. htun hron:
dun. dun dun:
kun. kun kun: khun. khun khun:
gun. gtm gun:
kiun. kjun kjun: chun. chun chun:
gjun. gjun gjun:
mun. mun mUll: hrnun. hmun broun:
nun. nun nun: hnun. hnun hnun:
njun. tU un njun: hnjun. hnjun hnjun:
ngun. ngun ngun: hngun. hngun hngun:
lun. lun lun: hlun. hlun hlun:
thun. thun thun: dhun. dhun dhun:
sun. sun sun: hsun. hsun hsun:
zun. zun zun:
shun. shun shun:
WUll. WUll wun:
jun. jun jun:
 xvl.i

htein htein:
dein, dein J• • _..:~ein:
kein. kein kein: khein. khein khein:
gein. gem gem:
! k'(Jeln.
. I k '
qem k'
~,em: I ch'
em. ch'
em I c m: !
mein. gjein gjein: I
mem. I
mein mein: i hml"!ln hmein hmein:
nein. nein i nem: hnein. hnein hnein:
~jin. njin I njin: I hnjin. hnjin hnjin:
ngeirt I ngein ngein: hngein. hngein hngein:
,
lein. lein ! lein: hlein. I hlein hlein:
thein. thein thein: dhem. dhein dhein: !
sein. sein sem: hsein. hsein hsein:
zem. zem zem:
shein. shein shein:
wein. wein wem:
jein. iein jein:

4: 12 Cowronmt + Nasalized diphthong vowel I mm !

poun. poun poun: hpooo. I hpoun I hpooo:

II
boun. booo booo: I I I
toun.
doun.
WOO
doun
toun:
doun:
htmm
-+
I
htooo htoun:

koun. koun koun: khoun. I khoun khoun:

goun. goun goun: Ir
kjoun. kjoun kjoun: choun. I choun i choun:
gjoun. gjoun gjoun: j I
L
I
moun. moun moun: hmoW1. I hmrmn." I hmoun:
noun. noun noun: hnoun. I hnm.m I OOoun:
I
njoun. njoun njoun: hrljoun, i hnjooo I ~joun:
I ngoun. ngoun ngoun: r..ngoun. J ~ hngoun: I
 loun. 10un I loun: 1 hloun. hloun hlooo:
thooo. thoun thoun: 1 dhoun. dhoun dhoun:
soun. soun soun: nsoun. hsoun hsoun:
mun. mun mun: I I
shoun. ! shoun I
I shoun: I
woun. woun woun:
1000. joun joun: I

pain. pain pain: hpain. hpain hpain:

bain. bain bain:
tain. tain , tain: i htain. htain htain:
dain. dain dain:
kain. kain kain: khain. khain khain:
gain. gain gain:
k,jain. k,jain !gain: chain. chain chain:
gjain. gjain gjain:
main. main main: hmain. hmain hmain:
nain. nam nain: hnain. hnain hnain:
n,jain. njain n,jain: hnjain. hn,jain hnjain:
ngain. ngain ngain: hngain. hngain hngain:
lain: lain lain: hlain. hlain blain:
thain. thain thain: dhain. dhain dhain:
sain. sam sain: hsain. hsain hsain:
zaln. zam zam:
shain. shain shain:
wain. wain I wam:
jain. jain jain:

paun. paun paun: hpaun. hpaun hpaun:

baun. baun baun:
taoo. taun taun: htaun. htaun htaun:
daun. daun daun:
 XiX

bun. bun bun: wun. khaun khaun:

gaun. gaun gaun:
~jaun. l(jaoo kjaun: chaun. chaun cbaun:
gjaun. gjaun maun:
maun. maoo maoo: hmaun. hmaun hmaun:
naoo. naun I Milll: hnaun. hnaun hnaun:
njaun. njaoo njaoo: ~jaun. hnjaun hnjaun:
ngaun. ngaun ngaun: hngaun. hngauu hngaun:
laun. laun laun: hlaun. hlaun hlaun:
thaun. thaun thaun: dhaun. dhaun dhaun:
saun. saun saun: hsaun. hsaun hsaun:
mun. mun mun:
shaun. shaoo shaoo:
waoo. iNaun waoo: I
jaoo. jaun jaoo:

4: 15 CODSOrumt + Glottal stop 1i' I, I e' I, I a' 1 and I u' I

pi' pe' pa' ])U'

hpi' hpe' hpa' hpu'
bi' be' ba' bu'
ti' te' ta' w'
hti' hte' hta' htu'
di' de' da' du'
n' ke' ]ca' ku'
kID' khe' kha' khu'
gi' _ge' ga' gu'
kii' kie' kia' kiu'
chi' che' cha' chu'
gji' gje' gja' gju'
mi' me' rna' mu'
hmi' hme' hma' hmu' ~-

ni' ne' na' uu'

hni' hne' hna' .huu'
nji' nje'
- nja' Jlju'
hnji' hnje' bnja' lmju'
 >
pel
<

pou' paC pau'

II 1koo~'
d A hou' 1
npal "
hpau'
'~I- - - "
, bei' bou' baC bau'
tei' tou' tai' tau'
hteC hte' htai' htau'
del' dou' dai' dau'
I kei' kou' kai' kau'
Lkhei' mou' mai' mau'
I gei' gou' gai' Qau'
Q

ki""i'
, J" kjou' kjai' kjau'
chei' ---ji chou' chai' chau'
I ' .,
l-----S1e:i gjou' gjai' gjau'
I
i
mei' mou'
~
mai'
.,
mau'
hmei' hmou' rnnal hmau'
nei' nou' nai' nau'
I .,
l1nea hnou' hnai' hnau'
 xxi

mef mOlu' hl
·81"' hlau'
thee thou' thai' thau'
dhei' OOOlU1 db.ai' dhau'
sci'
hsei'
zei'
shei' shai' shau'
"qvei' wou' wl!i' ,wu'
. "'
iet'
s} ,Iiou' J81 jau'
 thin gan: za (ti')

dei: bi' min gala ba hsilla

u: thein: han min gala ba
htain ba
dei: bi' hou' ke~
u: thein: han na: htaun ba

min ~Ia auspICIOusness

min ~Ia ba Good morning, Good evening, How are you? etc.
hs!!.ia (male) teacher
u: U, prefix to names of men of considerable age or
status
ba polite fonn particle
htain to sit
hou' ke. yes
na: htaun to listen

m I ka. I is the first letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

{J (YJ cn
)
 2

Lesson 1

0A0Y.)ol
Good morning I

~A0Y.)ol Wq)1!
t
Good SIr.
('~9('
~ACD0011i a?~
G
w6p2:::D~~v)~ II
Mr. Thein Han morning~ Take a seat, U',-,'c<",-,.

Of. CD CYt" II
('
('
~Q)O'Y)G3 :tJQ)
III
Mr. David Yes.
~
~0~GCXY)~ol
0(' ('
W 6pe::::D~ :()')~ II

Mr. Thein Han Please listen.

I" --~-~~ . -----.-----.----- '-~'---i

IQ / kba. / is the second letter of the Myanmar alphabet The order of the I
I
I strokes is as illustrated below.
i
- - 2 --I-"3---:-~T-"-"---------l

F
1
- I -1 I - - - - - · - - - - i
______ ;I I I iI I :
I I i i
I I I I I

II II'

II I
I,

I ! I J

I iI I
i
I
I
:
.
_ _ _ _.!..-i
I
~" "L_.
_ _" " _ . . 11
 3

Grammar & Usages

1. Imperative sentence

Imperative sentence is a sentence which is in the form of a command.

For example:
thwa: (Go!)
la (Come!)
lou' (Do it!)
ma' ta' ja' (Stand up!)

In Myanmar language, polite form particle ' ..... balpa' can be used after a
'verb' when the speaker requests some action from or makes the hearer to
do something. '- ba' is used after the verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And
'- pa' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.
for example:
thwa: + ba thwa: ba (Go, please.)
la + ba la ba (Come, please.)
lou' + pa = lou' pa (Do it, please.)
ma' ta' ja~ + pa = ma' ta' ja' pa (Stand up, please.)

2. Politeness

Language differ in how they express politeness. In Myanmar language,

generally, polite form particle ' ..... ba/pa' is used not only after the verb but
also the noun. A person would use polite form particle, when referring to
persons of equal or superior social standing. Especially, it must be used in
formal greeting' min g!la ba' .
'khin bjal shin' can also be added for politeness at the end of an
utterance. The equivalent expression in English is 'sir' or 'madam.' 'khin
bjs' is used by male speakers. When people are talking fast, 'khin bja'
may be pronounced 'khin mja' or even 'kh!mja'. 'shin' is used by
female speakers. For example:
[male speaker] min !@la ba kh~ja (Good morning, sir/madam.)
ffemale speaker] min g~la ba shin (Good morning, sir/madam.)
 4

DRILLS

Dl (for male students]

1) hsru a hsIDa u: them: han
kjaun: <ilia: min ~la ba hsrua (u: thein: han) (or)
min MIa ba kbgmja
2) ~a hsma u: khin ei:
kjaun: dha: min ~la ba hs!ja (u: khin ei:) (or)
min ~la ba kh&nja
3) ~a hsrua u: tin shwei
kjaun: dha: min g!!la ba hS§ja (u: tin shwei) (or)
min g!!la ba kh~ja
4) hsru a hsrua u: htun: mjin.
kjaun: <ilia: min ggla ba hsrua (u: htun: mjin.) (or)
min ~la ba kb§IDja
5) hsru a hsrua u: thi ha.
kjaun: dha: min gj!la ba hs!ija (u: thi ha.) (or)
min !@la ba khJ!IDja

D2 Vor female students]

1) hsrua hsrua u: thein: han

kjaun: dhu min Wa ba hsrua (u: thein: han) (or)
min ~la ba shin
2) hsIDa hsIDa u: khin ei:
kjaun: dhu min ~la ba ~a (u: khin ei:) (or)
min g!!la ba shin
3) hsIDa hsIDa u: tin shwei
kjaun: dhu min i@la ba hsIDa (u: tin shwei) (or)
min ~la ba shin
4) hsrua hsrua u: htun: mjin.
kjaun: dhu min ~la ba hsrua (u: htun: mjin.) (or)
min g!!la ba shin
5) bsIDa hsIDa u: thi ha.
kjaun: <fuu min ~la ba hsrua (u: tm ha.) (or)
min ~la ba shin
 5

DJ (for male students]

1) hsru a thwa: (to go)

kjaun: dha: thwa: ba (khgmja)

2) hsru a 1a (to come)

kjaun: dha: Ia ba (kh£lUja)

3) hsru a lei.Ia (to study)

kjaun: dha: lei. Ia ba (khgmja)

4) hs!!ja lou' (to dol work)

kjaun: dha: lou' pa (kh~mja)

5) hsru a hpa' (to read)

~jaun: dha: hpa' pa (kh~mja)

D4 (for fenwle students)

1) hsrua jet: (to write)

kjaun: dhu jei: ba (shin)

2) hsru a sha (to find! search)

kjaun: dhu sha ba (shin)

3) hsrua na: htaun (to listen)

kjaun: dhu na: htaun ba (shin)

4) hsrua kje' (to memorize!

kjaun: dhu kje' pa (shin) lelim by heart)

5) hsru a m~i' ta' ja' .! (to stand up)

kjaun: dhu rna' ta' .ia' pa (shin)
 6

D5 [Classroom Instructions]

1) na: htaun ba Please listen.

'f':G~~olll
2) thei dhei cha gja na: htaun ba Please listen wen.
~JJ GJJ <tP1.P .~o:GCXY.)8 0111
3) lai' hsoubli, Please repeat 'after me"
o co,)
(\.(m~olll

4) tgjau' si lai' hsou ba Please repeat after me,

c CQ 0 co')
.C?2O?GOY)m~ cym<X(ol iI one person at a time .
5) atu du hsou ba Please say (it) together.
3da;?Cf( d?ol'i
6) hpa' pa Please read (it).
(9oSo111
7) pjo: ba Please say (it).
G~ol,H
8) kje gje pjo:ba Please speak up.
otJoS<Y.(joS G~olll Please speak louder.
9) ~ljan mjan pjo: ba Please speak faster.
B~§~ G§')olll
10) pi'bi tha, dha. pjo: ba Please speak accurately.
Q9 ,.-., ')
OOJJJJ ~(),)Olll
11) hta' pjo: ba oun: ' Please say (it) again.
000 GEPo12:11 Please repeat.
.' 12) pjo: kJi· t?a, Please try to say (it).
, GGP6t2°111
13) hta' pjo: kji. ba oun: Please try to say (it) again.
(' ,--, r-" c' ') Q
roo ~()')t:232.i: O! 2: II
14) mj~ma lou pjo: kji. ba Please try to speak
§~~o? G~6e1°11l / in Myanmar.
15) in: g~lei' lou m~pjo: ba}f!e. Please don't speak English.
€ 01;' 0 c: ,],
3d()0JoCl:( ~GlPo '1'. l!
 7

16) a: 10un: ~tu du pjo: ba Please say (it) in chorus.

3d0:a?: 3d0j(0j( c{ooolu
17) ne: fli!: mjan mjan pjo: ba Please speak more quickly.
t~:"2: §<H~~ G(polu
18) truau' si pjo: ba Please say (it),
mS Go.y.xrS ~ GE[.>ol II one person at a time.
19) hrnan ba de That's right.
'" '1
'7;01 mU)ll
c
20) hma: ba de That's wrong.
'j'J:01moS II
21) sa ou' hpwin. ba Please open (your) book.
c c '1
OYJ3fo g9 0111
22) sa ou'kou kji. ba Please look at (your) book.
OYJ3f 0af1§21 01 II
23) sa ou' pei' pa Please close (your) book.
®03f0 8~0111
24) sa ou' kou m~kji. ba ne. Please don't look at
OYJ3f0cq ~§2101~. II (your) book.
25) hpjei ba Please answer.
G§oll1
 8

thin gan: za (hni')

nan me balon kho ba" dhale:

hsilla nan me balou

- kho ba dhaIe:
-
dei: hi' kjano dei: hi' pa
hsilla arnei ri kan Iu rnjou: la:
dei: hi' hou' ke.
amei ri kan Iu rnjou: ba

nan me name b.;!iou how

kbo to call kj!no I (male speaking)
!me ri kan American In mjon: nationality
bou' ke. yes

I0 I gao I is the third letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
I strokes is as illustrated below.
f.- 3 -
I 1 2

1=0 ~
C-J
L
 9

Lesson 2

'0e~ :;n&>o? GsT01 ~c\)

What's your name?

OO~2:03~:()')~
Mr. Thein Han
<'
eiO'Y.)G3 :ea:>
Mr. David
OO'P2:::>3~:()')~
Mr. Thein Han
eiO'Y.)G3 :eS •
o

Mr. David

ro I gao I is the fourth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

)
I
to
")

~- 0 UJ
 10

Grammar & Usages

1. Personal pronouns (Polite form)

The Myanmar kj!,no and kj!ma., like English '1', refer to the speaker
(first person). The difference between them is that kj!,DO is said by men
and kj!ma. by woman. For example:

[man speaking] kj!no ~e ri lean Iu mjou: ba (I am an American.)

[woman speaking] kj!,ma. ~me ri kan Iu mjou: ba (I am an American.)

Number Singular Plural

Person Ii! 2!!!! 3m l!l 2!!!! 3J:i!
Male kj!l1o kh!mja: kj!l1o kh!mja:
Speaking thu. doD. doD. thu.
Female k.i!ma. shin k.i!ma. shin dou.. doD.
Speaking doD.
English I you he, we you they
Equivalent she

2. Equational sentence

In Written Myanmar. 'hpji" is a verb which shows the equivalent

relationship between the subject and the predicative noun. Usually a noun
is placed before 'hpji"; however, a phrase or a clause may substitute for
the noun. It is used to make a noun, phrase, or clause the predicate of the
sentence. For example:
kj!no + !mei ri kan lu mjou: + hpji' + thi (I am an American.)
I American to be S(entence) F(inal) P(artic!e)

In Colloquial Myanmar, no need to use the verb 'hpji" (which

means to be something, someone). Use two nouns and particle '-balpa'
for politeness. For example:
kj!no + !,mei ri kan 10 mjou: + ba (I am an American.)
I American particle
 11

3. Question particle for yes-no question

-Ia: or dh!la:! th!la: are sentence-final question ending. ----dh!la:! th!la:

are used after the verb (or the polite form particle). -Ia: can be used for
both predicative nouns and verbs. But ~dh!la:! th!la: is more polite than
-la: and usually use with polite form particle '-ba/pa'.
When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 1,2 or 3, use '----dh!Ia:'.
When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop, use '-th!la:'.
But after polite form particle' -ba/pa', use only' ----dh!la:'. For example:

!,mei ri kan lu mjou: + la: (Are you an American?)

N Q(uestion) E(nding)

kh!mja: + kjsun: dhu + Is: (Are you a (girl) student?)

N N Q(uestion) E(nding)

la (to come)
Is + Is:! dh!la: (DolDid you come?)
la + ba + dh!la:

thwa: (to come)

thwa: + la:! dh!la: (DolDid you go?)
thwa: + ba + dh!Ia:

lou' (to dol work)

lou' + la:! th!la: (DolDid you do?)
lou' + pa + dh!la:

ei' (to sleep)

ei' + Ia:! th!la: (DolDid you sleep?)
ei' + pa + dh!la:
 12

DRILLS

Dl Vor male students]

1) hsilla nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (David)

kjaun: dha: kjW10 dei: bi' pa

2) hsilla nan me bwou kho ba dh~le: (Mr. Sawada)

kjaun: dha: kj~no mjit s~ta hsa wa da ba

3) hsilla nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (Mr. Kim)

kjaun: dha: kj~no mjit s~ta kin ba

4) hsilla nan me b~ou kho ba dh~le: (Ko Ko)

kjaun: dha: kj~no kou kou ba

5) hsilla nan me.b~lou kho ba dh~le: (U Soe Naing)

kjaun: dha: kj~no u: sou: nain ba

D2 Vor female students]

1) hsilla nan me bglou kho ba dh~le: (Yuki)

kjaun: dhu kj~ma.ju ki ba

2) hsilla nan me bglou kho ba dh~le: (Nancy)

kjaun: dhu kj~ma. nan si ba

3) h sill a nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (Khin Khin)

kjaun: dhu kj~ma. khin khin ha

4) hsgja nan me b~lou kho ba dh~le: (Ma Ni Ni)

kjaun: dhu kj~ma. rna' ni ni ba

5) hsgja nan me bglou kho ba dh~Je: (Daw Thi Thi)

kjaun: dhu kjgma. do thi thi ba
 13

D 3 (for male studentsl

1) hsilla khf!mja: f!me ri kan Iu mjou: la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjf!no gmei ri kan lu mjou: ba

2) hsilla khf!mja: kou ri: ja: Iu mjou: la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjf!no kou ri: ja: lu mjou: ba

3) hsilla khgmja: gjf!pan Iu mjou: la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kj~no gjgpan Iu mjou: ba

4) hsilla khf!mja: bf!ru nain: lu mjou: la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjf!no bf!ru nain: Iu mjou: ba

5) hsilla khf!mja: htain: Iu mjou: Ia:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjf!no htain: Iu mjou: ba

D 4 (for female students)

1) hsilla khf!mja: bi jet nan lu mjou: la:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke., kjf!ma. bijet nan Iu mjou: ba

2) hsilla khgmja: la ou Iu mjou: la:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke., kjf!IDa. la ou Iu mjou: ba

3) hsilla khf!mja: in dou ni: sha: iu mjou: la:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke., kjf!ma. in dou ni: sha: lu mjou: ba

4) hsilla khf!mja: mf!lei: sha: Iu mjou: la:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke., kjf!ma. mf!lei: sha: Iu mjou: ba

5) hsilla khgmja: kan bo: di: ja: Iu mjou: la:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke., kJ~ma. kan bo: di: ja: lu mjou: ba
 14

D 5 Vor both male and female students]

1) hsru a truou' Iu mjou: (Chinese)

kjaun: dhu shin truou' Iu mjou: la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kj~no truou' Iu mjou: ba

2) hsru a pjin dhi' Iu mjou: (French)

kjaun: dhu shin pjin dhi' lu mjou: la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kj~no pjin dhi' Iu mjou: ba

3) ~a in: ~lei' Iu mjou: (English)

kjaun: <fuu shin in: wei' Iu mjou: la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kj~o in: ~lei' Iu mjou: ba

4) hsru a k~ei da Iu mjou: (Canadian)

kjaun: dhu shin ~ei da Iu mjou: la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kj~o k!pwi da Iu mjou: ba

5) hsrua b~ra zi:In mjou: (Brazilian)

kjaun: dhu shin b!!fa zi: Iu mjou: la:
kjaun: dha: hon' ke., kj~no bi!Ta zi: Iu mjou: ba

D6 Vor male students)

1) hsIDa si' bou (military officer)

kjaun: dha: khwnja: si' bou la:

2) hsru a than twnan (diplomat)

kjaun: dha: kh~mja: than 4l:man la:

3) hsru a si: bwa: jei: dh.§:ma: (business man)

kjaun: dha: kb2mja: si: bwa: jei: dh.§ma: la:

4) hsru a hs!ja win rna. (female physician)

kjaun: dha: kh.§mja: hsrua win rna. la:

5) hs!ja hsrua rna. (female teacher)

kjaun: dha: kh~ja: hsrua rna. la:
 15

D 7 (for both male and female students)

1) hsru l1 pain shin (owner)

kjaun: dhu shin pain shin la:
kjaun: dha: hot!' ke., kjS!no pain shin ba

2) hsru a man nei gja (manager)

kjaun: dhu shin man nei gja la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!no man nei gja ba

3) hsru a ka: hsrua la: (car driver)

kjaun: dhu shin ka: hsrua la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!flo ka: hsrua ba

4) hsru a je: rua shi. (police officer)

kjaun: dhu shin je: rua sm. la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!no je: rua shi. ba

5) hsru a sa kji. dai' hmu: (librarian)

kjaun: dhu shin sa kji. dai' hmu: la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjS!no sa kji. dai' hmu: ba

D8 (for both male and female students)

1) hsilla ku: (to copy, to cross over)

kjaun: dha:/dhu ku: ba dhS!la:

2) hSIDa Jet: (to write)

kjaun: dha:/dhu jei: ba dhS!la:

3) hSIDa pel: (io gjy~)

kjaun: dha:/dhu pjei: ba dhS!la:

4) hsrua hpa'· (to read)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hpa' pa dhS!la:

5) hsru a kje' (to memorize~ learn by heart)

kjaun: dha:/dhu kje' pa ~la:
 16

thin gan: za (thoun:)

hpa' sa on' shi. ba dh,!la:

hsilla hpa' sa OU' shi. ba dhala:

dei: bi' hou' ke.
shi. ba de
hsilla abi. dan jo: shi. ba dhala:
dei: hi' hin.in:
mashi. ba bu:

sa ou' book bpa' sa ou' text book; reader

!,bi. dan dictionary bin. in: no
m,!sbi. to have not

c / nga. / is the fifth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

C c
~J
 17

Lesson 3

uoSOY.>3fO ~o1:).) coo:

Do you have a text book?

OO'P2::B,:c.n, •• uoSOY.>3fO ~ol :).)COO:II

Mr. Thein Han Do you have a text book?
~iO'Y.>~3 :tl~ •• utoSo}l ~olO)uSll
Mr. David Yes, I do.
OO'fJ2::B,:c..n, •• ~03 ro,G'fJ ~a:Y.): II
Mr. Thein Han Do you have a dictionary, also?
~fO'Y.>G3 :tlS •• c..n~~8:1 ~~olO(:1I
Mr. David No, I don't.

Q) I sa. / is the sixth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

Q) <D
 18

Grammar & Usages

1. Declarative sentence

--del te is the declarative sentence-final verb ending. --de is used after the
verb (or polite form particle) ending in a vowel with tone 1,2 or 3. -te is
used after the verb ending in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop.
For example:

la (to come)
la + de (He/She come/came.)
la + ba + de

thwa: (to go)

thwa: + de (He/She go/went.)
thwa: + ba + de

lou' (to dol work)

lou' + te (He/She work/worked.)
lou' + pa -t de

ei' (to sleep)

ei' + te (He/She sleep/slept.)
ei' + pa + de

2. The Verb of Existence

The verb ' shi. ' indicates existence, location or possession. It is used to
say that '(something) exists,' or '(something) is located (in a place),' or
'(somebody) has (something).' For example:

- jei shi. la: Do you have water?

hou' ke., shi. de Yes, I do.

!chein shi. la: Do you have time?

- jan goun mjei boun shi. la: Do you have Yangon map?
mei: Z!,ja shi. la: Are there (any) questions?
 19

th!nge gjin: shi. de I have a friend. (A friend exists.)

na ji shi. de I have a watch. (A watch exists.)

When the subject is an esteemed individual, use polite form particle

'-ba'. For example:

pa mau' Ima. gjou' shi. ba de The rector is in.

than !ma' kji: shi. ba de The ambassador is in.
mi. ba. dwei shi. ba dh!la: Are your parents home?
(or: Are your parents (still) alive?)

3. Negative sentence

The negative phrase <m!hou' hpu:' is used for equational sentence in

Colloquial Myanmar. <m!hou' pa bu:' is used for polite form.
For example:

N + N + m!!hou' hpu: (or) N + N + m!hou' pa bu:

kjAno + kjaun: dha: + ba (I am a student.)

kJ!no + kjaun: dha: + m!hou' hpu: (I am not a student.)
kj!no + kjaun: dha: + m!hou' pa bu:

For other sentences, the negative particle Om! ..• bu:' is used for the
verb ends in a vowel with tone 1,2, or 3. And <m! ... bpu:' is used for the
verb ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

m! + Verb + bu:/hpu: (or) m! + Verb + pa + bu:

la (to come) m~ + la + bu:

shi. (to exist) m~ + shi. + bu:
lou' (to work) m~ + lou' + hpu:
thwa: (to go) m~ + thwa: + ba + bu:
ei' (to sleep) m~ + ei' +- pa + bu:
 20

4. Yes and No

, hon' ke. ' and' in: ' are used when making an affirmatjve reply (equi-
valent to the noun 'yes'). But ' hm.i~ ke. ' is more polite than' in: .'
Actually, , hoo' ' is a verb means 'to be true; be a fact.' Thus,
, hon' la: ' means 'Is it trueT and yon can answer ' hon' te ' or ' hou'
pa de ' (Yes, It is true.)
, hin. in: ' means 'no' for an negative reply.

These particles can also be attached to almost any word of a sentence to

indicate unity, sameness or identity. Like English 'too, also, even, indeed.'
Sometimes they can express emphasis, too. Usually, ' ~ jo: ' is used for
question sentence and ' - Ie: ' for answer. Sometimes ' - Ie: ' can be used
with ' - be:/bpe: ' which particle suffixed to a word for emphasis for
equational sentence. For example:

tho ga. Main: II.! mjou: is Thai.

kJi!,no Ie: Main: lu rojou: be: I, too, am Thai.

He is also a rector.

kj!DO banD: bi we de I bought (a pair of) trousers.

hp!na' Ie: we de I also bought (some) shoes.

sa on' we ~a: Did you (some) books, too.

sa 00' Ie: we de Yes, I bought (some) books, too.

t
 21

DRILLS
D 1 VOT both male and female students]

1) hsrua sa: (to eat)

kjaun: dhu sa: ba dhgla:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., sa: ba de

2) hsIDa thau' (to drink)

kjaun: dhu thau' pa ~la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., thau' pa de

3) hsru a nel (to stay~ live)

kjaun: dhu nei ba dh~la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., nei ba de

4) hsru a Win (to enter)

kjaun: dhu ba dh~la:
\\1fl
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., win ba de

5) hsrua kjai' (to like)

kjaun: dhu kjai' pa dh~la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., kjai' pa de

D 2 Vor both male and female students]

1) kjaun: dhu khe: dan shi. ba dh~la: (pencil)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., khe: dan shi. ba de

2) kjaun: dhu th{!nge gjln: shi. ba dh!!la: (friend)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., th!!nge gjin: shi. ba de

3) kjaun: dhu pal' hsan shi. ba dh§Ja: (money)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., pai' hsan shi. ba de

4) kjaun: dhu naji shi. ba dh~la: (watch! clock)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., na ji shi. ba de

5) kjaun: dhu {!cheln shi. ba dh!!la: (time)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke., ~chein shi. ba de
 22

D3 (for both male and female students)

1) hsilla ka. ba dh~la: (to dance)

kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, m~ka. ba bu:

2) hsill a ggza: ba dh~la: (to play)

kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, m~g~za: ba bu:

3) hsilla kjl. ba dh~la: (to look at)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, m~kji. ba bu:

4) hsilla mel: ba dh~la: (to ask)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, m~mei: ba bu:

5) hsilla hpjei ba dhWa: (to answer)

kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, m~hpjei ba bu:

D 4 [for both male and female students)

1) hsilla zg!Jwe: shi. ba dh~la: (table)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, 7-!!bwe: m~hi. ba bu:

2) hsilla kglghtain ba dh~la: (chairibench)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, k§J~htain m~hi. ba bu:

3) hsilla !lhpei shi. ba dh~la: (father)

kjaun: dha:ldhu hin. in:, ~hpei m~hi. ba bu:

4) hsilla !lmel shi. ba dh~la: (mother)

kjaun: dha:ldhu . hin. in:, £!mei m£!shi. ba bu:

5) hsilla te Ii hpone shi. ba dh~la: (telephone)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hin. in:, te Ii hpone m~shi. ba bu:
 23

D 5 [for both male andfemale students)

1) kjaun: dhu shin gja man Iu rnjou: la: (German)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no 0 sgtrei: Ii: ja: Iu rnjou: ba

2) kjaun: dhu shin koun dhe la: (trader)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no in gjin ni ja ba

3) kjaun: dhu shin lJ:.hsou do la: (vocalist; singer)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no da raj'ta ba

4) kjaun: dhu shinjou'shin min: dha: la: (film star; actor)

kjaun: dha: kj~no man nei gja ba
hin. in:,

5) kjaun: dhu shin pwe: za: Ia: (broker)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, kj~no pain shin ba

D6 [for both male and female students]

1) kjaun: dha: kh~mja: jou'shin min: dhlJ:.mi: la: (actress)

kjaun: dhu hin. in:
kj~rna.jou'shin min: dhgmi: rn~hou' pa bu:

2) kjaun: dha: kh~mja: thu na pju. la: (nurse)

kjaun: dhu hin. in:, kj~ma. thu na pju. m~hou' pa bu:

3) kjaun: dha: kh~mja: sgjin: gain la: (accountant)

kjaun: dhu hin. in:, kj~rna. sgjin: gain m~hou' pa bu:

4) kjaun: dha: kh~mja: kou han pja. me la: (model)

kjaun: dhu hin. in:
kj~rna. kou han pja. me m~hou' pa bu:

5) kjaun: dha: kh~mja: sajei: hsgja ma. la: (authoress)

kjaun: dhu hin. in:
kj~ma. sajei: hsgja rna. m~hou' pa bu:
 24

D 7 [for both male and female students]

1) hsru a pjin dhi' zgga: Ie. Ia ba dh~la: (French)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., in: gg:/ei' zgga: Ie: iei. la ba de

2) hsru a dhgdin: za hpa' pa dh~la: (newspaper)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., mgggzin: Ie: hpa' pa de

3) hsru a jOll'shin kji. ba dh~la: (movie)

kjaun: dha:ldhu hou' ke., te Ii bel: shin: ie: kji. ba de

4) hsru a thgchin: hsou ba dhf!:la: (song)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., gi' ta Ie: ti: ba de

5) hsru a 19hpe' jet thau' pa dh~la: (tea)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., ko hpi Ie: thau' pa de

D 7 [for both male and female students]

1) hsru a san: dgja: jo: ti: ba dh~la: (piano)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., san: dgja: Ie: ti: ba de

2) hsru a wi'htu.. jo: hpa' pa dh~la: (novel; fiction)

kjaun: dha:ldhu hou' ke., wi'htu.. Ie: hpa' pa de

3) hsru a we'tha: jo: sa: ba dh~la: (pork)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., we' tlta: Ie: sa: ba de

4) hsru a gme: dha: jo: kjai' pa dh~la: (beef)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., gme: dha: Ie: kjai' pa de

5) hsru a hsei: jo: thau' pa dh£!la: (medicine)

kjaun: dha:ldhu hou' ke., hsei: Ie: thau' pa de
 25

thin gan: za (lei:)

di ha ba Ie:

dei: bi' di ha ba Ie: - hsilla

hsilla lei. kjin. gan: ba
dei: bi' lei. kj in. gan: gao khe' la:
hsilla hin. in:
makhe' pa bu:

dina this (thing) lei. kjin. gan: exerCise

kbe' to be difficult

[-----------
I <;;0 / hsa. ! is the seventh letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
I strokes is as iHustrated belowo
iI-----------~----____r----__.___,__-------__I
i~-----·---------I------=---+-----=-----I
1 ! 2 3
! ______.•___ I- ---
I i
I - - I ---=::---:=:---

1---1
0

1----
 26

Lesson 4

~ OY.> o'Y.)(:o
What's this?

~ iO'Y.)<03 : t) a) •• ~ OY.> O'YJro - 006p1l

Mr. David What's this?
oo6p2:~':(J.)' ·• <Oat <">1J ~ Sht: ()111
Mr. Thein Han It's an exercise.
~iO'Y.)<03 :t)a) ~ ~
Q) c?; OY.>: II
Mr. David
·• GC\(<">1J~ Q),:m
Is it difficult?
006p2:~;:(J.); •• (J.)~~8:1 ~Q)c?;{)lO(:JI
Mr. Thein Han No, it's not difficult.

@ / za. / is the eight letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

~ @
 27

Grammar & Usages

1. Demonstrative (di-/ hou-/ e: di.-/ hoo: ga.-)

Demonstrative is a word which refers to something in terms of whether it

is near to or distant from the speaker. The demonstratives in Myanmar
language are: di, hou, e: di., hoo: ga.. They usually occur only as
modifiers of a following noun or dependent noun. For example: di ba,
boo ha, e: di. ba, boo: gao ba. In this case, 'ba' means' thing'
Thus, 'di ba' designates something physically close to the speaker,
'ho ba' designates something physically close to the hearer, 'e:di. ha'
refers to something already mentioned or known to both the speaker and
hearer, and Chou: gao ha' designaters something removed from both the
speaker and the hearer. Sometimes, 'da' can also be used same as 'oi ha.'
For example:

di ha ba Ie: What is this?

e: da hti: ba This is an umbrella.

hou ha bgJau' Ie: How much is that?

e: da twa ba This is (costs) 100 (kyat).

di nei. thf!:.htei: mgla bu: Today (our) boss are not coming.
e: da dgge 1a: Is that a fact?

di neija this place

houlu that person
hOll: gao 014' sa that thing over there

di ha ba Ie: da ba Ie: What is this?

di hajei ge: thi' ta ba = dajei ge: thi' ta ba This is a refrigerator.

2. Question particle for wh-qoestion

In Colloquial Myanmar, '-Ie:' is a final particle of an interrogative

sentence collocating with initial particles, 'ba, be.' For example:
 28

da ba Ie: What IS this?

da lei ei: pei: ze' pa This is an air-conditioner.

be ho te kaun: Ie: Which hotel is gootl?

kmen dhe gil: mja: ho te gao kaun: de Traders hotel is good.

3,. Topic marker

, -ga.l ka. ' is the postpositional marker to indicate nominative case.

Usually, it is omitted in Colloquial Myanmar. For example:

kj!no (ga.) kmm P!ni 00' k!hta. ba I am the company president.

(Z!bwe: bo hma) IDoo' (ka.) shi. ba de There is a doH (on the table).

Actually, this particle designates the topic or theme of a sentence, and

also express contrast and emphasis. It can be attached to aU case markers
except object particles. When the noun (or case marker) ends in a vowel
with tone 1, 2 or 3, use gao. When the noun (or case marker) ends in a
vowel with tone 4 or glottal stop, use bo. For example:

kj!!no gao koun P!!ni ou' ~hta. ba (As for me,)

I am the company president.
Z!!bwe: bo hma gao ruou' shi. ba de (As on the table,)
There is a doll on the table.

Usually, it is also used with ' do.', which is a suffix to case marker
(including object particle) as an emphasis. For example:

thu (ga.) thwa: hsrua win ba He is a dentist.

kj!!no gao do. ~rei' hsan hsrua win ba (As for me,)
I am a veterinary surgeOn.
 29

DRILLS
D 1 [for both male andfemale students]

1) hsf!ja di ha I ~lf!htain (chairlbench)

kjaun: dhu di ba ~lf!htain la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., e:da k~JW1tain ba

2) hsf!ja da / ;If!bwe: (table/desk)

kjaun: dhu da Zf!bwe: la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., e: da 'Zf!bwe: ba

3) hsf!ja hOllha I hpa' sa OU' (text book)

kjaun: dhu hOilha hpa' sa ou' la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., boo Ita hpa' sa ou' pa

4) hsilla hou: gao ha I bi dou (cupboard)

kjaun: dhu hOD: gao ita bi dou la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., boo: gao Ita bi dou ba

5) hsf!ja e: da I f!lunai' poun: (rubbish bin)

kjaun: dhu e: da f!lunai' poun: ]a:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., e: da !!hmai' poun: ba

D 2 [for both male and female students]

1) kjaun: dhu di ha bo: pin ia: (baH point pen)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, di ha bo: pin mg hou' pa bu:

2) kjaun: dhu da Ie' pa' na ji Ia: (wrist watch)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, da Ie' pa' naji mg hou'~bu::

3) kjaun: dhu e: da dgga: la: (door)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: da dgga: mf! hou' pa bu:

4) kjaun: dhu hou ha sa ou' sin Ia: (bookshelf)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: cia sa OU' sin m!! hou' pa bu:

5) ~jaun: dhu hou:, gao ha mj;;'J;l:.n-wnla: (spectacles)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:. e: da mJe'hman mg hou' pa bu:
 30

1). kjaun: dhu di ha mjel boll'n la:· (map)

kjaun: dha: bin. in:, di ha da' pOlin ba (photograph)

2) kjaun: dhu da thf!dili: za la: (newspaper)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, da datn ja ji ba (diary)

3) kjaun: dhu e: da Ie' ludn bg:wa la: (handkerchief)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: da sa )we' pa (paper)

4) kjaun: dhu houha Ie' ~e: ei'la: (briefcase)

kjaun: dha: bin. in:, e: da lwe~' pa (cloth sling bag)

5) kjaun: dhu hou: gao ha tho. la: (key)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:, e: da da: ba (knife)

D 4 [for both male andfemale students]

1)·. hs!ja di ha/bi: (comb)

kjaun: dhu di ha ba Ie:
kjaun: dha: e:da bi: ba

2) hsrua 001 hti: (umbrella)

kjaun: dhu daba Ie:
kjaun: dha: e: da hti: ba

3) hsma hou ha 1mje' hn~thou' Nwa (face towel)

kjaun: dhu nou ha ba Ie:
kjaun: dha: hou ha mje' hil,!thou' p!wa ba
(~
4) hs,rua I hou: gao ha I ~bwe: gin: (table cloth)
kjaun: dhu hou: gao ha ba Ie:
kjaun; dha: hou: gao haZi!bwe: gin: ba

5) nsrua e: da I su: lei hprua: (The Sule Pagoda)

·kjaun: dhu e: da ba Ie:
kjaun: dha: e: da su: lei hp.!ia: ba
 31

D 5 [for both male andfemale students)

1) hsilla di ha gao I bu da joun (railway station)

kjaun: dhu diba 2. bu da joun la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., e:da gao do. bu dajoun ba

2) hsilla da gao I win gji: mja: joun: (The Secretariat)

kjaun: dhu da gao win gji: mja: joun: 1a:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke.,e: da gao 'do. win gji: mja: joun: ba
-.~

3) hsilla hou ha gao I pja. dai' (museum)

kjaun: dhu bou haga. pja. dai' lri:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke., hou ha gao do. pja. dai' pa

4) hsilla hou: gao ha gao / lei zei' (airport)

kjaun: dhu hon: gao ha gao lei zei' la:
kjaun: dha: hou" ke.~ bou: gao ha gao do. lei zei' pa

5) hsilla e: da gao I ba' s~a: hma' tain (bus stop)

kjaun: dhu e:daga~ b~' s~ka: hma' tain la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke:, e: da gao do. ba' s~ka: hma' tain ba

D 6 [for both male and female students]

1) hsilla di ~lou' ka. khe'la: (to be difficult)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., di ~lou' ka. khe' pa de

2) hsilla rrij~ma
.
ZMa: gao 'lwe la> " '\'.' I (to be easy)
,-"
kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke:,mjwna ZMa: ga.. lw"l! ba de

3) hsilla ~me:dha: gao kaun: la: (to be good)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., ~me: dha: gao kaun: ba de .

4) hsilla kjaun: dha: mja: 1a: . (to be l!llicll)

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., kjaun: dha': mja: ba de

5) hsilla kjaun: gao ni:., la:

kjaun: dha:/dhu hou' ke., kjaun: gao 11.1: ba de
 32

thin gOO: za (nga:)

twei. ja. da wan: tha ba de

dei: hi' min ~la ba

twei. ja. da wan: tha ba de
kjano dei: bi' pa
amei ri kan Iu mjou: ba
hsa wada .. min ~Ia ba
twei. j a. da wan: tha ba de
kjano hsa wa da ba
gjapan Iu mjou: ba

twei. to meet wan: tha to be glad

~ I ZL I is the ninth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the

strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

~
~~ ~ "~.
 33

Lesson 5

GOd. 'lOY.) 0~::xY..>01 0') oS II

I am glad to meet you.

<:
~~oy')G3: eJ Q) ~AC\X)oll1 GOd. 'lOY.) 0~::xY..>01 O')oSu
Mr. David How are you? I am glad to meet you.
aaJ~G0'Y3 gj~ G3:~Sol.1I
My name is John David.
3dG~~m, OJ(~l:oll1
I'm an American.
•• ~AC\X)ol II GOd. 'lOY.) o~::xY..>olO')oSll
How are you? .I am glad to meet you.
oaJ;G0'Y3 00001310111
My name is Sawada.
<: 0 '1
C(Jo, OJ(~l:OIIi
I'm a Japanese.

2 / nja. / is the tenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.
.
1 2 3

b ~ ~
 34

Grammar &; Usages

1. Nominalizing suffix ,. . . dalbl'

In. Myanmar language, nominaHzation is the grammatical process of form-

ing nouns from other parts of speech, usually action verbs or descriptive
verbs. Even a sentence can also be made the complement of a verb by
being made into a nominal (noUn-like) expression.
In. Colloquial Myanmar, the suffix .~ da I bl • makes sentences into
nominal expression; it is a nominalizing element with reference to non-
future time. The verbal nouns or nominal expressions made in this way
'- da Ita' indicate activity, quality, quantity, extent, or state of being,
concretely. Expressions in are basically equivalent in meaning to one kind
of' ... ing', or the infmitive 'to (do). ,
..... tia' is used after the verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. Ptild ' .... ta' is
used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. But sometimes ',." bl'
can be pronounced as ....... hbl'.

VIIl!"b SoWn: VlIlrb~ Noonl N@miD~iud expremsiOD

sa: (to eat) da sa:da (eating)
thwa: (to go) da thwa: da (going)
Ian: shau' (to walk) ta Ian: shau' ta (walking)
~ou' lou' (to work) ta ~lou' lou' ta (working)
kji: (to be big) da kji: da (bigness)

Nominalized expressions •- da Ita' function grammatically like

oouns. For instance, they many of the same suffixes and other kinds
of elements that are added to ordinary nouns. Following is a sample table
of forms of the expression shau' to, (walking) derived from the verb
Ian: slum' (to walk):
hm: shau' to walk
Ian: shau' ta walking
Ian: shau' ta gao do. as for walking
Ian: shau' ta Ie: walking, too
Ian: shau' ta gao walking (as topic)
Ian: shau' ta gou. w-alking (as object)
 35

2. Nominalizing suffix '- ja. da'

ja. is an auxiliary verb and means 'to have opportunity to; to manage to; to
be able to; can (do)' or 'have to (do); must.' '- ja. da' can be used as
a nominalizing suffix with reference to non-future time.
For example:
1. twei. ja. da wun: tha ba de [(I) am glad to meet (you).]
2. kja: ja. da thei' wun: tha ba de [(I) am very pleased to hear (it).]
3. thu. gou twei. ja. da khe' te [It is difficult to meet him. (or)
Meeting him is difficult.]
4. ~lou' lou' ja. da kjai'te [(I) like to do (my) work (or)
(1) like doing (my) work]

3. Differences between nominalizing suffixes between '- da/ta'

and '- ja. da'

Generally, the nominal expressions made with the suffix '- ja. da' express
the speaker's experience and feeling. But the nominal expressions made
with the suffix '- dalta' do not express the speaker's experience and
feeling clearly. Study the following examples.

Ian: shau' (to walk)

Ian: shau' talbta walking
Ian: shau' talbta kaun: de Walking is good (for everyone).
di nei. thu Ian: shau' ta kaun: de It was good for him walking today.
di nei. Ian: shau' ja. da kaun: de Today (I) took a good walk

twei. (to meet)

twei. da meeting
hsrua ne. twei. da kaun: de Meeting with (althe) teacher is good.
hsilla ne. twei. ja. da kaun: de It was good seeing (my) teacher.

sa: (to eat)

thi' thi: sa: da kaun: de Eating fruit is good (for everyone).
nja. gao thi' thi: sa: ja. da kaun: de Last night (1) enjoyed the fruit
(very much).
 36

DRILLS
D1

1) ~a twei.! wun: tha (to be happy)

kjaun: dhu/cilia: twei. ja. da wun: tha ba de

2) hsIDa thau' ! kmm: (to be good)

kjaun: dhu/dna: thau' ja. da bun: ba de

3) nsrua hpa' ! khe' (to be difficult)

kjaun: dhuldna: hpa' ja. da khe' pa de

4) hsrua i!lou' Iou' ! pin ban: (to be tired)

kjaun: dhu/dha: ~lou' lou' ja. da pin ban: ba de

5) hsIDa che' /lwe (to be easy)

kjaun: dhuldha: che' ja. da lwe ba de

D2

1) kjaun: dhu thf!nge giln: gou twei. ja. da bi!lou nei ba dhi!le:
kjaun: dha: thi!nge gjin: gou twei. ja. da wun: tha ba de

2) kjaun: dhu fIef: thau' ja. da bi!1ou nei ba ~!e: (cold drinks)
kjaun: dha: ~ei: thau' ja. da bun: ba de

3) kjaun: dhu nYf!11Ul hpa' sa hpa' ja. da b~lou

nei ba dh~le:
kjaun: dha: mji!1na hpa' sa hpa' ja. da khe' pa de
(Myanmar Reader)

4) kjaun: dhu kounpf!m .@:lou' lou' ja. da b.@:lounei ba ~le:

kjaun: dha: koun Pi!ni ~lou' lou' ja. da pin ban: ba de

5) kjaun: dhu mj~ hin: che' ja. da balou nei ba dhi!1e: (curry)
kjaun: dha: mj~ hin: che' ja. da lwe ba de
 37

D3

1) hsill a th~ehin: hsouja. dapjo ba dh~la: (to be happy)

kjaun: dhuldha: hou' ke. i th~ehin: hsouja. da pjo ba de

2) hsilla ko hpi thau' ja. da kiln: ba d~la: (to be bitter)

kjaun: dhu/dha: o hpi thau' ja. da kha: ba de

3) hsilla Ian: shau' ja. da mo: ba dh~la: (to feel tired)

kjaun: dhuldha: Ian: shau' ja. da rno: ba de

4) hsilla ~bi. dan shaja. dapjin: ba dh~la: (to be bored)

kjaun: dhuldha: ~bi. dan shaja. da pjin: ba de

5) hsilla eho: k~le' sa: ja. da chou ba dh~la: (to be sweet)

kjaun: dhu/dha: eho: k~le' sa: ja. da chou ba de

D4

1) kjaun: dhu th~chin: hsou ja. da pjo ba dh~la:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / th~chjn: hsouja. da pjin: ba de

2) kjaun: dhu ko hpi thau' ja. da kha: ba dh~la:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / ko hpi thau' ja. da chou ba de

3) kjaun: dhu Ian: shau' ja. da rno: ba dh~la:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / ian: shau' ja. da rn~rno: ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu ~bi. dan sha ja. da pjin: ba dh~la:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / ~bi. dan sha ja. da rn~pjin: ba bu:

5) kjaun: dhu cho: k~le' sa: ja. da chou ba dh~la:

kjaun: dha: cho: k~le' sa: ja. da rn~hou ba bu:
 38

thin gan: za (chau')

nain gan gja: ba dha te' ~dhou

mji' s~ta Ii · nain gan gja: ha dha te' g~dhou gao

he hma shi. ha dh~Je:
dei: hi' · te' ~dhoujei' tha Ian: hma shi. ba de
mji' s~ta Ii · di gao nei wei: ba dh~Ia:
dei: hi' · hin. in: / ni: ba de
mji' s~ta Ii · kjei: zu: tin ba de
dei: hi' · ja. ba de

nain gan gja: foreign country

nain gan gja: ba dlla foreign language( s)
te' g§dllou university
behma Where (?)
wei: to be far
ni: to be near
kjei: zu: tin to thank

~ I tao / is the eleventh letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 J

* *
 39

Lesson 6

,8 c(b:O'Y)~o:>g;>~~
University of Foreign Languages

Q
~~ <JY.)C\.) •• toc.§
c C S0: OYJ::>.:Y)oog;> ~ c:- 00
0 C\.) 0') oS 'P ~0::>,)
~ "
C\.) II

Mr. Lee Where is University of Foreign Languages?

c
~i<JY.)G3 :(:)4) •• 00 g;> ~ c0 ~8::>.:Y)C\.) ~: 'P ~01 00 oS II
Mr. David It is on University Avenue Road.
~i <JY.)c.\3 •• ~ooG' Go:01::>.)(\.)0:11

Mr. Lee Is it far from here?

c:- o c:- c:- ; :0~ 000)11
c:-
~i<JY.)G3 :(:)0) • t.r.:l¥3dC:1

Mr. David No, it's nearby.

c ~
~i <JY.)c.\3 •o c:-
G01]:W:ooco 000) II

Mr. Lee Thank you!

t'
~~<JY.)G3 :(:)0)
0
0 '101 00 oS II
Mr. David Not at all.

~ ! bta. ! is the twelfth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

~ +
 40

Grammar & Usages

1. The locative suffix ' ..... I1ma'

The suffix ' ..... hma' is added to nouns. Its function is to specifY location in
space or time. The English translation of locative '- lima' may be 'in, on,
at, under, by,' as appropriate in the context.
For example.'
sa kji. dai' hmo: shi. de to be in the library
sa thin gan: hmo: shi. de to be in the classroom
nan jan hmo: shi. de to be on the waH

di hmo: ~bwe: shi. de Here is a desk.

hou hmo: mjei bju m£!shi. bu: Ia: Isn't there any chalk there?
sa 19i. dai' lea. be limo: shi. Ie: Where is the library?

be ~a ji limo: m~' sa sa: Ie: What time do you eat breakfast?

nwei hmo: thei' pu de In summer, it is too hot.
shi' naji hmo: ei' te I went to sleep at 8' 0' clock.

2. The locative suffIX '- gao (nei) I U. (nei)'

This locative suffix ' .... gao (nei)' comes after place nouns. The English
equivalent of this suffix is 'from,' indication a starting point, separation,
source, cause, etc. '- gao (nei)' is used after the verb ending with tone 1, 2
or 3. And '- b. (nei)' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal
stop. For example:
diga. n.ei from here
houga. n.ei from there
hou: go. n.ei from over there
bega. nei from where (7)
be ga. n.ei la ba ~le: Where have (you) come from?
truou' pji ga. nef la ba de (I) am from China.

\; The element' -nei ' is sometimes left out. For example:

~u ein di. ja. ga. la de He is from India .
. be hn£!naji hma eingo. htvve' Ie: WhaHime did (you) leave
(depart from) home?
 41

DRILLS
Dl

1) hsru a bolt gjou' zei: (Bogyoke Market)

kjaun: dhuldha: bou gjou' zei: be hma shi. ba ~le:

2) hsru a hsu: lei hpgja: (Sule Pagoda)

kjaun: dhuldha: hsu: lei hprua: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

3) hsrua \ . {!no j{!hta Ian: (Anawrahta Road)

kjaun: dhuldha: ~no j.§,hta ian: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

4) hsru a hsei: joun gii: (General Hospital)

kjaun: dhuldha: hsei: joun gji: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

5) hsru a eindha (toilet)

kjaun: dhuldha: ein dha be hma shi. ba ~le:

D2

1) kjaun: dhu bou gjou' zei: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: bou gjou' zei: di hma shi. ba de

2) kjaun: dhu hsu: lei hprua: be hma shi. ba dh~e:

kjaun: dha: hsu: lei hprua: hou~hma shi. ba de

3) kjaun: dhu ~o j~hta Ian: be hma shi. ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: ~no j~hta Ian: hou: hma shi. ba de
'---------._----

4) kjaun: dhu hsei: joun gji: be hma shi. ba dh!!le:

kjaun: dha: hsei: joun gji: mjou. de: hma shi. ba de
(downtown)
-----~-~-~- '-

5) kjaun: dhu ein dha be hma shi. ba ~le:

kjaun: dha: ein dha e: di. hma shi. ba de
 42

DJ

1) hsru a (summer)
kjaun: dhuldha: (very, too)

2) hs~a hsaun: dwin: (winter)

kjaun: dhuldha: hsaun: dwin: hma thei 'ei:'ba de

3) hsru a nwu: dwin: , (rainy season)

kjaun: dhuJdha: mou: dmn: hma mou: thei' jwa ba de

4) hsru a nei.le (midday)

kjaun: dhuldha: nel. lehma.ei' pa de (to be ~!ID)
"'-/

5) hsru a nja. (night)

kjaun: dhuJdha: nja. hma lei tai' pa de (the wind blow)

D4

1) kjaun: dhu be g,chein hma thei' pu ba ~ ~le: (when)

kjaun: dha: nwei hma thei' pu ba de

2) kjaun: dhu be ~chein hma thei' ei: ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: hsaun: dwin: hma thei' ei: ba de

3) kjaun: dhu be ~chein hma mou: thei' jwa ba ~Ie:

kjaun: dha: mou: dwin: hma mou: thei' jwa ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be ~chein hma ei' pa dh~Ie:

kjaun: dha: nei. Ie hma ei' pa de

5) kjaun: dhu be ~chein hma lei tai' pa ~e:

kjaun: dha: nja. hma lei tai' pa de
 43

D5

1) hsru a be gao nei la ba ~le:

kjaun: dhuJdha: la ou gao nei la ba de (Laos)

2) hsru a be gao nei la ba ~e:

kjaun: dhuJdha: kjaun: gao nei la ba de (school)

3) hsru a be gao nei la ba dh~le:

kjaun: dhuJdha: koun dai' ka. nei la ba de
(department store)

4) hsrua be gao nei la ba dh@le:

kjaun: dhuJdha: lei zei' ka. nei la ba de (airport)

5) hsrua be gao nei la ba ~le:

kjaun: dhuJdha: bu da joun gao nei la ba de
(railway station)

D6

1) kjaun: dhu thanjoun: ga.la ba dh@la: (emmbassy)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:! nain gan gja: jei: joun: ga, la ba de
(Foreign Office)

2) kjaun: dhu te' g!!dhou sa dai' ka. la ba ~la: (post office)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:! sa ou' hsain gao la ba de (book shop)

3) kjaun: dhu bf1hou t!1ia: joun: ga. la ba ~a: (High Court)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:! je: sf!khan: gao la ba de (police station)

4) kjaun: dhu a' chou' hsain ga, la ba dh@la: (tailor)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:! sa jei: kf1ri. ja zain gao la ba de
(stationery)

5) kjaun: dhu a: gf1za: joun ga, la ba ~la: (stadium)

kjaun: dha: hin. in:! jei ku: gan gao la ba de (swimming pool)
 thin gem: za (khun bni')

sa kji. dai' kou thwa: gjin ba de

sa wada sa kji. dai' kou thwa: gjin ba de

be hma shi ba dhale:
dei: bi' di ahsau' au: shei. hma shi. ba de
sa wada atu du thwa: gja. mala:
dei: bi' hou' ke. / atu du thwa: gja. me

sa kji. dai' library

!hsao' !i0: building
shei. front; in front of
,!to do together

~ / da. / is the thirteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 .2 3

+ +
 45

Lesson 7

ro@~d?03d} ~:6ij801o:>oSH
I want to go to the library.

~iO':Y.)QO'.)O131 •• oo§eio?03d} ~:fij801(7)05"

Mr. Sawada I want to go to the library.
'JJ05rp ~ol::l)roll
Where is the library?
~iO':Y.)G3 :~~ •• 33«)GGO'.)033«)~G~. rp ~ol(7)0511
Mr. David It is in front of this building.
~iO':Y.)QO'.)o131 •• 3«)0(0( ~:§~c\'y'):1i
Mr. Sawada Shall we go together?
9i O':Y.)G3 :~~ •• or 03 d}, 3«)0(0( ~:§90511
Mr. David Yes, let' go together.

v I da. I is the fourteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 1 3

t- O V
I
 46

Grammar & Usages

1. The locative SUff'IX' ' - gou I kou'

The suffix '- goulkou' is attached directly to a place noun and is followed
by thwa: (to go) or la (to come), or their compounds. It indicates a specific
destination. The English equivalent of this suffix is 'to.' '- gou' is used
after the verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And '- Imu' is used after the verb
ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.
For example:
jOlln: gan: gou la ba Please come to the office.
thu lUI: Rei gtm: gou thwa: de He went to the recreation room.
Ilou' kou thwa: la: Did (he) go to work?

2. The auxiliary '-gjinl chin '

This auxiliary '-gjinl chin ' attaches to verb and expresses the speaker's
desire or wish to do or have something. The English equivalent of this
auxiliary is' to want to (do).' When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 1,
2 or 3, use '-gjin '. When the verb ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal
stop, use '-chin '.
For example:
mj!!D1a za thin gjln ba de (I) want to study Myanmar language.
moun. hin: ga: sa: Kiln ba de (He) want to eat Mohinga.
b§gan gou thwa: gjln la: Do (you) want to go to Bagan.
nwei bma kh§ji: htwe' chin ba de (I) ~t to traveli!!. summer.
mou: dwin: hma ru>jin ~twe' chin bu: ---
(I) don't want to go oUtside in rainy season.

1 Declarative sentence-final verb ending for future time: ' -me'

, -me' is the declarative sentence-final verb ending for future time. It is

added to a verb and it indicates future action or state (equivalent in usage
to auxiliary verbs 'will', 'shall'). Depending on the person of the verb,
, -me ' can express intention or supposition as well.
For example:
di nei. nja. te Ii hpoun: hse' me (I) will telephone tOBight.
m~e'hpan hta' la me I'll come again tomorrow.
 47

'-mAla:' is sentence-final question ending for yes-no question type.

6""'m!re:' is for wh-4juestion type. For example:

Q: kjaun: gou thwa: m!\-la: Win you go to school?

A: !lOU'ke./ thwa: me Yes, I wilL

Q: be do. thwa: m~e: When win you go?

A: .§:gU. thwa: me I win go now.

The verb plays the most important role in determining the sentence type.
The verb is Smtmce Ymal Pankle with which a sentence
is ended. The selection and use of sentence final particle vary according to
the (DECLARATIVE or QUESTION), or the Time (FUTURE or
NON-FUTURE).

l----""-......;.....~"----+-------'-----_+_----------..l
I
I
U go there 7) I
me 1
o there.)

(When will vou go?)

Myanmar,
'-A.-'U"-,,,.Uiai 9 is particle to nouns,
especially personal pronouns, to denote a group of persons or things. The
particle '-dweiltwei' is added to nouns and it expresses the plural of the
noun. But the particle ,; -gj~lkja.' is added to verbs to denote plurality.
Whether, in the absence of a number word, a noun or a subject of a verb is
 48

to be taken as singular or plural is generally made clear by the context of

the sentence.
'-doD.', '-dwei' and ' -gia.' are used after the pronoun or noun or
verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And '-t08.', '-twei' and' .....kja.'are used
after the pronoun or noun or verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For
example:

kj¥lo lame (I will come.)

kj¥1O don. la gia. me (We win come.)

kou kou sa: de (Ko Ko ate it.)

kou kou don. sa: gill. de (Ko Ko and his group ate it.)

sa thin gan: hma kjaun: dha: shi. de (There is a student in the classroom.)
sa thin gan: hma kjaun: dha: dwei shi. de (fhere are students in the classroom.)

lou'la: (Does he work?)

lou' kja. la: (Do they work?)

6. Sentence final question ending' -gis. m!la:' (or) 4-kja. m!la:'

There are two parts in this sentence final question ending. They are the
verb plural particle '-gja.lkja.' and the question ending for future action
'-mila:'. This form is attached to the verb. When the subject is first-
person plural "We," the speaker uses this form to suggest that the speaker
and the hearer do something together. The English equivalent of this form
is 'Shall we ... (do)?'
'-gja. mlla:' is used after the verb ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And
'-kja. m!la:' is used after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.

Q: kj~o dou. oun: nou.. khau' hswe: hma gja. m!.la:

(Shall we order coconut noodles?)
A: hou' ke./ hma gill. me

For wh-question type, • -gja. m!la:' (or) '-kja. m!la:' is attached to

the verb.
Q: be do. sa: gja. m!le: (When shaH we eat?)
A: kj§.no dou. .@.gu. sa: gja. me (We win eat now.)
 49

DRILLS
Dl

1) hsru~ l!l,hpe' jei zain / thwa: (tea shop)

kjaun: dhuldha: 19hpe' jei zain gou thwa: ba de

2) hsru a jou' shin joun Ita (cinema)

kjaun: dhuldha: jou' shinjoun gou la ba de

3) hsru a hPilla: I maun: (to drive)

kjaun: dhufdha: hpilla: gou maun: ba de

4) hsru a in: ja: kan / Ian: shau' (Inya Lake)

kjaun: dhuldha: in: ja: kan gou Ian: shau' pa de

5) hsilla thanjoun: / pou. (to send)

kjaun: dhuldha: than joun: gou pou. ba de

D2

1) kjaun: dhu be gou thwa: ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: l~hpe' jei zain gou thwa: ba de ~e

. 2) kjaun: dhu be gou la ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: jou' shin joun gou la ba de

3) kjaun: dhu be gou maun: ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: hpilla: gou maun: ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be gou Ian: shau' pa dh~le:

kjaun: dha: in: ja: kan gou Ian: shau' pa de

5) kjaun: dhu be gou pou. ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: than joun: gou pou. ba de
 50

D3

1) hsru a mandg,lei: / net (Mandalay)

kjaun: dhuJdha: mand~lei: hma nei gjin ba de

2) hsilla in: lei: kan J thwa: (Inlay Lake)

kjaun: dhu/dha: in: lei: kan gou thwa: gjin ba de

3) hsilla th!!.nge gjin: ein / ia (friend's house)

kjaun: dhuJdha: th§:nge gjin: ein gou la gjin ba de

4) hsilla aim hsan: gwin: / g£!za: (Aung San Stadium)

kjaun: dhuldha:. aun hsan: gwio: hma R-aza: gjin ba de

5) hsilla hsou ni kmm p!!.ni / ~lou' tou' (Sony Co.)

kjaun: dhuldha: hsou ni koun p~ni hma §lou' iou' chin ba de

D4

1) kjaun: dhu be hma nei gjin ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: mand~lei: hma nei gjin ba de

2) kjaun: dhu be gou thwa: gjin ba dh§le:

kjaun: dha: in: lei: kan gou thwa: gjin ba de

3) kjaun: dhu be gou la gjin ba dh£!te:

kjaun: dha: th~nge gjin: ein gou 1a gjin ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be hma R-aza: gjin ba dhf!le:

kjaun: dha: aun hsan: gwin: hma ~za: gjin ba de

5) kjaun: dhu be koun p§J1] hma £!lou' Iou' dun ba dhSl-Ie:

kjaun: dha: hsou ni koun p~i hma §lou' lou" chin ba de
 51

D5

1) hsru a "'!!ne' hpjan I sa: (tomorrow)

kjaun: dhuidha: m~ne' hpjan sa: me

2) hsilla dhg}Je' iha Ina: htaun (the day after tomorrow)

kjaun: dhuidha: dh§:be' kha na: htaun me

3) hsilla hpein: hnwe: ga Ila (the third day after today)

kjaun: dhuldha: hpein: hnwe: ga la me

4) hsrua nau' nei.l hpa' (the next day)

kjaun: dhw'dha: nau' nei. hpa' me

5) hsru a ggu. I thau' (now)

kjaun: dhuidha: ~gu. thau'

D6

1) kjaun: dhu oun: nou. khau' hswe: be do. sa: m~le:

kjaun: dha: m~e' hpjan sa: me

2) kjaun: dhu thgchin: be do. na: htaun mgle:

kjaun: dha: dh~be' kha na: htaun me

3) kjaun: dhu th~ge gjin: be do. la m~le:

kjaun: dha: hpein: hnwe: ga la me

4) kjaun: dhu wi' htu. be do. hpa' m~le: (novel, tiction)

kjaun: dha: nau' nei. hpa'me

5) kjaun: dhu bija be do. thau' m~Ie:

kjaun: dha: ~. thau'
 52

D7

1) hsIDa 1'n!1.ne'sa sa: m~la: (breakfast)

kjaun: dhu/dha: hou' ke. i mWle' sa sa: ba me

2) hsru a dh~din: na: htaun m~!a: (news)

kjaun: dhuldha: hou' ke.1 dh~din: na: htaun ba me

3) hsru a e. dhe la m~la: (visitor)

kjaun: dhuldha: hou' ke. / e. dhe la ba me

4) hsru a me' gg,zin: hpa' m~la: (magazine)

kjaun: dhuldha: hou' kc. I me' ~jn: hpa'pa me

5) hsru a g,ei: thau' mgla: (cold drinks)

kjaun: dhuldha: hou' ke. I ~ei: thau' pa me

D8

1) hsru a nei. ltl Zil sa: m!!la: (lunch)

kjaun: dhu/dha: hin. in: I nei. Ie za mgsa: ba bu:

2) hsrua mein. gun: na: htaun m!!la: (speech)

kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: I mein. gun: na: m!!htaun ba bu:

3) hsrua po mau.' kha. 1£1 m!!la: (professor)

kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: / pa mau' kha. m~la ba bu:

4) hsru a dhg,din: za hpa'm!!)a: (newspaper)

kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: / dh!!din: za m!!hpa' pa bu:

5) hsru a !!:Ie'thau' m~a: (alcoholic drinks; liquor)

kjaun: dhuldha: hin. in: / rue' m~thau' pa bu:
 53

D9

1) hsru a nja. za sa: ffif!:la: (dinner)

kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. / mf!:ne' sa sa: gjin ba de

2) hsru a thflcltin: gii: na: htaun ffi~la: (classical song)

kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. I th~hin: gji: na: htaun gjin ba de

3) hsilla pja. dai' kou la m~la: (museum)

kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. / pja. dai' kou la gjin ba de

4) hsilla ka tun: hpa' mf!:la: ( cartoon)

kjaun: dhuJdha: hou' ke. / ka tun: hpa'chin ba de

5) hsilla hsei: thau' mf!:la: (medicine)

kjaun: dhu/dha: hou' ke. / hsei: thau' chin ba de

D10

1) hsru a thgjei za sa: mf!:la: (snack)

kjaun: dhuJdha: hin. in: I thillei za mf!:sa: gjin ba bu:

2) hsilla rei di jou za' Ian: na: htaun m~ia: (play)

kjaun: dhuJdha: hin. in: /rei di jou na: mf!:htaun gjin ba bu:
/

3) hsilla s{!tei'shou: gou la m!,!la: (stage show)

kjaun: dhtiJdha: hin. in: I s!!1ei' shou: gou m~Ia gjin ba bu:

4) hsilla g@ja hpa' mf!:la: (poem)

kjaun: dhuJdha: hin. in: / £f!:bja m!,!hpa' chin ba bu:

5) hsilla hin: gjou thau'mf!:ia: (thin/clear soup)

kjaun: dhu/dha: hin. in: I hin: gjou m~thau' chin ba bu:
 54

DB
1) hsilla (kj~no dou.) kje' Ina: sa: gja. m~la: (chicken)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I kje' tha: sa: gja. me

2) hsilla (kj~nodou.) nja. nei dh!!;din: na: htaun gja. m~la:

(evening news)
kjaun: dha: hou'ke.l mou: lei w~tha.dh~din: na: htaun gja. me

3) hsilla (kj~no dou.) za' jmm gou thwa: gja. m~la: (theatre)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I za' joun gou thwa: gja. me

4) hsill a (kj~no dou.) poun bjin hpa' kja. m~la: (fable)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / poun bjln hpa' kja. me

5) hsilla (kj~no dou.) hpjojei thau' kja. m~la: (juice)

kjaun: dha: : hou' ke . .I hpj 0 jei th'u' kja. me

D12

1) hsilla lhu doll. sa: gja. dh~la: (they)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / thu dou. sa: gja. ba de

2) hsill a kh!!;mja: doll. th~chin: dwei na: htaun gja. dh~la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I kj~no dou. th~chin: dwei na: htaun gja. ba de

3) hsru a pa mau' kha. gjou' lOU. la gja. m~la: (Rector & his party)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I thu dou. la gja. ba me

4) hsilla gja ne dwei hpa' kja. m~la: (journels)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / gja ne dwei hpa' kja. ba me

5) hsilla thu dou. hsei: lei'lwei thau' kja. dh~la:

(cheroots or cigarettes)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / thu dou. hsei: lei' twei thau' kja. ba de
 5S

thin gan: za (shi')

ba hpa' chin ba dh!le:

dei: hi' khamja: ba hpa' chin ba dhale:

sa wa da dhadin: za hpa' chin ba de
dei: hi' hou akhan: hma shi. ba de
sa wa da di ha ba sa ou' Ie:
dei: hi' .. wi' htu. sa ou' pa
sa wa da gja ne ne. me' ~in: Ie: shi. de no
dei: hi' hou' ke., di hma ba

ba what
!khan: room
wi' btu. novel, fiction

na. / is the fifteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
CIT.) /

strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

{J eu ao arJ
 56

j.)8s;:ro (g)
Lesson 8
:YY.> <905 6ij8 01 :x> 00 II
What do you want to read?
~
~
fa~O'Y.)G3 :~G> .• SC~: OY.>
('(''1
<.900~COI::>.:lroll
...

Mr. Da'Vid What do you want to read?

(' (' 'l _-"
fa~O'Y.)OO':)o131 .• ::>.:lO?c:ro <.9O?CijCOI O?WII
~

Mr. Sawada I want to read newspapers.

fa~O'Y.)G3:~~ .• U?~S,:~ ~olO?oSl!
Mr. David They are in that room.
faiO'Y.>OO':)o131 .. I;il
3 o::Y.) O'Y.>ro3'f 0 ro II
(' "

Mr. Sawada What book is this?

~
faiO'Y.)G3:~Q) .
o
o<6?lro3f801 If
Mr. David Ifs a novel.
•. (" to (' R (' --~
fafO'Y.)OO':)o131 <1P,oo,. ~g@c:ro2: ,tOOU:)(;P'f'1I

Mr. Sawada There are the newspapers and magazines,

too, aren't they?
•. ur~o? i ~ ~c.~ II
Yes, here they are.

0') I ta. I is the sixteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 1 J

0 r:JJ 0)
 57

Grammar & Usages

1. Object marker '- gou I kou'

'- gou I kou' is postpositional marker to indicate objective case. When the
noun (or case marker) ends in a vowel with tone 1, 2 or 3, use '- gou'.
When the noun (or case marker) ends in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal
stop, use '- kou'.
In Colloquial Myanmar, the object marker is generally omitted.

mj~ma ~sa: ~a (gou) kjai' te (I) like Myanmar food.

~lou' (kou) mjan mjan lou' pa Please do the work quickly.
dh~din: za (gou) hpa' la: Do you read the newspaper.
h~min: (gou) ~mja: gji: sa: de (1) eat a lot.
me' @Zin: (gou) sha gjin ba de (I) want to find a magazine.

.
2• C onjunc t"IOn - nee , I • - nee ••• nee '( or)" - Je ••• Je
.,

This conjunction connects two nouns on an equal basis (English "A and
B"). Generally, ' - je '0' je ' can be used for more than two nouns.

h~min: nee hin: rice and curry

~hpei nee tha: nee father and son
ko hpi nee l~hpe' jei nee pei: ba Please give (us) coffee and tea.
paun moun. nee nwa: nou. thau' te (I) eat bread and milk

3. Particle • - no '

This particle attaches to the declarative sentence, and is used when the
speaker wants to seek the hearer's agreement or wants to ascertain the
hearer's meaning.

di kaun rna. lei: hla. de no This girl is beautiful, isn't she?

ja dhi u. duo gao pu de no It's hot, isn't it?
hsilla gao to de no The teacher is good, isn't he?
 S8

DRILLS

01

1) hsilla thgje' thi: I sa: (mango)

kjaun: dhuldha: thille' thi: (gou) sa: de

2) hsilla than bgja jei I thau' (lime juice)

kjaun: dhu/dha: than billa jei (gou) thau' te

3) hs~ja kou bain ka: I maun: (own car)

kjaun: dhuldha: kou bain ka: (gou) maun: de

4) hs~La kh~lei: / jai' (to beat)

kjaun: dhu/dha: kh~lei: (gou) jai' de
'~

5) hsilla (!;Si jin khan za / pou. (report)

kjaun: dhuldha: ~si jin khan za (gou) pou. de

02

1) kjaun: dhu ba ~thi: (gou) kjai' pa dh~le:

kjaun: dha: thille' thi: (gou) kjai' pa de

2) kjaun: dhu ba ~ei: (gou) thau' chin ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: than bruajei (gou) thau' chin ba de

3) kjaun: dhu ba (gou) maun: ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: kou bain ka: (gou) maun: ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be dhu. (gou) jai' pa dh~le:

kjaun: dha: kh~lei: (gou) jai' pa de

5) kjaun: dhu ba (gou) pou. ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: ~sijin khan za (gou) pOU. ba de
 59

D3

1) hsru a : du jin: dhi: I min: gil.' thi: (durianl mangosteen)

kjaun: dhuJdha: : dujin: dhi: ne, min: gu' thi: (ne.)

2) hsrua I bggan
POll.' pa (Popal Bagan)
kjaun: dhuJdha: pou' pa: ne. bagan (ne,)

3) hsru a g,.lou' shin / (!,lou' th(!,ma: (employer/ employee)

kjaun: dhuJdha: .@:lou' shin ne . .@:lou' th.@:ma: (ne,)

4) hsrua s(!,nei / t(!,nin: g(!,nwei (Saturday/ Sunday)

kjaun: dhuJdha: s.@:nei ne, t.@:nin: g.@:nwei (ne.)

5) hsrua khwei: I kjaun (dog! cat)

kjaun: dhuJdha: khwei: ne. kjaun (ne,)

D4
c;
1) kjaun: dhu be ne, ba (gou) sa: gji~ ba dh.@:le:
kjaun: dha: dujin: dhi: ne. min: gu' thi: (ne.) sa: gjin ba de

2) kjaun: dhu (~~e. be (gou) thwa: gjin ba dh.@:le:

kjaun: dha: pou' pa: ne. bagan (ne.) thwa: giin ba de

3) kjaun: dhu be dhu ne. be dhu dwei shi. ba dh.@:le:

kjaun: dha: .@:lou' shin ne . .@:lou' th~ma: dwei (ne.) shi. ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be nei. ne. be nei. kjaun: pei' pa dh~le:

kjaun: dha: s.@:nei ne. t.@:nin: g.@:nwei (ne.) kjaun: pei' pa de

5) kjaun: dhu ba ne. ba (gou) we ba dh.@:le:

kjaun: dha: khwei: ne. kjaun (ne.) we ba de
 60

D5

1) hsilla du: jin: dhi:l thille' thi:

kjaun: dhuldha: du jin: dhi: je thille' thi: je

2) hsilla ghpei/ gmei/ tha:l thgmi:

kjaun: dhuJdha: ~hpei je ~ei je tha: je thgmi: je

3) hsilla ko hpi/ l~hpe' jeiJ nwa: nou.

kjaun: dhuJdha: ko hpi je l~hpe' jei je nwa: nou. je

4) hsilla bgganJ man: ~lei:/ mounjwa

kjaun: dhuldha: bManje man: dglei:je mounjwaje

5) hsilla nweiJmou:
kjaun: dhuJdha: nwel Je mou: Je

D6

1) kjaun: dhu ba dwei (gou) sa: gjin ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: dujin: dhi: je thille' thi: je sa: gjin ba de

2) kjaun: dhu be dhu dwei shi. ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: ghpei je ~mei je tha: je th~mi: je shi. ba de

3) kjaun: dhu ba dwei (gou) thau' pa dhgle:

kjaun: dha: ko hpi je l~hpe' jei je nwa: nou. je thau' pa de

4) kjaun: dhu be nei ja dwei gou thwa: ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha: b~gan je man: dglei: je moun jwa je gou thwa: ba de

5) kjaun: dhu be ja dhi hma pu ba dh~le: ,.!

(:

kjaun: dha: nwei je mou: je hma pu ba de ~

 61

D7

1) hsilla zei: kji: de (to be expensive)

kjaun: dhuJdha: zei: kji: de no

2) hsilla zei: po: de (to be cheap)

kjaun: dhuJdha: zei: po: de no

3) hsru a di hni'pu de (this year)

kjaun: dhuJdha: di hni' pu de no

4) hsilla gau'jai'me (to play golf)

kjaun: dhuJdha: gau' jaC me no

5) hsilla "'!!:.kaun: bu: (to be bad)

kjaun: dhuJdha: m~kaun: bu: no

D8

1) kjaun: dhu du: jin: dhi: gao zei: kji: de no

kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ du: jin: dhi: gao zei: kji: ba de

2) kjaun: dhu than bruajei gao zei: po: de no

kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ than billajei gao zei: po: ba de

3) kjaun: dhu di s~ei ne. ~nin: ~nwei pu de no

kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ di s~nei ne. ~nin: ~nwei pu ba de

4) kjaun: dhu m~ne' hpjan gau' jai' me no

kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ m~ne' hpjan gau' jai' pa me

5) kjaun: dhu di ha m~aun: bu: no

kjaun: dha: hou' ke./ di ha m~kaun: ba bu:
 62

thin gan: za (kou:)

nei. dain: t,!na ji sa bpa' te

sa wa da kh~mja: nei. dain: sa kji. dai' kou la la:

dei: bi' hou' ke.l nei. dain: la ba de
sa wa da be hn!!naji sa hpa' pa dh!!le:
dei: bi' nei. dain: t!!naji sa hpa' pa de
m!!fle' hse naji gao nei hse. ~aji ~ti.
sa hpa' pa de

nei. dain: everyday

naji hour~ o'clock
t!na ji one hour
sa hpa' to read
hse naji ten o'clock
hse. t!na ji eleven 0' clock

co / hta. I is the seventeenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of

the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

o
 63

~. ~8: oo~c.y.>~ QY.)(9o-)o1oooSn

I read one hour everyday.

~io:Y.>OO?o131 •• s6~: G,. 016: GY.)§~o105o? C\Y.)C\Y.):II

Mr. Sawada Do you come to the library everyday?
Of O)(>? I ~. or c :
<" 0<' '1
~io:Y.>~3 :~~ •• C\Y.)O I O?OO(' II
Mr. David Yes, I do.
~iO'Y.)OO?o131 •• ::r:>03,¥>~ GY.)()0301 :nOOIl
Mr. Sawada How many hours do you read?
QiO'Y.)G3:~S •• ~. o?6: O?S¥>~ Q)?t?03010?0311
Mr. David I read one hour everyday_
~io:Y.>OO".)o131 •• ~,05 oou3¥>qm~ ro~O')~¥>~34}c8
GY.)()djol cnu311
I read from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

3 I da. I is the eighteenth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of

the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

3 3
 64

Grammar & Usages

1. The Myanmar Numerals

L" r,
r-'

ti' 1 ,hse\ ti'

~C.7 '. ([, tahse 10
hni' 2 hse. nl" 12 ~iifise 20
thoun: 3 hse. thoun: 13 thoun: ze 30
lei: 4 hse. lei: 14 lei: ze 40
nga: 5 hse. nga: 15 nga:ze 50
chau' 6 hse. chau' 16 chau'hse 60
khun hni' 7 hse. khun hni' 17 khunhnghse 70
shi' 8 hse. shi' 18 shi' hse 80
kou: 9 hse. kou: 19 kou: '~i! 90
tahse! hse 10 hn~hse 20 4!ja 100

2. The numeral classifiers

Classifiers are words or affixes used with numerals to designate countable

or measurable objects. In English, a few classifiers are still used, e.g. head
of in: 'five head of cattle.' In Myanmar language, there are classifiers
which combine with numerals to name, count or measure objects.
Generally, they are used with numerals. But some are pure nouns and they
occur as independent words. For example:

Classifiers used with numbers:

- jan' 'people'
-naji 'o'clock; hours'
-mi. ni' 'minutes'
-se' kan. 'seconds'
-jwe' 'thin, flat objects (sheets)'
-je' 'days of the month'
-Ia. 'months; months of the year'
-hni' 'years; years of age'
.-wbn: 'packs (of cigarettes)'
-Ioun: 'buildings, houses, machines, tables, chairs'
-on' 'books'
-mjou: 'kinds, types'
 65

The numbers ti' 'one,' hni' 'two: and khun hni' 'seven,' change from
vowel i' [i? J to central vowel! [0] when they combine with classifiers.

But they have special combining fonns with classifier 'Kyat: Myanmar
unit of money.' '- kja' , is used after the numbers 'two: 'six,' 'seven,'
and 'eight.' And'..., gia' , is used after the other numbers except 'tens. '
For example:

ti' daJja' 1 kyat

hoi' hn~kja' 2 kyat
thouo: thoun: gja' 3 kyat
lei: lei: gja' 4 kyat
nga: nga: gja' 5 kyat
chau' chau' kja' 6 kyat
khun hni 9 khun~a' 7 kyat
shi' shit kja' 8 kyat
kou: kou: gja' 9 kyat
t!hse tW1se 10 kyat

Generally, the tens consist of ' tW1se ' doesn't need to combine with
classifier.

J. The particle for starting point: ' -gao (nei)! kIl. (nei)'

This particle attach to nouns denoting time or place from which or source
of an action. The English equivalent of this fonn is 'from ... .' '..., gao (nei)'
is used after the noun ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And '- 0. (nei)' is used
after the noun ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

zei: gao nei la de (They) came from the ItUlrket.

be gao nei la dh~le: Where did (you) come from?
kou ri: ja: gao nei la d~la: Did (you) come from Korea?
 66

4. The particle for finishing point: ' !hti.'

This particle attach to nouns indicating a certain span of time or distance.

The English equivalent ofttIis form is prepositions 'up to: 'until,' 'till.'
For example:
khun ~naji ~hti. tiB 7 o'clock
man: ~lei: ~hti. up to Mandalay
~. hti. until now
nja. nei chau' naji ~ti. @lou' lou' te (I) work until 6 p.m.

5. from ••• to: ' -gao (nei)/lm. (nei)' .•• '",,!bti.'

These particles attach to nouns denoting time or place in order to express

the starting point and finishing point. for example:

::J"kjaun: gao (nei) ha' s~a: mha' tain ~ti. Ian: shau' te
(I) walk from school to the bus stop.

hse na ji gao (nei) hse. hn!!na ji ~hti. sa thin gjein

School hour is from 10 until 12 o'clock.

- jan goun gao (nei) man: ~lei: !!hti. lei jin bjan nee he Iau' kja Ie:
How long does it take from Yangon to Mandalay by plane?
 67

DRILLS

D1

1) hsilla tC I naji (o'clock)

kjaun: dhuldha: t~naji

2) hsilla hni' I mjou: (kind; type)

kjaun: dhuldha: hn~mjou:

3) hsilla tho un: I jau ' (person)

kjaun: dhu/dha: thoun: jau'

4) hsru a lei: / bggan (saucer; plate)

kjaun: dhu/dha: lei: bMan

5) hsilla nga: I neija (place)

kjaun: dhu/dha: nga: nelJa

D2

1) hsilla chau' /je' (day)

kjaun: dhuldha: chau' je'

2) hsilla khun hni' I 10. (month)

kjaun: dhuldha. khun hn!!la.

3) hsru a shi' I hni' (year)

kjaun: dhuldha: shi' hni'

4) hsilla kou: Ijwa (village)

kjaun: dhu/dha: kou:jwa

5) hsrua ~selmjou. (town; city)

kjaun: dhuldha: hse mjoQ
 68

D3

1) hsru a sa (Ju' ! ti' Iou' (book)

kjaun: dhuJdha: sa ou' tgou' pei: ba

2) hsgja khe: dan / hni' I chaun: (pencil)

kjaun dhu/dha: khe: dan hn~chaun: pei: ba

3) hsgja da' poun I thoun: / boun (photograph)

kjaun: dhu/dha: cia' poun thoun: boun pei: ba

4) hsaja hsei: lei' / lei: / lei' (cheroot or cigarette)

kjaun: dhuldha: hsei: lei' lei: lei' pei: ba

5) hsrua hpf!.na' ! nga: ! jan (footwear)

kjaun: dhu/dha: hpgna' nga: jan pei: ba

D4

1) kjaun: dhu 9:gu. be hn~naji Ie:

kjaun: dha: ~gu. khun hn~na ji ba

2) kjaun dhu be hngmjou: we ba dhgle:

kjaun: dha: shi' mjou: we ba de

3) kjaun: dhu be hnruau' 1a ba dhg]e:

kjaun: dha: kou: jau' Ja ba de

4) kjaun: dhu be hn~b9:gan sa: ba dhgie:

kjaun: dha: hse b~gan sa: ba de

5) kjaun: dhu be hn~nei ja thwa: ba dh~le:

kjaun: dha', hse. ~~hei ja thwa: ba de
7
7'
 69

D5

1) hsilla nei. dain: be ~ji ei' pa dh!Ie:

kjaun: dhu/dha: : nei. dain khun ~ ji ei' pa de
hsrua be hn~ ji gao nei be ~ ji ~ti. ei' pa dhW.e:
kjaun: dhu/dha: : njahse naji ga. nei ~ne' nga: naji ~ti. ei' pa de

2) hsrua nei. dain: be ~naji ba' sWce' oo:~: ba dh{&le:

kjaun: dhu/dha: : nei. dain hn~na ji ~aza: ba de
hsru a be hn~naji gao nei be hn~aji ~ti. !Lam: ba dhW.e:
kjaun: dhuldha: : nja.nei lei: naji gao nei chau' naji @,hti.~: bade

3) ~a nei. daiIt be ~naji ~ou' lou' pa ~e:

kjaun: dhu/dha: : nei. dain shi' naji ~ou' lou' pa de
hsru a be hnww. ji gao nei be hn!!na ji ~ti. lou' pa ~le:
kjaun: dhuldha: : ~ne' sm' naji gao nei~. nei lei: naji ~hti.
lou' pa de )

4) hsIDa nei. dain: be hD!PUl j i Ian: shau' pa dh!1e:

kjaun: dhuldha: : nei. dain ~naji Ian: shau' pa de
hsIDa be hn~a ji gao nei be hniI1a ji §hti shan' pa dlWe:
kjaun: dhu/dha: : lllWle' chau' naji gao nei khun hn.@J1aji ~ti.
shau' pade

5) hs!ja nei. dain: be bniPla ji ~: ju ba dhW.e:

kjaun: dhuJdha: : nei. dain ~ji!lUi: ju ba de
hs!ja be hn!lUi ji ga. nei be ~ ji 1M: ju ba dhile:
19aun: dhuJdha: : nei. Ie qpm ji gao nei thoun: na ji pti. iDa: ju
bade
 70

thingan: za (~e)

!gu. be hn!na ji htou: bi Ie:

sa wada ~u. he hnWla ji htou: bi Ie:

dei: hi' ~gu. hse. hnWlaji htou: ha bi
sa wada kj~o hai' hsa hi
dei: hi' da hsou kjaun: sa: thau' hsain gOll
thwa: gja. zou.

guo now
btou: to strike (the bell)
be ho!os ji btou: What's the time?
bai' stomach
bai' hsa to be hungry
lise. bOlOS ji twelve o'clock
sa: tban' bsaio food-stall; restaurant

e I da. I is the nineteeth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

Q Q
 71

~89;:ro (00)
Lesson 10

:gy O')oS,~~ dl:~ro II

What is the time now?

~icr.n«YJo131 •• ~, ~03;.y.>~ a?:(9ro II

Mr. Sawada What is the time now?
~to:Y.>Q3:e~ •• ~, ooo?,~.y.>~a?:ol(911
Mr. David It's twelve o'clock now.
~icr.n~o131 •• oat;~ ~oS«YJ(91\
Mr. Sawada Iamhungry.
~i~3:e~ •• 31~ ~:G)O:~03~tJ? ~:§~. It
Mr. David Wel~ let's go to the school canteen.

~ / DB. I is the twentieth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

4= ~
 72

Grammar & Usag~

1. Sentence final ending: '-bi! pi'

This ending following a verb indicating either that such action is taking
place. or has already taken place. ',.., bi ' is used after the noun ending with
tone 1, 2 or 3. And ',.., pi > is used after the noun ending with tone 4 or
glottal stop. For example:

mi: j!lita: Ia bi The tmln is coming.(or) Now it is here.

hsija thwa: bi The teacher has gone. (or) Now it is not here.
hn~na ji htou: bi It is 2 o'clock now.
!hpou: ei' pi Grandfather is in bed. (He has already slept.)
ji: u: shi. bi I have 11. gil'V boy friend now.
(I have already bad a girJlboy friend.)

In question sentence, when the speaker says it quickly. ' - bY pi •

changes ' - b!l P! .' And it is used with question particle ' - Ia:! Ie: .'
For example:

mi: j!hta: Is. bi }a: (or) mi: j~ta: la ~la:

be dhu Ia hi Ie: (or) be dhu Ia b~e:
be hn~ ji ntou: bi Ie: (or) be ~ji htou: b~:
~hpou: ei' pi Ia: (or) ~pou: ei' P!4Ia:

2. Sentence fiual ending: ' ,... zou./ 800. '

This ending attaches to a verb and it is used when the speaker wants the
hearer to perfonn some action together. The English equivalent in usage to
the imperative 'let's. 'It can be used with ' - gjaJ kja. ' which is the
particle suffIxed to verbs to denote plurality. '..., zou.! gja. zou. ' is used
after the verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And •- sou.! kja. zou. ' is used
after the verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.
For example:

kjaun: thwa: zou. (or) kjaun: thwa: gja. zou. Let's go to the school.
lou' sou. (or) loll" kja. :lOu. Let's do it.
hpa' sou. (or) hps.' kja. zou. Let's read it.
 73

DRILLS
D1

1) hsrua ~. be hn~aji htou: bi Ie: / shi' naji

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. sm' naji htou: ba bi

2) hsilla ~u. be hn~na ji htou: bi Ie: / kou: na ji

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. kou: na ji htou: ba bi

3) hsilla ~gu. be h~naji htou: bi Ie: I hse naji

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. hse naji htou: ba bi

4) hsilla ~. be hn~naji htou: bi Ie: / hse. t~naji

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~u. hse. ~naji htou: ba bi

5) hsilla ~. be hn~naji htou: bi Ie: / hse. hn~naji

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. hse. hn~naji htou: ba bi

D2

1) hsilla ~gu" be hn~na ji htou: bi Ie: / 1:30

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. t~naji gwe: ba
~

2) hsilla ~gu. be hn~naji htou: bi Ie: / 2:30

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. hn~najigwe:ba

3) hsilla ~gu. be hn~aji htou: bi Ie: /3:15

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. thoun: naji hse. nga: mi. ni' pa

4) hsilla ~. be h~naji htou: bi Ie: /4:20

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~. hse. lei: naji hn~hse ba

5) hsilla ~gu. be hn~naji htou: bi le: /5:40

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. hse. hn~na ji lei: ze ba
 74

D3

(e.g.) hsrua i!gu. ti!Ila ji gwe: ba N + N (1:30)

kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. ti!naji khwe: ba bi N + V (1:30)

1) hsru a MU. hn~najigwe:ba (2:30)

kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. hn~naji khwe: ba bi (2:30)

2) hsru a ~gu. thoun: naji gwe: ba (3:30)

kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. thoun: naji khwe: ba hi (3:30)

3) hsru a ~gu. lei: naji khwe: ba (4:30)

kjaun: dhuldha:: i!gll. lei: naji khwe: ba bi (4:30)

4) hsrua MU. nga: naji khwe: ba~ (5:30)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. nga: naji khwe: lJa'bi (5:30)

5) hsru a ~gu.chau'najikhwe:ba (6:30)

kjaun: dhuldha:: i!gll. chau' naji khwe: ba bi (6:30)

D4

1) hsru a bai' hsa (to be hungry)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: i!gu. bai' hsa bi

2) hsru a jei hsa (to be thirsty)

kjaun: dhuldha:: MU. jei hsa bi

3) hsrua mou:Jwa (to rain)

kjaun: dhuldha:: i!gu. mou: jwa bi

4) hsru a twei. (to see; meet)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~gu. twei. bi

5) hsru a jau' (to arrive)

kjaun: dhuldha:: MU.jau' pi
 75

D5

1) kjaun: dhu bai' hsa bi la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / bai' hsa ba bi

2) kjaun: dhu jei h~bi la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / jei hsa ba bi

3) kjaun: dhu mou: jwa bi la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / mou: jwa ba bi

4) kjaun: dhu th~ge gj in: gou twei. bi la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / t~ge gjin: gou twei. ba bi

5) kjaun: dhu \. pa mau' kha. jau'l pi la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / pa mau' kha. jau' pa bi

D6

1) kjaun: dbu be dhu la bi Ie:

kjaun: dha: hsrua rna. la ba bi

2) kjaun: dhu be gou thwa: bi Ie:

kjaun: dha: zei: gou thwa: ba bi

3) kjaun: dbu ba jau' pi Ie:

kjaun: <ilia: dh~n: zajau' pa hi

4) kjaun: dhu be dhu. gou twei. bi Ie:

kjaun: <ilia: t~ge gjin: gou twei. ha bi

5) kjaun: dhu ba thau' pi Ie:

kjaun: dha: ~ei:tnau' pa bi
 76

D7

1) hsru a gau' thi: jai' (to play golf)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: gau' thi: jai' kja. zOU.

2) hsilla §:na: JU (to take a rest)

kjaun: dhuldha:: §:na: JU gja. zOU.

3) hsilla t§:khu. guo sa: (to eat something)

kjaun: dhuldha:: i§:khu. guo sa: gja. zOU.

4) hsilla t§:nei ja ja thwa: (to go somewhere)

kjaun: dhuldha:: i§:nei ja ja thwa: gja. zou.

5) hsilla ou' htou' hsaun: (to put on a hat)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ou' htou' hsaun: gja. zou.

DB

1) kjaun: dhu pjin:",<1e / ., (to feel bored)

kjaun: dha: Ida hsoujgau' thi: jai' kja:zou.. ;
.~~/j ~-_/j

2) kjaun: dhu pin ban: de (to be wearied; be tired)

kjaun: dha: da hsou ~na: ju gja. zou.

3) kjaun: dhu bai' hsa de

kjaun: dha: da hsou t§:khu. guo sa: gja. zOU.

4) kjaun: dhu §:guo a: de (to be free)

kjaun: dha: da hsou i§:nei ja ja thwa: gja. zou.

5) kjaun: dhu mou:jwa de

kjaun: dha: da hsou ou' htou' hsaun: gja. zou.
 77

D9

1) kjaun: dhu ~.a:bi

kjaun: dha: da hsou jei ku: gia zou.

2) kjaun: dhu mo:bi

kjaun: dha: da hsou ~na: ju gia. zOU.

3) kjaun: dhu bai' hsa bi

kjaun: dha: da hsou nei. Ie za sa: gia. zOU.

4) kjaun: dhu jei hsa bi

kjaun: dha: da hsou ~ei: thau' kja. zou.

5) kjaun: dhu mou:jwabi

kjaun: dha: da hsou hti: hsaun: gja. zou. (umbrella)

D 10

1) kjaun: dhu jou'shin kji. gia. m~la: (film; movies)

kjaun: dha: in: / kji. gia. zOU.

2) kjaun: dhu thgjei za ~hu. guo sa: gia. m~Ia: (snack)

kjaun: dha: in: / sa: gia. zOU.

3) kjaun: dhu si: kg,re' thau' kja. m~la: (cigarette)

kjaun: dha: in: / si: k~re' thau' kja. zOU.

4) kjaun: dhu pjo bwe: za: thwa: gia. m~la: (picnic)

kjaun: dha: in: / pjo bwe: za: thwa: gia. zOU.

5) kjaun: dhu Ie' khou' ti: gia. m~la: (to clap hands)
kjaun: dha: in: / Ie' khou' ti: gia. zou.
 73

thin gan: za (hse. ti')

ba sa: gjin ba dh!le:

dei: bi' ba sa: gjin ba dh~le:

sa wada mj~ma ~sa: ~sa sa: gjin ba de
dei: bi' mj~ma hin: gao ne: ne: sa' pa de
sa wada kei' sa. m~shi. ba bu:
kj~no sa: hnain ba de

food
Ilia: curry
ae: ne: a little; a few
sa' (of taste) hot
kei'sa. business; workto be done
kei' sa. m!shi. ba bu: It doesn't matters.

o / pa. / is the twenty first letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of
the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

C' 0 0
 79

~8(j);:ro (00)
Ll!sson 11

o-Y.>ro:Cij801 ~roH
What do you want to eat?

C' C' 'I ...

~~0y"),"3:~q) •• O'.Y.)ro: ~ COl ::lJ ro II
Mr. David What do you want to eat?
~~0'Y.)r000131
~C' C' '1 C'
•• ~'g)3dro:3dro ro:'ijCOIOOOOII
Mr. Sawada I want to eat Myanmar food.
C' ~C' to C' C' C' 'I .. ~
~ioy"),"3 :~q) •• ~'g)O')c:m '~:'~:q)OOIOOOOIl
Mr. David Myanmar curry is a little bit hot.
~toy'')r000131 •• d3i~~ol 0(:11
Mr. Sawada It doesn't matters.
0'61~~ GY.>:'~o1oo03"
I can eat it

" J hpa. I is the twenty-second letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order
of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

C· 0 (9 (9
 80

Grammar & Usages

1. Auxiliary:' -&jin! chin '

This auxiliary attaches to verb and expresses the speaker's desire or wish
for the realization of the concept denoted by the verb. '- gjin ' is used
after the verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And '- chin ' is used after the
verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:

l~pe' jei thau' chin ba de I want to drink tea.

thu kj~no. gou twei. gjin ba de He wants to meet me.
di s~nei ba lou' chin ba dh~le: What do you want to do this Saturday.
hsaun: dwin: hma khrui: htwe' chin la: Do you want to travel in winter?

2. Auxiliary:' -nain ' (or) , - hnain '

This auxiliary is used with verbs and it indicates ability, capability, or

possibility. It is pronounced as ' -nain '. Nowadays most of Myanmar
people pronounce it as ' - Imain '. For examp/e:

~. lou' hnain la: Can you do it now?

~gu. m~lou' hnain ba bu: I can't do it now.
fuu. gou ku nji hnain ba de I can help him.
zei: hma we hnain ba de (You) can buy it in a market.

It is interchangeable with ' - lou. js. " making no difference in meaning.

For example:

m~e' hpjan thwa: lou. ja. ba de I am able to go tomorrow.

ein hma hpa' lou. ja. ba de You can study at home.
kj~o. gou ku nji lou. ja. m~la: Can you help me?
 81

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsilia moun. hin: ga: / sa: (rice noodles with fish gravy)
kjaun: dhu/dha:: moun. hin: ga: sa: gjin ba de

2) hsru a dein gjin / thau' (milk curd; yoghurt)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: dein gjin thau' chin ba de

3) hsrua za' pwe: / kji. (drama; play)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: za' pwe: kji. gjin ba de

4) hsIDa mj~ag!!bja / hpa' (poetry; poem)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: mj~ma g~bja hpa' chin ba de

5) hsIDa chin: [oun: / ~a: (cane-ball)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: chin: loun: g~: gjin ba de

D2

1) k,aun: dhu oun: htg,min: sa: gjin ba ~la: (coconut rice)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / oun: h@nin: sa: gjin ba de

2) kjaun: dhu hsel: thau' chin ba dh~la: (medicine)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / hsei: thau' chin ba de
\01
3) kjaun: dhu jou'thel: kji. gjin ba ~la: (marionette/putiet show)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / jou' thei: kji. gjin ba de

4) kjaun: dhu wu' htu. dou hpa' chin ba dh~la: (short story)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / wu' htu. dou hpa' chin ba de

5) kjaun: dhu thoin: K-aza: gjin ba dh~la: (martial arts)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / thain: K-aza: gjin ba de
 82

D3

1) !gaun: dhu zei: gou win gjin ba dh~la: (to enter; go in)
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I zei: gou m~win gjin ba bu:

2) kjaun: dhu hou hma nei gjin ba dh~la: (to live; stay)
!gaun: dha: hin. in: I hOll hma m~nei gjin ba bu:

3) kjaun: dhu hsrua. gOll mel: gjin ba dh~la: (to ask; question)
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I hsilla. gou m~mei: gjin ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu in: ja: kan hma pjei: gjin ba dh~la: (to run)
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I in: ja: kan hma m~pjei: gjin ba bu:

5) kjaun: dhu di hma sha gjin ba dh~la: (to search; look for)
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I m~sha gjin ba bu:

D4

1) kjaun: dhu ba we gj in ba dh~la: (to buy; purchase)

kjaun: dha: mje' hnwn we gjin ba de (spectacles; eyeglasses)

2) kjaun: dhu ba ehe' chin ba dh~la: (to cook)

kjaun: dha: b!!:,Zlln che' chin ba de (prawn; shrimp; lobster)

3) kjaun: dhu be gOll thwa: Ie gjin ba dh~la: (to visit)

kjaun: dha: shan: pji fie gou thwa: Ie gjin ba de (Shan State)

4) !gaun: dhu be hma hswei: nwei: gjin ba dh~la: (to discuss; confer)
kjaun: dha: joun: gan: hma hswei: nwei: gjin ba de (office)

5) kjaun: dhu be dhu. gOll kjwei: gjin ba dh~la: (to feed)

kjaun: dha: mel' hswei dwei gOll kjwei: gjin ba de (friends)
 83

D5

1) hSIDa di kon pj u ta I jaun: (to sell)

kjaun: dhuldha:: di kon pju tajaun: hnain ba de

2) hsIDa hou ka: I maun: (to drive)

kjaun: dhuldha:: hou ka: maun: hnain ba de

3) hsrua in: ja: kan hma I jei ku: (to swim)

kjaun: dhuldha:: in: ja: kan hma jei ku: hnain ba de

4) hsIDa di sa ou' / mel' tu ku: (to copy; duplicate)

~iaun: dhuldha:: di sa ou' mei' tu ku: hnain ba de

5) hsIDa di ha gou / shin: pja. (to explain)

kjaun: dhuldha:: di ha gou shin: pja. hnain ba de

D6

1) kjaun: dhu sa mel: bwe: hpjei hnain la: (to take an examination)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I sa mei: bwe: hpjei hnain ba de

2) kjaun: dhu di ha dwei gou ItUl. hnain la: (to lift)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I di ha dwei gou rna. hnain ba de

3) kjaun: dhu mj1!ma th1!chin: hsou hsou hnain 1a: (to sing)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I mj~a t~hin: hsou hnain ba de

4) kjaun: dhu di ka: pjln hnain 1a: (to repair; mend)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I di ka: pjin hnain ba de

5) kjaun: dhu thu. gou Ie' khan hnain la: (to accept; receive)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I thu. gou Ie' khan hnain ba de
D7

1) kjaW1: dhu : ~'hpjan kjawr: te' hnain ~la: (to go to school)

kjaW1: dha: : hou' ke. / m~e' bpjan kjaun: te' hnain btl de

2) kjaun: dhu : ~ khgjl: ktwe' hnain m~la: (to go on ajou.mey)

kjaun: dha: : hou' ke. / !!8U. khWi: htwe' hnain ba de

3) kjaun: dhu : till' po.mjal' hnain m~a: (to photograph)

kjaun: dha: : hou' lee. /00' pounjai' Main ba de

4) kjaun: dhu : se' chou' hnain m~la: (to sew by machine)

kjaun: dha: : hou' ke. / se' chou' hnain ba de

5) kjaun: dhu : ko hpi hpjo hnain m~la: (to make; dissolve in liquid)
kjaW1: dha: : hou' ke. / ko hpi hpjo hnain ba de

D8
1) kjaun: dhu : tnAne' hpjan kjaun: Ie' hnain ~la:
kjaun: dha: : bin. in: / m~e' hpjan kjaun: ~e' hnain btl bu:

2) kjaun: dhu : ~. khgji: htwe' hnain ~la:

kjaun: dha: : bin. in: I~. k.1lIDi: mf!htwe' hnain ba bu:

3) kjaun: dhu : dtl' pounjal' Main m@la.:

kjaun: elba: : hin. in: Ida' poun mruai' hnain ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu : se' chou' hnain m§la:

kjaun: dha: : hin. in: / se' m~hou' hnain ba bu:

5) kjaW1: dhu : ko hpi hpJo hnain ~: (to make; dissolve in liquid)

kjaun: dha: : bin. in: / ko bpi .pjo bnain ba bu:
 85

D9

1) hsru a kj~no mjwna za hpa' hnain de

kjaun: dhuJdha:: kj~no mj~ma za hpa' lou. ja. de

2) hsru a hsilla. gou mei: hnain de

kjaun: dhuJdha:: hsrua. gou mei: lou. ja. de

3) hsru a ill ein hma nei hnain de

kjaun: dhuJdha:: di ein hma net lou. ja. de

4) hsrua sa ou' hsain hma we hnain de

kjaun: dhuJdha:: sa ou' hsain hma we lou.ja. de

5) hs~ja sa kji. dai' hma sha hnain de

kjaun: dhuJdha:: sa kji. dai' hma sha lou. ja. de

DIO

1) kjaun: dhu kjl!no di ka: maun: lou. ja. m~la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / maun: lou. ja. ba de / maun: ba

2) kjaun: dhu kh~mja: di sa ou' hpa' lou. ja. m~la:

kjaun: dha: : hou' ke. / hpa' lou. ja. ba de / na: htaun ba

3) kjaun: dhu thu bo loun: g~za: lou. ja. mQla:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I f@Za: lou. ja. ba de / g¥<l ba

4) kjaun: dhu hsilla rna. gou mei: lou. ja. lTI.l!la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I mei: lou. ja. ba de / mei: ba

5) kjaun: dhu : bi ja. thau' lou. ja. m.l!la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / thau' lou. ja. ba de .I thau' pa
 86

D11

1) kjaun: dhu : kj.@Ilo di ka: maun: lou. ja. Ia:

kjaun: dha: : bin. in: I maun: lou. mma. bu:

2) kjaun: dhu : ~ja: jei ku: Iou. ja. la:

kjaun: dba: : run. in: / jei ku: lou. mrua. ba bu:

3) kjaun: dhu : zei: broa we lou. ja. m31a:

kjaun: dha: : hin. in: I we lou. mma. ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu : eli ein broa nei lou. ja. milIa:

kjaun: dha: : hin. in: I nei lou. mma. ba bu:

5) kjaun: dhu : t~hin: boou lou. ja. la:

kjaun: dha: : hin. in: I ~crun: hsou lou. ll1!ia. ba bu:

DIl

1) hsma sa mei: bwe: hpjei lou. mrua. bu: la: / hou' ke.
kjaun: dllU/dba:: hou' ke. I sa mei: bwe: hpjei lou. mma. ba bu:

2) hsIDa jei ku: lou. mma. bu: la: I run. in:

kjaun: dhuldha:: hin. in: / jei ku: lou. ja. ba de

3) hsma di hou te hma nei lou. mma. bu: la: / hou' ke.
kjaun: dhuldha:: bou' ke. / eli hou te broa nei lou. mma. ba bu:

, .4) hsIDa hs!ja. gou mei: lou. mma. bu: la: I bin. in:
. kjaun: dhuldha:.:.. hin. in: I bs!ja. gou mei: lou. ja. ba de

5) hsIDa elijoun: gan: gou win lou. mrua. bu: la: / hou' ke.
kjaun: dhuldha:: hou' ke. I win lou. mrua. ba bu:
 87

thin gan: za (hse. hni')

zun: kh!.iin: nee sa: me

dei: hi' ba hma gja. m~le:

sawada kje' tha: bin: gao kaun: de no
dei: hi' hou' ke. / kaun: ha de
sa wada da bsoll kje' tha: hin: hma gja. ZOll.
dei: hi' : zun: khruin: ne. sa: m~la:
sa wada bou' ke. / zun: khruin: ne. sa: me

hma to order
kje' tha: hin: chicken cuny
uan: to be good
zu: spoon
kh!iin: fork

~ / baa / is the twenty-third letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of

the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

C 0 ~ 0
 88

:l.)es~:ro (OJ)
Lesson 12

~;: soS'l.8:'. ro:a0311

I will eat (it) with spoon and forle.

<:'
~io:Y.)Q3 :~~ •• OYJy.>6QOO II
Mr. David What shall we order?
Qfo:Y.)Q(Y.)o131 •• 6~ :>.Y):u:)(~:oo Qo:Y.>t :oo03~11

Mr. Sawada Chicken curry is good, isn't it?

Qio:Y.)Q3:~~ o
•
<:' ,
U{ooO?' Go:Y.>C:otOOWIi
<:'".S

Mr. David Yes, it is good.

Qfo:Y.)Q(Y.)o131 •• 310q §~:>.Y):o:>8: 'fJ6~. II
Mr. Sawada Then, let's order it
...
Qio:Y.)Q3:~~
~ ~ ~
~.,: &OO'lc:". ro:S(\Y.):H

Mr. David Will you eat (it) with spoon and fork?
t', t' <:'t', <:'
Qi] o:Y.)Q(Y.)O131
Mr. Sawada
·
• U?OOO(I ~.,: &OOEllc:,. QY.):~OOI!
Yes, I wiJ!..eat (it) with spoon and fork~

OJ / ba. / is the twenty-fourth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order

of the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

:J O'J -xJ
 89

Grammar & Usages

1. Sentence final particle: ' ........ 0 '

This sentence final particle attaches to declarative sentence, and is used

when the speaker wants to seek the hearer's agreement or wants to
ascertain the hearer's meaning. According to the situation, this particle can
be used as a declarative, an interrogative, an imperative, or a suggestion.
For example:

ja dhi u. duo gao pu de no The weather is hot, isn't it?

hsrua gao to de no The teacher is good, isn't he?
. kh!!mja: thi. de no You know (it), don't you?
ruin thwa: no Please go first.
kj~no. ka: ne. lai' no Come in my car, won't you?
hta' sa: no Please eat some more, why don't you.
~tu du thwa: me no Come with us, won't you?
kj!!oo pei: me no Let me pay. (or) Why don't I pay.

2. Adverbial case particle: ' -nee '

The particle ' -ne. " preceded by a noun, indicates the means with which
someone perfonns an action, or by which someone drives or moves about
The English equivalent of this particle is 'with' or 'by(means) of.'
For example:

m1. ba. dwei ne. nei de I lived with my parents.

paun moun. gOll gjoun ne. lou' te Bread is made with wheat flour.
te' k~si ne. la de I came by taxi.
tu ne. sa: de I eat with chopstick.
khe: dan ne. jei: ba Please write with a pencil
da: ne. m~pja' pa ne. Please don't cut it with a knife.
ba ne. thwa: m~le: How will you go?
jet hta: ne. thwa: me I will go by train.
 90

DRILLS

Dl

1) bsIDa thu in gjln ni ja (engineer)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: thu in gjin ni ja no

2) hsrua di nei. la. bjei. nei. (full-moon day)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: di nei. lao bjei. nei. no

3) hsrua hsrua gao mo gun: dein: (registrar of a university)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: hsrua ga.. mo gun: dein: no

4) hsrua ~ja: pwe: za: m~ou' hpu: (broker)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: kh!!mja: pwe: za: m!!hou' hpu: no

5) hsrua di nei ja gao pan: gjan m~hou' hpu: (garden; park)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: di neija gao pan: gjan m~hou' hpu: no

D2

1) kjaun: dhu thu si' bou no (militaIy officer)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / thu si' bou ba

2) kjaun: dhu di nei. la. gwe nei. no (new moon day)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / di nei. lao gwe nei. ba

3) kjaun: dhu hsIDa gao hta na. hmu: no (Head of Department)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / kj!!no gao hta na. hmu: ba

4) kjaun: dhu shin koun dhe m~ou' hpu: no (trader)

kjaun: dha: bou' ke.! kj!!Oo koun dhe m!!hou' pa bu:

5) kjaun: dhu di neija gao sa dol' m~ou' hpu: no (post office)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / di neija gao sa dai' ~ou' pa bu:
 91

D3

1) kjaun: dhu thu hilL de no (to be pretty; good-looking)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. ! thu bla. ba de

2) kjaun: dhu di nei. ai'te no (to be warm; be stuffy)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke.! di nei. ai' pa de

3) kjaun: dhu di ~bwe: gao lei: de no (to be beavy)

kjaun: dha: bou' ke. ! di sa ou' ka. lei: ba de

4) kjaun: dhU sa ou' ja. de no (to get; obtain; have)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke.! sa ou' ja. ba de

5) kjaun: dhu m~e' bpjan la;' me no (to follow)

kjaun: dha: bou' ke. / ~e' hpjan lai' pa me

D4

1) bsru a !m}an ka: ! thwa: de (express bus)

kjaun: dhuldha:: i!Dljan lea: ne. thwa: de

2) hsIDa Ie'! sa: de (finger; band)

kjaun: dbuldha:: Ie' ne. sa: de

3) bsru a po. IL sa ! jei: de (Pali language)

kjaun: dhuldha:: pa Ii. sa ne. jei: de

4) hS!ia hman bt!11l:! kji. de (magnifying glass)

kjaun: dhuldha:: hman ~lu: ne. kji. de

5) hsIDa !!do! nei de (aunt)

kjaun: dhuldha:: !!do ne. nei de
 thin gan: za (hse. thoun:)
~u@ lou' nei Ie:

dei: bi' rna' khin khin MU. ba nei Ie:

rna' khin kj~a. ~u. h~min: che' nei ba de
dei: hi' h~rnin: kaun: gaun: ta' no
rna' khin khin hou'ke. kaun:gaun: pa
dei: bi' ~u. ba hin: che' nei
rna' khin khin nga: hin: che~ ba
shin Ie: sa: lou. ja.

ma' title prefixed to the proper name of a female

ht!mim (cooked) rice
che' to cook
bun: ga~m: properly~ well
Dga: hm: fish curry

~ I mI.. I is the twenty-fifth letter of the Myanmar alphabet.

I the strokes is as illuslIlited below<
order

I,
I
--=7
1

oml
I
II
r=!
1---
I
I--
_3 -1l
I
!
I ----.~--
' II Ij - - - -
----II --~ 1----
I
--------~I-- ____I~_______
 93

~S~~:oo (:>~)
Lesson 13
<' ....
~~ :tY.),,?o,",co II
What are you doing now?
c ('
~iO'Y.)G3:~S
<::,,,
e
• ~ OlC Ol C 3d <f :::n0 C\( 0 '4' co 11
Mr. David Ma Khin Khin, what are you doing now?
c r:
e~cOlc
.
•
r:
oal'~ ~~ ro~c:~m~olo?oou
r: (' '1 ("

MaKhinKhin Now I am cooking.

~~O'Y.)G3:~~ .• oo~c:
r: r: r: _;- r: .. <;'
G0J0C:G0J0C: <i{jooO?O?O?OJG<t011
r:

Mr. David You can cook wen, can't you.

io)~tQ8 . r: " (" r: <:: r: '1 r:

MaKhinKhin
· U?O?O?! G()")'JC:Gm0C: ~mO?O?oIO?tl)1!
Yes, I can cook well.
~'O'Y.)G3:~S <:: r: "
3d'f :1Y.)(J')C: ~m~coil
Mr. David What curry are you cooking now?
r: r:
~OlCQC cl:(J')t: ~~G,()lO?03i1
MaKIDnKhin I am cooking fish curry.
•. ~tro~: 4Y.>:~. 'l0lax0H
You can eat it, too.

00 I js.! is the twenty-sixth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of

the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 J
I
I
!
C- O
I

I
I (X)
I1
I

I
OJ
I
I I
iI I I
 94

Grammar & Usages

1. Auxiliary:' """'Iiei '

This auxiliary , -Dei '. preceded by verbs, indicates a kind of process or

continuing action. It means 'someone is doing something.' For example:

lei tai· nei de . The wind is blowing.

thu dou:-jei k:ii! nei de
gJwll sa jei: nei de
kje' u. pjou' nei de
in: gjl wu' nei de
!lIou' lou' fll!!llei bu:
kh!mja: pjin: nei Ia:
They are swimming.
My older brother is writing a letter.
(He) is boiling eggs.
(She) is putting on a dress.
(I) am not working.
Are you boring?

2. AuxiJiary: ' -da' Ita'" ,

This auxiliary is used with verbs and it indicates the acquiring of some
knowledge, ,skill, capability and qualification. <,... da' • is used after the .
verb ending With tone 1,2 or 3. And ' ..... fa' , is used after the verb ending
with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example: .

pa Ii. sa hpa' ta' te (I) can read PaH lanugage.

~: lei: nga: mjou: pjo: da' te (He) (".aD speak four or five languages.
gaul jai' ta' Ia: Can you play golf?
(Do you know how to play golf?)
I can't play golf.
(I don't know how to play golf.)

J/~- Study the following differences between ' -da'Ita" and '-hnmll'
or '-Iou. ja~'. --"-" ~

Q: ~ja: ka: Maun: da' 1a: Can you drive a car?

A: hou' ke. I rnaWl: da' pa de
Q: !gU. maun: hnain rn§.la: .
A: run. in: / @gUo m~: ba bu:
m@IIlaWl: hnain ba bu:
(Do you know how to drive a car?)
Yes, I can.
Can y()U drive now?
No., I am not free now.
I can't drive (now).
 95

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsma .£!hpei / pu' Ie: (to change clothes)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~pei ~wu~ Ie: nei ba de

2) hsma ~eil !Wu' sho (to wash clothes)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~ei !!WU~ sho nei ba de

3) hsma !!kou I than. shin:jei: lou' (to clean~ tidy up)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: !!kou than. shin: jei: lou' nei ba de

4) hsrua ~a. I dgftje' si: hie: (to sweep)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: i!ffi3. ~bje' si: hie: nei ba de

5) hsrua nji mao I bggan hsei: (to wash saucers)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: nji rna ~an hsei: nei ba de

D2

1) kjaun: dhu !!hpei ba lou' nei ba dh!!Ie:

kjaun: dha: ~pei !!wu' Ie: nei ba de

2) kjaun: dhu ~ei ba lou' nei ba d.h!!le:

kjaun: dha: ~ei ~wu' sho nei ba de

3) kjaun: dhu ~kou ba lou' nei ba dh!!le:

kjaun: dha: !!kou than. shin: jei: lou' nei ba de

4) kjaun: dhu ~a. ba lou' nei ba dh!!le:

kjaun: dha: ~a. ~bje' si: hie: nei ba de

5) kjaun: d.hu nji rna. ba lou' nei ba dh!!le:

kjaun: dha: nji rna. b~an hsei: nei ba de
 96

D3

1) kjaun: <fuu shin htwrun: sa: nei ba dhgla:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / kj§,no htgmin: sa: nei ba de

2) kjaun: dhu shin ko hpi thau' nei ba dhgla:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke.! kj~o ko hpi thau' nei ba de

3) kjaun: dhu shin sa hpa' nei ba dh§:la:

kjaun: dha.: hou' ke.! kj~o sa hpa' nei ba de

4) kjaun: dhu shin rei ill jOll na: htaun nei ba dhi!la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I kj§:oo rei di jOll na: htaun nei ba de

5) kjaun: dhu shinjou' shin kji. nei ba dhi!la:

kjaurr dha: hou' ke. ! kj§:no jou' shin kji. nei ba de

D4

1) kjaun: dha: khi!ffija: sa jei: nei ba ~la:

kjaun: dhu hOll' ke. I kj§:ma. sa jei: nei ba de

2) kjaun: dna: khf!mja: Ian: shau' nei ba dhi!la:

kjaun: dhu hOll' ke. ! kji!ma. Ian: shau' nei ba de

3) kjaun: dha: khgmja: ~lou' lou' nei ba dhgla:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke. I kj@:ma. glou' lou'nei ba de

4) kjaun: dha: khwnja: htgmin: che' nei ba dh~Ja:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke.! kjgma. ht~min: che' nei ba de

5) kjaun: dha: khwnja: th~chin: hsou nei ba ~la:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke. I kj§:ma. th@:chin: hsou nei ba de
 97

kjaun: dhu h~min: sa: nei la:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: I h~min: sa: mW1ei ba bu:

2) kjaun: dhu ko hpi thau' nei Ia:

kjaun: OOa: hin. in: I ko hpi thau' m£!nei ba bu:

kjaun: dhu sa hpa' nei Ia:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: 1sa hpa' mgnei ba bu:

kjaun: dhu rei di jou na: htaun nei Ia:

kjaun: OOa: hin. in: I rei di jou na: htaun m£!nei ba bu:

5) kjaun: dhu jou' shin kji. nei la:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: I jou' shin kji. m~nei ba bu:

1) hsrua ka: / pjin (to repair)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ka: pjin da' pa de

hsrua mjgma gka. I ktL (to dance)

kjaun: dhuldha:: mjgma@,ka. ka. da' pa de

hsru a Ie' hnei' se' I jai' (to type)

kjalli'1: dhulOOa:: Ie' hnei' se' jai' ta' pa de

hsilla di I (to sel1.fch; look for)

dhuldha:: di neija sha da' pa de

hsrua san: d~a: I play piano)

dhu/dha:: san: dilla: ti: da'
 98

D7

1) kjaun: dha: ka: pjin da' pa ~

kjaun: dhu hou' ke. / ka: pjin da' pa de

2) kjaun: dha: mj~~. ka. da' pa ~a:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke. / mj!!llla ~a ka. da' pa de

3) kjaun: dha: Ie' hnei' se' jai' ta' pa dh~a:

Kjaun:dhu hou' ke./le' hnei' se' jai' ta' pa de

4) kjaun: dha: di nei ja sha da' pa ~la:

kjaun: dhu hou' ke.! di nei ja sha da' pa de

5) kjaun: dha: san: dIDa: ti: da' pa ~ ~la: .

kjaun: dhu hou' ke.! san: elIDa: ti: da' pa de

D8

1) kjaun: dhu in: ~lei' ~: pjo: da' pa dhala: \,

kjaun: dha: bin. in: / in: g!lei' ~: m~j~: <hi~ pa bu:

2) kjaun: dhu jan goun mjou. de: thwa: da' pa dh~a:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / jan goun mjou. de: m¢twa: da' pa bu:

3) kjaun: dhu jei ku: da' pa dh~a:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / jei ~: da' pa bu:

4) kjaun: dhu bo loun: ~: da' pa dh~a:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / bo loun: m~mp'a: da' pa bu:

5) kjaun: dhu h~n: che' ta' pa~:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: I h~: m~he' ta' pa bu:
 99

1)

2)

man: ~ei: gou thwa: da' la:

kjau.n: ke. I thwa: da' pa de
kjaun: nei thwa: hnain m§,la:
kjaun: d'ha: hou' ke. I thwa: hnain ba de

5) kjaun: dhu mj§:ma ~: pjo: 00' la:

kjaun: d'ha: hou' ke. I pjo: da' pa de
kjaun: dhu ~. pjo: hnain m§:la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I pjo: hnain ba de

1) kjaun: dhu mj§,ma th§crun: la:

kjaun: d'ha: hem' ke. / hsou da' pa de
kjaun: dhu ~. hsou hnain ~la:
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I ~gu. m§,hsou hnain ba

2) kjaun: dhu jan goon mjou. de:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. /
kjaun: dhu
dha: habu:
 100

3) kjaun: dhu hin: ehe' ta' Ia:

kjaun: dha.: hou' ke. I che' ta' pa de
kjaun: dhu m!!ne' hpjan che' hnain m~a:
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I m.§l1e' hpjan m!!Che' hnain ba bu:
1-)
4) kjaun: dhu aa' pounjai' ta' la:
kjaun: dna: hou' ke. I jai' ta' pa de
kjaun: dhu ~. jai' ~a~n ~a:
kjaun: dna: hin. in: I ~. mmaf bnain ba bu:

5) kjaun: dhu mj~ za jei: 00' la:

kjaun: dna: hOu' ke. ! jei: 00' pa de
kjaun: dhu ~. jei: hnain m~la:
kjaun: dna: hin. in: I !!gll. mruei: hnain ba bu:

DB
1) kjaun; dbu thu. ein gou la <la' la:
kjaoo: dha: bou' ke. 11a <la' pa de
kjaun: dbu §gU. la lou. ja. mjla:
kjaun: dba: hID. in: I ~ 18 lou. ~a ba 00:

2) kjaun: dbu h~: che ta' Ia:

19aun.: dba: hou' ke. I coo' ta' pa de
19au.n: dbu di 00., che' lou. ja. mjla:
Q kjaoo: dha: hln. in: I di nei. ehe' lou' m!ia. ba bu:

3) kjaun: dbu kon pju tajai' ta' la:

kjaun.: dba: bou' ke. I jai' ta' pa de
ijaun: dbu. di sa ou.· jai' lou' ja. IDJIa:
kjaun.: dha: hln. in: I di sa ou' jai' lou. mma. be 00:

4) kjaun.: dbu th.@cbin: hsou <la' la:

kjaun.: dba: bou' ke. I hsou da' pa de
kjaun: dbu !SU. bsou lou. ja ~a:
ijaun.: dba: hln. in: I ~ bsoo lou. IDlia. ba bu:

5) kjaun: dbu. mjpazajei: <Ia'Ia:

ijaun: dha: bou' ke. I jei: 00' pa de
kjaun: dbu 19U. jei: 100. ja. IDi1a:
J.gaun: dba: bin. in: 11811. jei: lou.. roma ba bu:
 101 .

thin gan: za (hse. lei:)

di th!ie' thi: balan' Ie:

dei: hi' di throe' thi: b!lau' Ie:

zei: dhe t£!,loun: nga: ze ba
dei: bi' zei: kji: de / ne: ne: shoo pei: ba
zei: dhe takhun: zei: ba
dei: hi' hou' la: / chau' loun: pei: ba
di hma pai' hsan
zei: dhe hnrua dan hnruwe' I lei: ja
tftia pjan an: ba de

b!hlu' how much; how many

tgktun: perone
sho. to reduce; lessen; decrease
t!khun: zei: a fixed price system
hD!.ia dan value of 200 kyats
pjan an: to return change

'1 js. (ra.) I is the twenty~seventh letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The
j
order of the strokes is as illustrated below.
--

F-
1 2 3

3i= ~
--
 is
':' %
~~OYJG3~~(!) 0 H

c:
G~~::D2::
Shopkeeper
·
0

Q
~~oy)G3 0 II

Mr.
c:
~:::DPO
Shopkeeper
·
0

I::
~lDaY.)G3~~0
II>

Mr.
<;:
G\!(j~::D~ ··
Shopkeeper (kyats).

J
 103

Grammar & Usages

1. Auxiliary:' ~pei: '

It is easy to learn this pattern, if you know the verb' pei: ' means 'to give.'
It is also used as an auxiliary verb which attaches to the verb to use when a
speaker requests something for himself, or when he does something for

Please it (for me).

buy itfm' me.
you Myanmar language.
He \iVTote for me.
wash it me).

basic units currency IS

a kyat. the correct pronunciations
Myanrnar currency.
I
pya !
I
2 pyas f
3 I
I
i
/
I

i
 104

1 kyat /d~a'i 10 kyats / t£!hse /

2 kyats / hnw<ja' / 20 kyats I hn!!hse /
3 kyats / thoun: gja' / 30 kyats / thoun: ze /
4 kyats / lei: gja' / 40 kyats / lei: ze /
5 kyats / nga: gja' / 50 kyats / nga: ze /
6 kyats / chau' kja' / 60 kyats / chau' hse /
7 kyats / khun hnw<ja' / 70 kyats / khun hn!!hse /
8 kyats / shi' kja' / 80 kyats I shi' hse /
9 kyats / kou: gja' / 90 kyats / kou: ze /

"I kyat 25 pyas I dMja' hn!!hse. nga: bja: / (or) / d~a' twna' /
1 ky~t 50 pyas / d~a' pya: nga: ze / (or) I d~a' khwe: /
1 kyat 75 pyas I dMja' khun hn~se. nga: bja: I (or) I hn.f!kja' rna' tin: /

100 kyats / tIDal 120 kyats I tilla hn~se /

1,000 kyats /t~taun / 1,200 kyats / htaun. hnilia I
10,000 kyats / t!lthaun: / 12,000 kyats / thaun: hnf!htaun /
100,000 kyats / t!lthein: / 120,000 kyats I t!lthein: hn~thaun: I
1,000,000 kyats I t~than: I 1,200,000 kyats I t~than: hni!thein: I
10,000,000 kyats /~ei/ 12,000,000 kyats I d§g@:dei hnS!,than: I

200 kyats I hn.!!ia / 230 kyats I hnrua. thoun: ze I

2,000 kyats I hn@,htaun I
2,300 kyats I hn!!htaun. thoun: ja I
20,000 kyats / hn~thaun: I
23,000 kyats I hn~thaun: thoun: daun I
200,000 kyats I hn.§thein: /
230,000 kyats I hni!thein: thoun: dhaun: I
2,000,000 kyats I hnilthan: I
2,300,000 kyats I hn.§than: thoun: dhein: I
20,000,000 kyats I~eil 23,000,000 kyats I hn~ei thoun: dhan: I

The word ' newel ' means 'silver' or 'money' (in coins or currency
notes). 'pal' hsan' also means 'money.' For example:

ngwei tWlse pei: ba Please give me ten kyats.

(or)
pai' hsan ts!hse pei: ba

ngwei nga: gja' shi. la: Do you have five kyats.

(or)
pai' hsan nga: gja' shi. la:
 105

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsIDa di sa ou' / shin: pja. (to explain)

kjaun: dhuldha:: di sa ou' kou shin: pja. pei: ba

2) hSIDa sajwe' / jel: (to write)

kjaun: dhuldha:: sajwe'hrnajei: pei: ba

3) hSIDa me' !mZin: / sha (to find; look for)

kjaun: dhuldha:: me' !mZin: gou soo pei: ba

4) hSIDa rei dijou / hpwin. (to open; switch on)

kjai.m: dhuldha:: rei di jou gou hpwin. pei: ba

5) hsIDa kje'tha: zei: / shoo (to reduce; lessen)

kjaun: dhuldha:: kje'ilia: zei: shoo pei: ba

Dl
1) kjaun: dhu mj¥l1a zggfl:boun thin pei: ba (proverb)
kjaun: <ilia: hou' ke. / thin pei: ba me

2) kjaun: dhu hmn: zi pan: we pei: ba (rose)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / we pei: ba me

3) kjaun: dhu zei: gou kh{!IW. thwa: pei: ba (a moment)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / iliwa: pei: ba me

4) kjaun: dhu gpjin hmll kh!!na. saun. pei: ba (outside)

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / saun. pei: ba me

5) kjaun: dhu thfl:m{!da. gil: nan me goujei: pei: ba

(president of a state)
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / jei: pei: ba me
 106

1) hsrua nggpjo: dhi: I 20 (banana)

kjaun: dhu di ng~pjo: if1.lmm: b~lau'
kjaun: dha: ~loun: hn~hse ba

6) hsrua sha' in: gill 525 (shirt)

kjaun: dhu di sha' in: gji tfl.hte b.§:lau' Ie:
kjaun: dha: ~hte nga: ja hn~se. nga: gja' nga: ja. .§:Sei' pa

hsru a shwei Ie' su' 15678 kja' ring)

kjaun: di shwei Ie' su' d!!gwin: b~lau' Ie:
kjaun: dha: d.§:gwin: nga: daun chau' ja hn.§:hse. pa

8) hsrua moun. hin: ga: 135 kja' (rice noodles with fish gravy)
kjaun: di moun. hin: ga: dfl.bwe: b.§:lau' Ie:
kjaun: dha: ~bwe: thoun: ze. nga: gja' pa

9) h.sIDa sajwe' 18 kja' pja: 50 (paper)

kjaun: dhu di sajwe' tg}we' b.§:lau' Ie:
kjaun: dha: truwe' sm' kja' pja: nga: ze
(or) truwe' sm' kja' khwe: ba

D4

lEse dan I hoIDwe' ( kyat

kjaun: hse dan tmruwe' I hnWlse

2) hsIDa hng,hse dan I thoun: jwe' (20 kyat biB)

kjaun: dhuldha:: dan jwe'j ba

3) hsru a ja dan I 00 kyat biB)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ja dan lei:

4) hsru a nga: ja dan I nga: (500 kyat

kjaun: dhuldha:: nga: ja dan nga: jwe' 1 nga: ba

5) hsru a (1,000 kyat

kjaun:
 107

D5

1) kjaun: dhu ko hpi ~we' bglau' Ie:

kjaun: dha: ~we' thoun: ze. nga: gja' pa
kjaun: dhu nga: gwe' pei: ba~<~'rr-"
kjaun: dha: a khun ~e. ~ga~ ~a'J~~
tru ~.-:::,\~.,';-'

5) kjaun: dhu khe: dan ta~b;tlli: balau' Ie:

kjaun: dha: tgchaun: g~e~Pa -
kjaun: dhu ~chaun: pei: ba
kjaun: dha: nga: ze ba

6) kjaun: dhu !!khan: tgkhan: bglau' Ie:

kjaun: dha: ~an: hnghtaun. nga: ja ba
kjaun: dhu lei: gan: pei: ba
kjaun: dha: tgthaun: ba

7) kjaun: dhu jou' shin Ie' hma' dgzaun b!!lau' Ie:

kjaun: dha: dgzaun lei: ja ba
kjaun: dhu khun hngsaun pei: ba
kjaun: dha: hnghtaun. shi' ja ba

5) kjaun: dhu h@nin: ~bwe: b!!lau' Ie:

kjaun: dha: ~bwe: hnIDa khun hnghse. nga: gja' pa
kjaun: dhu hse bwe: pei: ba
kjaun: dha: hnghtaun. khun hn,rua. nga: ze ba
 108

thin gan: za (boo, nga:)

balau'
...... wei: Ie:

dei: hi' di gao nei mjou. do khan: rna. ~ti.

baJau' wei: Ie:
khin khin te;k~5i ne. m~ni' hnE!hseCl~~kja de
dei: bi' e: di. gou thwa: de. ba' 5~ka: m~hi. bu:la:
-..... khin khin shi. da 'po. / hse· m5!ui' d~i: ship de
dei: hi' be gao nei 5i: ja. Ie:
khin khin hIe: dan: gao nei si: ba

mjou. do khan: rna. the City Han

b!lau' about what distance~ about how far
tel k!si ne. by taxi
mIni' hnahse lau' about 20.minutes
e: €Ii. gou to that place
hse mIni' d!zi: one (comes) every ten minutes
si: . to ride, to take (a bus), to get in

~!.wo. I is the twenty-ninth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of I

the strokes is as illustrated below. I

o
 109

:x>8s,:ro (~~)
Lesson 15

<' <:'
::J)OOGC\Y.)o) "
GO:(\) Ii
How far is it?
(' ~ fR (' (' 0 (' -!;' "
~iO'Y.)G3:~~ 3 mG; ~l. GO'Y.)Cl;:~3dro 0') O)GC\Y.)O?GO:ro II
Mr. David How far is it from here to City Hall?
(' (' Q, 0 <:' (' (' (' ~ c
~ClCClC •• ()')<J?~;. ~;~ "~Q':)OOGC\Y.)m ey:>OOOOIl
MaKhinKhin . It takes about twenty minutes by taxi.
~~o? ~:o? 0')03~0Y.>: ~~0(:c\y'):11
('

·
•
~iO'Y.)G3:~~

Mr. David Doesn't any bus go there?

(' (' o ') co C (' 9 ~s
~ClCClC

MaKhinKhin
·
• ~O'Y.)GO.! II Q':)OO~;~ ()')~~: '.Il00WIl

Of course there is (a bus that goes there).

One comes every ten minutes.
~iO'Y.)G3:~S O')t0mG; ~:'lcOll
Mr. David Where do I have to get it?
(' (' (' (' 9'1
~ClCClC •• C\f2::!oo;:mG; ~:Olll
MaKhinKhin Get it from Hledan.

:::D I tha. / is the thirtieth letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the
strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

:) ~ ~
 I JO

Grammar & Usages

1. The Noun Modifier Ending: • - ~e.! teo ' and ' fme~7
i---J
In Myanmar language, the noun modifier functions in the same way that
an adjective or relative clause lunctions in English. The noun modifier is
put in front of the noun, and indicates a quality, quantity or degree of the
noun it modifies.
The modifier endings which attach to a verb. The modified noun and
the modifier phrase preceding the modifier endings fonn a noun phrase,
and this noun phrase can function as subject, object, etc. in the sentence,
just like any other nOli phrase. ' - de.! teo ' is the noun modifier ending for
non-future time.
• - de. ' is used after the verb ending in a vowel with tone 1, 2 or 3.
And teo ' is used after the verb ending in a vowel with tone 4 or glottal
I -

stop. For example:

<:-
Verb Modifier NOim Meaning'
ending Modifiers

/"Kaun: de. kaun: de. good kaun: de. lu

. hsoii: de. hsou: de. bad hsou: de. kjaun: dha:
kji: de. kji: de. big kji: de. ein
thei: de. thei: de. small thei: de. ~khan:
lwe de. lwede. easy Iwe de. z~ga:
khe' teo khe teo difficult khe' teo sa ou'
shout teo shou'te. complicated shou' teo ~lou'

Actually, this modifier endings come from the (declarative) sentence

final ending' ~del te '.

II /~
(di) lu kaun:@e/ - - . .
. t
...... ~

kaun:\de.lu
~
v
~~

[lhe man is good.] [good man]

 III

I I
(di) ha hsou: de
.. ~
-:---'-
- - - . . hsou: de. ha-.

[The thing is bad.]

I I
ta na ka gjgpan gil. fa de

[Mr. TGftClka came from Japan.] [Mr. Tanaka who came from Japan]

, - me. ' is used foiforture time. For example:

. '''<:::: -_/

dei: bi' bggan gou thwa: me bggangou thwa: me. dei: bi'

[Mr. David will go to Bagan.] [Mr. David who will go to Bagan.]

2. The suffix' -Iau'

The suffix is attached to time, place or quantity expresssion, which ask or

answer the questions: 'what time?,' 'when?,' 'how long?,' 'how far?,' 'how
much?,' 'where?,' etc. It indicates an approximate point in time, place or
quantity.

Iu nga: jau' lau' la de About five people came.

nja. nei nga: na ji lau' thwa: me I'll go about 5:00 p.m.
b~Jau' lau' nei m~le: About how long will you stay?
be nei ja lau' hma shi. m!!le: About where is it?
be do. lau' lou' mf!,le: About when will you do it?
 112

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsrua ze~: k~~: / ka:, ~-:Q'Q

kjaun: dhuldha:: kJL de4 ka . _"C:;
.Z<:';L
'tt:;::;",~,/jF:--.71

2) hsrua hla. ; mein: khS!lei:

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ... pla. de. mein: khS!lei:

3) hs~ja pu I ja dhi u. duo

kjaun: dhuldha:: pu de. ja dhi. u. duo

4) hsru a ei: / jei

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ei: de. jei -~ . (0.',
"--J

5) hs~ja shei ! khe: dan

kjaun: dhu/dha:: sheide. khe:dan

D2

1) kjaun: dhu
kjaun: dha:

2) kJaun: dhu hou hma shi. de I e: di. ha gou thi. la:

kjaun: dha: hou hma shi. de. ha gou thi. la:

3) !gaun: dhu mS!nei. gao sa: de I e: di. ha gao kaun: la:

kjaun: dha: mS!nei. gao sa:~e·>~a. kall~: la:
, } ! ~

"". ..~) no
4) kjaun: dhu sha nei de ! e: di. Iu ga."bS!dhu Ie:
kjaun: dha: sha nei de. lu gao bS!dhu Ie:

5) kjaun: dhu thu thwa: de I e: di. nei ja gao be nei ja Ie:

kjaun: dha: thu thwaC~~' nei Ja gao be nei ja Je:
,"-:..---1 ," #'~~. "~""'---~~.
 113

DJ

1) kjaun: dhu m~nel hpjan thwa: me / e: di. nei ja gao ba le:

kjaun: dha: m~el hpjan thwa: me. nei ja gao ba Ie:

2) kjaun: dhu dh~be' kha kji. me / e: di. jou' shin gao kaun: de
kjaun: dha: dhgbe' kha kji. me. jou' shin gao kaun: de

3) kjaun: dhu nau' hni' thin me / e: di. ~a: ga. khe' te

kjaun: dha: nau' hni' thin me. ~a: gao khe' te

4) kjaun:dhu lou'me / !!lou' sm. la:

kjaun: dha: lou' me. ~lou' shi. la:

5) kjaun: dhu sa: me I !!S3: §Sa gou pjo: ba

kjaun: dha: sa: me. !!S3: ~sa gou pjo: ba

D4

1) hsrua na: htaun gjin de I ~chin: shi. la:

kjaun: dhuldha:: na: htaun gjin de. th~hin: shi. la:

2) hsrua : mei: gjin de / mei: gun: gou mei: ba

kjaun: dhuldha:: (]ileTgjin deJ(mei: gwpfgou mei: ba
:t:::::::.....:::~-=~4'>t, QI_.~J::::2:}.L "~<~~v~"c;~~C'"'~""
G,-.....' ~-:- l~ (:' \::\::~ ',.. ~, - '<

3) hsrua K-aza: gjinde I a: K-aza: gou pjo: ba

kjaun: dhuldha:: K-aza: gjin de. a: K-aza: gou pjo: ba

4) hsrua hpa' chin de / sa ou' kou sha me

kjaun: dhuldha:: hpa' chin de. sa ou' kou sba me

5) hsrua twei. gjin de / ~nge gjin: la la:

kjaun: dhuldha:: twei. gjin de. th.&1ge gjin: la la:
 114

DS

1) hs!ia jan goun gao nei man: ~lei: ~ti. b~lau' kja Ie:
(lei jin bjan I ~ j"i lau')
kjaun: dhuldha:: leijin bjan ne. ~ji~~j~ba de
- -,- --,-'

2) hs!ia bou gjou' zei: ~hti. b§!lau' kja Ie:

(ba' ~ka: I m~' lei: ze lau')
kjaun: dhuldha:: ba' ~ka: ne. m~i' lei: ze lau' kja ba de

3) hsru a b~ou: ~ti. be hn~naji kja Ie:

(mi: j~hta: I t:!!naji gwe: lau')
kjaun: dhuldha:: mi: j~ta: ne. t:!!na jt gwe: lau' kja ba de

4) hs!ia ~thein ~hti. be hnIDe' kja Ie:

(thin: bo: I tIDe' lau' )
kjaun: dhuldha:: thin: bo: ne. tIDe'lau' kja ba de
:-,:,:~,~~" ~'~r ~""L9 !::'";~'
5) hs!ia ein gao fiet kjaun: ~ti. be ~f kja Ie:
(se' bein: I thoun: ze. nga: m~ni! lau')
kjaun: dhuldha:: se' bein: ne. thoun: ze. nga: m~ni' lau' kja ba de

D6

1) hs!ia pai' hsan ~lau'~~l!r:: Ie: (shi' ja)

kjaun: dhuldha:: shit ja. lau' shi' de
- .,.' ' ,-, ,,:., ,,' ---.-~<.~~.. >

2) hsWa be nei. tau' thwa;! male:)' (t:!!nin: la nei.)

kjaun: dhuldha:: t:!!nln: la nei. laliih;a:me

3) bsIDa thgnge gjin: b~au' lau' la Ie: (nga:jau')

kjaun: dhuldha:: nga: jau' lau' la ba de

4) bs§ja ko hpi b~we' lau' hma m~le: (~we')

kjaw: dhuldha:: ~we' lau' hma me

5) hsIDa' sa ou' b~ou' lau' hpa' chin Ie: (cbau' ou')

kjaun: dhuldha:: sa ou' chau' ou' lau' pha' chin ba de
 lIS

thin gan: za (hse. chau')

di nei. m,!nei. ga. de' pou pu de

dei: bi' di nei. m~ev.ga(d;'-~'pu de no

:
khin khin hou' te I ~e: ·ne:,p~~p.u'a¥n,~~Ju de'
:
dei: bi' m~hni' ka.C-riwetga. j9-: pu fa: ?
;
khin khin :
hou' ke. 060
~~~me:~ t~hni' ka. Iau' to. m~pu ba bu:
dei: bi' t~i' ka. Ie: pu de !
khin khin : hou' pa. / ~hni' ka. do. ~pu zoun: ba

pu to be hot
tu to be the same
m!!hni' ka. last year
nwei summer
tJ!hni' ka. year before last ~
hou' pa. It is sure; of course

(J) /ha. / is the thirty-first letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of
the strokes is as illustrated below.

1 2 3

C 0 (J) OJ
 116

:).)8Q)~:ro (~G)
Lesson 16

3G~. ~~. moor/; qf{oouSll

Today is hotter than yesterday.

<' os
~~OO0G3:~Q)

Mr. David
·
• Q
3G,. ~G,o moom \()looWG'fJ
'"

Today is hotter than yesterday, isn't it?

<'

<'
~QCQC
'"
MaKhinKhin
·
• <' '"
0(00000011 '" <' «)loooo,.
,~:,~: 0 "'"

Yes, right. It seems a little hotter.

Of2ooWIi
'"

<'
B~OO0G3:~Q) '" 0
• ~'Q)m ~mG€p )l(\)'):11
Mr. David Last summer was also hot, wasn't it.
<' C"..... '1 " \:' ~ C'
~QCQC
'" 0(000711 3!GO~ O')Q),Q)mGCD0mGOJ? ~)lOjt:1I

MaKhinKhin Yes, it was. But it was not as hot as the year before last.
<:' <' <:' <'
~i?OO0G3:~Q) '" : ooQ)'Q)mC\J~: ~O')OOIl

Mr. David Was the year before last that hot, too?
<' <' <'1 <:'<:' .,
~QCQC 0(0')0.1 II ooQ),Q)mGO?? 3d~fX?:0! II
MaKhinKhin It sure was. It was the hottest (of the three).

~ / la. / is the thirty=second letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of

the strokes i~ as illustrated below.

1 3
 117

Grammar & Usages

1. The Comparison: t -.. de'(bte' ,

~'-i~----__ .
The particle ' ..... de'! hte' , 0E()!~,LJ.~~1J') is used as a standard of
comparison, when both items of comparison are mentioned. And it is
attached normally to the second noun of a comparison, and usually
accompanied by , -- pou '(more).
,..... de' , is used after the noun ending with tone 1,2 or 3. And ' ..... the' ,
is used after the noun ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.
The verb' pou ' means 'to be in excess; be more than what is
necessary; be over and above the noun; to overdo.' But in front of the
other verbs, it can be used as a preverb to mean 'more.' For example:

jan goun gao b~ou: de' pOD kji: de

NI (subject) N2 Verb
(Yangon is bigger than Raga.)

truou' Z!!ga: gao mj~a ~a: de' pOD khe' te

NJ (subject) N2 Verb
(Chinese is more difficult than Myanmar.)

The phrase ending with' - de'l hte' may occur before the subject of a
sentence, making no difference in meaning, other than a slight change in
emphasis. See the following examples, and note particularly the words to
which the particle' ,.., de'l hte' is attached

leijin bjan gao ka: de' pOD mjan de

NI (subject) N2 Verb
(/'he aeroplane is faster than the car.)

ka: de' lei jin bjan gao pOD mjan de

NJ N J (SIlbject) Verb
(/'he aeroplane is faster than the car.)
 118

When only one thing or one quality is mentioned. and the other item of
comparison is omitted, the prevarb pOD (more) is normally used. See the
I I

following examples:

di ha gao pOD bun: de This is better.

hOll ha gao pou zei: kji: de That is more expensive.
in: wei' ~a: gao pou khe' te English is more difficult.

2. The sentence-final ending' ,..., ne. tu de '

The verb tu ' means 'to alike; be the same; resemble.' The postpositional
I

maker ' .....ne. ' suffixed to a noun to indicate conformity (equivalent in

usage to preposition 'in keeping with.'
[The pattem'""4-- nee tu de ~ndicates resemblance or likeness: It is used
after the sentence ending with declarative sentence final particle' -de for I

non-future time and' -me' for future time/action. For equivalent sentence,
it can be attached to the noun. For example:

di ha gao kaun: de nee tu de o It seems to be good.

mou: jwa de nee m de
di nei. ja dhi u. duo ei: me nee tu de
mou: jwa me neG tu de--
di ha zei: kji: me nee tu de
thu gao ~mei ri kan ne. tu de
It looks like it was rain.
Today the weather seems to be cold.
It looks like it will rain.
I think it will be expensive.
He seems to be an american.

3. The suffo: I ..., lau' ,

This suffix 9 -Iau' , is attached to nouns, and indicates extent or degree.

The English equivalent of this pattern is 'to the extent of: 'as_IJluc~as,1
'equal to,' etc. For example:

di sa ou'~: hou sa out lflU' kaun: de This book also is as good as that book.
kj~o 1e:'t5.u. lau' lou' hnainde I can do as well as he.
.<Ii ha gao h()u ha lau' m~la. bu: 'Thls is not as pretty as that.
di em gao hou ein iail 'lcJi: la: Is this house as big as that house?
m>jo: gao mei: iau' m~e' pa bu: Speaking is not as difficult as writing.
 119

4. The superlative: '! ••• V ••• zouo:lhsouo: '

In Myanmar language, I ! ••. V ... zouo:/ hsouo I is used when ,three or

more items of comparison are mentioned. And this means 'the greatest
degree.' ; ! I is regularly put before the verb. '- zouo:' is used aIte"r-lbe
verb ending with tone 1, 2 or 3. And '- hsouo:' is used after the verb
ending with tone 4 or glottal stop. For example:
!mJlll. zouo: the highest (one)
!thei: zouo: the smallest (one)
!touzouo: the shortest (one)
!shei zouo: the longest (one)
zei: !kji: zouo: the most expensive (one)
zel: !PO: zouo: the cheapest (one)
sei' win za: zilla !kaun: zouo: the most interesting (one)

Actually, the function of this pattern is noun (phrase) and it is used in

equational sentence type' N + N -i- balpa " Instead of polite particle ~ bal
I

pa I, we can use the emphasis particle I - be: I. For example,

di ruaun gao !ne' hsouo: ba This colour is the darkest.

di nei. !pu zouo: be: Today is the hottest.
di sa ou' ka. !kaun: zouo: be: This book is the best.
di ha gao !hla. zouo: be: This one is the prettiest.

This pattern can also be used as noun! verb modifier. For example:
g,kaun: zoun: sa ou' the best book
zei: {!;kji: zoun: ho te the most expensive hotel
g,hla. zoun: mein: ~lei: the prettiest girl
di hsrua gao {!;kaun: zoun: thin pei: de This teacher teaches best of all.
thu {!;mja zoun: lou' te He did it the quickliest.
 120

DRILLS

D1

1) hsrua di ein I hou ein I than.. shin: (to be clean)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: di ein gao hou eirCde'pou'than. shin: ba de

2) hsrua di Wchan: I hou !!khan: I lin: (to be bright)

kjaun: dhuldha:: di !!khan: gao hou !!:khan: de' pou lin: ba de

3) hsrua mjei ill goun: I hle: dan: I wei: (to be far)

kjaun: dhuldha:: mj~i ill goun: gao hIe: dan: de' pou wei: ba de

4) hsrua mj!!ma ZMa: I tgjou' z!!ga: I !we (to be easy)

kjaun: dhuldha:: mj~ma z~a: gao truou' z!!:ga: de' pou lwe ba de

5) hsrua di Iu I hou Iu I hsou: (to be bad)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: di Iu gao hou lu-cle;'imu hsou: ba de

D2

1) hsrua di ein ne. hou einJ)eei!i gao pou than. Ie:

kjaun: dhuldha:: di ein gao pou thaif'ihin: ba de--
,:'.:>

2) hsrua di !!:khan:(~~10u ~khan: be ~: gao pou lin: Ie:

kjaun: dhuldha:: di !!khan: gao pou lin: ba de

3) hsrua mjei ni goun: ne. h~:,Qan: be nei ja gao pou wei: Ie:
kjaun: dhuldha:: mjei ill goun: gao pou wei: ba de ~-

4) hsrua mji!ffia ~a: ne. truou' ~ga: be ~a: ga pou lwe Ie:
kjaun: dhu/dha:: mj!!ma ZMa: gao pou lwe ba de

5) hsrua di Iu ne. hou Iu be dhu gao pou hsou: Ie:

kjaun: dhu/dha:: di Iu gao pou hsou: ba de
 121

D3

1) kjaun: dhu de' n~pjo: dhi: gou Q<>U kjai' la:

du: jin: dhi: -::::=--- ~,-

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I du: jin: dhi: de' ngm>jo: dhi: gou pou kjai' pa de

2) kjaun: dhu ~hpei de' wnei gou pou chi' la:

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / ~hpei de' ~mei gou pou chi' pa de

3) kjaun: dhu kjaun: dha: de' kjaun: dhu gao pou mja: la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. I kjaun: dha: de' kjaun: dhu ga. pou mja: ba de
~.­
4) kjaun: dhu sa ou' hie' khe: dan gou pou we ~~/ . J .

kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / sa ou' the' khe: dan gou pou we me

5) 19aun: dhu ~din: za de' me' ~n: gou pou hpa' m~la:
kjaun: dha: hou' ke. / th~din: za de' me' g~in: gou pou hpa' me

D4

1) hsilla ja dhi u. duo hsou: de

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ja dhi u. duo hsou: de ne. tu de

2) hsilla thu la me
kjaun: dhu/dha:: thu la me ne. tu de

3) hsilla hS§ja rna. nei m~kaun: bu:

kjaun: dhu/dha:: hsilla rna. nei m~aun: bu: ne. tu de

4) hsru a ~mei ~ou' lou' nei de

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ~ei ~lou' lou' nei dene. tu de

5) hS§ja thu b~an jan' hpu: ~e

kjaun: dhu/dha:: thu ~anjau' hpu: de ne. tu de
 122

D5

1) hsrua di ha / hou ha / zei: m~ji: bu:

kjaun: dhuldha:: di ha gao hou ha lau' zei: m~ji: bu:

2) hsrua wna. / ~ou / ma' m~jin. bu:

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~a. gao ~ou lau' mal m~jin. bu:

3) hsma di khe: dan / hou khe: dan / m~hei bu:

kjaun: dhuldha:: di khe: dan gao hou khe: dan lau' m~hei.bu:
.. '"-'-. _-"-/ ,

--"
4) hsrua wu' htu. / me' !@rin: / sei' win za: zrua ~un: /bu;_~
kjaun: dhuldha:: wu' htu. gao me' gi¢n: lau' sei' win za: zrua mWcauri:~~:_~ .
:0

5) hsrua di ~: / hou .@khan: / m~je bu:

kjaun: dhuldha:: di ~: gao hou!!khan: lau' m!!kje bu:

D6

1) kjaun: dhu thme' t4i: ga n!mpjo: dhi: l~' m.@chQu bu: la: _
kjaun: dha: hill. iD::--/ thme' thl:ga. ngm>jo~ dhi: de' pou chou ba de

2) kjaun: dhu mji' kji: na: gao man: cWei: lau' m!!wei: bu: la:
kjaun: dha: hill. in: / J1lji' kji: na: ga man: d!!lei: de' pou wei: ba de

3) kjaun: dhu b~ hin: gao nga: hin: lau' zei: m~ji: bu: la:
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I
~ bin: gao nga: hin: de' pou zei: m.@kji: ba bu:

4) kjaun: dhu .@hpei gou wnei lau' ~hi' hpu: la:

kjaun: dha: hin. in: / .@hpei gou wnei de' pou chi' pa de

5) kjaun: dhu kje' tha: hin: gou we' tha: bin: lau' m.@kjai' hpu: la:
kjaun: dha: hin. in: I )
kje'tha: hin: gou we"'tha: hin: de' pou kjai' pa de
 123

D7

1) hsrua di in: gji / zei: kji: de

kjaun: dhuldha:: ;-di in: gji gao zei: ~kji: zoun: ba
-:::;;':""'","""

2) hsma di me' !@Zin: / sei' win za: zilla kaun: de

kjaun: dhuldha:: di me' ~in: gao sei' win za: zrua ~aun: zoun: ba

3) hsrua thu / wa. de

kjaun: dhuldha:: tim ~wa. zoun: ba

4) hsru a di hni' / pu de
kjaun: dhuldha:: di hni' ~pu zoun: ba

5) hsru a di Iu / to de
kjaun: dhuldha:: di Iu ~to zoun: ba

D8
I~"

1) hsIDa ~~ga. ~mjan zoun: Ie:

kjaun: dhuldha:: lei jin bjan gao ~mjan zoun: ba

2) hsIDa be taun gao ~jin.

zoun: Ie:
kjaun: dhuldha:: ei w!P'a'taun gao .wnjin. zoun: ba

3) hsIDa : be kjaun: gao ~aun: zoun: Ie:

kjaun: dhuldha:: (nain ngan gja: ba dha te' !Ladho~. ~aun: zoun: ba

4) hsma be dhu gao rua' ~jin. zoun: Ie:

kjaun: dhu/dha:: mji' s~ta dei: bi' ka. ~jin. zoun: ba
--..--> ----.----
-'

5) hsIDa be nei ja gao ~hla. zoun: Ie:

kjaun: dhuldha:: in: lei:...kan gao ~a. zoun: ba
~-
 124

thin gan: za (hse. khun hni')

koun dai'

---------;:-~'.---'.--.-.---. ~

khin khin nlanei.

-
gao badhune.atu
- ~'
duo:,
'>.-~

(Tu. z~na. koun dai{~g2~~Ta: Ie:

dei: bi' : th~nge gjin: ne. ~tu du th\va: ba d2
khln khin : ba\ve, ge. Ie:
d~i: bi' <sha' in: gii hla. hla. t~hte \ve ge. de
khin khin te' kasi ne. th\va: 1a: ------. --._------ - 1

dei: bi' hin. in: / mjan mjan l?n: S1!?ll'i !!?::Y~: ba de

b~dhu who
b~dhu ne. ~tu du with whom
koun dai' department store
th~nge gjin: ne. ~tu du with (my) fIiend
sha' (in: gji) shirt (upper garment)
Ian: shau' thwa: on foot

i
! 3& / a. / is the last letter of the Myanmar alphabet. The order of the strokes i

; is as illustrated below.
I
1 2 3 1----------'
I I

3
 125

JJ~~~:ID,) (:)()
Lesson 17

C' 0 C'
O?@~ O?~O(m
Yuzana Department Store

c: c: c: '- c:oc:o '-

{:}~c~c {:}G'i'. m ::nillJ)f'i'. 3d Of? Of? OY@'i'~~'i'O(mO? ~~c\)1I
Ma Khin Khiri. \Vith whom did you go to the department store?
c: c: c: '- 'I c:
{:} <E (Y)')G3 : e> ~ J)fCill~C:'i'. 3d Of? Of? ~:Ol 0) ill II

Mr. David I went (there) with (my) friend.

c: '- '-
JY) Oill~c\)11

~KhinKhin Wnat did you buy;)

c: i:: &d c: c: c: '- c:
{:}<E(Y)')G3:e>~ 11.03'd0iJC?C? 0)0CO~ OOJ~C0illll

Mr. David I bought a beautiful shirt.

G,
C0<J50'i'. ~:C\)'):II

MaKhin Khin Did you take a taxi?

c: c: c: ~ c:~ c: c: c: 'I c:
{:}<E(Y)')G3 :e>~ (J)~3'dC:1 ~'i'~'1' c\){:}:GC9Pm~:olC0illll

:Mr. David No, I went (there) on foot quickly.

: 3d / a. " is also the frrst in the set of twelve vo\-vels traditionally taught in
1 the learning of Myanmar language. The order of the strokes is as illustrated
I below.
I
1 2 3

3
 126

Grammar & Usages

1. The particle: ! ~ ne. I

The postpositional particle ' ne. ' is suffixed to a noun to indicate the instrumental case
(equivalent in usage to adverb 'with'). For example;

ba' s~ka: ne. thwa: de (1) go by bus.

da: ne. hpja' te (I) cut (it) with a knife.

The particle I ~ ne. I is also used to link nouns in coordination. The last noun is
followed usually by the topic particle' - ga.lka. (do.) " the object particle ' - goul kou
" etc. This particle never links verbs, adjectival, or adverbial. For example;

thwa: dai' hsei: ne. dh~bu' tan (gou) we ge. de

(I bought some toothpaste and tooth-brush.)

mj;!ma ~a: ne. in: ~lei' 23---£a: ne. tillou' ~a: (ne.) gao khe' te
(Myanmar, English and Chinese are difficult.)

As an independent word, ! !!tu dt! ' means 'together, along )1'fth, in company IvftlL'
The particle ! ~ ne. I with' ,!!tu du ., preceded by nouns, indicates accompaniment,
association 9r relation. For example;
-~--:"<

akoune:--~tu du'lan: shau' te I took a walk with my elder brother.

ji: za:ne.:;~t~(f~ nei. Ie za sa: de I ate ''lith my boy girl friend.
b~dhu ne. !!tu du nei Ie: With whom do you stay?

2. The particle: I - ge./ khe. '

This particle is suffixed to verbs to emphasize definitiveness of an action or condition.

',.., ge.· is used after the verb ending with tone L 2 or 3. And < khe.· is used after the
verb ending with tone 4 or glottal stop.
For example:
~-- - -- - -"-

m~ne"hpjan 1a ge. ba Please, do come tomorrow!

!!kjein gjein hpa' khe. de (Definitely) I have read (it) sel'el'al time.
 127

3. Adjectivals and adverbials in Myanmar language

There are three parts of speech in Myanmar languge. They are noun, verb and particle.
Myanmar has neither adjectives nor adverbs by nature. By means of the processes such
as affixation and reduplication, the adjectivals and adverbials that the word functioning
like adjectives and adverbs.
K:....--
When a preftx ' ~ , is affixed to (some) simple verb(s), the prefixed verb will
become a derived word (or noun) and thal deIived \vord will function as an adjectival
or adverbial. For example;

Verb Deri~'ed Word Adjecti~'allA~'erbial

mjan [N] ~mjan [Adi] ~mjan ka (express bus)

(to be quick) (quickness) [Ad\'] gmjan thwa (Go quickly!)

ni [N] ani [Adj] b: !lui (red car)

(to be red) (red colour) (Ad\'] ani che (Paint red!)

pjo: D'-l !pjo: [AdJ1 .!!pjo: za-E,a l spoken language)

(to speak) (spoken)

\\Then a verb is reduplicated, i.e. pronouncing a verb twice, a reduplicated form

of the verb will be formed. And this word will function as an adjectival or adverbial.
For example;

Verb Reduplicated AdjeeJi}'a1' Adverbial

Word

hla. hla. hla. [Adj] pan hla. hla. lbeautlful Hower)

(to be pretty) [Adv] hla hla. wu' (Wear beautifully')

ni ni ni [Adj] ka: ni ni (red car)

(to be red) [Adv] ni ni che (Paint red')

wa. wa.wa. [Adj] 1u wa. wa. (a tall tree)

(to be full) [Adv) wa. wa. sa (Eat to be full!)

shin: shin: shin: [Adj] 9,than shin: shin: (8 clear voice)

(to be clear) [Adv] shin: shin: PJo: (Speak clearlyl)
 128

DRILLS

Dl

1) hsilla hs~ja / sa kji. dai' kou thwa: de

kjaun: dhuJdha:: hs~a ne. ~tu du sa kji. dai' kou thwa: de

2) hs~a ~ou I jou' shin kji. de

19aun: dhu/dha:: ~kou ne. ~tu du jou' shin kji. de

3) hsilla th~ngegjin: i jan goun hma nei d~~_~ ._

kjaun: dhu/dha:: th~ge gjin: ne. ~tu du jan gounium(riei
,,_ .. -
de <'>._.~~_.W'_ _~"

4) hsrua u: lei: ;' ~lou' lou' te

kjaun: dhuldha:: u: lei: ne. ~tu du ~Iou' lou' te

5) hsrua ji: za: I nei. le za sa: de

kjaun: dhu/dha:: nei..•.:Ie
ji: za: ne. -atu du.--- za sa: de
.....__....

D2

1) hsilla manei.
-
gao thu la/de . /
, - ..... _i/
kjaun: dhuidha:: ~ei. gao thu 1~ ge.jde'\ (
\-_/

2) hsilla ~lou' lou' pi: hi

~jaun: dhuldha:: ~ou' lou' khc. pi: bi

3) hsilla m~e' hpjan zei: th\va: me

kjaun: dhuldha:: m~ne' hpjan zei: thwa: ge. me

4) hsilla sa hpa' pa
kjaun: dhuldha:: s~'khe. ba
-
5) hsru a thu. gou r.jo: la:
kjaun: dhwdha:: thu""gou pjo: ge. 1.1:
--:'#=. ~
 129

D3
\ //

1) hs!!ja el: (to be cold)

kjaun: dhw'dha:: ~el: ./
t--.
(coldness)

2) hsilia chou' (to put in custory)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: ~chou' (imprisonment)

3) hs~ia Jaun: (to sell)

kjaun: dhw'dha:: !laun: (sale)

4) hs;tia hmaun (to be dark)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ~un (darkness)

5) hsilia PJan (to return)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: ~PJan (a return)

D4

1) hsilia ~ei: / da' (gas)

kjaun: dhUldha:: ~ei: da' (cold gas)

2) hs~ja ~chou' I khan: (room)

kjaun: dhuldha:: £!chou' khan: (prison cell)

3) hs~ja iliaun: ! s!]jei: ( clerk)

kjaun: dhuldha:: !Iaun: S~lel: (sale clerk)

4) hsilia Wunaun; nja. (night)

kjaun: dhw'dha:: £!hmaun nja. (dark night)

5) hsilla £!pjan / Lan: (way)

kjaun: dhw'dha:: £!pjan Ian: (the way back)
 130

D5

1) hsilia hse: lei' I ~tou (cheroot! shortness)

kjaun: dhuldha:: hse: lei' ~tou (a short cheroot)

2) hsilia tain! ~hei (pole! length)

kjaun: dhuldha:: tain ~hei (a long pole)

3) hsru a pei' i ~pa: (cloth I thiness)

kjaun: qhu/dha:: pei' ~pa: (a thin piece of cloth)

4) hsilia b~an i gloun (cup; saucer I roundness J

kjaun: dhuldha:: b~n ~loun: (a cup; a bowl)

5) hsilia pin Ie; ~ne' (sea / depth)

kjaun: dhuldha:: pin Ie ~ne' (the depth of sea)

D6
• I
1) hsilia rue: sun.
I (brevery / to risk)
kjaun: dhuldha:: ~ie: sun. (Risk bravely!)

2) hsilia ~hla. I pan (beauty ,I to stick

a flower ort the head)
kjaun: dhuidha:: ~hla. pan (Stick it beautifully!)

3) hsilia ~mje: i la (always;' to come)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~mje: la (Come alwaysO

4) hS!l a ~mjin. ! te' (height / to climb)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: ~mjin. te' (Climb high!)

5) hsru a ~hman / pja. (correctness / to show)

kjaun: dhuidha:: ~hman pja. (Show correctly!)
 131

D7

1) hsilia nge (to be small)

~aun: dhuJdha:: nge nge (rather small)

2) hsilia hte' (to be sharp)

kjaun: dhuldha:: hte' hte' (rather sharp)

3) hsilia mJIIl. (to be high)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: mjin. mjin. (rather high)

4) h'>ilia wa (to be yellow)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: wawa (yello",ish)

5) hsilia ne' (to be black)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: ne' ne' (blackish)

D8

1) hsilia !iwe I nge nge (size)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ~we nge nge (a rather small size)

2) hsilla {!//twa: I hte' the' (blade)

~aun: dhuldha:: ~thwa: hte' hte' (a rather sharp blade)

3) hsilia /hi' pin ,I mjin. mjin. (tree)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: thi' pin mjin. mjin. (a rather high tree)

4) hsilia pan: i wa wa (flower)

kjaun: dhuJdha:: pan: wa wa (a yellowish flower)

5) hsru a zf!.bin ! ne' ne' (hair)

kjaun: dhu!dha:~ ~bin ne' ne' (blackish hair)
 132

D9

1) hsilia hman hman / jei: (correctly ! to write)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: hman runan jei: (Write correctly!)

2) hsrua ne: ne: I thau' (a little bit I to drink)

kjaun: dhuldha:: ne: ne: thau' (Drink a little bit!)

3) hsilia mjan mjan / shau' (quickly I to walk)

kjaun: dhuidha:: mjan mjan shau' (Walk quickly!)

4). hsilia mja: mja: Ihtc. (many i to put)

kjaun: dhuidha:: mja: mja: hte. (Put it many!)
.. .
5) hsilia m: m:, nel (rather near i to stay)
. . .
kjaun: dhu/dha:: m: m: net (Stay near!)

D 10

1) hsilia kaun: (to be good)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: kaun: gaun: pjo: (Speak well!)

2) hs~ia hpjei: (to be slow)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: hpjei: bjei: thwa: (Go slowly!)

3) hsilia
kjaun: dhuldha::
kje
kje gje 0 ----
(to be loud)
(Shout loudly!)

4) !lsilla hpjaun. (to be straight)

kjaun: dhuldha:: hpjaun. bjaun. lou' (Do straight forwardly!)

5) hsilia kji: (to be big)

kjaun: dhu/dha:: kji: gji: jei: (Write rather big!)