ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?
tusi ki kar rahe ho?
ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? (tusi 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 breaks down literally as: ਤੁਸੀਂ (you) ਕੀ (what) ਕਰ (do) ਰਹੇ (doing/continuous marker) ਹੋ (are).
Which one should you use?
The form ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? is polite/formal, whereas ਤੂੰ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ? is used for close friends or younger people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the masculine plural/polite continuous form रहे ਹੋ (rahe ho). If speaking to a single female, the continuous marker changes from रहे (rahe) to ਰਹੀ (rahi).
How do you pronounce it?
tusi ki kar rahe ho?
Did you know?
- Punjabi is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used when saying ਕੀ (ki) can help distinguish it from other words that are spelled the same way.
- While the phrase asks 'what are you doing', in casual social settings it often functions as a general greeting similar to 'what is up' rather than a literal inquiry into an activity.
- If you use the informal ਤੂੰ (tu) with a stranger, it can be perceived as a significant insult or an act of extreme aggression.
Example conversation
Two friends chatting on the phone.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹੈਲੋ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?Hello Preet, tusīṃ kī kara rahe ho?Hello Preet, what are you doing?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਮੈਂ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ।Maiṃ kitāba paṛha rahī hāṃ.I am reading a book.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?Kī tusīṃ bāhara jā sakadē ho?Can you go outside?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ।Hāṃ, maiṃ ā rahī hāṃ.Yes, I am coming.
