Learn Hardcore Swahili: Asante, kwa sasa sitashiriki; kwa kifupi nina aibu kidogo. - Thanks, for now I won’t participate; briefly, I feel a bit embarrassed.

Asante = thanks/thank you.
kwa sasa = for now/for the time being. kwa (preposition) + sasa (now).
sitashiriki = si- (1st person singular negative subject) + -ta- (future) + shiriki (participate) → “I will not participate.”
kwa kifupi = in short/briefly. kwa
- kifupi (shortness/brief form; from adjective fupi “short” with class 7 noun prefix ki-).
nina aibu kidogo = ni- (I) + -na (present) → nina (I have) + aibu (shyness/embarrassment) + kidogo (a little). Literally: “I have a little shyness.”

Why is it sitashiriki and not sishiriki?

sishiriki = “I don’t participate / I’m not participating” (negative present/habitual).
sitashiriki = “I will not participate” (negative future).
Patterns with shiriki:
Present: nashiriki → Negative: sishiriki
Future: nitashiriki → Negative: sitashiriki So the -ta- marks future time; adding si- makes it negative future.

What exactly does kwa mean here, and why does it appear twice?

kwa is a very flexible preposition. Common uses:

Time: kwa sasa = for now
Manner/summary: kwa kifupi = in short/briefly You’ll see kwa + noun to form many adverbial phrases: kwa kawaida (usually), kwa bahati mbaya (unfortunately), kwa ujumla (in general), kwa sababu (because).

Is the semicolon necessary? Could I use other punctuation?

A semicolon is fine because it links two closely related independent clauses. In everyday writing, a period or a comma + connector is more common:

Asante, kwa sasa sitashiriki. Kwa kifupi, nina aibu kidogo.
Asante, lakini kwa sasa sitashiriki; kwa kifupi, nina aibu kidogo. A comma after kwa kifupi is optional but common when it starts a clause.

What’s the nuance difference between sasa, kwa sasa, and sasa hivi?

sasa = now (also used as a discourse word “so/now”).
kwa sasa = for now/for the time being (temporary state).
sasa hivi / hivi sasa = right now/this very moment (more immediate). Another formal option: kwa wakati huu = at this time.

Is nina aibu kidogo the most natural way to say “I’m a bit shy”? Any alternatives?

It’s natural and understood. Nuance and alternatives:

Trait (general): Mimi ni mwenye aibu kidogo or Mimi ni mwenye haya kidogo (“I’m a slightly shy/modest person”).
Current feeling (in this situation): Naona aibu kidogo or Ninaona aibu kidogo (“I feel a bit shy/embarrassed right now”). Note: aibu can mean “shyness” or “shame/embarrassment.” The context here clearly softens it to “a bit shy/embarrassed.”

Where should kidogo go? Could I say nina kidogo aibu?

With nouns, quantity words like kidogo usually follow the noun:

Correct: nina aibu kidogo (I have a little shyness)
Odd/unidiomatic: nina kidogo aibu As an adverb, kidogo comes after the verb: subiri kidogo (wait a bit). You can soften further with tu: kidogo tu = just a little.

Do I need to say mimi for “I,” or is it already included?

It’s included in the verb. si- in sitashiriki already means “I (not).” Use mimi only for emphasis or contrast:

Mimi, kwa sasa, sitashiriki. (Me, for now, I won’t participate.)

Should sitashiriki be written as one word? What about sita shiriki?

Write it as one word: sitashiriki. In Swahili, subject markers, tense/aspect, negatives, and the verb stem are written together.
Writing sita shiriki is wrong and potentially confusing because sita also means “six.”

How would other tenses and related forms look with shiriki?

Past: nilishiriki (I participated)
Past negative: sikushiriki (I did not participate)
Present: nashiriki (I participate / I’m participating)
Present negative: sishiriki (I don’t participate / I’m not participating)
Future: nitashiriki (I will participate)
Future negative: sitashiriki (I will not participate)
Negative imperative (2sg): usi-shiriki! (don’t participate!)
Negative imperative (2pl): msi-shiriki! (don’t participate!, to a group)

Is kwa kifupi the only way to say “in short”? What about kwa ufupi?

Both kwa kifupi and kwa ufupi are correct and common. They’re interchangeable in most contexts. You can also use discourse markers like kusema kwa kifupi/ufupi (to put it briefly).

How could I make the refusal even more polite?

Options:

Asante kwa mwaliko, lakini kwa sasa sitaweza kushiriki. (Thanks for the invitation, but for now I won’t be able to participate.)
Add a softener: Samahani, kwa sasa sitaweza kushiriki.
Add appreciation: Nashukuru sana, ila kwa sasa sitaweza kushiriki. Using sitaweza (I won’t be able to) sounds gentler than a bare sitashiriki.

Is a comma after kwa kifupi required?

Not required, but recommended when it introduces a clause:

…; kwa kifupi, nina aibu kidogo.
Without the comma, it’s still readable, but the comma helps mark it as a discourse phrase.

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky parts like aibu and sitashiriki?

Swahili stress is usually on the second-to-last syllable.
Asante: a-SAN-te
kwa sasa: kwa SA-sa
sitashiriki: si-ta-shi-RI-ki (stress on RI)
kwa kifupi: kwa ki-FU-pi (stress on FU)
aibu: a-I-bu (two vowels in a row; pronounce both: “a-ee-boo,” stress on I)