सकिनु

The Nepali verb सकिनु (Sakinu) is a fundamental word that every learner must master early in their journey. At its core, it translates to 'to finish,' 'to be completed,' or 'to be over.' However, unlike the English verb 'to finish,' which can be used both transitively (I finished the book) and intransitively (The movie finished), sakinu is primarily intransitive. This means it focuses on the state of the object or the action itself reaching an end, rather than the person who performed the action. When you use sakinu, you are often describing a situation where resources have run out, time has expired, or an event has naturally concluded. It is the passive-sounding counterpart to the transitive verb सिध्याउनु (Sidhyāunu), which specifically means 'to finish something' through active effort. Understanding this distinction is crucial for sounding natural in Nepali conversations.

Grammatical Category

Intransitive Verb (अकर्मक क्रिया). It does not take a direct object in the same way transitive verbs do.

Daily Context

Used constantly in kitchens (food running out), offices (meetings ending), and schools (lessons finishing).

Beyond the physical finishing of items, sakinu also serves as a grammatical auxiliary. When attached to the root of another verb, it indicates the possibility or the passive ability of an action to occur. For example, 'गर्न सकिन्छ' (garna sakinchha) means 'it can be done.' This dual role makes it one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in the Nepali language. In a cultural sense, 'sakinu' carries a weight of finality. When a shopkeeper says 'सामान सकियो' (sāmān sakiyo), they aren't just saying they finished selling it; they are informing you of the current state of unavailability. It is a word that marks transitions—the end of a day, the end of a meal, or the end of a life phase. Mastery of this word allows learners to navigate daily transactions and express the completion of states with precision.

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Neutral to Informal. It is appropriate for all social settings but is ubiquitous in casual speech.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter 'समाप्त हुनु' (samāpta hunu), but in 99% of daily life, sakinu is the king of completion. Whether you are talking about your mobile battery dying, your money running out, or the movie credits rolling, this is the verb that bridges the gap between 'happening' and 'happened.' It is also important to note the negative form 'सकिएन' (sakiena), which means 'it didn't finish' or 'it couldn't be finished,' often carrying a sense of frustration or incomplete expectation. This nuances the word further, allowing speakers to express not just the end of things, but the failure to reach an end.

Using सकिनु (Sakinu) correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation patterns, which follow the standard rules for Nepali 'i-ending' verbs. Because it is an intransitive verb, the subject of the sentence is the thing that is finishing, not the person doing the finishing. This is a major point of confusion for English speakers. Instead of saying 'I finished the rice,' a Nepali speaker would literally say 'The rice finished' (भात सकियो). If you want to emphasize that you were the one who finished it, you would use 'सिध्याएँ' (sidhyāẽ), but sakiyo is much more common for describing the resultant state.

Let's look at the different tenses. In the present tense, we use सकिन्छ (sakinchha) to describe things that generally finish or the possibility of something being finished. In the past tense, सकियो (sakiyo) is the most common form, used to indicate that something has just ended. For the future tense, सकिनेछ (sakinechha) or the more colloquial सकिन्छ (sakinchha) is used. The negative forms are also vital: सकिँदैन (sakidaina) for 'it doesn't finish/it's not possible' and सकिएन (sakiena) for 'it didn't finish.'

Past Tense (Simple)

सकियो (Sakiyo) - It finished. Used for events, food, time, and tasks.

Present Tense (Habitual/Potential)

सकिन्छ (Sakinchha) - It finishes / It can be finished. Often used for 'It's possible'.

When sakinu is used as a secondary verb, it follows the root of the main verb to express capacity or possibility in a passive sense. This is slightly different from the active 'सक्नु' (saknu - can). For example, 'यो बाटोबाट जान सकिन्छ' (Yo bāṭobāṭa jāna sakinchha) means 'It is possible to go via this road.' Here, 'sakinchha' provides a sense of general possibility rather than a specific person's ability. This nuance is sophisticated and distinguishes intermediate speakers from beginners. In daily writing, you will see this in instructions, signs, and formal announcements where the agent of the action is not specified.

Negative Past

सकिएन (Sakiena) - Didn't finish. Example: गृहकार्य सकिएन (Homework didn't finish).

Finally, consider the aspect of 'running out.' When a gas cylinder is empty, a Nepali speaker says 'ग्यास सकियो' (Gyās sakiyo). When the battery of a phone is dead, 'ब्याट्री सकियो' (Byāṭrī sakiyo). This usage is incredibly helpful for survival Nepali. It describes the depletion of resources without needing complex vocabulary for 'empty' or 'depleted.' Simply naming the item followed by 'sakiyo' communicates the situation perfectly to any native speaker. It is the ultimate word for indicating that something is no longer available or has reached its end point.

The word सकिनु (Sakinu) is ubiquitous in the Nepali landscape, echoing through various social spheres from the bustling streets of Kathmandu to the quiet mountain villages. One of the most common places you will hear it is in the marketplace. Shopkeepers use it to inform customers that a particular item is out of stock. 'चिनी सकियो' (Chini sakiyo - Sugar is finished) is a common refrain in local 'kirana' stores. In this context, it isn't just a statement of fact; it's a part of the daily negotiation and interaction between buyer and seller. You'll hear it in the kitchen, where a mother might announce to the family that the 'dal' is finished, signaling the end of a meal or the need to cook more.

In professional environments, sakinu is used to mark the conclusion of tasks and meetings. At the end of a long presentation or a workday, a colleague might sigh and say 'काम सकियो!' (Work is finished!), expressing relief. On public transport, you might hear the conductor shouting that the seats are 'finished' (meaning full), using the word to manage the crowd. It also appears in media; at the end of a television program or a news broadcast, the presenter might say 'आजको कार्यक्रम यहीँ सकिन्छ' (Today's program ends here). This formal usage demonstrates the word's flexibility across different levels of formality.

Public Announcements

'समय सकियो' (Time is up) during exams or sports matches.

Social Gatherings

Used at the end of weddings or festivals to signal the conclusion of ceremonies.

Another interesting place you'll hear this word is in the context of personal endurance or patience. A person might say 'मेरो धैर्य सकियो' (My patience is finished), indicating they can no longer tolerate a situation. This metaphorical use is very common in emotional conversations or arguments. In literature and songs, sakinu is often used to describe the end of seasons, the setting of the sun, or the conclusion of a life journey. It carries a poetic weight when used to describe the inevitable end of time or love. Whether in the mundane setting of a grocery list or the profound lyrics of a Nepali 'adhunik' song, sakinu is the word that defines the boundaries of experience.

Digital Context

Mobile notifications often say 'डाटा सकियो' (Data is finished/used up) when your internet plan expires.

Finally, in the classroom, teachers use it to check if students have finished their writing. 'सकियो?' is the standard way to ask 'Are you done?'. Students respond with 'सकियो' or 'सकिएन.' This simple exchange is one of the first interactions a foreign student in Nepal will experience. It is a word that facilitates rhythm in daily life, marking the beats between one activity and the next. Because it is so central to the flow of life, you will hear it dozens of times a day in any Nepali-speaking environment.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when learning Nepali is confusing सकिनु (Sakinu) with सक्नु (Saknu). While they look similar and share a root, their meanings in modern Nepali have diverged significantly. Saknu usually means 'to be able to' (can), whereas Sakinu means 'to be finished.' Learners often say 'Ma sakiyo' intending to say 'I am finished (with a task),' but this sounds like 'I am used up' or 'I have ended as a person,' which is nonsensical or overly dramatic. To say 'I finished,' you should ideally say the name of the task followed by 'sakiyo' (e.g., 'Kam sakiyo').

Another common pitfall is the confusion between the intransitive sakinu and the transitive sidhyāunu. If you want to say 'I finished the book,' and you use 'sakinu,' the sentence structure must change. You cannot say 'Maile kitab sakiyo' because 'sakiyo' doesn't take the agentive 'le' marker easily in this context. You should say 'Kitab sakiyo' (The book finished). If you want to use 'I' as the subject, use 'Maile kitab sidhyāẽ' (I finished the book). Using 'sakinu' with 'maile' is a grammatical mismatch that marks a speaker as a beginner.

Mistake #1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Using a person as the subject of 'sakinu' when referring to a task. Sakinu refers to the task itself.

Mistake #2: Confusing Can and Finish

Using 'sakinchha' (it is finished/possible) when you mean 'sakchhu' (I can).

A third mistake involves the 'passive ability' usage. Learners often forget that 'sakinchha' refers to general possibility. For example, 'Garna sakinchha' means 'It is doable' or 'One can do it.' Beginners often try to force a personal pronoun into this, like 'Ma garna sakinchha,' which is incorrect. It should be 'Ma garna sakchhu' (I can do it). Understanding that 'sakinu' conjugates differently and implies a different perspective on the action is key. Finally, pay attention to the negative past 'sakienā.' Many learners mistakenly use 'sakena,' which is the negative past of 'saknu' (couldn't). If you want to say 'The work didn't finish,' it is 'Kam sakiena,' not 'Kam sakena.'

Pronunciation Error

Confusing the short 'i' sound in 'sakinu' with a long 'ee' sound. Keep it crisp and short.

To avoid these mistakes, always think: 'Is the thing I am talking about finishing on its own, or am I finishing it?' If it's a state of being over, use 'sakinu.' If you are the active agent, use 'sidhyāunu' or 'saknu.' And always double-check your tenses, as 'sakiyo' is almost always the word you want for 'finished' in the past.

While सकिनु (Sakinu) is the most versatile word for 'to finish,' Nepali offers several alternatives depending on the context, formality, and the nature of the completion. The most prominent alternative is सिध्याउनु (Sidhyāunu). As mentioned before, this is a transitive verb. You use this when you want to emphasize that you or someone else actively completed a task. For example, 'Maile kam sidhyāẽ' (I finished the work). It implies effort and agency, whereas 'Kam sakiyo' simply states that the work is over.

सकिनु (Sakinu) vs सिध्याउनु (Sidhyāunu)

Sakinu is intransitive (it finished); Sidhyāunu is transitive (I finished it).

सकिनु (Sakinu) vs समाप्त हुनु (Samāpta Hunu)

Sakinu is common/daily; Samāpta Hunu is formal/literary (to conclude).

Another common word is खतम हुनु (Khatam Hunu). This is borrowed from Hindi/Urdu and is very common in colloquial Nepali. It carries a slightly stronger sense of 'ending' or 'being destroyed/wasted.' If you say 'Paisa khatam bhayo,' it sounds a bit more dramatic than 'Paisa sakiyo.' It can also mean something is 'bad' or 'useless' in slang (e.g., 'Yo film khatam chha' - This movie is terrible). For formal endings, such as the conclusion of a speech, a book, or a formal event, अन्त्य हुनु (Antya Hunu) is used. This literally means 'to reach the end' and is often found in written Nepali or news reports.

In specific contexts, other verbs might be more appropriate. For example, if you are talking about a flame or a light going out, you use निभ्नु (Nibhnu). If you are talking about a supply being exhausted or cut off, टुट्नु (Tutnu) might be used in some dialects. However, sakinu is so flexible that it can often cover these meanings too. For instance, 'Batti sakiyo' (The light/battery is finished) is perfectly acceptable in casual speech even if 'Batti nibhyo' is more precise for a flame. Understanding these synonyms helps you choose the right 'flavor' of finishing for your sentence.

पूरा हुनु (Purā Hunu)

To be completed/fulfilled. Used for dreams, promises, or full cycles.

When comparing sakinu to purā hunu, the difference is between 'ending' and 'becoming whole.' If a project is finished, you can say 'Kam sakiyo.' If a dream is fulfilled, you say 'Sapana purā bhayo.' Using sakinu for a dream would sound like the dream simply stopped, whereas purā bhayo sounds like it reached its successful goal. This nuance is vital for expressing positive versus neutral completion. As you progress, try to swap sakinu for these more specific terms to enrich your Nepali vocabulary.