Learn Hardcore Swahili: Nia yake ilikuwa kujifunza, si kuonyesha hadhi; hiyo ni nafasi adimu. - Her intention was to learn, not to show status; that is a rare opportunity.

Nia = intention/aim (a class 9 noun). -yake = his/her/its (3rd-person singular possessive) agreeing with the noun class of nia. Swahili doesn’t mark gender, so context tells you whether it’s “his” or “her.”

Why is it yake and not wake?

Because possessives agree with the class of the possessed noun. Nia is class 9, whose possessive concord is ya- + -ke = yake. Wake (wa- + -ke) is used with class 1 nouns (people), e.g., mtu wake “his/her person.”

Why is it ilikuwa (was) and not alikuwa?

The subject is nia (class 9), so the past of “to be” takes the class‑9 subject prefix i- → ilikuwa. Alikuwa would mean “he/she was” (class 1 subject).

Could I rewrite it as Nia yake haikuwa kuonyesha hadhi, bali kujifunza?

Yes. That version negates the copular verb: “Her intention was not to show status, but rather to learn.” The original sentence affirms the positive aim first and then adds a short contrast with si.

How is kujifunza built, and what do ku- and ji- mean?

ku- marks the infinitive: “to learn/learning.”
ji- on the verb stem (-jifunza) is reflexive “oneself.”
So kujifunza literally means “to learn (teach oneself).”

When should I use kujifunza versus kusoma?

kujifunza: to learn/acquire knowledge or a skill (often process- or outcome-focused, can be self-directed). Example: Nilijifunza kupika “I learned to cook.”
kusoma: to read; to study (often in an academic context). Example: Ninasoma chuo kikuu “I’m studying at university.”

What exactly is si kuonyesha hadhi doing grammatically?

si is the negative copula (“is/are not”) used to negate the following infinitive phrase: “not to show status.” The pattern “..., si [infinitive]” is a concise way to set up a contrast.

Could I use bali or ila to say “but rather”?

Yes:

bali = “but rather” (explicit contrast/correction): Nia yake haikuwa kuonyesha hadhi, bali kujifunza.
ila = “but/except”: Nia yake ilikuwa kujifunza, ila si kuonyesha hadhi.

What does hiyo refer to in Hiyo ni nafasi adimu?

Hiyo points back to the whole preceding idea (the intention to learn rather than show off), not just a single word. It functions like English “That [attitude/situation] is a rare opportunity.”

Does the adjective adimu change with noun class?

No. adimu (“rare”) is invariable—same form with all classes. Don’t confuse it with adhimu (“great/exalted”), which is a different word.

What’s the nuance of hadhi here, and how else could I say “show off status”?

hadhi = status/standing/prestige/dignity (not the same as heshima = respect/honor).
Alternatives for “show off”: kujionyesha, kujigamba, kujisifu, kuonyesha maringo/mbwembwe. You could also say kuonyesha hadhi yake (“to display one’s status”).

Why is the second clause present (Hiyo ni nafasi adimu) when the first clause is past (ilikuwa)?

The present ni gives a timeless or current evaluation (“That is a rare opportunity” as a general truth). If you want to confine it to the past, you can say Hiyo ilikuwa nafasi adimu.

Does nafasi only mean “opportunity”? How does it compare to fursa?

nafasi is broad: space, room, slot, vacancy, chance, opportunity (very common in everyday speech). fursa specifically means “opportunity” and sounds a bit more formal. Both can pair with adimu (“rare”).