Learn Turkish: Neden bu kadar zıtlar? Çünkü biri rahat, diğeri ise kuralcı. - Why are they so opposite? Because one is relaxed, whereas the other is strict.

Neden bu kadar zıtlar? Çünkü biri rahat, diğeri ise kuralcı.

Why are they so opposite? Because one is relaxed, whereas the other is strict.

Breakdown of Neden bu kadar zıtlar? Çünkü biri rahat, diğeri ise kuralcı.

as ... as; until, up to

Questions & Answers about Neden bu kadar zıtlar? Çünkü biri rahat, diğeri ise kuralcı.

Why use the separate word ise here instead of attaching it to the word, and what exactly does it add?

ise is acting as a contrastive topic marker here, meaning 'whereas' or 'as for'. It contrasts the second person with the first. You absolutely can attach it as a suffix! Saying diğeriyse (diğeri + -y- + -se) is perfectly natural and means the exact same thing in this context.

Why do biri and diğeri have the -i suffix at the end?

That -i is the third-person possessive suffix. Instead of just saying 'one' (bir) and 'other' (diğer), you are literally saying 'one of them' (biri) and 'the other of them' (diğeri), linking them directly back to the people mentioned in the first question.

How does the word kuralcı get the meaning of 'strict'?

The root is kural, which means 'rule'. The suffix -cı (or -ci, -cu, etc.) makes a noun or adjective describing a person associated with that thing. A kuralcı is a 'rules person', which translates perfectly to 'strict' or 'dogmatic'.

Can I use çok instead of bu kadar to mean 'so opposite'?