A1 Idiom Informal

دل چھوٹا کرنا

دل چھوٹا کرنا

To make heart small

Significado

To lose heart or become discouraged.

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Contexto cultural

In Pakistan, this phrase is often followed by 'Allah malik hai' (God is the owner/provider), reinforcing the idea that one shouldn't worry because a higher power will take care of things. In Delhi and Lucknow, you might hear 'Ji chhota karna' more frequently in domestic settings among older generations. The 'Dil' is central to Sufi poetry. A 'small heart' is one that is too focused on the self and worldly failures, while a 'big heart' is focused on the Divine. Younger Urdu speakers might use the English word 'dishearten' in the middle of Urdu sentences, but 'Dil chhota na kar' remains the soulful, preferred choice for deep friendship.

💡

Use it for support

This is the best phrase to use when you want to show you care without being too formal.

⚠️

Gender matters

Always keep 'Chhota' masculine because 'Dil' is masculine. Never say 'Dil chhoti'.

Significado

To lose heart or become discouraged.

💡

Use it for support

This is the best phrase to use when you want to show you care without being too formal.

⚠️

Gender matters

Always keep 'Chhota' masculine because 'Dil' is masculine. Never say 'Dil chhoti'.

🎯

Add 'Yaar'

Adding 'Yaar' (friend/buddy) at the end makes it sound much more natural and warm.

💬

Religious context

In religious families, pairing this with 'Allah par bharosa rakho' (Have faith in God) is very common.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.

امتحان میں فیل ہونے پر ______ نہ کرو۔

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا

The context of failing an exam requires 'don't lose heart' (dil chhota na karo).

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Select the correct negative command:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا مت کرو

'Mat' is the correct imperative negative, and 'dil' is masculine.

Match the situation to the response.

Situation: Your friend's cricket team lost the match.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا نہ کر یار، اگلی بار جیتیں گے۔

Losing a match is a perfect time to use this idiom to comfort a friend.

Complete the dialogue.

احمد: مجھے نوکری نہیں ملی۔ سارہ: ______، اللہ بہتر کرے گا۔

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا نہ کرو

Sarah is comforting Ahmad after a job rejection.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom. Fill Blank A1

امتحان میں فیل ہونے پر ______ نہ کرو۔

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا

The context of failing an exam requires 'don't lose heart' (dil chhota na karo).

Which sentence is grammatically correct? Choose A2

Select the correct negative command:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا مت کرو

'Mat' is the correct imperative negative, and 'dil' is masculine.

Match the situation to the response. situation_matching A1

Situation: Your friend's cricket team lost the match.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا نہ کر یار، اگلی بار جیتیں گے۔

Losing a match is a perfect time to use this idiom to comfort a friend.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

احمد: مجھے نوکری نہیں ملی۔ سارہ: ______، اللہ بہتر کرے گا۔

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دل چھوٹا نہ کرو

Sarah is comforting Ahmad after a job rejection.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

12 preguntas

Not really. For romantic heartbreak, use 'Dil tootna'. 'Dil chhota karna' is for disappointment or losing courage.

It might be too informal. Use 'Aap mayoos na hon' (Don't be disappointed) instead.

The opposite is 'Dil bara karna' (to be generous/brave) or 'Himat pakarna' (to gather courage).

It is masculine. That's why we say 'chhota' and not 'chhoti'.

Yes! You can say 'Maine dil chhota kar liya' (I lost heart).

In some very specific dialects, yes, but 99% of the time it means to lose heart. Use 'Kanjoos' for stingy.

Yes, very often! It's a staple of emotional and motivational songs.

Say 'Dil chhota na karein'.

Yes, 'Ji chhota karna' is a perfect synonym.

Yes, it is exactly the same in Hindi (दिल छोटा کرنا/करना).

It's A1-A2. Every beginner should know this.

No, that would be medically incorrect and confusing.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

ہمت ہارنا

synonym

To lose courage

🔗

دل بڑا کرنا

contrast

To be generous or brave

🔗

مایوس ہونا

similar

To be disappointed/hopeless

🔗

دل ٹوٹنا

builds on

To have a broken heart

🔄

جی چھوٹا کرنا

synonym

To lose heart

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