Afadhali usome taratibu kuliko kuharakisha majibu.

It’s better to read slowly than to rush the answers.

Breakdown of Afadhali usome taratibu kuliko kuharakisha majibu.

• kusoma: to read
• taratibu: slowly
• kuliko: than
• jibu: the answer
• afadhali: better
• kuharakisha: to rush

Questions & Answers about Afadhali usome taratibu kuliko kuharakisha majibu.

In the word usome, is it negative? It looks like the negative imperative usisome.

No—usome is affirmative subjunctive, not negative.

• u- = you (singular) subject marker
• -som- = read
• -e = subjunctive final vowel

Negative would be usisome (don’t read). So Afadhali usome… = “It’s better that you read…,” not “don’t read.”

Why does the sentence use the subjunctive after Afadhali?

Expressions of preference/recommendation like Afadhali/Bora/Heri typically take the subjunctive to tell someone what they should do:

• Afadhali usome taratibu… = “Better that you read carefully…”

If you want a more general, non-addressed statement, you can use an infinitive:

• Afadhali kusoma taratibu kuliko kuharakisha majibu. = “It’s better to read carefully than to rush answers.”

How does kuliko work here? Can I use other words for “than”?

Kuliko means “than” in comparisons. It can be followed by a noun, a clause, or an infinitive:

• Afadhali usome… kuliko kuharakisha majibu.

Alternatives:

• zaidi ya = “more than” (also fine with infinitives): …zaidi ya kuharakisha majibu
• kupita (literally “to surpass/pass”): …kupita kuharakisha majibu (more formal/literary)

In everyday speech, kuliko is the most idiomatic for this structure.

Do the verb forms have to match on both sides (subjunctive vs. infinitive)?

They don’t have to match in this pattern. A very common structure is:

• Main clause with subjunctive: Afadhali usome…
• Comparison with infinitive: …kuliko kuharakisha…

If you want symmetry, use infinitives on both sides:

• Bora kusoma taratibu kuliko kuharakisha majibu.

What’s the difference between Afadhali, Bora, and Heri?

• Afadhali: very common in recommendations. Neutral and polite.
• Bora: also very common; can feel a bit more concise/emphatic. As an adjective it can mean “better/best, of superior quality.”
• Heri: somewhat formal/archaic in everyday speech; common in proverbs or set phrases.

All three can work here; choice is about tone and style.

Why taratibu for “carefully”? Could I say polepole or kwa makini?

They overlap but aren’t identical:

• taratibu: carefully/gently; slow and orderly, with care.
• polepole: slowly (focus on speed). It can imply care, but primarily speed.
• kwa makini: carefully/attentively (focus on attention/accuracy).
• kwa utaratibu: methodically/systematically.

In this context, taratibu and kwa makini are both great; polepole slightly shifts the emphasis to speed.

Do I need kwa before taratibu (i.e., kwa taratibu)?

Not required. Taratibu is commonly used adverbially by itself: usome taratibu. You’ll also hear kwa taratibu in real speech, but many speakers prefer kwa utaratibu (“in an orderly manner”) if you want the kwa-phrased version.

What exactly does kuharakisha mean, and how is it formed?

• Root: haraka (haste/quickness; also “quickly” in the set phrase haraka haraka).
• Causative verb: -isha/-esha → harakisha = “to hurry/speed (something/someone) up,” “to rush.” Related verbs:
• harakika = to be hurried/urgent (intransitive)
• harakia = to rush toward/for (someone/something)

Why is it kuharakisha majibu and not kuharakisha kujibu?

Both are possible but slightly different:

• kuharakisha majibu = “to rush (the) answers” (treats answers as objects being hurried).
• kuharakisha kujibu = “to rush to answer” (focuses on the act of answering).

Your sentence warns against producing rushed answers, so the object noun majibu is natural. If you want to stress the act, use kujibu.

Should it be singular jibu or plural majibu?

Choose based on meaning:

• jibu = one answer
• majibu = answers (plural) or answers in general

Talking about test/exercise responses in general, majibu is the usual choice.

What noun class is jibu/majibu, and how do possessives agree?

Class 5/6 (ji-/ma-):

• Singular: jibu → possessive agrees with class 5: jibu lako (your answer), jibu lake (his/her answer).
• Plural: majibu → possessive agrees with class 6: majibu yako, majibu yake.

Why isn’t there an object marker on the verb for majibu?

Swahili usually doesn’t use an object marker when the full object noun follows the verb. You’d add it mainly for emphasis/topicalization or when the object is already known/omitted:

• Neutral: Usiharakishe majibu yako.
• With object marker (emphatic/topical): Usiyaharakishe (majibu yako).

How would I say “Don’t rush your answers” as a standalone instruction?

• Usiharakishe majibu yako. If emphasizing plural “your,” use class agreement:
• Usiharakishe majibu yenu.

How do I address more than one person in the original sentence?

Change the subject marker to 2nd person plural (m-):

• Afadhali msome taratibu kuliko kuharakisha majibu. = “It’s better that you (all) read carefully than to rush answers.”

Can I front the comparison or rephrase with “instead of”?

Yes:

• Kuliko kuharakisha majibu, afadhali usome taratibu.
• Badala ya kuharakisha majibu, ni afadhali usome taratibu.

Can I use the adverbial haraka haraka instead of the verb kuharakisha?

Yes, that’s natural and a bit punchy:

• Afadhali usome taratibu kuliko kujibu haraka haraka. Here you compare “reading carefully” with “answering hastily,” using the adverbial phrase haraka haraka.