Wakati mwingine, tunacheka mpaka kicheko kinatuletea machozi, lakini hatutaki kulia kwa huzuni.

Sometimes, we laugh until laughter brings us tears, but we do not want to cry out of sadness.

Breakdown of Wakati mwingine, tunacheka mpaka kicheko kinatuletea machozi, lakini hatutaki kulia kwa huzuni.

• kutaka: to want
• lakini: but
• kwa: for
• kuleta: to bring
• kicheko: the laughter
• kulia: to cry
• wakati mwingine: sometimes
• kucheka: to laugh
• mpaka: until
• chozi: the tear
• huzuni: the sadness

Questions & Answers about Wakati mwingine, tunacheka mpaka kicheko kinatuletea machozi, lakini hatutaki kulia kwa huzuni.

What does wakati mwingine mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Wakati mwingine means "sometimes." It functions as an introductory adverbial phrase to indicate that the action described happens occasionally.

How is the subject expressed in tunacheka?

In tunacheka, the prefix tuna- incorporates both the subject marker for "we" and the present tense marker. The verb cheka means "to laugh." Together, tunacheka translates to "we laugh."

What does mpaka mean, and what role does it play in the sentence?

Mpaka means "until." It sets the limit of the action, connecting the act of laughing to its effect described in the next clause, meaning that we laugh to the point where something (laughter) brings about tears.

How is the phrase kicheko kinatuletea machozi structured, and what does it illustrate about Swahili grammar?

Kicheko means "laughter" and serves as the subject of the clause. The verb kinatuletea is derived from kuleta (to bring). Its structure includes the subject prefix ki- (matching the noun class of kicheko) and the object marker tu- (referring to "us"). Machozi means "tears." Together, the phrase means "laughter brings us tears" and illustrates Swahili’s use of noun class prefixes and object markers in verb conjugation.

What does lakini mean in this context?

Lakini means "but." It is used as a conjunction to introduce a contrasting idea—the contrast between the joy of laughing and the undesired outcome of crying from sadness.

How is negation expressed in hatutaki kulia kwa huzuni?

In hatutaki, the prefix ha- indicates negation, while tu- represents "we." This construction means "we do not want." It is followed by the infinitive kulia ("to cry"), showing that after expressions of desire (or lack thereof), Swahili uses the infinitive form of the verb.

What is the function of kwa huzuni in the sentence?

Kwa huzuni means "with sadness." Here, kwa is a preposition that can be understood as "by" or "with," and huzuni means "sadness." This phrase specifies the manner or cause of crying that is being avoided, contrasting it with the involuntary tears produced by laughter.