In 15 Sekunden
- Used when someone fails to keep a commitment or word.
- Combines 'vaada' (promise) and 'todna' (to break).
- Carries emotional weight regarding trust and personal honor.
Bedeutung
This phrase is used when someone fails to keep their word or doesn't do what they committed to doing. It is the direct Hindi equivalent of saying 'to break a promise.'
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Calling out a friend who didn't show up
तुमने कल आने का वादा तोड़ा।
You broke your promise to come yesterday.
A serious conversation between partners
मैं कभी अपना वादा नहीं तोड़ता।
I never break my promise.
Discussing a business agreement
कंपनी ने अपना वादा तोड़ दिया है।
The company has broken its promise.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of 'Zubaan' (one's word) is paramount. Breaking a promise can lead to a long-term loss of 'Izzat' (honor) in the community. Many iconic songs revolve around the theme of 'Vaada'. Breaking a promise is often the central conflict in romantic dramas. While formal contracts are used, many small-scale businesses still operate on 'vachan'. Breaking such a promise can blacklist a person from local trade circles. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are full of stories where characters go to extreme lengths (even death) to avoid breaking a promise.
Use 'Dena' for emphasis
Saying 'vada tor diya' sounds more natural and complete than just 'vada toda' in most conversations.
Gender Agreement
Always remember 'vada' is masculine. Even if you are a girl, you say 'Usne mera vada toda'.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used when someone fails to keep a commitment or word.
- Combines 'vaada' (promise) and 'todna' (to break).
- Carries emotional weight regarding trust and personal honor.
What It Means
Imagine you told your friend you would bring snacks to the party.
Saturday night arrives, and you show up empty-handed.
That feeling of letting someone down is वादा तोड़ना.
In Hindi, वादा means promise and तोड़ना means to break.
It is a simple, direct way to describe a breach of trust.
Whether it is a small white lie or a big betrayal, this phrase fits.
It is one of the most common collocations you will hear in daily life.
How To Use It
You treat तोड़ना as the main verb here.
This means you need to conjugate it based on the person and tense.
If you broke a promise, you say मैंने वादा तोड़ा.
If someone else is doing it, the ending changes.
Remember that वादा is a masculine noun.
However, the verb usually agrees with the subject in simple tenses.
In the past tense with ने, it agrees with वादा.
It sounds a bit technical, but you will get the hang of it quickly!
When To Use It
Use this when a friend cancels plans at the last minute.
It is perfect for those 'I thought we had a deal' moments.
You can use it in a romantic context during a dramatic argument.
It also works in professional settings if a deadline is missed.
Texting a sibling who forgot to pick you up?
Send them a message saying, 'तुमने अपना वादा तोड़ा!'
It is versatile enough for both serious and lighthearted situations.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for physical objects like glass or toys.
For a broken chair, you just use तोड़ना without वादा.
Avoid using it for 'breaking' news or 'breaking' a record.
Hindi has different words for those specific contexts.
Also, if someone just made a mistake, this might sound too harsh.
वादा तोड़ना implies a specific commitment was made beforehand.
If there was no agreement, there is no promise to break!
Cultural Background
In Indian culture, your 'zubaan' (word) is your honor.
There is a famous saying: 'Pran jaye par vachan na jaye.'
It means 'Life may go, but a promise should not be broken.'
Because of this, वादा तोड़ना carries significant emotional weight.
Bollywood movies are famous for dramatic scenes centered around this phrase.
Breaking a promise is often seen as a major character flaw.
People value reliability deeply in both business and family circles.
Common Variations
The most common opposite is वादा निभाना (to fulfill a promise).
You might also hear वादा पूरा करना (to complete a promise).
In more formal or poetic Hindi, people use वचन तोड़ना.
वचन is the Sanskrit-derived word for a solemn vow.
If someone is known for breaking promises, they are 'vaada-khilaaf'.
Knowing these variations helps you sound more like a local.
Just stick to वादा तोड़ना for your everyday conversations!
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and can be used in any social setting. The verb 'todna' is transitive, so it requires an object (the promise). In the past tense, it is used with the 'ne' construction.
Use 'Dena' for emphasis
Saying 'vada tor diya' sounds more natural and complete than just 'vada toda' in most conversations.
Gender Agreement
Always remember 'vada' is masculine. Even if you are a girl, you say 'Usne mera vada toda'.
The 'Zubaan' alternative
In informal/slang settings, use 'अपनी बात से पलट जाना' (to flip from one's word) for a more native feel.
Beispiele
6तुमने कल आने का वादा तोड़ा।
You broke your promise to come yesterday.
A direct way to express disappointment to a friend.
मैं कभी अपना वादा नहीं तोड़ता।
I never break my promise.
Used here to build trust and show character.
कंपनी ने अपना वादा तोड़ दिया है।
The company has broken its promise.
Formal use indicating a breach of a professional agreement.
मम्मी, आपने चॉकलेट देने का वादा तोड़ा!
Mom, you broke the promise to give me chocolate!
A lighthearted, everyday use of the phrase.
वादा मत तोड़ना, किसी को मत बताना।
Don't break the promise, don't tell anyone.
Using the imperative form to give a command.
वादा तोड़ना मेरी फितरत में नहीं है।
Breaking promises is not in my nature.
Uses 'fitrat' (nature) for a more poetic, dramatic effect.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'तोड़ना' in the past tense.
उसने कल अपना वादा ______।
Since 'vada' is masculine, the past tense verb must be 'toda'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'Don't break the promise'?
Choose the correct sentence:
'Mat' is the correct negative particle for commands, and both 'torna' (infinitive as imperative) and 'toro' are natural.
Match the phrase to the situation.
A politician fails to build a school they promised.
Failing to fulfill a commitment is 'vada torna'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: तुम पार्टी में क्यों नहीं आए? B: माफ करना, काम था। A: तुमने ______।
The context implies disappointment over a missed commitment.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Types of Promises
Personal
- • Meeting a friend
- • Doing chores
- • Keeping a secret
Professional
- • Deadlines
- • Salary hikes
- • Quality of work
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenउसने कल अपना वादा ______।
Since 'vada' is masculine, the past tense verb must be 'toda'.
Choose the correct sentence:
'Mat' is the correct negative particle for commands, and both 'torna' (infinitive as imperative) and 'toro' are natural.
A politician fails to build a school they promised.
Failing to fulfill a commitment is 'vada torna'.
A: तुम पार्टी में क्यों नहीं आए? B: माफ करना, काम था। A: तुमने ______।
The context implies disappointment over a missed commitment.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenIt can be. It is an accusation. Use it carefully if you don't want to start an argument.
Yes, but 'अनुबंध तोड़ना' (breaking a contract) is more formal for legal settings.
The opposite is 'वादा निभाना' (vāda nibhānā).
It is used in both. It has Persian roots but is fully integrated into standard Hindi.
You say: 'मैं कभी अपने वादे नहीं तोड़ता' (for males) or 'तोड़ती' (for females).
Verwandte Redewendungen
वादा निभाना
contrastTo fulfill a promise
वादा करना
builds onTo make a promise
वचन देना
similarTo give one's word
मुकर जाना
similarTo go back on one's word
