छी / छथि / अछि

Being in the Present

Level 1Sounds Like chī, chathi ā achi

छी, छथि and अछि are the present of to be; the one you use depends on the person.

How It Works

Maithili uses these forms for is, am, are.

PersonFormExample
हम, अहाँ, अपनेछीहम ठीक छी।
तोँछहतोँ कतय छह?
ओ (respected)छथिनेहा दोकान पर छथि।
ओ (plain), thingsअछिबउआ घर मे अछि।

These forms stay the same for one person or many. हम छी and हम सभ छी use the same verb.

अछि is the written standard. In casual speech people often say छै: बउआ घर मे छै. Use छै only for speech.

The word comes at the end of the sentence, after the main verb or the place word: नेहा चाहक दोकान पर छथि.

Never write the Hindi है, हैं or हूँ.

Examples (5)

  1. हम ठीक छी।

    I am fine.

    छी goes with हम.

  2. अहाँ घर पर छी?

    Are you at home?

    छी goes with अहाँ too.

  3. नेहा चाहक दोकान पर छथि।

    Neha is at the tea shop.

    छथि shows respect for Neha.

  4. बउआ आँगन मे अछि।

    The little boy is in the yard.

    अछि is for a child.

  5. किताब टेबुल पर अछि।

    The book is on the table.

    अछि is also for things.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the plain अछि for an elder.

    दादी घर मे अछि।
    दादी घर मे छथि।

    अछि about a grandmother sounds rude. Use छथि.

  • Using the Hindi है and हैं.

    नेहा घर पर हैं।
    नेहा घर पर छथि।

    Maithili uses छथि; हैं is Hindi.

How It Connects

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

छी / छथि / अछिLevel 1Being in the Present

Learn This First

Each present form of to be goes with a certain pronoun or level of respect, so the pronouns come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 7 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

छीछथिअछिछहछै