Karan thinks "aap" is only used for multiple people, never for one single person alone
Karan thinks "aap" is only used for multiple people, never for one single person alone. So when he speaks to his teacher one-on-one, he says "tum". His mother says "aap" is correct for a teacher. Who is right?
Who do you think is right? Pick one.
The answer: His mother is right, "aap" is correct for one person too
Why
Karan is treating 'आप' like English 'you-all', as if the choice were only about number. Actually, the difference between 'तू', 'तुम', and 'आप' in Hindi is mainly about the LEVEL OF RESPECT, not number. 'आप' is the respectful pronoun, and it is just as correct for one person as for many — elders, teachers, and strangers are addressed with 'आप' even one-on-one. Test it: 'आपका नाम क्या है?' can be asked of a single stranger just as naturally as of a group — respect decides this, not headcount. His mother is right: 'आप' shows respect whether there is one listener or several — it's the right word for a teacher.
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