בשבת אנחנו מכינים כיבוד קטן, כי יש לנו כמה אורחים.

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Breakdown of בשבת אנחנו מכינים כיבוד קטן, כי יש לנו כמה אורחים.

• יש: there is
• ב: on
• כי: because

Questions & Answers about בשבת אנחנו מכינים כיבוד קטן, כי יש לנו כמה אורחים.

Why does בשבת start with ב־?

The prefix ב־ usually means in, on, or at, depending on context.

So:

• שבת = Shabbat / Saturday
• בשבת = on Shabbat / on Saturday

In time expressions, ב־ often works like English on:

• ביום ראשון = on Sunday
• בלילה = at night
• בקיץ = in the summer

Here, בשבת means on Shabbat or on Saturday.

Does בשבת mean one specific Saturday, or Saturdays in general?

It can mean either, depending on context.

Hebrew often uses the same form for:

• this coming Shabbat / on Shabbat
• on Shabbat in general / on Saturdays

In this sentence, it could mean:

• On Shabbat, we prepare a small spread...
• or On Saturdays, we prepare a small spread...

If the broader context is about a particular weekend, it will sound specific. If it is talking about a habit, it can sound general.

Why does the sentence include אנחנו? Isn’t מכינים already enough to mean ?