Learning in Practice

In this section, you will use simple Nepali command and request forms in classroom and everyday situations. You will practise giving polite instructions, responding to instructions, and noticing the difference between casual and respectful forms.

Try it in real life

Choose five simple actions you can do in class or at home. Practise giving each instruction politely.

Example:

कृपया बस्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā basnuhos.
Please sit.

कृपया सुन्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā sunnuhos.
Please listen.

कृपया पढ्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā paḍhnuhos.
Please read.

कृपया लेख्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā lekhnuhos.
Please write.

कृपया फेरि भन्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā pheri bhannuhos.
Please say it again.

Practice task

Practise this short exchange with a partner:

A: कृपया बस्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā basnuhos.

B: हुन्छ।
huncha.

A: कृपया सुन्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā sunnuhos.

B: हुन्छ।
huncha.

A: कृपया यो वाक्य पढ्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā yo vākya paḍhnuhos.

B: हुन्छ, म पढ्छु।
huncha, ma paḍhchu.

A: कृपया फेरि भन्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā pheri bhannuhos.

B: हुन्छ, म फेरि भन्छु।
huncha, ma pheri bhanchu.

Mini culture note

In Nepali, commands and requests change depending on the relationship between speakers. With teachers, elders, guests, strangers, and people you do not know well, respectful forms are usually expected.

For beginners, forms ending in -नुहोस् (-nuhos) are useful because they sound polite and appropriate in many classroom and community situations.

Common mistake

Do not use casual command forms with people you do not know well.

Casual:

बस।
basa.
Sit.

पढ।
paḍha.
Read.

लेख।
lekha.
Write.

Better for beginners:

बस्नुहोस्।
basnuhos.
Please sit.

पढ्नुहोस्।
paḍhnuhos.
Please read.

लेख्नुहोस्।
lekhnuhos.
Please write.

Use कृपया (kṛpayā) when you want to make the request even more polite.

Say it aloud

Practise these slowly. Then say them more naturally.

After you practise, use the audio recorder below to record yourself. Listen to your recording and try again if you want to improve your pronunciation.

बस्नुहोस्।
basnuhos.
Please sit.

सुन्नुहोस्।
sunnuhos.
Please listen.

पढ्नुहोस्।
paḍhnuhos.
Please read.

लेख्नुहोस्।
lekhnuhos.
Please write.

फेरि भन्नुहोस्।
pheri bhannuhos.
Please say it again.

कृपया बस्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā basnuhos.
Please sit.

Rhythm practice

Read this short exchange aloud:

कृपया बस्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā basnuhos.

हुन्छ।
huncha.

कृपया सुन्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā sunnuhos.

हुन्छ।
huncha.

कृपया पढ्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā paḍhnuhos.

हुन्छ, म पढ्छु।
huncha, ma paḍhchu.

Can-do checklist

By the end of this chapter, I can:

• recognize simple command forms
• use respectful request forms ending in -नुहोस् (-nuhos)
• give basic classroom instructions
• respond to instructions with हुन्छ (huncha)
• use कृपया (kṛpayā) to make requests more polite
• understand the difference between casual and respectful commands
• avoid using casual commands with elders, teachers, and strangers
• use polite requests in simple real-life situations