Learning idioms is a fantastic way to dive deeper into a language and culture. Hindi, one of the most spoken languages in the world, is rich in idiomatic expressions that convey a wealth of meaning in just a few words. These idioms often reflect the history, culture, and wisdom of the Indian subcontinent. In this article, we will explore some common Hindi idioms, their meanings, and how they can be used in conversation.
Understanding Idioms in Hindi
Idioms are phrases or expressions that have a figurative meaning different from their literal meaning. They add color and depth to language, making conversations more engaging and expressive. In Hindi, idioms are known as “मुहावरे” (muhavare), and they are an integral part of everyday speech.
Why Learn Hindi Idioms?
Learning Hindi idioms can:
1. Improve your comprehension of native speakers.
2. Enhance your speaking and writing skills.
3. Provide insights into Indian culture and traditions.
4. Make your language use more authentic and natural.
Now, let’s delve into some common Hindi idioms and understand their meanings and usage.
Common Hindi Idioms and Their Meanings
1. अंधे की लाठी (Andhe ki laathi)
– **Literal Meaning**: A blind person’s stick.
– **Figurative Meaning**: A source of great support.
– **Usage**: When someone is very important to you or provides you with significant help, you can refer to them as “अंधे की लाठी”.
– **Example**: मेरे लिए तुम अंधे की लाठी हो। (Mere liye tum andhe ki laathi ho.) – You are a great support for me.
2. आँख का तारा (Aankh ka taara)
– **Literal Meaning**: The apple of the eye.
– **Figurative Meaning**: Someone very dear or precious.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to refer to someone who is cherished or loved dearly.
– **Example**: वह अपने माता-पिता की आँख का तारा है। (Wah apne mata-pita ki aankh ka taara hai.) – He is the apple of his parents’ eyes.
3. अंगूठा दिखाना (Angootha dikhana)
– **Literal Meaning**: To show the thumb.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To refuse or reject.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when someone refuses or denies something outright.
– **Example**: उसने मेरी मदद करने से अंगूठा दिखा दिया। (Usne meri madad karne se angootha dikha diya.) – He refused to help me.
4. ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा (Unt ke munh mein jeera)
– **Literal Meaning**: Cumin seed in a camel’s mouth.
– **Figurative Meaning**: A very small amount compared to what is needed.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when the resources available are insufficient for the task at hand.
– **Example**: इतनी थोड़ी सी रकम ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा है। (Itni thodi si rakam unt ke munh mein jeera hai.) – Such a small amount is like a drop in the ocean.
5. नौ दो ग्यारह होना (Nau do gyarah hona)
– **Literal Meaning**: Nine two eleven.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To disappear or run away.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when someone leaves quickly or vanishes.
– **Example**: पुलिस के आते ही चोर नौ दो ग्यारह हो गया। (Police ke aate hi chor nau do gyarah ho gaya.) – The thief disappeared as soon as the police arrived.
6. खून पसीना एक करना (Khoon paseena ek karna)
– **Literal Meaning**: To mix blood and sweat.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To work very hard.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe someone who is putting in a lot of effort and hard work.
– **Example**: उसने अपनी पढ़ाई में खून पसीना एक कर दिया। (Usne apni padhai mein khoon paseena ek kar diya.) – He worked very hard on his studies.
7. दूध का दूध, पानी का पानी (Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani)
– **Literal Meaning**: Milk to milk, water to water.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To distinguish right from wrong or to clarify.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when the truth comes out and things become clear.
– **Example**: जांच के बाद दूध का दूध, पानी का पानी हो गया। (Jaanch ke baad doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho gaya.) – After the investigation, everything became clear.
8. हाथ कंगन को आरसी क्या (Hath kangan ko aarsi kya)
– **Literal Meaning**: Why does a bracelet need a mirror?
– **Figurative Meaning**: Something that is obvious and needs no explanation.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when something is clear and evident without needing further proof.
– **Example**: उसकी मेहनत का नतीजा, हाथ कंगन को आरसी क्या। (Uski mehnat ka natija, hath kangan ko aarsi kya.) – The result of his hard work is evident.
9. सिर पर आकाश टूटना (Sir par aakash tootna)
– **Literal Meaning**: The sky falling on one’s head.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To face a huge calamity or disaster.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone feels overwhelmed by a great problem.
– **Example**: उसके व्यापार में घाटा होने पर, उसके सिर पर आकाश टूट पड़ा। (Uske vyapar mein ghaata hone par, uske sir par aakash toot pada.) – When he faced a loss in his business, he felt a huge calamity had struck him.
10. तेल देखो, तेल की धार देखो (Tel dekho, tel ki dhaar dekho)
– **Literal Meaning**: See the oil, see the oil’s flow.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To wait and watch carefully.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when advising someone to observe carefully before making a decision.
– **Example**: अभी जल्दी मत करो, पहले तेल देखो, तेल की धार देखो। (Abhi jaldi mat karo, pehle tel dekho, tel ki dhaar dekho.) – Don’t rush now, wait and watch carefully first.
11. गीदड़ भभकी (Geedad bhabhki)
– **Literal Meaning**: A jackal’s threat.
– **Figurative Meaning**: An empty threat or bluff.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe a threat that is not serious or is made by someone who cannot carry it out.
– **Example**: उसकी धमकी गीदड़ भभकी से ज्यादा कुछ नहीं थी। (Uski dhamki geedad bhabhki se zyada kuch nahi thi.) – His threat was nothing more than an empty bluff.
12. हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठना (Hath par hath dhare baithna)
– **Literal Meaning**: To sit with hands folded.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To do nothing or remain idle.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe someone who is not taking action or is being lazy.
– **Example**: जब तक तुम हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठोगे, काम नहीं होगा। (Jab tak tum hath par hath dhare baithoge, kaam nahi hoga.) – As long as you sit idle, the work won’t get done.
13. दिन दूनी रात चौगुनी तरक्की करना (Din duni raat chauguni tarakki karna)
– **Literal Meaning**: Progressing double by day and quadruple by night.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To make rapid progress.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe someone or something that is advancing very quickly.
– **Example**: उसकी कंपनी दिन दूनी रात चौगुनी तरक्की कर रही है। (Uski company din duni raat chauguni tarakki kar rahi hai.) – His company is making rapid progress.
14. नानी याद आ जाना (Nani yaad aa jana)
– **Literal Meaning**: To remember one’s grandmother.
– **Figurative Meaning**: To experience great difficulty or pain.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when someone goes through a very tough time or faces a challenging situation.
– **Example**: उस परीक्षा में इतनी मुश्किलें थीं कि मुझे नानी याद आ गई। (Us pariksha mein itni mushkilein thin ki mujhe nani yaad aa gayi.) – The exam was so tough that I had a very hard time.
15. सांच को आंच नहीं (Saanch ko aanch nahi)
– **Literal Meaning**: Truth has no fear of fire.
– **Figurative Meaning**: Truth is invincible or the truth stands firm.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to express the idea that the truth remains unaffected by challenges or scrutiny.
– **Example**: अगर तुम सच बोल रहे हो तो सांच को आंच नहीं। (Agar tum sach bol rahe ho to saanch ko aanch nahi.) – If you are telling the truth, you have nothing to fear.
16. घर का भेदी लंका ढाए (Ghar ka bhedi Lanka dhaye)
– **Literal Meaning**: An insider destroys Lanka.
– **Figurative Meaning**: An insider can cause the most damage.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe a situation where betrayal or damage comes from someone within.
– **Example**: कंपनी के गोपनीय जानकारी लीक होने पर सबने कहा, घर का भेदी लंका ढाए। (Company ke gopniya jankari leak hone par sabne kaha, ghar ka bhedi Lanka dhaye.) – When the company’s confidential information was leaked, everyone said it must have been an insider.
17. हाथी के दांत दिखाने के और, खाने के और (Hathi ke daant dikhane ke aur, khane ke aur)
– **Literal Meaning**: An elephant’s tusks are different for showing and different for eating.
– **Figurative Meaning**: Appearance can be deceptive.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe someone who appears to be different from what they truly are.
– **Example**: वह ऊपर से तो बहुत अच्छे लगते हैं लेकिन हाथी के दांत दिखाने के और, खाने के और। (Wah upar se to bahut acche lagte hain lekin hathi ke daant dikhane ke aur, khane ke aur.) – He seems very nice on the surface, but appearances can be deceptive.
18. आसमान से गिरे, खजूर में अटके (Aasman se gire, khajoor mein atke)
– **Literal Meaning**: Fallen from the sky and stuck in a date tree.
– **Figurative Meaning**: From one problem to another.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used when someone escapes one trouble only to fall into another.
– **Example**: पहले नौकरी खो दी, अब बीमारी हो गई, आसमान से गिरे, खजूर में अटके। (Pehle naukri kho di, ab bimaari ho gayi, aasman se gire, khajoor mein atke.) – First, he lost his job, now he is sick; he’s fallen from the sky and got stuck in a date tree.
19. एक और एक ग्यारह होना (Ek aur ek gyarah hona)
– **Literal Meaning**: One and one becoming eleven.
– **Figurative Meaning**: Unity is strength.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to emphasize the power of unity and collaboration.
– **Example**: अगर हम सब मिलकर काम करेंगे तो एक और एक ग्यारह हो जाएंगे। (Agar hum sab milkar kaam karenge to ek aur ek gyarah ho jayenge.) – If we all work together, we will be much stronger.
20. बगल में छोरा, शहर में ढिंढोरा (Bagal mein chhora, shahar mein dindhora)
– **Literal Meaning**: A boy next to you, and you’re announcing in the city.
– **Figurative Meaning**: Searching far and wide for something that is close by.
– **Usage**: This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone is looking for something everywhere but the obvious place.
– **Example**: तुम्हारी चाबी तो यहीं है, बगल में छोरा, शहर में ढिंढोरा। (Tumhari chaabi to yahin hai, bagal mein chhora, shahar mein dindhora.) – Your key is right here; you were looking for it everywhere for no reason.
Conclusion
Idioms are an essential part of any language as they convey meanings that are often more vivid and nuanced than literal expressions. Understanding and using these Hindi idioms will not only enhance your language skills but also give you deeper insights into Indian culture and thought processes. Practice these idioms in your conversations, and soon you’ll find yourself speaking Hindi more fluently and expressively. Happy learning!
