-sa-chi

How About...?

Level 4

Verb + -sa + person + -chi = How about...? / Why don’t you...?: Ertaga borsak-chi? (How about we go tomorrow?), Unga qoʻngʻiroq qilsangiz-chi? (Why don’t you call him?).

How It Works

The conditional -sa normally means if. With the particle -chi added, it turns into a short question or push about what could be done or what might happen.

1. Building the form
Add -sa and the person ending to the verb stem, then -chi after a hyphen:

  • borsam-chi? (how about I go?)
  • borsang-chi? (why don’t you go?)
  • borsa-chi? (how about he goes? what if he goes?)
  • borsak-chi? (how about we go?)
  • borsangiz-chi? (why don’t you go?, polite)

The spelling rules write -chi with a hyphen, as in the other uses of -chi.

2. Suggesting and offering
With we, it is a friendly suggestion: Ertaga borsak-chi? With I, it offers to do something: Taksi chaqirsam-chi? (How about I call a taxi?). It is softer than -(a)ylik (let’s), because it asks the others what they think.

3. Urging someone
With you, it can be a gentle idea (Unga qoʻngʻiroq qilsangiz-chi?) or, with a firmer voice and an exclamation mark, a push: Tezroq yursang-chi! (Walk faster, will you!). This is close to -chi after a command.

4. What if...?
For something that might go wrong, it asks a worried question: Yomgʻir yogʻsa-chi? (What if it rains?), Agar u kelmasa-chi? (What if he does not come?). agar can be added, and the negative uses -masa.

Examples (6)

  1. Ertaga borsak-chi?

    How about we go tomorrow?

    Word by Word: Tomorrow if-we-go-(how about)?

  2. Unga qoʻngʻiroq qilsangiz-chi?

    Why don’t you call him?

    Word by Word: Him-to call if-you-do-(how about)?

  3. Taksi chaqirsam-chi?

    How about I call a taxi?

    Word by Word: Taxi if-I-call-(how about)?

    With I, it offers to do something.

  4. Tezroq yursang-chi! Kech qolamiz.

    Walk faster, will you! We will be late.

    Word by Word: Faster if-you-walk-(come on)! Late we-will-stay.

    Said firmly, it urges the listener.

  5. Agar u kelmasa-chi?

    What if he does not come?

    Word by Word: If he if-not-comes-(what about)?

    A worried question about something that might happen.

  6. Yomgʻir yogʻsa-chi? Soyabon olib ol.

    What if it rains? Take an umbrella.

    Word by Word: Rain if-falls-(what about)? Umbrella taking take.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing -chi joined to the verb.

    Ertaga borsakchi?
    Ertaga borsak-chi?

    The spelling rules write the particle -chi with a hyphen: borsak-chi, qilsangiz-chi.

  • Leaving out the person ending when you mean we.

    Ertaga borsa-chi?
    Ertaga borsak-chi?

    The speaker wants to suggest that the group goes. borsa-chi without an ending is about he or she: How about he goes? The ending -k marks we.

How It Connects

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

-sa-chiLevel 4How About...?

Learn This First

Builds on If: -sa and What About...? With -chi.