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

This carpet needs to be washed often, not rarely.

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

• hili: this
• kuhitaji: to need
• mara kwa mara: often
• si: not
• mara chache: rarely
• zulia: the carpet
• kufuliwa: to be washed

Questions & Answers about Zulia hili linahitaji kufuliwa mara kwa mara, si mara chache.

Which noun class is zulia, and how does that affect hili and linahitaji?

Zulia is class 5 (ji-/ma- in the singular/plural). That matters for agreement:

• Demonstrative “this” for class 5 is hili (that = hilo, that over there = lile).
• The subject prefix on the verb is li-, so present tense “needs” is li-na-hitaji → linahitaji.
• In the plural, mazulia (class 6) takes demonstrative haya and subject prefix ya-: Mazulia haya yanahitaji…

Why is it Zulia hili instead of Hili zulia?

Both orders are possible:

• Zulia hili (noun + demonstrative) is the most common, neutral way to say “this carpet.”
• Hili zulia (demonstrative + noun) is more pointing/contrastive, like “this carpet (right here)” or “this particular carpet.”

What is the internal structure of linahitaji?

• li- = class 5 subject marker (it)
• -na- = present tense marker
• hitaji = verb stem “need” Together: li + na + hitaji → linahitaji “(it) needs.” Past would repeat the “li”: li-li-hitaji → lilihitaji “(it) needed.”

Why not inahitaji here?

inahitaji uses the subject prefix i-, which agrees with class 9/10 nouns. Since zulia is class 5, it must use li-, giving linahitaji. You’d use inahitaji with a class 9 noun like meza (table): Meza inahitaji…

Why use the passive infinitive kufuliwa instead of kufua?

Because the carpet is the thing being washed:

• kufuliwa = “to be washed” (passive; appropriate when the subject undergoes the action)
• kufua = “to wash (something)” (active; would wrongly imply the carpet does the washing)

Is kufuliwa the most natural verb for a carpet, or should I say kuoshwa or kusafishwa?

All can be used, with slight nuance:

• kufuliwa: “to be laundered” (very common for textiles, clothes, rugs).
• kuoshwa: “to be washed” with water.
• kusafishwa: “to be cleaned” (broad, includes vacuuming, shampooing, etc.). For a carpet, all are acceptable; choose based on the cleaning method you mean. Examples:
• Zulia hili linahitaji kuoshwa mara kwa mara.
• Zulia hili linahitaji kusafishwa mara kwa mara.

What exactly does mara kwa mara mean?

Literally “time by time,” idiomatically “regularly/again and again/often.” It emphasizes repetition at intervals. It’s common and neutral.

How is mara kwa mara different from mara nyingi and kila mara?

• mara kwa mara: repeatedly, at intervals; “regularly/often.”
• mara nyingi: many times/most of the time; often in terms of frequency proportion.
• kila mara: every time; essentially “always/without exception.” They overlap with “often,” but the nuance differs.

What does si mara chache do here?

si is the negative copula “is not.” si mara chache means “not rarely/not just a few times.” The sentence sets up a contrast: “It needs washing often, not rarely.”

Can I rewrite it positively to avoid the “not rarely” structure?

Yes. For example:

• Zulia hili linahitaji kufuliwa mara nyingi.
• Zulia hili linahitaji kufuliwa mara kwa mara. Or with contrast explicitly:
• Zulia hili linahitaji kufuliwa mara kwa mara, bali si mara chache.

Why is there a comma before si mara chache?

It marks a contrastive afterthought (a correction/clarification). You could also write the contrast with a conjunction:

• …, bali si mara chache (“… but not rarely”)
• Si mara chache bali mara kwa mara (“Not rarely but often”)

How would I say this in the plural?

• Mazulia haya yanahitaji kufuliwa mara kwa mara, si mara chache. Changes:
• zulia → mazulia (class 5 → class 6)
• hili → haya (demonstrative agreement)
• linahitaji → yanahitaji (subject agreement ya-)

Could I use the habitual marker hu- instead?

Yes, if you want to say what (usually) happens, not what is needed:

• Need: Zulia hili linahitaji kufuliwa mara kwa mara.
• Habit: Zulia hili hufuliwa mara kwa mara. (“This carpet is (usually) washed often.”)

Can I express “must/should” instead of “needs”?

Yes:

• Must: Zulia hili lazima lifuliwe mara kwa mara. (subjunctive passive lifuliwe)
• Should/ought: Zulia hili linapaswa kufuliwa mara kwa mara.
• Is required: Zulia hili linatakiwa kufuliwa mara kwa mara.

Why is it mara chache and not something like an agreeing adjective?

With mara (“times/occasions”), quantity adjectives like chache (“few”) are used in a fixed way: mara chache = “few times/rarely.” You don’t change chache to match a noun class here; mara behaves somewhat like an invariable counting noun in this set phrase.

Is si, sio, or siyo preferred?

All are seen. si is the core negative copula and is universally correct. sio/siyo are common variants (regional and stylistic). In this sentence, si mara chache is concise and standard.