Bedeutung
To be poor or in a bad state.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Phatichar' character is a trope in 70s-90s Bollywood, often played by comedians like Johnny Lever or Kader Khan, representing the lovable but broke sidekick. In Mumbai, 'Phatichar' is part of the 'Tapori' (street thug) language. It's used with a specific swagger to dismiss things that aren't 'classy' or 'cool'. Indian middle-class parents often use this term to scold children for not taking care of their clothes or belongings, equating shabbiness with a lack of discipline. Modern Indian startups use 'Phatichar' ironically to describe their 'bootstrapped' (low-funded) early days.
Avoid with Strangers
Never call a stranger 'Phatichar' unless you want a fight. It's a heavy insult to their dignity.
Use for Objects
If you want to sound like a native, use it to complain about slow Wi-Fi or a broken lift. It sounds very natural.
Bedeutung
To be poor or in a bad state.
Avoid with Strangers
Never call a stranger 'Phatichar' unless you want a fight. It's a heavy insult to their dignity.
Use for Objects
If you want to sound like a native, use it to complain about slow Wi-Fi or a broken lift. It sounds very natural.
Self-Deprecation
Using it for yourself ('I'm so phatichar') makes you sound humble and relatable in a group of friends.
Grammar Check
Remember, it doesn't change to 'Phatichari' for females. It stays 'Phatichar'.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the most appropriate context to use 'फटीचर होना'.
In which situation would you say 'मैं बिलकुल फटीचर हूँ'?
It is an informal way to say you are broke, suitable for friends.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
उसकी पुरानी कार अब बिलकुल ________ हो गई है।
Phatichar is the adjective used to describe the dilapidated state of the car.
Complete the dialogue.
A: भाई, ये शर्ट क्यों पहनी है? जगह-जगह से धागे निकल रहे हैं। B: क्या करूँ यार, आजकल हालत थोड़ी ________ है।
The context of threads coming out of the shirt implies a shabby/poor state.
Match the sentence to the intended meaning.
Sentence: 'यह फटीचर होटल छोड़ो, कहीं और चलते हैं।'
Phatichar describes the low quality and poor condition of the hotel.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Garib vs. Phatichar
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIn which situation would you say 'मैं बिलकुल फटीचर हूँ'?
It is an informal way to say you are broke, suitable for friends.
उसकी पुरानी कार अब बिलकुल ________ हो गई है।
Phatichar is the adjective used to describe the dilapidated state of the car.
A: भाई, ये शर्ट क्यों पहनी है? जगह-जगह से धागे निकल रहे हैं। B: क्या करूँ यार, आजकल हालत थोड़ी ________ है।
The context of threads coming out of the shirt implies a shabby/poor state.
Sentence: 'यह फटीचर होटल छोड़ो, कहीं और चलते हैं।'
Phatichar describes the low quality and poor condition of the hotel.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's not a swear word, but it is a 'low-register' insult. It's rude but not profane.
Yes, you can say 'वह फटीचर है'. The word doesn't change gender.
'Garib' is a neutral fact about having no money. 'Phatichar' is a judgmental description of looking shabby or pathetic.
Absolutely not. Avoid it in any professional or academic context.
Yes! It's very common to call slow or old technology 'phatichar'.
No, it's purely Indic in origin, though it sounds a bit like 'feature' to English ears—don't get confused!
It is primarily a North Indian/Hindi belt term, though Bollywood has made it known elsewhere.
Yes, you can say 'He is a phatichar' (वह एक फटीचर है).
You could use 'Shaandaar' (grand) or 'Lallantop' (slang for excellent).
Better to avoid it. It might make you sound uneducated or too 'street'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
कंगाल होना
synonymTo be penniless
खस्ता हाल होना
similarTo be in a bad/fragile state
अमीर होना
contrastTo be rich
टाट उलटना
specialized formTo go bankrupt
चिथड़े उड़ना
builds onTo be blown to rags
