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Description
Type: Interrogative sentence (present tense, conversational)
Origin: Urdu; “آپ” (you, respectful), “کیسے” (how), “ہو” (are – present tense)
Expanded Features:
Polarity: Neutral
Tense/Aspect: Present tense, used for checking well-being
Pragmatic Sense: Used to inquire about someone’s physical, emotional, or general state
Register: Common in daily conversation, polite and respectful due to use of “آپ”
Sociolinguistic Note: Indicates politeness and social courtesy; “تم کیسے ہو” would be informal
Synonyms (Urdu): آپ کیسی حالت میں ہیں؟, آپ خیریت سے ہیں؟, حال کیسا ہے؟
Synonyms (English): How are you feeling?, Are you well?, How’s your health?
Antonyms (Urdu): آپ ٹھیک نہیں ہیں؟, آپ کی حالت خراب ہے؟
Antonyms (English): Are you not well?, Are you feeling unwell?
Key Nuances:
Politeness is emphasized by using “آپ”
Commonly used as a greeting before starting a conversation
Can express genuine concern depending on tone and context
Usage Contexts:
Everyday conversation among friends, colleagues, or acquaintances
Telephone or text greetings
Formal meetings or casual social interactions
Example Sentences:
Urdu: استاد نے کلاس میں داخل ہوتے ہوئے پوچھا، آپ کیسے ہو؟
English: The teacher asked upon entering the class, how are you?
Urdu: دوست نے ملاقات پر کہا، آپ کیسے ہو؟
English: The friend said at the meeting, how have you been?
Urdu: والدہ نے فون پر پوچھا، آپ کیسے ہو؟
English: The mother asked on the phone, how do you feel?
Cultural Insight:
In Urdu-speaking cultures, greeting someone with concern for their well-being is a sign of respect and politeness. The choice of pronoun (“آپ” vs “تم”) conveys social hierarchy and familiarity.
Related Terms:
حالت (Haalat): Condition, state
خیریت (Kheriyat): Well-being
حالیہ خبر (Haaliya Khabar): Recent news, update on someone’s situation