You must have already memorized some essential words in the Khmer language for your business trip. Expressions and words like good morning, hello, goodbye, etc. are important words you cannot miss. Especially when it concerns business, formal phrases and vocabulary can become a great asset in the line of success.
However, to speak Khmer fluently and impress your potential partners, only greetings would not be enough. Other English translations like អ្នកជំនួញ (Businessman), សហគ្រិន (Entrepreneur), etc., be helpful too. It will enable you to talk business deals in the native language and remove language barriers. Thus, this blog has prepared fresh content on Khmer business vocabulary and common phrases you can use to communicate with Cambodian people. Want to learn more? Continue reading and learn Khmer in detail.
Khmer Business Vocabulary: 8 Essential Words You Need
Cambodia has always been dominant in business sectors concerning textiles and tourism in the Asian continent. They have been among the largest contributing sectors to its economic growth and are still increasing rapidly. However, talking about its business culture, the rules tend to be tilted toward more conservative ways. People dress formally and conduct themselves professionally. More importantly, punctuality is given importance. If you come from a very flexible workspace, shifting to Cambodian customers and business environment might challenge you.
As we talk about the regulations, language is another crucial factor. Although English is widely adopted in capital cities, the prevalent business language is still essentially the Khmer language. Thus, the spoken practice of the native language will become necessary for you when it comes to communication and bonding. It is not only a way to respect the cultural setting of the country, but it will also help you in different situations with diverse people.
So, below we will learn a few words related to business that you must know in detail with pronunciation. Later, we will utilize more specific terms to improve your vocabulary.
1. Business – អាជីវកម្ម
អាជីវកម្, pronounced as achivokam, is the word for business in the Khmer language. You can also use ហនិច្ជកម្ផ, which says h ni chch k m, as an alternative. In this language, this word is synonymous with words like commerce, trade, or finance.
2. Businessman – អ្នកជំនួញ
What will you call yourself in Cambodia? It is អ្នកជំនួញ, which says businessman in the local style. Anakchomnuonh is the pronunciation for this word, and it is a must-know word that will help your form phrases and interact easily. For the word businesswoman in the Khmer dictionary, you can say ស្រ្ដីអ្នកជំនួញ (srdi anakchomnuonh).
3. Entrepreneur – សហគ្រិន
Pronounced as sahakrin, សហគ្រិន is the next significant word you need to know. You will hear the word សហគ្រិន, meaning entrepreneur, naturally in the business sector. So, before you try to make your profit through finance, you must undoubtedly use this opportunity of learning native words like this one to impress the locals.
4. Enterprise – សហគ្រាស
How can we miss សហគ្រាស after learning the word entrepreneur in the Cambodian language? Pronounced as sahakreas, enterprise is another business word that will help make phrases easier. This is a general term which can be used in various interactions.
5. Retail – លក់រាយ
The next word is លក់រាយ, which says lk reay. Cambodia is one of the fastest growing and most sustainable retail markets so knowing this word can certainly help you out when communicating with the locals.
6. Employment – ការងារ
When it comes to business, knowing the word ការងារ (karngear) is important. Whether a local or international business workplace, karngear is one thing one cannot ignore. In recent times, the statics have recorded that the distribution of employment among Cambodians has increased. Especially in terms of the labor force participation rate, Cambodia amounts the highest in the Pacific region. Most employed people in the country are around 16-64. So, topics of buying trade preferences and reaching employment level will keep you entirely busy during your journey.
7. Market – ទីផ្សារ
Another common term that you will keep hearing during your services is ទីផ្សារ, pronounced as tiphsaear. Although lost in the beauty of the mountains, Cambodians are far more advanced at creating market deals than other countries. As already mentioned, the country is rapidly growing economically, and the enhancement of the market system has been one of the main reasons. If you are interested in the Khmer Market, you will find many opportunities from potential business partners.
8. Customer- អតិថិជន
Lastly, the most vital part of a successful business is the price one pays to keep the customers happy. Known as atethechon, customer service in Cambodia has always been under strict scrutiny. A company can only be successful if it satisfies its customers, and Khmer people have taken that to the next level by adding notions such as “full refund on a return, if not satisfied.” In fact, many customer service jobs have also opened throughout the years, allowing an increase in employment and betterment in the service sector.
Business Vocabulary In The Khmer Language
This section will go through all the words related to the business environment. From corporate to merchant, you will encounter every word that will help you form sentences in the future. So, let’s not waste more time and start immediately!
A-C
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Accounts | គណនី | konni |
| Advertising | ការផ្សាយពាណិជ្ជកម្ម | karophsaay peanechchokam |
| Actuary | គណនេយ្យករ | konneyyokar |
| Advice | ដំបូន្មាន | dambaunman |
| Auditor | សវនករ | savonokar |
| Annual fund | មូលនិធិប្រចាំឆ្នាំ | moulnithi bracheachhnam |
| Approval | ការយល់ព្រម | kar ylprom |
| Ability | សមត្ថភាព | samotthaphap |
| Asset | ទ្រព្យសកម្ម | tropyosakam |
| Authority | អាជ្ញាធរ | achnhathor |
| Appoint | តែងតាំង | tengtang |
| Apply | អនុវត្ត | anouvot |
| Amount | ចំនួនទឹកប្រាក់ | chamnuon tukabrak |
| Administration | រដ្ឋបាល | rodthabal |
| Balance | តុល្យភាព | tolyphap |
| Banking | ធនាគារ | thneakear |
| Budget | ថវិកា | thvikea |
| Brand | ម៉ាក | meak |
| Benchmark | គោល | kol |
| Broker | ឈ្មួញកណ្តាល | chhmuonh k nta l |
| Base rate | អត្រាមូលដ្ឋាន | atra moulodthan |
| Building | អាគារ | akar |
| Buy out | ទិញចេញ | tinh chenh |
| Bonus | ប្រាក់រង្វាន់ | brak rongvean |
| Bond | មូលបត្របំណុល | moulobatr bamnol |
| Capital | រាជធានី | reachtheani |
| Candidate | បេក្ខជន | bekkhachon |
| Cash | សាច់ប្រាក់ | sachbrak |
| Credit | ឥណទាន | intean |
| Corporate | សហការ | sahkar |
| Consumer | អ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ | anakabrae brasa |
| Currency | រូបិយប័ណ្ណ | roubeybn |
| Central bank | ធនាគារកណ្តាល | thneakear k nta l |
D-F
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Discount | បញ្ចុះតម្លៃ | banhchouhtamlei |
| Deposit | ដាក់ប្រាក់ | dak brak |
| Data | ទិន្នន័យ | tinnony |
| Dividend | ភាគលាភ | pheakleaph |
| Direct investment | ការវិនិយោគផ្ទាល់ | kar viniyok phtal |
| Deflation | បរិត្តផរណា | brittapharnea |
| Demand | តម្រូវការ | tamrouvkar |
| Decision | ការសម្រេចចិត្ត | karosamrech chet |
| Department | នាយកដ្ឋាន | neayokadthan |
| Editor | កម្មវិធីនិពន្ធ | kammovithi nipon |
| Equity | សមធម៌ | samothmr |
| Economy | សេដ្ឋកិច្ច | sedthakech |
| Exchange | ផ្លាស់ប្តូរ | phlasa btau r |
| Earning | ប្រាក់ចំណូល | brakchamnaul |
| Expense | ការចំណាយ | kar chamnay |
| Equipment | បរិក្ខារ | brikkhear |
| Establish | បង្កើត | bangkeut |
| Elasticity | ភាពបត់បែន | pheap btben |
| End-user | អ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ចុងក្រោយ | anakabrae brasa chongokraoy |
| Firm | រឹងមាំ | rungmoam |
| Finance | ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ | heronhnhovottho |
| Franchise | ហ្វ្រេនឆាយ | hv re n chay |
| Feature | លក្ខណៈ | lokkhan |
| Fixed-rate | អត្រាថេរ | atra ther |
| Fund | មូលនិធិ | moulnithi |
| Freelance | ឯករាជ្យ | ekreach |
| Full time | ពេញមោ៉ង | penh mo ng |
| Financial year | ឆ្នាំហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ | chhnam heronhnhovottho |
| Fiscal policy | គោលនយោបាយសារពើពន្ធ | kolonyobeay sarpeupon |
| Flexibility | ភាពបត់បែន | pheap btben |
| Foreign exchange | អត្រាប្តូរប្រាក់បរទេស | atra btau r brak bartes |
| Future | អនាគត | aneakot |
G-M
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Goods | ទំនិញ | tomninh |
| Goal | គោលដៅ | koldaw |
| Gross product | ផលិតផលសរុប | phlitaphl saroub |
| Gold | មាស | meas |
| Guarantee | ធានា | theanea |
| Hyperinflation | អតិផរណាខ្ពស់ | atepharna khpasa |
| Human resource | ធនធានមនុស្ស | thontheanomnous |
| Headline | ចំណងជើង | chamnangcheung |
| Handout | ខិត្តប័ណ្ណ | khettabn |
| Hedge funds | មូលនិធិការពារ | moulnithi karpar |
| House price | តម្លៃផ្ទះ | tamlei phteah |
| Income tax | ពន្ធលើប្រាក់ចំណូល | ponth leu brak chamnaul |
| Inflation | អតិផរណា | atepharna |
| Insurance | ធានារ៉ាប់រង | theaneareabrong |
| Interest | ការប្រាក់ | kar brak |
| Investment | ការវិនិយោគ | kar viniyok |
| Invoice | វិក្កយបត្រ | vikkayobat |
| Job | ការងារ | karngear |
| Joint account | គណនីរួម | konni ruom |
| Lawyer | មេធាវី | metheavi |
| Loan | ប្រាក់កម្ចី | brakkamchi |
| Liability | ទំនួលខុសត្រូវ | tomnuol khosatrauv |
| Leverage | អានុភាព | anoupheap |
| Loss | ការបាត់បង់ | karbatbng |
| Labour | ពលកម្ម | polokam |
| Liquid asset | ទ្រព្យសកម្ម | tropyosakam |
| Lawsuit | បណ្តឹង | b ntoe ng |
| Money | លុយ | louy |
| Management | ការគ្រប់គ្រង | karokrobkrong |
| Merchant | ឈ្មួញ | chhmuonh |
| Mutual fund | មូលនិធិទៅវិញទៅមក | moulnithi towvinhtowmok |
| Mortgage | បញ្ចាំ | banhchoam |
N-Z
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Negotiate | ចរចា | charcha |
| Non-profit | មិនចំណេញ | min chamnenh |
| National debt | បំណុលជាតិ | bamnol cheate |
| Net price | តម្លៃសុទ្ធ | tamlei sot |
| Network | បណ្តាញ | b nta nh |
| Outsource | ប្រភពខាងក្រៅ | braphp khangokraw |
| Opportunity | ឱកាស | aokas |
| Office | ការិយាល័យ | kariyealy |
| Offer | ការផ្តល់ជូន | kar phtal choun |
| Output | ទិន្នផល | tinnophal |
| Overdraft | លើសច្បាប់ | leusa chbab |
| Overdue | ហួសកាលកំណត់ | huosa kalkamnt |
| Program | កម្មវិធី | kammovithi |
| Part-time | ក្រៅម៉ោង | kraw maong |
| Penalty | ពិន័យ | piny |
| Policy | គោលនយោបាយ | kolonyobeay |
| Profit | ប្រាក់ចំណេញ | brakchamnenh |
| Permission | ការអនុញ្ញាត | karoanounhnhat |
| Proposal | សំណើ | saamnae |
| Payout | ការទូទាត់ | kar touteat |
| Privacy | ឯកជនភាព | ekachn pheap |
| Risk | ហានិភ័យ | haniphy |
| Receipt | បង្កាន់ដៃ | bangkeandai |
| Refund | សងប្រាក់វិញ។ | sang brak vinh |
| Research | ស្រាវជ្រាវ | sravochreav |
| Range | ជួរ | chuor |
| Service | សេវាកម្ | sevakam |
| Stock | ភាគហ៊ុន | pheakhoun |
| Supply | ការផ្គត់ផ្គង់ | kar phkatphkang |
| Signature | ហត្ថលេខា | hatthalekhea |
| Sponsor | អ្នកឧបត្ថម្ភ | anak ubattham |
| Target | គោលដៅ | koldaw |
| Trade | ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម | peanechchokam |
| Task | កិច្ចការ | kechchakar |
| Union | សហភាព | sahpheap |
| Unit | ឯកតា | ekta |
| Vacancy | ទំនេរ | tomner |
| Value | តម្លៃ | tamlei |
| Withdraw | ដក | dak |
| Worker | កម្មករ | kammokar |
| Yield | ទិន្នផល | tinnophal |
Regular Business Phrases To Practice
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| It was nice doing business with you | វាល្អណាស់ក្នុងការធ្វើជំនួញជាមួយអ្នក | vea la nasa knong kar thveuchomnuonh cheamuoy anak |
| What is the deal? | តើកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងគឺជាអ្វី? | tae kechch promoprieng kuchea avei? |
| Please present your agenda | សូមបង្ហាញរបៀបវារៈរបស់អ្នក។ | saum bangheanh rbiebvear robsa anak |
| The company needs more workforce | ក្រុមហ៊ុនត្រូវការកម្លាំងពលកម្មបន្ថែម | kromhoun trauvkar kamleang polokamm banthem |
| The meeting has been postponed | កិច្ចប្រជុំត្រូវបានពន្យារពេល | kechchabrachoum trauv ban ponyearpel |
| I like your idea | ខ្ញុំចូលចិត្តគំនិតរបស់អ្នក។ | khnhom chaulchett koumnit robsa anak |
| We cannot cut corners at this point | យើងមិនអាចកាត់ជ្រុងនៅចំណុចនេះបានទេ។ | yeung min ach kat chroung now chamnoch nih ban te |
| We need to focus on profits | យើងត្រូវផ្តោតលើប្រាក់ចំណេញ | yeung trauv phtao t leu brakchamnenh |
Over To You!
Could you relate to any of the words described above? Every word will help you associate with your business partners and interact effortlessly with proper native phrases. As we learned, Cambodians are strict with their language. Therefore, such a skill will make deals clear and allow your partner to build trust and hope in you.
However, if you have not yet learned the basic words, download the Ling App from App Store or Play Store immediately! Without the basics, learning further can be a hassle. Be it animal vocab or common everyday phrases, you will find everything in Ling. So, don’t waste your time!
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