जुनि

Saying Don't with जुनि

Level 2Sounds Like juni

Put जुनि before a command to say don't.

How It Works

To forbid something, place जुनि in front of the command form you would otherwise use.

CommandDon't
जाउ (go)जुनि जाउ
कानू (cry)जुनि कानू
डेराउ (be afraid)जुनि डेराउ
जो (go, to a child)जुनि जो

जुनि is a little gentle and careful, and many people write it. In casual speech, people often say नहि जाउ or नै जो instead. Both are fine.

Use जुनि only for commands. Plain statements use नहि: हम नहि जाएब.

Do not use the Hindi मत. It is not Maithili.

Examples (5)

  1. जुनि डेराउ।

    Don't be afraid.

    जुनि goes before the polite command.

  2. जुनि जाउ।

    Please don't go.

    जुनि softens the request.

  3. जुनि कानू।

    Don't cry.

    कानू is the polite command of कानब.

  4. बउआ, नै जो।

    Little one, don't go.

    Speech often uses नै with the close command.

  5. अहाँ जुनि चिन्ता करू।

    Don't worry.

    जुनि comes right before the command.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi word for don't.

    मत जाउ।
    जुनि जाउ।

    मत is Hindi. Maithili says जुनि, or नहि in speech.

How It Connects

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

जुनिLevel 2Saying Don't with जुनि

Learn This First

जुनि negates a command, so polite commands and ordinary नहि come first.

Words in This Pattern

जुनिनहिनै