Unit 4 — Grammar Focus

Respectful Endings in Polite Requests

In Nepali, polite requests are often formed with the respectful ending –नुहोस् (–nuhos). This ending makes the verb polite and respectful. It is commonly used with strangers, elders, teachers, guests, and in public or formal situations.

Common examples:

आउनुहोस्
āunuhos
Please come.

बस्नुहोस्
basnuhos
Please sit.

बोल्नुहोस्
bolnuhos
Please speak.

भन्नुहोस्
bhannuhos
Please say. / Please tell.

गर्नुहोस्
garnuhos
Please do.

In everyday spoken Nepali, shorter forms are also very common:

आउनुस्
āunus
Please come.

बस्नुस्
basnus
Please sit.

भन्नुस्
bhannus
Please say. / Please tell.

Both the full forms and the shorter spoken forms are widely used. In this book, the full form –नुहोस् (–nuhos) is introduced first because it is clear, respectful, and easy for learners to recognize.

Politeness and कृपया

In Nepali, politeness is usually shown through the verb ending itself. For this reason, the word कृपया (kṛpayā), meaning “please,” is optional.

For example:

बस्नुहोस्।
basnuhos.
Please sit.

कृपया बस्नुहोस्।
kṛpayā basnuhos.
Please sit.

Both are correct, but बस्नुहोस् (basnuhos) is already polite. कृपया बस्नुहोस् (kṛpayā basnuhos) sounds more formal and may be used in public announcements, written instructions, or very formal situations.

Try It Now

Change each verb into a polite request.

आउनु
āunu
to come

आउनुहोस्
āunuhos
Please come.

बस्नु
basnu
to sit

बस्नुहोस्
basnuhos
Please sit.

भन्नु
bhannu
to say / to tell

भन्नुहोस्
bhannuhos
Please say. / Please tell.

गर्नु
garnu
to do

गर्नुहोस्
garnuhos
Please do.

Common Phrase Endings: छ / छैन

Many useful Nepali expressions end with छ (cha) or छैन (chaina).

छ (cha) often shows that something exists, is present, or is in a certain condition.

छैन (chaina) is the negative form. It means “is not,” “does not exist,” or “is not present,” depending on the context.

At this stage, learn these expressions as complete phrases.

Common examples:

स्वागत छ।
swāgat cha.
Welcome.

ठीक छ।
ṭhīk cha.
Okay. / All right.

ठीक छैन।
ṭhīk chaina.
Not okay. / Not all right.

मलाई थाहा छैन।
malāī thāhā chaina.
I don’t know.

Learner Tip

Do not worry about the full grammar of छ (cha) and छैन (chaina) yet. For now, memorize these phrases as useful everyday expressions. You will study छ / छैन in more detail in later sections.

Try It Now

Read each phrase aloud.

स्वागत छ।
swāgat cha.
Welcome.

ठीक छ।
ṭhīk cha.
Okay.

ठीक छैन।
ṭhīk chaina.
Not okay.

मलाई थाहा छैन।
malāī thāhā chaina.
I don’t know.