Phrase in 30 Seconds
A friendly, direct way to ask someone to share information, news, or a story with you.
- Means: 'Tell me' (Ni- 'me' + -ambia 'tell' + -e 'imperative/subjunctive')
- Used in: Daily greetings, asking for updates, or prompting a story.
- Don't confuse: With 'Niseme' (Let me speak) or 'Niambie' (singular) vs 'Niambieni' (plural).
适合你水平的解释：
意思
Asking for information.
文化背景
In Tanzania, 'Niambie' is often followed by a series of polite inquiries. It is rare to just get the information and leave; the 'telling' is part of a social visit. In urban Kenya, 'Niambie' is frequently used as a synonym for 'What's up?' and might be answered with 'Niko fiti' (I'm fit/good). Respect for elders is very high. You would rarely use 'Niambie' alone with an elder; you would use 'Niambie, babu' or 'Nieleze, mzee wangu'. The use of 'Hebu' before 'Niambie' adds a layer of gentle persuasion or curiosity, typical of the melodic coastal dialect.
The 'E' Rule
Always remember that adding 'Ni-' to 'Ambia' forces the ending to change to 'e'. It's a rule for all verbs in this form!
Wait for the Story
In Swahili culture, asking 'Niambie' is an invitation. Be prepared to listen for a few minutes; don't rush the speaker.
The 'E' Rule
Always remember that adding 'Ni-' to 'Ambia' forces the ending to change to 'e'. It's a rule for all verbs in this form!
Wait for the Story
In Swahili culture, asking 'Niambie' is an invitation. Be prepared to listen for a few minutes; don't rush the speaker.
Plurality Matters
If you're talking to a crowd, 'Niambie' will sound like you're only talking to one person. Add the '-ni'!
自我测试
Fill in the correct form of the verb to say 'Tell me the price'.
_____ bei ya matunda haya.
We need the object prefix 'ni-' and the subjunctive ending '-e' for a polite command.
Which phrase is most appropriate for a friend?
You want to ask your friend what happened yesterday.
'Niambie' is the natural way to prompt a friend for a story.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Nina habari mpya! B: ______!
When someone says they have news, the natural response is 'Tell me!'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Asking a group of children to tell you their names.
The '-ni' suffix is required for plural 'you'.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Common Uses
Facts
- • Prices
- • Time
- • Names
Stories
- • Weekends
- • Travel
- • Gossip
Help
- • Directions
- • Instructions
- • Advice
练习题库
5 练习_____ bei ya matunda haya.
We need the object prefix 'ni-' and the subjunctive ending '-e' for a polite command.
You want to ask your friend what happened yesterday.
'Niambie' is the natural way to prompt a friend for a story.
A: Nina habari mpya! B: ______!
When someone says they have news, the natural response is 'Tell me!'.
Asking a group of children to tell you their names.
The '-ni' suffix is required for plural 'you'.
🎉 得分： /5
常见问题
10 个问题Not necessarily. The '-e' ending makes it a subjunctive/polite imperative. However, with elders, adding 'Tafadhali' is safer.
'Niambie' is 'tell me' (general), while 'Nieleze' is 'explain to me' (detailed).
Yes, it's very common in WhatsApp or SMS to ask for updates.
You say 'Usiniambie'. It's used for both literal commands and expressions of shock.
Because the object prefix 'ni-' triggers the subjunctive mood in an imperative, which changes the final 'a' to 'e'.
Yes, 'Nishow' is very popular among youth in Kenya.
Yes: 'Niambie, ni saa ngapi?'
You change the prefix: 'Mwambie'.
Yes, change the prefix to 'tu-': 'Tuambie'.
Constantly! It's a very romantic and conversational word in Bongo Flava music.
相关表达
Nieleze
similarExplain to me
Nijuze
specialized formInform me / Make me know
Nipe mchapo
slangGive me the gossip
Sema
synonymSpeak / Say
Nikumbushe
builds onRemind me
在哪里用
Meeting a friend
Juma: Mambo vipi, rafiki?
Sara: Poa sana. Niambie, habari za safari yako?
At the market
Mteja: Shikamoo mzee.
Muuzaji: Marahaba. Niambie, unahitaji nini leo?
Asking for directions
Mtalii: Samahani, niambie njia ya kwenda hotelini.
Mwenyeji: Haina shida, nenda moja kwa moja...
On a phone call
Ali: Halo? Niambie, mbona hupokei simu?
Beni: Samahani, nilikuwa kwenye mkutano.
Hearing a secret
Lulu: Nina siri kubwa sana!
Neema: Hebu niambie haraka! Sitamwambia mtu.
In a job interview
Mwajiri: Niambie kuhusu uzoefu wako wa kazi.
Mwombaji: Nimefanya kazi kwa miaka mitano...
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of a 'Bee' (ambie) landing on your 'Knee' (Ni). You want the bee to 'Tell you' why it's there!
视觉联想
Imagine a colorful Swahili 'Baraza' (stone bench) where two elders are sitting. One leans in with a hand to his ear, saying 'Niambie,' while the other prepares to tell a grand story.
Rhyme
Niambie, rafiki yangu, mambo ya ulimwengu. (Tell me, my friend, the things of the world.)
Story
You are lost in the Stone Town of Zanzibar. You see a friendly shopkeeper. You say 'Niambie' to ask for the path. He tells you a story, gives you tea, and finally shows you the way. The word was your key to his help.
In Other Languages
In Spanish, 'Dime' functions almost identically, combining the verb 'tell' with the object 'me'. In French, 'Dis-moi' shares this direct imperative structure.
Word Web
挑战
Today, every time you want to ask 'What's up?' or 'How are you?' in English, say 'Niambie' in your head first.
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the 'e' ending which makes it a polite command.
发音
Short 'ni' like in 'knee'.
Open 'ah' sound.
The 'm' and 'b' are blended; the 'i' is short.
Like the 'e' in 'bed'.
正式程度
Tafadhali nieleze kuhusu siku yako. (Daily catch-up)
Niambie kuhusu siku yako. (Daily catch-up)
Niambie, siku yako ilikuwaje? (Daily catch-up)
Nishow, siku imekaaje? (Daily catch-up)
Derived from the Proto-Bantu root *-gamb- (to speak). Over time, in the Swahili language, this evolved into 'kuamba' (to say). The addition of the applicative extension '-ia' turned it into 'kuambia' (to say to/tell).
趣味小知识
The root '-amba' is also found in the word 'mwamba' (rock/truth), suggesting that 'saying' was originally linked to stating firm truths.
文化笔记
In Tanzania, 'Niambie' is often followed by a series of polite inquiries. It is rare to just get the information and leave; the 'telling' is part of a social visit.
“Niambie, watoto hawajambo? (Tell me, are the children well?)”
In urban Kenya, 'Niambie' is frequently used as a synonym for 'What's up?' and might be answered with 'Niko fiti' (I'm fit/good).
“Niambie msee! (Tell me man!)”
Respect for elders is very high. You would rarely use 'Niambie' alone with an elder; you would use 'Niambie, babu' or 'Nieleze, mzee wangu'.
“Niambie mzee wangu, habari za huko?”
The use of 'Hebu' before 'Niambie' adds a layer of gentle persuasion or curiosity, typical of the melodic coastal dialect.
“Hebu niambie siri hiyo.”
对话开场白
Niambie kuhusu wikendi yako.
Niambie, unapenda kula nini?
Niambie maoni yako kuhusu mji huu.
Niambie siri moja ya kujifunza lugha haraka.
常见错误
Ambia mimi
Niambie
L1 Interference
Niambia
Niambie
L1 Interference
Niambie (to a group)
Niambieni
L1 Interference
Niambie! (to a very old person)
Tafadhali nieleze
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Dime
Swahili changes the final vowel of the verb root, whereas Spanish does not in this specific case.
Dis-moi
French requires a hyphen and a separate pronoun word, while Swahili integrates it into the verb.
Sag mir
German distinguishes between 'sagen' (to say) and 'erzählen' (to tell/narrate) more strictly than Swahili.
教えて (Oshiete)
The Japanese term implies a knowledge gap (teacher/student) more than the Swahili term.
قل لي (Qul li)
Arabic uses a separate prepositional particle, whereas Swahili uses an internal object infix.
告诉我 (Gàosù wǒ)
Chinese has no conjugation or mood changes (like the Swahili '-e' ending).
말해줘 (Malhaejwo)
Korean is much more focused on the 'favor' aspect of the request than the direct Swahili imperative.
Diz-me / Conta-me
Portuguese placement of 'me' varies by dialect (Brazil vs Portugal), while Swahili is fixed.
Spotted in the Real World
“Niambie, unanipenda au unanichezea?”
A famous Bongo Flava song where the singer asks his lover to tell him the truth about her feelings.
“Niambie kama unanipenda, niambie kama unanitaka.”
A hit Kenyan song using the phrase to prompt a romantic confession.
“Niambie ukweli, mwanangu.”
A father asking his son to be honest about a difficult situation.
容易混淆
Both involve speaking and the 'ni-' prefix.
Niseme means 'Let ME speak', while Niambie means 'YOU tell me'.
Learners forget to pluralize.
Use '-ni' at the end if you are looking at more than one person.
常见问题 (10)
Not necessarily. The '-e' ending makes it a subjunctive/polite imperative. However, with elders, adding 'Tafadhali' is safer.
usage contexts'Niambie' is 'tell me' (general), while 'Nieleze' is 'explain to me' (detailed).
comparisonsYes, it's very common in WhatsApp or SMS to ask for updates.
practical tipsYou say 'Usiniambie'. It's used for both literal commands and expressions of shock.
grammar mechanicsBecause the object prefix 'ni-' triggers the subjunctive mood in an imperative, which changes the final 'a' to 'e'.
grammar mechanicsYes, 'Nishow' is very popular among youth in Kenya.
cultural usageYes: 'Niambie, ni saa ngapi?'
practical tipsYou change the prefix: 'Mwambie'.
grammar mechanicsYes, change the prefix to 'tu-': 'Tuambie'.
grammar mechanicsConstantly! It's a very romantic and conversational word in Bongo Flava music.
cultural usage
