सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ
sanchai hunuhunchha
In Nepali, 'how are you' is translated as सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ (sanchai hunuhunchha).
This phrase is used as a greeting to ask about someone's well-being. When someone asks you how you are, you can respond with सन्चै छु to mean 'I am well' or Thikai chu to mean 'I am fine'.
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of सन्चै, which literally means 'well' or 'fine' and हुनुहुन्छ, which is the polite form of the verb 'to be'.
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter Tapailai kasto cha? as a formal way to address a single person or the informal Kasto cha? when speaking to friends or peers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use the polite/honorific form सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ? when speaking to elders or people of higher status. For friends or younger people, you can use the informal सन्चै छ?
How do you pronounce it?
sanchai hunuhunchha
When do people say it?
When someone asks how you are, common responses include सन्चै छु (I am well) or Thikai chu (I am fine).
Did you know?
- In many parts of Nepal, rather than asking 'how are you', people often greet each other by asking if you have eaten or if you are 'fed'.
- In casual settings, instead of asking how someone is, peers often use the word के छ? (ke cha?), which literally translates to 'what is there?'
- The politeness level of हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhunchha) is so high that using it with a close friend might actually come across as sarcastic or jokingly overly formal.
Examples in context
- तपाईं सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ?tapāī sanchai hunuhunchha?Are you well?
Example conversation
Srijana meets Dipesh at a local cafe.
- सृजना Srijanaनमस्ते दिपेश जी, सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ?namaste dipesh jī, sanchai hunuhunchha?Hello Dipesh ji, how are you?
- दिपेश Dipeshनमस्ते सृजना जी, म सन्चै छु।namaste srijana jī, ma sanchai chhu.Hello Srijana ji, I am well.
- सृजना Srijanaसुन्न पाउँदा खुसी लाग्यो।sunna pāunda khusī lāgyo.I am happy to hear that.
- दिपेश Dipeshतपाईं पनि सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ नि?tapāī pani sanchai hunuhunchha ni?And you are also well, right?
