Usage Note
Bakit is the standard Tagalog question word for 'why' and one of the most fundamental interrogative words in the language. It can stand alone as an expression of surprise or disbelief ('Bakit?!' — 'Why?! / What?!'). It also opens the popular rhetorical expression 'Bakit ba?' used to express exasperation.
Examples
" Bakit ka umiiyak? "
Natural Translation
Why are you crying?
Literal Translation
Why you crying?
" Bakit hindi ka pumasok sa trabaho kahapon? "
Natural Translation
Why didn't you go to work yesterday?
Literal Translation
Why not you went-in to work yesterday?
" Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit galit siya sa akin gayong wala naman akong ginawang masama. "
Natural Translation
I can't understand why she's angry at me when I didn't do anything wrong.
Literal Translation
Not I can-understand if why angry she at me although nothing also I did-bad.
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