जी

Showing Respect with जी

Level 1Sounds Like jī

जी after a name shows respect, and जी हाँ and जी नहीं are polite yes and no.

How It Works

जी adds respect. Put it after a name or a title: रीमा जी, शर्मा जी, गुप्ता जी. With family words it is usually written joined: पिताजी (father), माताजी (mother), दादाजी (grandfather).

When you say जी about someone, use the respectful plural verb too: शर्मा जी घर पर हैं. The two go together.

PlainPoliteMeaning
हाँजी हाँ, जीyes
नहींजी नहींno

A bare जी often means yes, or I'm listening. If someone calls your name, you can answer जी? (Yes?). Listen to what follows, because जी नहीं is a clear no.

In North India, people often add जी to a first name for colleagues, neighbors and older acquaintances. It works for men and women and sounds warmer than Mr. or Ms.

Examples (5)

  1. रीमा जी, आप कैसी हैं?

    Reema, how are you?

    जी after the name, with the respectful verb हैं.

  2. जी हाँ, मैं अमित हूँ।

    Yes, I'm Amit.

    जी हाँ is a polite yes.

  3. जी नहीं, आज दुकान बंद है।

    No, the shop is closed today.

    जी नहीं is a polite no.

  4. शर्मा जी घर पर हैं।

    Mr. Sharma is at home.

    शर्मा जी takes the plural verb हैं.

  5. पिताजी अभी दफ़्तर में हैं।

    Father is at the office right now.

    With family words, जी is written joined: पिताजी.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding जी but keeping the singular verb.

    शर्मा जी घर पर है।
    शर्मा जी घर पर हैं।

    जी shows respect, so the verb must be the respectful plural हैं as well.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

जीLevel 1Showing Respect with जी

Learn This First

जी adds the same respect that आप shows, so it comes after the polite word for you.

Words in This Pattern

जीजी हाँजी नहीं