kini / kani

日本語の説明は英語の後にあります。

1. Part of Speech & Basic Usage
   • Demonstrative (can function as a pronoun or determiner)
   • Means “this” (something near the speaker)
2. Contracted Form
   • kini = ni
3. Sentence Position
   • As determiner (before a noun):
     • kini nga balay → “this house”
   • As pronoun (after a verb or preposition):
     • Gipalit ko kini → “I bought this”
4. Common Collocations
   • kini nga adlaw = “this day”
   • kini nga tuig = “this year”
   • kini nga lugar = “this place”
   • Unsa man kini? = “What is this?”
5. Detailed Usage
   • Determiner + noun:
     • Kini nga libro nindot kaayo.
       (“This book is very nice.”)
   • Standalone pronoun:
     • Gipalit nako kini sa tindahan.
       (“I bought this at the store.”)
   • With prepositions:
     • Para kini kanimo.
       (“This is for you.”)
6. Common Mistakes
   • Mixing up kini and kana:
     • kini = “this” (near speaker)
     • kana = “that” (near listener or away)
   • Omitting nga when modifying:
     • ❌ kini balay → ✅ kini nga balay
   • Wrong word order as pronoun:
     • ❌ Kini gipalit nako. → ✅ Gipalit nako kini.
7. Example Sentences
   1. Kini nga libro nindot kaayo.
   2. Gipalit nako kini sa tindahan.
   3. Unsa man kini?
8. Parts-of-Speech Breakdown
   1. Kini nga libro nindot kaayo.
   Kini (DEM) = thisnga (LINK) = links modifierlibro (N) = booknindot (ADJ) = nicekaayo (ADV) = very
   “This book is very nice.”
   2. Gipalit nako kini sa tindahan.
   Gipalit (V) = boughtnako (PR) = Ikini (DEM) = thissa (PREP) = attindahan (N) = store
   “I bought this at the store.”
   3. Unsa man kini?
   Unsa (PRON) = whatman (PART) = (emphasis)kini (DEM) = this
   “What is this?”

What is the difference between the Cebauno words “kini” and “kani?”

• Same basic meaning
  • Both kini and kani point to something very near the speaker: “this / these (right here).”
  • They can stand alone (Kini/Kani! “This one!”) or modify a noun (kini nga libro / kani nga libro “this book”).
• Colloquial vs. formal feel
  • kani is what most people say in everyday conversation; it sounds casual and natural.
  • kini often appears in formal writing, speeches, news reports, and older texts, so it can sound a little stiff or literary in daily talk.
• Typical situational use
  • Handing something to a friend: Kani para nimo. – “This is for you.” (colloquial)
  • Announcing a policy in a meeting: Kini nga palisiya magsugod karong tuig. – “This policy takes effect this year.” (formal tone)
• Subtle nuance some speakers feel
  • kani is frequently used when the object is concrete and being pointed at or passed around.
  • kini is often chosen when the referent has already been introduced in the discussion or is somewhat abstract (a plan, rule, idea).
  • In practice the two are interchangeable; the choice mostly signals tone, not distance.
• Regional and dialect notes
  • Across the Visayas and Mindanao, kani overwhelmingly dominates in spoken Cebuano.
  • Radio, TV, and school textbooks still use kini freely, so learners will encounter both.
• Quick mnemonic
  • a in kani → think “araw-araw” (everyday) → casual, daily speech.
  • i in kini → think “italian suit” (formal attire) → more formal or written style.

Questions

Q1. Kani ba ang imong libro?
A. Akong kani libro ang.
B. Kani ang akong libro.
C. Ang libro kani akong.

Q2. Kani ba ang imong yawe?
A. Kani ang akong yawe.
B. Akong yawe ang kani.
C. Ang kani yawe akong.

Q3. Kani ba ang inyong gipangita?
A. Gipangita among kani.
B. Gipangita kani among.
C. Kani ang among gipangita.

Q4. Kani ba ang gihatag ni Maria nimo?
A. Kani ang gihatag niya nako.
B. Gihatag kani ang niya nako.
C. Ang gihatag kani niya nako.

Q5. Kani ba ang atong gamiton karon?
A. Atong kani gamiton karon.
B. Gamitan karon kani nato.
C. Kani ang atong gamiton karon.

Answer Key and Explanations

• Q1 – Correct choice: B

• Why correct: Demonstrative kani comes first, followed by the marker ang and the noun phrase “akong libro,” which is the normal Cebuano order.
• Why A is wrong: Starts with the possessive “akong” and inserts kani in the middle, so the demonstrative and marker are out of place.
• Why C is wrong: Puts the noun first and strands kani after it; word order is scrambled.

• Q2 – Correct choice: A

• Why correct: “Kani ang akong yawe” follows the pattern demonstrative + marker + possessive + noun.
• Why B is wrong: Begins with the possessive phrase and ends with kani, separating demonstrative from marker.
• Why C is wrong: Places kani after the marker-less article “ang,” breaking the expected sequence.

• Q3 – Correct choice: C

• Why correct: “Kani ang among gipangita” keeps kani before the marker ang and the verb phrase; this is clear and natural.
• Why A is wrong: Verb comes first and kani is at the end, disconnecting demonstrative from its role.
• Why B is wrong: Same scrambling problem—verb first, marker missing before kani, so the clause feels disordered.

• Q4 – Correct choice: A

• Why correct: “Kani ang gihatag niya nako” places kani first, then marker, then verb phrase—standard declarative structure.
• Why B is wrong: Inserts kani after the verb and before the marker, so demonstrative-marker sequence is broken.
• Why C is wrong: Starts with marker ang plus verb before kani, leaving the demonstrative detached.

• Q5 – Correct choice: C

• Why correct: Demonstrative kani precedes the marker and the verb phrase—“Kani ang atong gamiton karon” sounds natural.
• Why A is wrong: Places kani after the possessive, and the noun “gamiton” is left hanging; word order is off.
• Why B is wrong: Moves the time word “karon” ahead and splits demonstrative, marker, and verb, so the sentence is awkward.