किस लिए (kis lie)

adverb A question phrase meaning 'for what' / 'why' -- built from किस (kis, oblique of कौन, 'which/what') plus लिए (lie, 'for'). Functionally overlaps with क्यों (kyon) but keeps its 'for what purpose' flavor.
Sense 1 : why / for what purpose
adverb
Synonyms: क्यों (kyon), किसलिए (kislie, variant form, one-word spelling), काहे के लिए (kaahe ke lie, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of किस लिए (kis lie) as literally 'for which (thing)' -- लिए (lie) is the same 'for' you use in मेरे लिए (mere lie, 'for me'), so the phrase keeps its logic transparent even to a beginner. It has a slightly sharper, sometimes accusatory edge in speech than क्यों (kyon) -- a parent asking बच्चे को किस लिए मारा? (bachche ko kis lie maaraa?, 'what did you hit the child for?') sounds more pointed than the plain क्यों मारा? (kyon maaraa?).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for क्यों (kyon) by default, but किस लिए (kis lie) more pointedly asks about *purpose* or *reason for doing something*, e.g. किस लिए आए हो? (kis lie aae ho?, 'what have you come for?') -- it invites an answer about intent, not just cause. 2) It is frequently written as one word, किसलिए (kislie); both spellings are common and acceptable.
Sample Sentences:
तुम यह सब किस लिए कर रहे हो? What are you doing all this for?
(tum yah sab kis lie kar rahe ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चे को किस लिए मारा? What did you hit the child for?
(bachche ko kis lie maaraa?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह पैसा किस लिए रखा है? What has this money been set aside for?
(yah paisaa kis lie rakhaa hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह मीटिंग किस लिए बुलाई गई थी? For what purpose was this meeting called?
(yah miiting kis lie bulaaii gaii thii?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
तुम मुझसे किस लिए नाराज़ हो? What are you angry at me for?
(tum mujhse kis lie naaraaz ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम्हें यह पसंद नहीं था, तो लिया किस लिए? If you didn't like it, then why did you take it?
(agar tumhen yah pasand nahiin thaa, to liyaa kis lie?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह सारी मेहनत किस लिए होती, अगर नतीजा यही निकलना था? What would all this hard work have been for, if the result was going to be the same anyway?
(yah saarii mehnat kis lie hotii, agar natiijaa yahii nikalnaa thaa?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया बताइए कि यह फॉर्म किस लिए भरा जा रहा है। Please tell me for what purpose this form is being filled out.
(kripyaa bataaie ki yah phorm kis lie bharaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
तू इतनी रात को किस लिए फ़ोन कर रहा है? What are you calling this late at night for?
(too itnii raat ko kis lie fon kar rahaa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह सब किस लिए हो रहा है, कोई मुझे बताए तो। Would someone please tell me what all this is happening for.
(yah sab kis lie ho rahaa hai, koii mujhe bataae to।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह चंदा किस लिए इकट्ठा किया जा रहा है? For what purpose is this donation being collected?
(yah chandaa kis lie ikatthaa kiyaa jaa rahaa hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive