जेना ... तेना

Just as ... So

Level 4Sounds Like jēnā ... tēnā

जेना ... तेना links two parts so that the second matches the way of the first.

How It Works

जेना means "in the way that" and तेना means "in that way". Together they match one way of doing something to another. Both words stay the same for every doer and every tense.

WordMeaning
जेनाin the way that
तेनाin that way
एनाin this way
ओनाin that way (pointing)

The pattern is often used for promises, orders and habits:

  • जेना अहाँ कहब, तेना हम करब। (promise)
  • जेना कहल गेल, तेना कएल गेल। (what was said was done)
  • जेना पहिने होइत छल, तेना आइयो होइत अछि। (a habit that has not changed)

Do not confuse it with the single जेना that means "as if" after a verb. That one is a different use, taught in a later entry. For "in the way that", always look for the तेना answering it.

Both parts can take any tense, and the two verbs do not have to match.

Examples (5)

  1. जेना अहाँ कहब, तेना हम करब।

    I will do it just the way you say.

    जेना and तेना match the way you say with the way I do it.

  2. जेना कहल गेल, तेना कएल गेल।

    It was done just as it was said.

    The pair works with the passive too.

  3. जेना माय बनबैत छथि, तेना हमरा सँ नहि बनैत अछि।

    I cannot make it the way Mom does.

    जेना माय बनबैत छथि names the way, and तेना gives the contrast.

  4. जेना पहिने होइत छल, तेना आइयो होइत अछि।

    It is still done today the way it used to be.

    The first part is past and the second is present.

  5. जेना सीता गबैत छथि, तेना हम नहि गाबि सकैत छी।

    I cannot sing the way Sita sings.

    तेना links the two ways of singing.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi जैसे and वैसे.

    जैसे अहाँ कहब, वैसे हम करब।
    जेना अहाँ कहब, तेना हम करब।

    Maithili says जेना and तेना.

How It Connects

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

जेना ... तेनाLevel 4Just as ... So

Learn This First

जेना and तेना pair up like जखन and तखन and link two ways of doing something.

Words in This Pattern

जेनातेनाएनाओना