-chi (buyruq yuklamasi)

Softening Requests with -chi

Level 2

Put -chi after a command to make it sound softer and more inviting: Ayting-chi, bekat qayerda? (Tell me, where is the bus stop?).

How It Works

-chi after a command works a bit like English just, please or come on. It draws the listener in and makes the request feel lighter:

  • Ayting-chi, bekat qayerda? (Tell me, where is the bus stop?)
  • Qara-chi, kim keldi! (Look who's here!)
  • Menga ham koʻrsating-chi. (Show me too, please.)

With every command form. It can follow any of them:

  • the familiar stem: Qara-chi!; see familiar commands
  • the polite -ing: Ayting-chi; see -(i)ng
  • let me: Koʻray-chi (Let me see); see -(a)y
  • let's: Boraylik-chi! (Come on, let's go!); see -(a)ylik

It does not make a command polite. -chi softens the tone, but a familiar command stays familiar. With a stranger, start from the polite form: Ayting-chi, not Ayt-chi.

Tone of voice matters. Said warmly, it invites. Said sharply, it can sound impatient: Jim boʻl-chi! (Be quiet, will you!).

Spelling. Like the question particle -chi, it is always written with a hyphen. Another hyphenated particle, -da, adds urging in a similar spot: Kel-da!

Examples (6)

  1. Ayting-chi, bekat qayerda?

    Tell me, where is the bus stop?

    Word by Word: Tell-POLITE-CHI, stop where?

    A common, gentle way to start a question to a stranger.

  2. Qara-chi, kim keldi!

    Look who's here!

    Word by Word: Look-CHI, who came!

  3. Menga ham koʻrsating-chi.

    Show me too, please.

    Word by Word: Me-to also show-POLITE-CHI.

  4. Bir daqiqa kuting-chi.

    Wait a minute, please.

    Word by Word: One minute wait-POLITE-CHI.

  5. Qani, koʻray-chi.

    Come on, let me see.

    Word by Word: Come.on, see-AY-CHI.

    -chi also follows the let me form.

  6. Boraylik-chi!

    Come on, let's go!

    Word by Word: Go-AYLIK-CHI!

Common Mistakes

  • Writing -chi joined to the command.

    Aytingchi, bekat qayerda?
    Ayting-chi, bekat qayerda?

    The official spelling writes the particle -chi with a hyphen: ayting-chi, boraylik-chi.

  • Expecting -chi to make a familiar command polite.

    Kechirasiz, ayt-chi, bekat qayerda?
    Kechirasiz, ayting-chi, bekat qayerda?

    -chi only softens the tone. Ayt is still the form for people you call sen, so with a stranger use ayting-chi.

How It Connects

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

-chi (buyruq yuklamasi)Level 2Softening Requests with -chi

Learn This First

Builds on What About...? With -chi and Familiar Commands.