तू-तू मैं-मैं (too-too main-main)
noun
A single fixed expression built from the intimate pronoun तू (too, 'you') repeated with मैं (main, 'I') -- it describes a petty, shouty back-and-forth quarrel, not a literal use of either pronoun.
Sense
1
:
a petty quarrel; bickering with mutual shouting/blaming
noun, feminine Usually appears with होना (honaa) 'to happen/break out' or a verb like करना (karnaa) 'to do', e.g. as the subject or object of the quarrel-event rather than describing one person's action alone.
Synonyms: झगड़ा (jhagdaa), कहा-सुनी (kahaa-sunii, milder, refers more to an exchange of harsh words), खींचतान (khiinchtaan, tug-of-war/friction, broader than just verbal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a classic sound-symbolic/echo formation in Hindi, mimicking two people jabbing 'tu! main!' back and forth at each other -- you will hear it used affectionately about neighbors, siblings, or in-laws having a loud but not-too-serious spat. It pairs naturally with words like मामूली (maamoolii, 'petty/trivial') to downplay the seriousness of the fight being described.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to translate it literally as 'you-you I-I,' but it functions as one indivisible noun for the event of quarreling, not a description of who said what. 2) It is used for the *act* of bickering itself (तू-तू मैं-मैं होना (too-too main-main honaa, 'a squabble to break out')), not as a verb on its own -- it always needs a supporting verb like होना (honaa) or करना (karnaa).
Sample Sentences:
पड़ोसियों के बीच रोज़ की तू-तू मैं-मैं तो चलती ही रहती है।
There's a daily squabble going on between the neighbors, as usual.
(padosiyon ke biich roz kii too-too main-main to chaltii hii rahtii hai।)
कल रात दोनों भाइयों के बीच पैसों को लेकर तू-तू मैं-मैं हो गई।
Last night there was a war of words between the two brothers over money.
(kal raat donon bhaaiyon ke biich paison ko lekar too-too main-main ho gaii।)
अरे, ये तो बस एक मामूली तू-तू मैं-मैं थी, इसे इतना दिल पर मत लो।
Oh, it was just a petty squabble, don't take it so much to heart.
(are, ye to bas ek maamoolii too-too main-main thii, ise itnaa dil par mat lo।)
सास-बहू में तू-तू मैं-मैं होना तो घर-घर की कहानी है।
A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law squabbling is a tale found in every household.
(saas-bahoo men too-too main-main honaa to ghar-ghar kii kahaanii hai।)
काश वो दोनों बिना तू-तू मैं-मैं किए बात कर पाते।
I wish those two could talk without getting into a squabble.
(kaash vo donon binaa too-too main-main kie baat kar paate।)
अगर तुम दोनों में फिर से तू-तू मैं-मैं होती, तो मैं बीच में नहीं पड़ता।
If the two of you had squabbled again, I wouldn't have gotten in the middle of it.
(agar tum donon men phir se too-too main-main hotii, to main biich men nahiin padtaa।)
बाज़ार में सब्ज़ी वाले और ग्राहक के बीच दाम को लेकर तू-तू मैं-मैं मच गई।
In the market, a squabble broke out between the vegetable seller and the customer over the price.
(baazaar men sabzii vaale aur graahak ke biich daam ko lekar too-too main-main mach gaii।)
बच्चों की छोटी-मोटी तू-तू मैं-मैं को नज़रअंदाज़ करना ही बेहतर है।
It's better to just ignore the children's small squabbles.
(bachchon kii chhotii-motii too-too main-main ko nazraandaaz karnaa hii behtar hai।)
दफ़्तर में इतनी तू-तू मैं-मैं मत किया करो, काम पर ध्यान दो।
Don't keep having such squabbles at the office, focus on the work.
(daftar men itnii too-too main-main mat kiyaa karo, kaam par dhyaan do।)
उस मामूली सी तू-तू मैं-मैं ने पूरे मोहल्ले का ध्यान खींच लिया।
That petty squabble ended up drawing the attention of the entire neighborhood.
(us maamoolii sii too-too main-main ne poore mohalle kaa dhyaan khiinch liyaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
तू-तू मैं-मैं
([[तू-तू]] [[मैं-मैं]])
(sg.f.oblique):
तू-तू मैं-मैं
([[तू-तू]] [[मैं-मैं]])
(pl.f.direct):
तू-तू मैं-मैंें
([[तू-तू]] [[मैं-मैंें]])
(pl.f.oblique):
तू-तू मैं-मैंों
([[तू-तू]] [[मैं-मैंों]])