چه … چه
Whether … or
When the two choices are yes and no, the second verb is the negative of the first.
How It Works
چه … چه means whether … or. Each چه opens one choice, and the main clause says what is true either way. Afghan books and newspapers use it for a statement that has no exceptions.
With two clauses, put both verbs in the present subjunctive: ببارد and نبارد. When the choice is yes or no, the second verb is the negative of the first, as in چه بخواهی چه نخواهی (whether you want to or not). With nouns or adjectives you need no verb at all: چه کلان چه خورد (old or young).
| Choice | Dari | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Two clauses | چه باران ببارد چه نبارد | whether it rains or not |
| Yes or no | چه بخواهی چه نخواهی | whether you want to or not |
| Two nouns | چه شاگرد چه استاد | student or teacher |
| Two adjectives | چه کلان چه خورد | old or young |
A comma follows the last choice, and the main clause keeps its ordinary tense. A present verb can point to the future, as in the examples. You will also meet یا in place of the second چه: چه بخواهی یا نخواهی. Both forms are correct.
For a real question, use آیا (Formal Questions With آیا). آیا asks, and چه … چه states.
Examples (5)
- چه باران ببارد چه نبارد، جمعه به پغمان می‌رویم.
Rain or no rain, we are going to Paghman on Friday.
Each چه opens a choice, and ببارد and نبارد are subjunctive.
- چه کلان چه خورد، همه گدی‌پران‌بازی را دوست دارند.
Old or young, everyone loves kite flying.
Two adjectives follow the چه words, so no verb is needed inside the choice.
- چه در کابل زندگی کنیم چه در هامبورگ، نوروز را با خانواده جشن می‌گیریم.
Whether we live in Kabul or in Hamburg, we celebrate Nowruz with our family.
The choice is two places, and the subjunctive کنیم comes once for both.
- چه بخواهید چه نخواهید، امتحان فردا شروع می‌شود.
Whether you like it or not, the exam starts tomorrow.
A yes or no choice: نخواهید is the negative of بخواهید.
- چه شاگرد چه استاد، همه باید در کتابخانه آرام باشند.
Student or teacher, everyone must be quiet in the library.
Two nouns, then a main clause that holds for both.
Common Mistakes
Using چه only once.
چه باران ببارد، جمعه به پغمان می‌رویم.چه باران ببارد چه نبارد، جمعه به پغمان می‌رویم.The pattern needs a چه before each of the two choices.
Using آیا to say whether.
آیا باران ببارد یا نبارد، جمعه به پغمان می‌رویم.چه باران ببارد چه نبارد، جمعه به پغمان می‌رویم.آیا opens a question. To say that both choices give the same result, use چه … چه.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The pattern has two parts like هم … هم.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice چه … چه in Bubblegum
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