Questions & Answers about کار شما کی است؟
Since we are learning about time, can I use this to ask exactly what time someone's work starts?
You can, but کی (key) is a general word for "when", so they might just answer "tomorrow" or "in the morning". If you specifically want to know the hour on the clock, it is better to ask چه ساعتی (che sâ'ati), which means "what time".
Wait, I thought کی meant "who"?
It can! Both words are spelled exactly the same in Farsi, but they are pronounced differently. When it means "who", it is pronounced "ki" (rhymes with "see"). In this sentence, it means "when" and is pronounced "key" (just like the English word for unlocking a door).
How do کار (work) and شما (you) combine to mean "your work"?
They are connected by a short "e" sound called the Ezâfe. Even though it is usually invisible in the Farsi text, you pronounce the phrase as kâr-e shomâ. This "e" links the two words together to show possession, acting like "the work of you".
How would a native speaker say this in casual, everyday conversation?
In everyday spoken Farsi, the "when is" part (کی است) usually blends together. Instead of saying the formal "key ast", people will simply shorten it to "key-e".
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