আপনি কেমন আছেন?
Aapni kemon aachen?
How are you doing? In Bengali is আপনি কেমন আছেন? (Aapni kemon aachen?)
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being or general state of life.
What does it mean word for word?
The word কেমন literally means how.
Which one should you use?
While আপনি কেমন আছেন? is a standard formal way to ask the question, other variations exist depending on the level of intimacy. For example, Apni kemon achen? and Apnar khobor kemon? are both formal options. For a more casual tone, Kemon achho? is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The level of formality is indicated by changing both the pronoun and the verb. The formal version uses the pronoun aapni and the verb form aachen. The informal version uses the pronoun tumi and the verb form acho. The very informal version uses the pronoun tui and the verb form achis.
How do you pronounce it?
Aapni kemon aachen?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you how you are, a common response is আমি ভালো আছি। (Ami bhalo achi), which means "I am well".
Did you know?
- While আমি ভালো আছি (I am well) is the standard reply, it is common in some regions to answer by saying চলছে (cholche), which literally means 'it is moving' or 'it is going'.
- When responding to 'how are you', many Bengali speakers will say আলহামদুলিল্লাহ (Alhamdulillah) or ঈশ্বর কৃপা করেছেন (Ishwar kripa korechen), attributing their well-being to divine grace rather than just saying 'I am fine'.
- In very close friendships or with younger siblings, using the formal আপনি instead of the intimate তুই can actually be perceived as cold or as a sign that you are angry.
Examples in context
- আপনি কেমন আছেন?apni kemon achen?How are you doing?
- সব ঠিক আছে তো, আপনি কেমন আছেন?sob thik ache to, apni kemon achen?Everything is fine, right? How are you doing?
- অনেক দিন পর দেখা হলো, আপনি কেমন আছেন?onek din por dekha holo, apni kemon achen?We met after a long time, how are you doing?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet at a local park.
- সৌরভ Souravনমস্কার অনন্যা, আপনি কেমন আছেন?nomoshkar onannya, apni kemon achen?Hello Anannya, how are you doing?
- অনন্যা Ananyaআমি ভালো আছি, ধন্যবাদ।ami bhalo achi, dhonnobad.I am doing well, thank you.
- সৌরভ Souravআপনার দিনটি কেমন কাটছে?apnar dinti kemon katche?How is your day going?
- অনন্যা Ananyaআজকের দিনটি খুব সুন্দর।ajker dinti khub sundor.Today is a very beautiful day.
