Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Siz' for respect and 'Sen' for friends; remember that 'Siz' requires plural verb endings.
- Use 'Sen' (singular informal) for friends, family, and children: 'Sen keldiñ.'
- Use 'Siz' (singular formal) for elders, strangers, and superiors: 'Siz keldiñiz.'
- Always match the verb ending to the pronoun: 'Siz' takes plural suffixes like '-ñiz'.
Pronoun and Verb Agreement
| Pronoun | Meaning | Verb Suffix (Example: Bar-) | Full Form (Formal) | Full Form (Informal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sen
|
You (inf)
|
-siñ
|
N/A
|
Sen barsyñ
|
|
Siz
|
You (form)
|
-siz
|
Siz barsyz
|
N/A
|
Meanings
Kazakh distinguishes between informal and formal address through pronoun choice and corresponding verb conjugation.
Formal Address
Used for respect, distance, or professional settings.
“Siz keldiniz be?”
“Siz ne istep jatsyz?”
Informal Address
Used for peers, family, and children.
“Sen keldiñ be?”
“Sen ne istep jatsyñ?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Pronoun + Verb-suffix
|
Siz barasyz
|
|
Negative
|
Pronoun + Verb-neg-suffix
|
Siz barmaysyz
|
|
Question
|
Pronoun + Verb-suffix + ba?
|
Siz barasyz ba?
|
|
Polite Request
|
Verb-ñiz
|
Keliñiz
|
|
Informal Request
|
Verb-ñ
|
Kel
|
|
Possessive
|
Pronoun-diñ/niñ
|
Sizdiñ
|
正式程度
Siz qalay sız? (Greeting)
Qalay sız? (Greeting)
Qalay syñ? (Greeting)
Qalay? (Greeting)
The Honorific Divide
Informal (Sen)
- Dostyq Friendship
- Jaqyn Close
Formal (Siz)
- Qurmet Respect
- Resmi Official
按水平分级的例句
Sen kimsiñ?
Who are you? (informal)
Siz kimsiz?
Who are you? (formal)
Sen kel.
Come here. (informal)
Siz keliñiz.
Please come. (formal)
Sen qalay tūrasyñ?
How are you living? (informal)
Siz qalay tūrasyz?
How are you living? (formal)
Sen barmaysyñ ba?
Aren't you going? (informal)
Siz barmaysyz ba?
Aren't you going? (formal)
Sizge kömektese alamyn ba?
Can I help you? (formal)
Sagan kömektese alamyn ba?
Can I help you? (informal)
Sizdiñ oyynyz qanday?
What is your opinion? (formal)
Senin oyyn qanday?
What is your opinion? (informal)
Sizdi kütip otyrmyz.
We are waiting for you. (formal)
Seni kütip otyrmyz.
We are waiting for you. (informal)
Sizge rıxat aytamyn.
I thank you. (formal)
Sagan raxmet.
Thanks to you. (informal)
Sizden suranar edim.
I would like to ask you. (formal)
Senden surayyn dep edim.
I wanted to ask you. (informal)
Sizge degen qurmetim zor.
My respect for you is great. (formal)
Sagan degen senimim mol.
My trust in you is high. (informal)
Sizdiñ ruxsatyñyzben.
With your permission. (formal)
Seniñ ruxsatyñmen.
With your permission. (informal)
Sizge kelsin.
May it come to you. (formal)
Sagan kelsin.
May it come to you. (informal)
容易混淆
Learners think 'Sizler' is the plural of 'Siz'.
Mixing up the endings.
Using the wrong command form.
常见错误
Siz keldiñ
Siz keldiñiz
Sen keldiniz
Sen keldiñ
Siz bar
Siz barsyz
Sen barasyz
Sen barasyñ
Siz ne istep jatsyñ?
Siz ne istep jatsyz?
Sizge raxmet aytamyn (to a boss)
Sizge raxmet aytamyn (formal)
Sen kelsin
Sen kel
Sizler keldiniz
Siz keldiniz
Siz keldin
Siz keldiniz
Sen keldiniz be?
Sen keldiñ be?
Siz keldin (in a formal speech)
Siz keldiniz
Sizler (when addressing one person)
Siz
Sen (to a professor)
Siz
句型
Siz ___ ba?
Sen ___ ba?
Sizge ___ kerek pe?
Sizdiñ ___ qanday?
Real World Usage
Sizdiñ täjiribeniñiz qanday?
Qalay syñ?
Sizge ne äkelin?
Sizge raxmet.
Sen ne istep jatsyñ?
Siz qayda barasyz?
Default to Siz
Don't mix
Watch the elders
The 'Siz' transition
Smart Tips
Always start with 'Siz'.
Use 'Sizdiñ' for possessive.
Ensure the verb ends in -siz.
Use -ñiz.
发音
Suffix stress
The formal suffix '-ñiz' often carries a slight stress.
Question intonation
Siz barasyz ba? ↗
Rising pitch at the end for questions.
记住它
记忆技巧
Siz is for Seniors, Sen is for Siblings.
视觉联想
Imagine a tall, dignified person wearing a suit (Siz) and a relaxed friend in a hoodie (Sen).
Rhyme
Use Siz for the wise, use Sen for your guys.
Story
A student meets a professor. He says 'Siz' to show respect. Later, he meets his friend and says 'Sen' to show warmth. He never mixes them up.
Word Web
挑战
Write 5 sentences using 'Siz' and 5 using 'Sen' today.
文化笔记
Younger people use 'sen' more freely, but 'siz' is still used for elders.
Strict adherence to 'siz' for anyone older than you is mandatory.
Always 'siz' in the workplace, regardless of age.
The 'siz' form is a pluralization used to show respect, similar to the 'royal we'.
对话开场白
Siz ne istep jatsyz?
Senin atyn kim?
Siz qashan kele siz?
Sizge qanday kömek kerek?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Siz bar___?
___ keldiñiz be?
Find and fix the mistake:
Siz keldiñ.
Sen barasyñ.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Siz / bar / ba
Kel-
Addressing a stranger
Score: /8
练习题
8 exercisesSiz bar___?
___ keldiñiz be?
Find and fix the mistake:
Siz keldiñ.
Sen barasyñ.
Sen vs Siz
Siz / bar / ba
Kel-
Addressing a stranger
Score: /8
常见问题 (8)
Yes, but it will sound like you are joking or being very distant.
Apologize and switch to 'Siz'. Most people will understand you are a learner.
Grammatically yes, but pragmatically it is singular formal.
No, 'Sen' is standard for children.
Usually, the older or more senior person will suggest it.
Yes, it is standard in formal writing.
It is a sign of respect, treating the person with the weight of a group.
Yes, kinship terms like 'Aga' (older brother) are often used with 'Siz'.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
du/Sie
Kazakh uses plural suffixes for formal, while German uses third-person plural.
tu/vous
Kazakh is more strictly agglutinative.
tú/usted
Kazakh uses plural conjugation for formal.
anata/kimi
Japanese changes the verb itself, not just the suffix.
Anta/Antum
Arabic has gendered pronouns.
ni/nin
Kazakh changes the verb, Chinese does not.
