What does it mean word for word?
The portion توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟ breaks down literally into توهان (you), ڪيئن (how) and آهيو (are).
Which one should you use?
The default form هيلو، توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟ uses the formal and plural pronoun, whereas the informal version used for a single person is تون ڪيئن آهين؟.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟ is a polite and respectful way to ask how someone is doing because it uses the formal pronoun and verb forms. For more casual situations, you can use the informal version تون ڪيئن آهين؟.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟, the pronoun توهان (tawhan) is the formal or plural form of "you", used to show respect or to address a group. The word ڪيئن (kiyan) is the interrogative adverb meaning "how". The verb آهيو (ahyo) is the second-person plural/formal conjugation of the verb "to be" in the present tense.
How do you pronounce it?
hello, tawhan kiyan ahyo?
When do people say it?
While هيلو، توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟ is a common way to greet, the Arabic greeting Assalam-o-Alaikum (meaning "Peace be upon you") is also frequently used in Sindhi. When someone uses the formal greeting Assalam-o-Alaikum, the standard response is Walaykum Assalam.
Did you know?
- The greeting توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟ can be written in two entirely different scripts, using Arabic characters in Pakistan and Devanagari characters in India.
- Using the informal تون ڪيئن آهين؟ when addressing a stranger or an elder is not just casual, but can be viewed as a genuine social insult.
- In Sindhi, it is culturally common to follow توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟ with a series of specific questions about the health and well-being of the other person's entire family.
Examples in context
- هيلو، توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟ وڏو وقت گذري ويو.hilo, tuhan kian ahyo? vado vaqt guzri vyo.Hello, how are you? It has been a long time.
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet on the street.
- سلمان Salmanهيلو، توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟Hello, tuhan kiyan ahyo?Hello, how are you?
- فوزیہ Fauziaمان ٺيڪ آهيان، مهرباني. توهان ڪيئن آهيو؟Man thik ahyan, meharbani. Tuhan kiyan ahyo?I am fine, thank you. How are you?
- سلمان Salmanمان به بلڪل ٺيڪ آهيان.Man ba bilkul thik ahyan.I am also completely fine.
- فوزیہ Fauziaسٺو، ملڻ ٿي خوشي ٿي!Sutho, milan thi khushi thi!Good, it was nice to meet you!
