(I was inspired by Cal-kid's and Snowdrop's discussion about how to "thank" people at a "khi tes" ceremony, so I decided to put this together for you all. That is how to say "thank you" to someone who gives you $money$ for your newly wed son, or daughter, and how to "reply" if you are the one giving the monetary gift. I want to first, make it clear that this cash gift is not "phij cuam", as that traditionally comes directly from the parent of the bride, though nowadays they do call it one and the same thing, and make it all inclusive. Additionally, the custom of giving $monetary$ gifts (cash) to a newly wed by family, relatives, and friends (loved ones), is in fact a Western inception. When, where, and by whom did this " adopted custom" start in America, I do not know. What I do know (believe) is that this is very recent, only an adopted/incorporated norm, probably less than 5-10 years ago. Prior to that time, and in SE Asia (even if you attend a Hmong wedding there today -- though some have adopted it), it is/was practically nonexistent. Point is, this is not a traditional Hmong wedding custom, and is a Western origination/adoption. Lastly, this is not the same as "giving money at a funeral", though it may seem like it, and does borrow from that same custom/practice. The spoken words though are not (cannot be) the same. It can/could be offensive to some/most folks if spoken in those (funeral) terms.)
I will give two examples: (Most/all US-Hmong, non-traditionalists, just say, "Thank you.", and, "You're welcome." Cultured traditional US-Hmong typically say this, below.)
RecipientA: (You, or the individual receiving the money and saying "thanks.)
"Ua tsaug nawb! Hnub no tub <insert son's name> loj hlob los puv cev, nws thiaj yuav poj yuav se. Tub <insert name> loj hlob los puv txha, nws lub neej thiaj li yuav tsa. Koj <insert giver's name> koj tsis cia li, koj hlub tshua tus me nyuam, tej tub tej ki, tuaj muab ib nploog paj ib nploog ntawv, tuaj pab txhawb nqa tus tub tus nyab lub neej tsis muaj ib yam yuav pauv tau, ua koj li tsaug. Nyob li ob tug me nyuam, tus tub tus nyab, yog nkawd txawj ua lub neej ces yuav nco koj <insert giver's name> tus txiaj tus ntsig laud. Yog tus tub tus nyab, nkawd tsis txawj ua lub neej ces tseem yuav lauj nej cov niam cov txiv xwb laub. Ua koj tsawg nawb mog." (Ces "txaum yim" rau tus neeg.)
GiverA: (You, the one giving the money replies.)
"Txhob ua tsaug mog! Hnub no tub <insert groom's name> loj hlob los puv cev, nws thiaj yuav poj yuav se. Nws loj hlob los puv txha, lub neej nws thiaj yuav tsa. Nyob li kuv <insert relationship, or name> yog kuv txawj ua lub neej ces yuav tuaj pab txhawb ob tug me nyuam kom muaj neej zoo xws teb xws chaws. Kuv ua lub neej tsis xws teb xws chaws, rau suab pluag, twb pab tsis tau qhov tsim nyog raug ntsej raug muag los txhob tu siab mog. Txhob ua tsaug laud, nkim lus tsaug xwb mog." (Ces "txais yim".)
RecipientB:
"Ua tsaug nawb mog koj <insert giver's name/relationship>! Hnub no peb plaj tshoob ncig los poob, kev kos ncig los txog. Koj tsis cia li koj tseem npaj tuaj muab tau ib nploog paj ib nploog ntawv los txhawb nqa tus tub tus nyab lub neej kom zoo xws teb xws chaws laud mog. Yog ob tug me nyuam txawj ua lub neej ces nkawd yuav nco koj tus txiaj tus ntsig. Yog nkawd tsis txawj ua lub neej ces tseem yuav luaj nej cov ua niam ua txiv xwb laud. Ua koj li tsaug nawb." (Ces "txaum yim" rau tus neeg.)
GiverB:
"Tsis txhob ua tsaug mog! Hnub no nej plaj tshoob ncig los poob, kev kos ncig los txog. Yog kuv <insert name/relationship> txawj ua lub neej ces yuav tuaj pab txhawb ob tug me nyuam, tus tub tus nyab, lub neej kom zoo xws teb xws chaws laud. Kuv ua lub neej tsis xws teb xws chaws, pab tsis tau ob tug me nyuam, muab qhov tsis raug ntsej raug muag los txhob tu siab mog. Txhob ua tsaug, nkim lus tsaug xwb laud." (Ces "txais yim".)
NOTE, this adopted (newly incepted) Hmong wedding practice -- giving monetary gift (cash) and giving thanks -- was traditionally not the norm, thus the verbiage (mine, including all others') is and are new constructs, but acceptable, and is the "norm" to a large degree, overall. As long as the verbiage is relevant and applicable to the wedding, then it is fine. Avoid using non-related verbiage that is often found/said in a "funeral" setting. For instance, like "yeeb vim", "tshav ntuj", "tag", and "kaj ntug tag kis/lwm hnub", and the likes etc. etc.. They are somewhat/mostly inappropriate, and could be offensive.