ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?
ki kar rahe ho?
ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? (ki kar rahe ho?) is the Punjabi 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 literally breaks down to ਕੀ (what) ਕਰ (do) ਰਹੇ (being) ਹੋ (are)?
Which one should you use?
ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? (ki kar rahe ho?) is the polite version, while ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ? (ki kar riha hain?) is the informal version.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? is the masculine/neutral singular or plural polite form. When addressing a female, the continuous marker changes from ਰਹੇ (rahe) to ਰਹੀ (rahi), resulting in ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੋ? (ki kar rahi ho?).
How do you pronounce it?
ki kar rahe ho?
Did you know?
- In Punjabi culture, asking ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? is often used as a general greeting similar to 'how are you' or 'what is up' rather than a literal inquiry into a person's activity.
- The word ਕੀ (what) is a direct descendant of the Sanskrit word 'kim', which has survived for thousands of years in various Indo-Aryan languages.
- If you are speaking to a group of people or a single person you highly respect, you must use the plural-style ending ਹੋ (ho) rather than the singular forms.
Examples in context
- ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?tusi is vele ki kar rahe ho?What are you doing right now?
Example conversation
Kiran calls Aman on the phone to check on him.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਅਮਨ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?aman, tusi ki kar rahe ho?Aman, what are you doing?
- ਅਮਨ Amanਮੈਂ ਹੁਣੇ ਖਾਣਾ ਖਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ।main hune khana kha riha han.I am eating food right now.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਫਿਰ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ।theek hai, fir baad vich gall karde han.Okay, let's talk later then.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹਾਂ, ਠੀਕ ਹੈ।han, theek hai.Yes, okay.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਕੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
