bu
This
Bu points to someone or something close to you: bu kitob (this book), Bu nima? (What is this?), Bu mening uyim (This is my house).
How It Works
Two jobs
- Before a noun, bu means this and stays the same even when the noun is plural: bu uy (this house), bu uylar (these houses).
- On its own, bu means this one or this thing and is often the subject: Bu Anvar (This is Anvar), Bu nima? (What is this?). There is no word for "is"; see Third Person Takes No Ending.
Because there is no word for "is", bu kitob can be a phrase (this book) or a whole sentence (This is a book). Context and intonation tell them apart: Bu kitob. (This is a book.) Bu kitob qiziq. (This book is interesting.)
Endings on bu
Standing alone, bu takes endings, and it adds an n before -ga, -da and -dan: bunga (to this), bunda (in this), bundan (from this). With -ni and -ning nothing is added: buni, buning. See The Extra n in unga and bunga.
Near and far
Bu is near, and u is farther away: bu olma and u olma. Shu is also "this", for the thing right here or the one just mentioned. See That (Far Away) and This One, That Same One. To point while you speak, say mana bu (this one here); see Here It Is, There It Is.
Examples (6)
- Bu nima?
What is this?
Word by Word: This what?
- Bu mening uyim.
This is my house.
Word by Word: This my house-my.
- Bu kitob juda qiziq.
This book is very interesting.
Word by Word: This book very interesting.
- Bu Anvar, mening akam.
This is Anvar, my older brother.
Word by Word: This Anvar, my older-brother-my.
Bu introduces a person as well as a thing.
- Bu olmalar shirin.
These apples are sweet.
Word by Word: This apples sweet.
Before a noun, bu stays bu even when the noun is plural.
- Buni oling.
Take this.
Word by Word: This-OBJ take.
Standing alone, bu takes the object ending: buni.
Common Mistakes
Making bu plural before a plural noun.
Bular kitoblar qiziq.Bu kitoblar qiziq.Before a noun, bu never changes; the noun carries the plural. Bular is used only on its own: Bular qiziq (These are interesting).
Adding -ga straight to bu.
Buga qarang.Bunga qarang.Bu adds n before -ga, -da and -dan: bunga, bunda, bundan.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- u (koʻrsatish olmoshi)That (Far Away)
U is the far partner of bu: bu uy (this house), u uy (that house).
Level 1 - shu / oʻshaThis One, That Same One
Shu is another this, for the thing right here or the one just mentioned.
Level 2 - bu yerda / u yerdaHere and There
Bu yerda (here) is built from bu plus yer (place).
Level 1 - nimaWhat
Bu nima? is the first question learners ask about things around them.
Level 1 - unga / bunga / shungaThe Extra N in Unga and Bunga
Explains the n in bunga, bunda and bundan.
Level 2 - mana / anaHere It Is, There It Is
Mana bu (this one here) adds pointing to bu.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice bu in Bubblegum
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