जखन ... तखन
When ... Then
जखन and तखन link two times: when one thing happens, the other does too.
How It Works
Put जखन in the first clause. The second clause begins with तखन. Many speakers drop तखन, but it makes the link clear.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| जखन | when (the time clause) |
| तखन | then (the main clause) |
| कखन | when? (the question) |
Both clauses can be present, past or future. जखन बरखा होएत, तखन हम घर रहब means "When it rains, I will stay home." In the future, use the future form in both clauses.
The same pair works for habits: जखन गर्मी होइत अछि, तखन हम सभ आम खाइत छी (When it is hot, we eat mangoes).
जखन belongs to the family of जेना and जतेक. Each begins a clause, and each has a partner that starts with त: तखन, तेना, ततेक.
Examples (5)
- जखन बरखा होइत अछि, तखन हम घर मे रहैत छी।
When it rains, I stay home.
जखन ... तखन for a habit.
- जखन हम छोट छलहुँ, तखन बरखा मे नाचैत छलहुँ।
When I was little, I used to dance in the rain.
The past habit with छलहुँ.
- जखन अहाँ अएलहुँ, तखन हम सुतल छलहुँ।
When you came, I was asleep.
तखन marks the second clause.
- जखन ओ गाम जाइत छथि, तखन दही-चूड़ा अनैत छथि।
Whenever he goes to the village, he brings back flattened rice and curd.
A respected subject takes छथि in both clauses.
- जखन काल्हि सूर्य उगत, तखन हम चलि देब।
When the sun rises tomorrow, I will set off.
Future in both clauses.
Common Mistakes
Using the Hindi जब and तब.
जब हम छोट छलहुँ, तब बरखा मे नाचैत छलहुँ।जखन हम छोट छलहुँ, तखन बरखा मे नाचैत छलहुँ।जब and तब are Hindi. Maithili says जखन and तखन.
How It Connects
Learn This First
जखन is a relative partner of the question word कखन, and its main example describes past habits.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice जखन ... तखन in Bubblegum
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