Breakdown of Şu kuzucuk hem bembeyaz hem çok şirin.
şu
that (pointed out)
çok
very
hem
both / and (used in pairs as both... and...)
bembeyaz
bright white
Questions & Answers about Şu kuzucuk hem bembeyaz hem çok şirin.
How does the diminutive suffix work in kuzucuk?
The root word is kuzu (lamb). By adding the diminutive suffix -cuk, it becomes kuzucuk (little lamb). The suffix follows 4-way vowel harmony, so because the last vowel in kuzu is u, the suffix takes the u form instead of -cık, -cik, or -cük. In this context, it adds a feeling of both smallness and affection.
What kind of word is bembeyaz, and why not just say çok beyaz?
Bembeyaz is an intensive adjective meaning "pure white" or "completely white." In Turkish, you can emphasize certain adjectives by taking their first syllable, adding a special consonant (like m, p, r, or s), and attaching it to the front. Here, be + m + beyaz creates bembeyaz, which feels much stronger and more descriptive than just saying çok beyaz (very white).
How do we use the hem ... hem ... structure here?
Hem ... hem ... is a paired conjunction that translates to "both ... and ...". You place one part right before each of the words or phrases you want to connect. In this sentence, it links the two distinct descriptions of the lamb: it is hem bembeyaz (both pure white) hem çok şirin (and very cute).