नि / न

Friendly Nudges with नि and न

Level 3Sounds Like ni ra na

नि and न are small words that make a sentence warmer.

How It Works

नि and न do not add facts. They add warmth.

ParticleJobExample
निsoft question or reminderतिमी कहाँ जान्छौ नि?
निbut I told youमैले त भनेको थिएँ नि।
नfriendly commandयता आउनुहोस् न।

न after a command is like please or come on. A command with न is gentler than a bare command. It is not the negative न-: आऊ न means come on, not do not come.

Both particles usually go at the end of the clause, after the verb. नि can also follow a noun to ask the same about someone else: तिमी नि? (and you?). Keep them separate from the verb: आऊ न, not आऊन.

They belong to speech. Use them with friends, family and children. With people you do not know, use the polite form and keep the particle light.

Examples (5)

  1. तिमी कहाँ जान्छौ नि?

    So where are you going?

    नि softens the question.

  2. मैले त भनेको थिएँ नि।

    But I did tell you.

    नि adds a friendly reminder.

  3. यता आउनुहोस् न।

    Please come this way.

    न makes the polite command friendly.

  4. आऊ न, बसौँ।

    Come on, let us sit.

    न invites the other person.

  5. अलिकति बस न।

    Sit down for a bit, will you?

    न makes the command softer.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing न joined to the verb.

    आऊन, बसौँ।
    आऊ न, बसौँ।

    The particle न is a separate word.

How It Connects

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

नि / नLevel 3Friendly Nudges with नि and न

Learn This First

नि and न add friendliness.