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Learn Hardcore Swahili: si - not

Hardcore Swahili
/Lesson 40
/si

si

Word

si

Meaning

not

Part of speech

adverb

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Swahili

Lesson

Usages of si

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.

Si rahisi kusoma usiku.

It is not easy to study at night.

Zulia hili linahitaji kufuliwa mara kwa mara, si mara chache.

This carpet needs to be washed often, not rarely.

Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana, si rula yangu.

This is the bag that I lost yesterday, not my ruler.

Si soda, bali maji ya uvuguvugu kabla ya chakula.

Not soda, but lukewarm water before the meal.

Pete yake si kubwa, bali ndogo inayokaa vizuri kidoleni.

Her ring is not big, but small and fits well on the finger.

Pilau si tamu pekee, bali pia hutoa harufu nzuri ukipika taratibu.

Pilau is not only delicious, but also gives a nice aroma when cooked slowly.

Meza kuu ipo ukingoni mwa ukumbi, si katikati, bali upande wa jukwaa.

The high table is at the edge of the hall, not in the middle, but on the stage side.

Kukataliwa si rahisi.

Being rejected is not easy.

Afadhali tuanze mkutano saa tatu, si saa mbili.

It’s better that we start the meeting at nine, not eight.

Ndiyo maana nilihifadhi noti zangu ndani ya pochi, si mfukoni.

That’s why I stored my notes in a purse, not in the pocket.

Asha anaweka noti zake zote ndani ya pochi ndogo, si mfukoni.

Asha puts all her notes in a small purse, not in her pocket.

Leo jioni tutakula chakula cha jioni katika chumba cha kulia chakula, si sebuleni.

This evening we will eat dinner in the dining room, not in the living room.

Siyo tu wanafunzi wa darasa letu, bali pia walimu wanapenda kusoma vitabu vizuri.

Not only the students of our class, but also the teachers like to read good books.

Daktari alisema pumu yake si kali, lakini koo lake linahitaji kupumzika.

The doctor said his/her asthma is not severe, but his/her throat needs rest.

Daktari alisema kuwa pumu ya mtoto si kali, lakini kuhara na kutapika vinahitaji maji mengi.

The doctor said that the child’s asthma is not severe, but diarrhea and vomiting require a lot of water.

Ni vizuri kuwa mstaarabu unapozungumza na watu wakubwa, lakini si vizuri kuwa mvivu darasani.

It is good to be polite when speaking to elders, but it is not good to be lazy in class.

Rahma alihesabu silabi za neno hilo tena na akasema herufi ya mwisho si konsonanti, bali irabu.

Rahma counted the syllables of that word again and said the last letter is not a consonant, but a vowel.

Kila nahau ina fasili yake, lakini si kila methali ina maana ya moja kwa moja.

Every idiom has its definition, but not every proverb has a direct meaning.

Benki yetu inapokea amana za muda mfupi, lakini riba yake si kubwa sana.

Our bank accepts short-term deposits, but its interest is not very high.

Si kwamba nina pesa nyingi, bali nataka kuweka amana kidogo kila mwezi hata kama riba ni ndogo.

It is not that I have a lot of money, but I want to put aside a small deposit every month even if the interest is low.

Si kwamba hakuna chakula nyumbani, bali mabaki ya jana yanatosha kwa chakula cha mchana.

It is not that there is no food at home, but yesterday’s leftovers are enough for lunch.

Si kwamba mhubiri huyo alikuwa mkali, bali sauti yake ilikuwa kubwa kidogo.

It is not that that preacher was harsh, but her voice was a little loud.

Ukanushi wa sentensi hii ni rahisi, kwa sababu tunatumia “si” na “ha-”.

The negation of this sentence is easy, because we use “si” and “ha-”.

Si kwamba sipendi biskuti, bali chokoleti hunifanya niwe na kiu sana.

It’s not that I do not like biscuits, but chocolate makes me very thirsty.

Si kwamba tikitimaji si tamu, bali papai na zabibu zimeiva vizuri zaidi wiki hii.

It’s not that watermelon is not sweet, but the papaya and grapes have ripened better this week.

Tafadhali weka rimoti juu ya jokofu, si juu ya meza ya sebuleni.

Please put the remote on top of the refrigerator, not on the living-room table.

Si kwamba keshia alikataa kutusaidia, bali troli yetu ilikuwa imejaa na tulihitaji muda wa kupanga vitu vizuri.

It’s not that the cashier refused to help us, but our trolley was full and we needed time to arrange the things properly.

Si kwamba sipendi peremende, bali nataka kula matunda kwanza.

It is not that I do not like candy, but I want to eat fruit first.

Nataka chai ya kawaida, si chai yenye iliki.

I want regular tea, not tea with cardamom.

Mlinzi alisema si rahisi kumwona chui kwenye mbuga.

The guard said it is not easy to see a leopard in the park.

Ukuta wa kubeba mzigo si salama japokuwa usanifu ni mzuri.

The load-bearing wall is unsafe although the design is good.

Usomaji wa mita si usomaji halisi wa mita.

The meter reading is not the actual meter reading.

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