तँ for a Topic

Marking a Topic with तँ

Level 3Sounds Like tam̐ (viṣaya)

तँ after a word sets it apart or adds weight.

How It Works

तँ comes straight after the word it highlights. It gives that word a little weight, and it hints that something else is different or still open.

UseExample
Topicहम तँ आइ नहि जाएब।
Praise or surpriseओ तँ बड्ड नीक लोक छथि!
Contrastचाह तँ बनि गेल, मुदा दूध नहि अछि।
A wish that has a catchपढ़ए तँ चाहैत छी, मुदा समय नहि अछि।

After a verb, तँ often says "I do, but". The speaker agrees with part of the idea and hints at a problem.

Do not confuse it with the तँ in जँ ... तँ, which begins the result of a condition. Here तँ follows a single word and can come in the middle of a sentence.

Hindi uses तो in the same places. Maithili writes तँ.

Examples (5)

  1. अहाँक गाम तँ बड्ड सुन्दर अछि!

    Your village really is beautiful!

    तँ adds feeling to गाम.

  2. हम तँ आइ नहि जाएब।

    As for me, I won't go today.

    तँ marks हम as the topic.

  3. चाह तँ बनि गेल, मुदा दूध नहि अछि।

    The tea is made, but there is no milk.

    तँ sets up the contrast with मुदा.

  4. ओ तँ बड्ड नीक लोक छथि!

    He is such a good man!

    तँ adds warmth.

  5. पढ़ए तँ चाहैत छी, मुदा समय नहि अछि।

    I do want to study, but I have no time.

    तँ after the verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi तो.

    हम तो आइ नहि जाएब।
    हम तँ आइ नहि जाएब।

    तो is Hindi. Maithili writes तँ.

How It Connects

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

तँ for a TopicLevel 3Marking a Topic with तँ

Learn This First

तँ has already appeared in जँ ... तँ, and its main example uses the spoken word बड़.

Words in This Pattern

तँ