Signification
Stating a lack of information.
Contexte culturel
In Kolkata, 'jani na' is often accompanied by a specific head tilt and a slight pout, indicating a genuine lack of information. In Dhaka, people might say 'bolte parlam na' (I couldn't say) as a softer, more polite version of 'jani na' to strangers. In Bengali schools, saying 'jani na' is better than guessing wrongly, as teachers value precision. The phrase is often used as a meme or a hashtag #janina to express confusion about viral trends.
The Person Rule
Always use 'chini na' for people. Using 'jani na' for a person makes you sound like a robot talking about a database entry.
Don't be too blunt
To elders, add 'bolte parchi na' to sound more respectful.
Signification
Stating a lack of information.
The Person Rule
Always use 'chini na' for people. Using 'jani na' for a person makes you sound like a robot talking about a database entry.
Don't be too blunt
To elders, add 'bolte parchi na' to sound more respectful.
Add 'to'
Adding 'to' at the end (Jani na to) makes you sound much more like a native speaker—it adds a nuance of 'I don't know, as far as I'm aware'.
The Bengali Shrug
A slight tilt of the head to the left often accompanies this phrase.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct phrase to say 'I don't know his name'.
আমি তার নাম ____।
Names are factual information, so 'jani na' is correct.
Fill in the blank with the correct negative particle.
আমি এই অংকটা জানি ___।
In the present tense, 'na' is the standard negation.
Match the situation to the best response.
Someone asks you if you are familiar with the city of London.
Familiarity with places requires 'chini na'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: কাল কি বৃষ্টি হবে? B: ____, হতেও পারে।
Weather predictions are uncertain information.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Jani Na vs. Chini Na
Jani Na (Facts)
- • Names
- • Dates
- • Phone numbers
- • Skills
Chini Na (Familiarity)
- • People
- • Cities
- • Roads
- • Buildings
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesআমি তার নাম ____।
Names are factual information, so 'jani na' is correct.
আমি এই অংকটা জানি ___।
In the present tense, 'na' is the standard negation.
Someone asks you if you are familiar with the city of London.
Familiarity with places requires 'chini na'.
A: কাল কি বৃষ্টি হবে? B: ____, হতেও পারে।
Weather predictions are uncertain information.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsOnly if you are talking about a fact about the place (e.g., its population). If you mean you haven't been there, use 'chini na'.
Not inherently, but tone matters. In formal settings, 'jana nei' is safer.
'Jani na' is 'I don't know' (present), 'jantam na' is 'I didn't know' (past).
You say 'Ami kichui jani na'.
Yes, like 'Ami gari chalate jani na' (I don't know how to drive).
In modern Bengali, it is written as two words: জানি না।
Use 'Ami ekhono jani na'.
'Ke jane' (Who knows) is often used as a casual alternative.
It's a filler that softens the statement, making it sound less like a hard 'no'.
Yes! 'Tumi jano na' (You don't know), 'Se jane na' (He doesn't know).
Expressions liées
চিনি না
similarDon't know (person/place)
বুঝি না
similarDon't understand
জানা নেই
specialized formNot in my knowledge
ভুলে গেছি
builds onI have forgotten
কে জানে
similarWho knows
অজানা
builds onUnknown
