A culture with so many feelings in the heart is going to be a deeply sensitive one. This should be borne in mind before making a strong or critical comment or taking direct action with a Lao person. Some translations below are just approximates as there are no direct equivalents in Western ideology, and this often leads to misinterpretation and lack of understanding of Lao thinking and Lao culture.

to understand is to enter the heart – khao jai
to be glad is to feel good at heart – dee jai
to be kind and honest is to have a good heart – jai dee
to be angry is to feel bad in the heart – jai hai
to be sorry is to have lost the heart – sia jai
to have empathy is to see the heart– hen jai
to feel upset is to be unhappy at heart – ouk jai
to be sensitive (touchy, nervous) is to have a small heart – jai noy
to be mean or stingy is to have a narrow heart – jai khap khaep
to be startled or get a fright is to drop the heart – tok jai
to be absent minded is to have a heart which floats – jai loy
to be hesitant is to have many hearts – lai jai
to be worried is to have a sick heart – bo sabai jai
to be content is to have a serene heart – sabai jai
to be without worries is to feel cool in the heart – jai yen
to be impatient or angry is to have a hot heart – jai hon
to be generous is to have a large heart – jai kuang
to be sad is to have a heavy heart – thouk jai
to be happy is to have a 'sweet' heart – souk jai
to be grateful is to have a full or thankful heart – kop jai
to be easily persuaded is to have an easy heart – jai ngai
to be decisive – jai det
to be bitter to the point of revenge is to have a black heart – jai dum
to be charitable is to have a festive heart – jai boun
to be considerate, respecting the wishes of elders and superiors – greng jai
(or kreng jai – probably the most difficult of all to explain in a Western concept)
to be generous is to be big hearted – jai nyai
to be patient is to have a persevering heart – jai ot thon
to be honest is to have a pure heart – jai bolisud
to be brave is to have a daring heart – jai ka
to be timid is to have a cautious heart – jai boh ka
to control one's emotions is to have a strong heart – jai kaeng
to die is to have your heart torn apart – jai khart