Learn Hardcore Turkish: Bulaşık bezini düzenli olarak değiştirmek hijyen için mühim. - It’s crucial to change the dishcloth regularly for hygiene.

In Turkish, the -i (here realized as -ni after a consonant-ending noun) marks a definite direct object. Since we’re talking about a specific dishcloth that you want to change, you use the accusative suffix -ni, giving bulaşık bezini (“the dishcloth”).

Why is düzenli olarak used instead of just düzenli?

düzenli is an adjective meaning “regular” or “orderly.” To turn it into an adverb (“regularly”), Turkish uses the suffix -olarak, so düzenli → düzenli olarak (“regularly”).

What form is değiştirmek, and how is it functioning in this sentence?

değiştirmek is the infinitive (dictionary form) meaning “to change.” Here it’s part of a nominalized infinitive clause—bulaşık bezini düzenli olarak değiştirmek—which acts like a noun phrase (“changing the dishcloth regularly”) and serves as the subject of the sentence.

Why is there no explicit “is” in the sentence?

Turkish often omits the copula olmak (“to be”) in non-past affirmatives when you have an adjective predicate. So instead of adding “is,” you simply say … mühim (“… important”). A formal version could add -dir, as in mühimdir, but that’s optional in everyday use.

Why is there no word for “the” or “a” before bulaşık bezini?

Turkish doesn’t have articles like “the” or “a.” Definiteness is shown by the accusative suffix (-i) rather than by a separate word.

What does için mean, and why is it placed after hijyen?

için means “for” in the sense of “for the purpose of” or “for the sake of.” It follows the noun it modifies, so hijyen için = “for hygiene.”

What’s the difference between mühim and önemli?

Both mean “important.” mühim is borrowed from Arabic and sounds more formal or literary. önemli is of Turkic origin and is more common in everyday speech. You can use either here, but mühim gives a slightly more formal flavor.

Can we change the word order, for example by putting hijyen için at the beginning?

Yes. Turkish has relatively flexible word order. If you start with hijyen için, it emphasizes the purpose:
Hijyen için bulaşık bezini düzenli olarak değiştirmek mühim.

Could this idea be expressed in the passive or necessity form?

Absolutely. You could say:
Bulaşık bezi düzenli olarak değiştirilmelidir.
This is the passive/necessitative form meaning “The dishcloth should be changed regularly,” putting the obligation on the action rather than stating it as a general fact.