The Lachi language (Chinese: 拉基; pinyin: lājī, Vietnamese: La Chí; autonym in China: li35 pu44 ljo44; autonym in Vietnam: qu32 te453, where qu32 means "person"[2]) is a Kra language spoken in Yunnan, China and in northern Vietnam.
Jerold A. Edmondson notes that Vietnamese researchers recently have not been able to locate White (Central) Lachi speakers.
The Republic of China-era Maguan County Gazetteer 马关县志 gives the names Labo 剌僰 (with a dog radical 犭for La 剌) and Laji 拉鸡 (Li 2000: 5).
According to American linguist Jerold A. Edmondson, the Lachi of China are thought to have moved to their present location during the Qing Dynasty from places in Vietnam called Maibu 麥布, Maidu 麥督, and Maiha 麥哈.
[2] In Vietnam, Jerold Edmondson notes that the most common autonym used by his Lachi informants is qu3˩ te34˩, with qu3˩ meaning 'people' (from Proto-Kra *khraC1 'people').