Abstract: Modal words in the Karen language can be divided into five categories: declarative mood, negative mood, imperative mood, questioning mood and complaining mood. They are the main means of expressing mood and modality in the Karen language. This paper classifies the modal words of the Karen language, summarizes their usage and functions, and compares them with those of the Pumi, the Jingpo, the Lahu and other Tibeto-Burman languages to conclude the typological characteristics of modal words of the Karen.

Key words: the Karen language, end-of-sentence modal word, Tibeto-Burman language, typological characteristic