Finding Out About Services

This unit covers how to find out about services in Bengali. You will learn question patterns for locating services (kothay pabo?), opening hours and days (khola, bondho), how to make inquiries (jigges kora), and how to express needs (dorkar, chai, lagbe). These skills support practical daily life and professional logistics in Bengali-speaking contexts.

Basic Sentences

Bengali (romanized)	English
Hospital kothay pabo?	Where will I find a hospital?
Post office kothay achhe?	Where is the post office?
Bank khola ki shomoy?	What time does the bank open?
Eta shombar bondho.	This is closed on Saturday.
Aami ekta daktar-er dorkar.	I need a doctor.
Aami jigges korte chai.	I want to ask.
Apni ki amake bole deben?	Can you tell me?
Pharmacy kothay pabo?	Where will I find a pharmacy?
Embassy ki shomoy khola?	What time does the embassy open?
Aami ekta room chai.	I want a room.

Key Vocabulary

Bengali	English
kothay pabo	where will I find
khola	open
bondho	closed
shomoy	time
dorkar	need
chai	want
lagbe	will be needed
jigges kora	to ask (inquiry)
jigges korte	to ask
bole deben	you will tell
pharmacy	pharmacy
room	room
shombar	Saturday
robibar	Sunday
shomoy	time
ki shomoy	what time

Grammar Notes

Question Patterns for Services (kothay pabo?)

Kothay pabo? means “Where will I find?”—pabo is future “I will get/find.” Hospital kothay pabo? (Where will I find a hospital?). Kothay achhe? (Where is it?) for location. Kothay jabo? (Where will I go?) for direction. Use the service name + kothay pabo for common inquiries.

Opening Hours and Days (khola, bondho)

Khola means “open”; bondho means “closed.” Bank khola ki shomoy? (What time does the bank open?)—ki shomoy (what time). Khola achhe (it is open), bondho achhe (it is closed). Days: shombar (Saturday), robibar (Sunday). Eta shombar bondho (This is closed on Saturday).

Making Inquiries (jigges kora)

Jigges kora means “to ask” or “to inquire.” Aami jigges korte chai (I want to ask). Jigges korlam (I asked). Apni ki amake bole deben? (Can you tell me?)—bole deben is polite “you will tell.” Ektu jigges korte pari? (Can I ask something?).

Expressing Needs (dorkar, chai, lagbe)

Chai (I want): Aami ekta room chai (I want a room). Dorkar (need): Aamar dorkar (I need), Aami ekta daktar-er dorkar (I need a doctor). Lagbe (will be needed): Aamar lagbe (I will need). Chai is more direct; dorkar and lagbe express necessity.

Drills

Drill 1: Finding Services

Bengali	English
Hospital kothay pabo?	Where will I find a hospital?
Pharmacy kothay achhe?	Where is the pharmacy?
Post office kothay?	Where is the post office?
Bank kothay pabo?	Where will I find a bank?

Drill 2: Opening Hours

Question	Response
Bank ki shomoy khola?	Nao tara theke khola.
Embassy khola ki shomoy?	At tara theke.
Eta shombar bondho?	Haan, shombar bondho.
Pharmacy kothay khola achhe?	Shei building-er niche.

Drill 3: Making Inquiries

Bengali	English
Aami jigges korte chai.	I want to ask.
Apni ki amake bole deben?	Can you tell me?
Ektu jigges korte pari?	Can I ask something?
Aami bujhte parchi na.	I cannot understand.

Drill 4: Expressing Needs

Bengali	English
Aami ekta daktar-er dorkar.	I need a doctor.
Aami ekta room chai.	I want a room.
Aamar ekta stamp lagbe.	I will need a stamp.
Aami jigges korte chai.	I want to ask.

Narrative

Aami Dhaka-te notun. Aami hotel-er room chai. Aami jigges korlam, “Hotel kothay pabo?” Lokjon bollen, “Shei boro rasta-te achhe.” Aami gelam. Hotel khola ki shomoy jigges korlam. Reception bollen, “Shob shomoy khola. Apni room nite paren.” Aami ekta room nilam. Tarpor aami pharmacy kothay pabo jigges korlam. Aamar daktar-er dorkar chilo. Lokjon hospital-er dik niye bollen. Aami hospital-e gelam. Aami daktar-er sathe dekha korlam. Aami bhalo bhabe kaj shesh korlam.

I am new in Dhaka. I want a hotel room. I asked, “Where will I find a hotel?” People said, “It is on that big road.” I went. I asked what time the hotel opens. The reception said, “It is open all the time. You can take a room.” I took a room. Then I asked where I would find a pharmacy. I needed a doctor. People directed me to the hospital. I went to the hospital. I met with the doctor. I completed my tasks well.