hinay

1. Part of speech, meaning, usage, and example sentences

Part of speech: adjective (also functions adverbially for “slowly” or “quietly”)
Core meaning: “slow,” “low-powered,” “quiet / gentle.”

Example sentences

• Hinay ang koneksiyon sa internet karon. – The internet connection is slow today.
• Hinay kaayo ang iyang tingog; lisod madungog. – Her voice is very quiet; hard to hear.
• Mag-hinay ta sa pag-drive kung uwanon. – Let us drive slowly when it is rainy.
• Nag-hinay ang hangin sa kagabii. – The wind slowed down last night.

2. Linking endings and common derivations

• Linkers
  • -ng before a consonant: hinay’ng makina – a slow engine.
  • nga before a vowel or for clarity: hinay nga musika – soft music.
• Degree & intensity
  • mas hinay – slower / quieter.
  • pinakahinay – slowest / quietest.
  • hinay-hinay – rather slow / gradually.
  • hinay kaayo / hinay gyud – very slow / truly gentle.
• Exclamatory & abstract nouns
  • Kahinay oy! – How slow / quiet!
  • kahinay – slowness, softness.
  • pagkahinay – the state of being slow.
• Progressive idea
  • nag-ka-hinay – getting slower (Nag-ka-hinay ang signal samtang nag-ulan. – The signal is getting weaker as it rains.)

3. Where you place it in a sentence

1. Predicate: Ang tren hinay. – The train is slow.
2. Modifier with linker: hinay’ng tren.
3. Complement after emphasis: Mao ni ang hinay nga proseso. – This is the slow process.

4. Common collocations

• hinay nga internet – slow internet
• hinay nga tingog – soft voice
• hinay nga lihok – gentle movement
• hinay nga kalayo – low flame
• hinay-hinay lang – little by little

5. Detailed usage notes

“Hinay” marks speed (hinay nga dagan – slow pace), volume (hinay nga tingog – low voice), or intensity (hinay nga kalayo – mild fire). As an adverb it pairs with pag- verbs: pag-hinay sa pag-kaon – eat slowly. Use a linker when it comes right before a noun; drop it in predicate position. Comparative and superlative follow the standard mas / pinaka- pattern. Reduplication creates the widely used adverbial phrase hinay-hinay (“gradually” or “take it easy”).

6. Common mistakes to watch for

• Missing linker: ✗ hinay internet → ✓ hinay’ng internet or hinay nga internet.
• Putting mas after the adjective: ✗ hinay mas → ✓ mas hinay.
• Separating pinaka from the root: ✗ pinaka hinay → ✓ pinakahinay.
• **Confusing hinay (slow/quiet) with hilom (silent).
• Misspelling as “hinai” or “hinoy.”

7. Five conversational phrases

1. Hinay-hinay lang, di kinahanglan paspas. – Take it slow; no need to rush.
2. Mas hinay ang kuryente basta tipid mode ang air-con. – Electricity is lower (slower meter) if the air-con is in power-saving mode.
3. Pinakahinay gyud ni nga server sa opisina. – This is truly the slowest server in the office.
4. Hinay kaayo imong music, palihog kusgi gamay. – Your music is too soft; please make it a bit louder.
5. Kahinay sa imong lakaw, basin mahutdan ta’g oras. – Your walking is so slow; we might run out of time.

8. Five short conversation exchanges

1. Q: Hinay ba ang internet sa inyong balay? – Is the internet at your house slow?
   A: Oo, hinay kaayo kung gabii. – Yes, it’s very slow at night.
2. Q: Ngano mas hinay man ang signal diri? – Why is the signal slower here?
   A: Mas hinay kay layo ta sa tower. – Slower because we’re far from the tower.
3. Q: Asa ang pinakahinay nga linya sa grocery? – Which is the slowest line at the grocery?
   A: Sa counter 3; dugay mo-scan ang cashier. – At counter 3; the cashier scans slowly.
4. Q: Hinay-hinay na ba ang trapik pagkahuman sa ulan? – Has the traffic eased (slowed) after the rain?
   A: Oo, gamay na lang sakyanan ang niagi. – Yes, only a few vehicles are passing now.
5. Q: Unsaon nato pag-hinay sa kalayo sa stove? – How can we lower the stove flame?
   A: Imo lang ibalikos gamay ang knob para mas hinay. – Just turn the knob down a bit to make it lower.

9. Multiple-choice dialogue questions

Q1. Hinay ba ang imong connection karon?
A. Oo, hinay kaayo ang akong connection.
B. Oo, connection hinay kaayo akong ang.
C. Oo, hinay connection kaayo ang akong.

Q2. Asa ang mas hinay, ang tren o ang jeep?
A. Mas hinay ang tren kaysa jeep.
B. Tren kaysa jeep ang mas hinay.
C. Mas hinay kaysa tren ang jeep.

Q3. Pinakahinay ba kini nga printer sa opisina?
A. Oo, pinakahinay kini nga printer sa opisina.
B. Oo, kini pinakahinay printer sa opisina.
C. Oo, printer kini pinakahinay sa opisina.

Q4. Ngano hinay ra ang imong tingog sa meeting?
A. Hinay ra akong tingog kay na-puyat ko kagabii.
B. Ako hinay ra tingog kay na-puyat ko kagabii.
C. Na-puyat ko kagabii tingog hinay ra akong kay.

Q5. Kinsa’y naay hinay-hinay nga plano para sa expansion?
A. Si Maya naay hinay-hinay nga plano.
B. Naay si Maya hinay-hinay plano.
C. Plano hinay-hinay naay si Maya.

Answer key & quick explanations

• Q1 → A: correct order Predicate hinay kaayo + subject. B & C scramble articles.
• Q2 → A: proper comparative “Mas hinay ang X kaysa Y.” Others misplace parts.
• Q3 → A: Pinakahinay right before kini; B & C mis-order demonstrative and noun.
• Q4 → A: Predicate first, reason after; B lacks correct subject-predicate flow, C jumbles order.
• Q5 → A: Standard “naay + subject + description.” B & C disrupt the sequence.