ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ
thoṛhā jihā
In Punjabi, "a little bit" is expressed as ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ (thoṛhā jihā).
ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ is used to describe a small amount of a noun or a slight degree of an action.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ (thoṛhā), which means "little" or "a small amount" and the particle ਜਿਹਾ (jihā), meaning "like" or "sort of". Together, they function as "a little bit".
Which one should you use?
You can also use the shorter form ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ (thoṛhā) to mean "a little" or "some". For an informal way to say "just a little", you can use ਕੁਝ ਹੀ.
How does it change in a sentence?
ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ acts as an adverbial modifier to indicate a small quantity or degree.
How do you pronounce it?
thoṛhā jihā
Did you know?
- The word ਜਿਹਾ comes from Paisaci Prakrit, a language once used in ancient India for folk tales and common speech.
- In some regional Punjabi dialects, adding ਜਿਹਾ to adjectives is used to create a 'cute' or diminutive effect, similar to adding 'y' to English words.
- The particle ਜਿਹਾ in ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ acts as a softener, making a request for 'a little bit' sound more polite and less demanding to a Punjabi speaker.
Examples in context
- ਕੁਝ ਹੀ ਸਮੇਂ ਵਿਚ।Just a little while.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।mainu thora jiha pani chahida hai.I need a little bit of water.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?ki tusi thora jiha punjabi bol sakde ho?Can you speak a little bit of Punjabi?
- ਮੈਂ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹਾਂ।main thora jiha khush han.I am a little bit happy.
Example conversation
A woman is helping a man cook a meal.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਲੂਣ ਦੇ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?manpreet, ki tusi mainu loon de sakde ho?Manpreet, can you give me some salt?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ ਹਰਮਨ, ਕਿੰਨਾ ਲਵਾਂ?han harman, kinna lavan?Yes Harman, how much should I take?
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਬਸ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਪਾਓ।bas thora jiha pao.Just put in a little bit.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਇਹ ਲਓ।theek hai, eh lao.Okay, here it is.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਜਿਹਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
