के गर्दैछौ?
ke gardaichhau?
के गर्दैछौ? (ke gardaichhau?) is the Nepali way to say "what are you doing?"
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their current activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of के (what), gardai (doing) and chhau (are you).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
के गर्दैछौ? is an informal way to ask the question and is used for friends, younger people or those with whom you have a close, casual relationship. If you are speaking to elders, strangers or in formal settings, you should use the polite form के गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ? instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb phrase gardai chhau is in the continuous aspect, which is specifically used to ask about an action happening right now.
How do you pronounce it?
ke gardaichhau?
Did you know?
- Nepali has multiple levels of politeness for the verb 'to be', meaning you can choose from at least three different versions of के गर्दै… depending on whether the person is a close friend, a respected elder or a deity.
- While के गर्दैछौ? asks about an activity, asking के छ? literally means 'what is there?' and is the standard way to say 'what's up?' or 'how are you?' in Nepal.
- If you ask someone के गर्दैछौ? and they are doing nothing, they might reply with केही छैन, which literally means 'there is nothing' rather than 'I am doing nothing'.
Examples in context
- तिमी अहिले के गर्दैछौ?timi ahile ke gardaichhau?What are you doing right now?
Example conversation
Sumit calls Srijana on the phone to check on her.
- सुमित Sumitसृजना, तिमी के गर्दैछौ?srijana, timi ke gardaichhau?Srijana, what are you doing?
- सृजना Srijanaम अहिले किताब पढ्दैछु।ma ahile kitab padhdaichhu.I am reading a book right now.
- सुमित Sumitत्यसो भए धेरै राम्रो!tyaso bhaye dherai ramro!That is very good then!
- सृजना Srijanaधन्यवाद, सुमित।dhanyabad, sumit.Thank you, Sumit.
