B2 · Intermédiaire supérieur Chapitre 2

Comparing and Emphasizing

8 Règles totales
83 exemples
6 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Elevate your Hindi by mastering the art of comparison and the power of subtle emphasis.

  • Construct precise comparisons using 'se' and 'sab se'.
  • Express correlative relationships with 'jitnā... utnā'.
  • Apply emphatic particles like 'hii' and 'bhi' to change sentence meaning.
Refine your voice: Compare with clarity, emphasize with impact.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey there, language adventurer! Ready to truly refine your Hindi? This chapter, 'Comparing and Emphasizing,' is where your spoken Hindi starts to shine with native-like precision. We're diving deep into expressing nuances, making specific comparisons, and adding powerful emphasis to your words. **What you'll master:** You'll learn to say 'better than,' 'more than,' and 'the best' using particles like se (से) and sab se (सब से). Want to say 'the more you practice, the better you get'? We'll cover jitnā... utnā (जितना... उतना) and the subtle differences between ki tarah (की तरह) and jaisa (जैसा) to describe things and actions. Crucially, you'll discover the magic of emphatic particles: hii (ही) for 'only' or 'just,' bhi (भी) for 'also' or 'even,' and bahut (बहुत) as your go-to intensifier for 'very.' Plus, you'll learn to casually express 'about' or 'nearly' with karīb (करीब). **Why it matters:** Imagine you’re in a Delhi market, needing to say,

This one is *much* softer than that one,
or
I *only* want the red one.
Or maybe you're sharing a story, and you want to convey,
Even I was surprised!
These precise tools transform simple statements into engaging, authentic conversations. They help you convey not just facts, but feelings and specific intentions, elevating your communication. **Your learning journey & outcome:** We'll build from basic comparisons to complex ones, then add layers of emphasis, turning ordinary sentences into impactful expressions. By the end, you'll speak Hindi with newfound sophistication and natural flow. You'll make subtle distinctions, highlight exactly what you mean, and confidently give estimates. Get ready to fine-tune your expression and sound incredibly natural, just like a native Hindi speaker!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Compare two or more items using comparative and superlative markers.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Create complex sentences showing proportional change using correlative adjectives.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Distinguish between 'like' (jaisa) and 'similar to' (ki tarah) in various contexts.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'hii' and 'bhi' to add nuance and focus to specific parts of a sentence.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Welcome, language adventurer, to 'Comparing and Emphasizing,' a pivotal chapter in your journey to master B2 Hindi grammar! This isn't just about learning new words; it's about unlocking the true potential of your expression, allowing you to speak with native-like precision and nuance. As you progress in Hindi grammar, you'll find that expressing comparisons and adding emphasis are crucial for clarity, impact, and sounding genuinely natural.
This chapter will equip you with the tools to move beyond basic statements and articulate your thoughts with greater sophistication.
Understanding how to compare things – saying something is 'better than,' 'more than,' or 'the best' – and how to emphasize specific points is fundamental for effective communication. Whether you're making a choice, describing an experience, or sharing an opinion, these structures will elevate your spoken and written Hindi. You'll learn to use key particles and constructions that are frequently used by native speakers, transforming your simple sentences into engaging, authentic conversations.
By the end of this module, you won't just know the rules; you'll intuitively feel how to make subtle distinctions, highlight exactly what you mean, and even confidently give estimates. This chapter is your gateway to refining your Hindi language skills, allowing you to convey not just facts, but feelings and specific intentions, ultimately making your communication more dynamic and impactful. Get ready to fine-tune your expression and speak with a newfound natural flow!

How This Grammar Works

In this chapter, we delve into the mechanics of Hindi comparisons and emphasis. To compare things, we frequently use se (से) for 'than' and sab se (सब से) for 'the most/best'. For instance, to say
This book is better than that one,
you'd say, yah kitāb us kitāb se acchī hai (यह किताब उस किताब से अच्छी है).
To express 'more than,' we combine se with zyādā (ज़्यादा), as in mujhe ām se zyādā seb pasand hai (मुझे आम से ज़्यादा सेब पसंद है - I like apples more than mangoes). For Hindi superlatives, 'the best' is simply sab se acchā (सबसे अच्छा), as in yah sab se acchī filam hai (यह सबसे अच्छी फिल्म है - This is the best film).
For correlative comparisons like
The more X, the more Y,
we use the elegant structure jitnā... utnā (जितना... उतना).
For example, jitnā aap abhyās karenge, utnā aap behtar honge (जितना आप अभ्यास करेंगे, उतना आप बेहतर होंगे - The more you practice, the better you will get). When describing similarities, we distinguish between ki tarah (की तरह) for 'like/similar to' (often used with nouns) and jaisa (जैसा) which functions more like 'as' or 'the way' (can be used with clauses or adjectives). For example, vah ek sher kī tarah bahādur hai (वह एक शेर की तरह बहादुर है - He is brave like a lion) versus jaisā aap chahen (जैसा आप चाहें - As you wish).
Adding emphasis is vital for B2 Hindi fluency. The emphatic particle hii (ही) means 'only,' 'just,' or 'exactly.' So, mujhe yahī cāhie (मुझे यही चाहिए - I want only this/exactly this). Bhi (भी) adds 'also' or 'even,' as in maiṁ bhī jāūngā (मैं भी जाऊँगा - I will also go) or usne mujhe dekhā tak nahīṁ, maiṁ bhī hairān thā (उसने मुझे देखा तक नहीं, मैं भी हैरान था - He didn't even look at me, even I was surprised).
For general intensification, bahut (बहुत) is your go-to for 'very' or 'much': yah bahut sundar hai (यह बहुत सुंदर है - This is very beautiful). Finally, to express approximation like 'about' or 'nearly,' we use karīb (करीब), as in karīb das log the (करीब दस लोग थे - There were about ten people).

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: मुझे यह सेब ज़्यादा पसंद है वह आम।
✓ Correct: मुझे यह सेब आम से ज़्यादा पसंद है। (I like this apple more than that mango.)
*Explanation:* When comparing 'more than,' you must include the particle se (से) with the item you are comparing *against*. Simply placing zyādā (ज़्यादा) after the first item is incorrect.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: वह मेरा भाई जैसा दिखता है।
✓ Correct: वह मेरे भाई की तरह दिखता है। (He looks like my brother.)
*Explanation:* While jaisa (जैसा) can mean 'like,' ki tarah (की तरह) is more commonly used when comparing two nouns or stating something is 'like' something else in appearance or manner. Jaisa often implies 'as' or 'the way' a particular action or state occurs.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: मैं भी ही यह काम करूँगा।
✓ Correct: मैं ही यह काम करूँगा। (I *only* will do this work.) OR मैं यह काम भी करूँगा। (I will *also* do this work.)
*Explanation:* Hii (ही) and bhi (भी) are both emphatic particles, but they convey different meanings ('only' vs. 'also/even'). Using them together on the same word is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Choose the one that conveys your intended emphasis.

Real Conversations

A

A

यह गाड़ी पिछली वाली से ज़्यादा अच्छी है। (This car is better than the previous one.)
B

B

हाँ, और यह sab se तेज़ भी है! (Yes, and it's the fastest too!)
A

A

Jitnā तुम मेहनत करोगे, utnā सफल होगे। (The more you work hard, the more successful you will be.)
B

B

मैं hii जानता हूँ कि यह कितना मुश्किल है। (Only I know how difficult it is.)
A

A

क्या तुम bhi मेरे साथ चलोगे? (Will you also come with me?)
B

B

हाँ, मैं karīb पाँच बजे वहाँ पहुँचूँगा। (Yes, I will reach there around five o'clock.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I say the best in Hindi using sab se?

You place sab se (सबसे) directly before the adjective, like sab se acchā (सबसे अच्छा - the best) or sab se baṛā (सबसे बड़ा - the biggest).

Q

Can jaisa and ki tarah be used interchangeably in Hindi comparisons?

Not always. Ki tarah is for direct noun-to-noun comparison, while jaisa often introduces a clause or describes a manner, like jaisa ki maiṁne kahā (जैसा कि मैंने कहा - as I said).

Q

What's the main difference between hii and bhi for emphasis?

Hii (ही) emphasizes exclusivity or exactness ('only,' 'just'), while bhi (भी) emphasizes inclusion or additionalness ('also,' 'even').

Q

Is bahut the only way to say 'very' in Hindi?

While bahut (बहुत) is the most common and versatile intensifier, other words like kāfī (काफ़ी - quite/enough) or atyadhik (अत्यधिक - excessively) can be used, though bahut is your primary tool.

Cultural Context

In everyday Hindi, the use of these comparative and emphatic particles is incredibly fluid and intuitive. Native speakers often subtly shift the position of hii (ही) or bhi (भी) to change the focus of emphasis, a skill that comes with practice. For instance, maiṁ hii jānā cāhtā hūṁ (मैं ही जाना चाहता हूँ - *Only I* want to go) is different from maiṁ jānā hii cāhtā hūṁ (मैं जाना ही चाहता हूँ - I *really* want to go).
This flexibility allows for rich, nuanced expression, making your Hindi grammar sound less textbook and more authentic. Mastering these small particles will significantly enhance your ability to convey precise meaning and emotion, making your speech much more engaging and natural.

Exemples clés (6)

1

Mera phone tumhare phone se zyādā nayā hai.

Mon téléphone est plus récent que le tien.

Comparer des choses en hindi : Mieux, plus et le meilleur (से, ज़्यादा, सब से)
2

Yeh gānā us gāne se behtar hai.

Cette chanson est meilleure que celle-là.

Comparer des choses en hindi : Mieux, plus et le meilleur (से, ज़्यादा, सब से)
3

जितनी चीनी डालोगे, उतनी मीठी चाय होगी।

Plus tu mettras de sucre, plus le thé sera sucré.

Plus ..., plus ... (Jitnā... Utnā)
4

जितना सस्ता, उतना बेकार।

Plus c'est bon marché, plus c'est inutile.

Plus ..., plus ... (Jitnā... Utnā)
5

Main bhi tumhare saath chalunga.

J'irai avec vous moi aussi.

La magie de 'Bhi' (Aussi/Même)
6

Kya tum coffee bhi loge?

Prendras-tu aussi du café ?

La magie de 'Bhi' (Aussi/Même)

Conseils et astuces (4)

🎯

Zappe le 'Zyada'

À l'oral, on peut souvent se passer de ज़्यादा. Dire «राम श्याम से लंबा है» implique déjà qu'il est plus grand. On l'ajoute surtout pour insister !
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparer des choses en hindi : Mieux, plus et le meilleur (से, ज़्यादा, सब से)
🎯

L'astuce pour 'L'un des meilleurs'

Pour dire 'L'un des meilleurs', on utilise la structure complexe
sabse achhe mein se ek
. C'est un peu long, alors au début, contente-toi de sabse achha pour rester simple.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les superlatifs en hindi : Le meilleur, le pire (Sabse)
💡

Oublie l'évidence

Si tu pointes du riz du doigt, pas besoin de répéter le mot 'chāwal'. Dis simplement :
Jitnā cāhiye, utnā lo
.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Plus ..., plus ... (Jitnā... Utnā)
💡

L'astuce du possessif

Considère toujours 'tarah' comme une dame ! C'est pour ça qu'on dit «मेरी तरह» (meri tarah) ou «उसकी तरह» (uski tarah), et jamais 'mera' ou 'uska'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparaisons : Ki Tarah vs Jaisa (Comme...)

Vocabulaire clé (6)

बेहतर(behtar) better ज़्यादा(zyādā) more कम(kam) less/few शायद(shāyad) perhaps तुलना(tulnā) comparison बिल्कुल(bilkul) absolutely/at all

Real-World Preview

shopping-bag

Shopping at a Boutique

Review Summary

  • A + B + से (se) + Adjective
  • Word + ही (hii)

Erreurs courantes

Do not use 'se' after 'sabse'. 'Sabse' already includes the comparative sense.

Wrong: यह घर सबसे से बड़ा है (Yeh ghar sabse se baṛā hai)
Correct: यह घर सबसे बड़ा है (Yeh ghar sabse baṛā hai)

You generally cannot use 'hii' and 'bhi' together for the same word as they contradict each other (only vs also).

Wrong: मैं भी ही जाऊँगा (Main bhī hī jāūñgā)
Correct: मैं ही जाऊँगा या मैं भी जाऊँगा (Main hī jāūñgā or Main bhī jāūñgā)

'Jaisa' does not take 'kī' before it, whereas 'tarah' must have 'kī'.

Wrong: वह शेर की जैसा है (Voh sher kī jaisā hai)
Correct: वह शेर जैसा है या वह शेर की तरह है (Voh sher jaisā hai or Voh sher kī tarah hai)

Règles dans ce chapitre (8)

1

Comparer des choses en hindi : Mieux, plus et le meilleur (से, ज़्यादा, सब से)

B2
Pour comparer en hindi, utilise la particule «से» comme 'que' et l'expression «सब से» pour désigner le 'meilleur' de tous.
Mera phone tumhare phone se zyādā nayā hai.
12 exemples
2

Les superlatifs en hindi : Le meilleur, le pire (Sabse)

B2
Pour transformer n'importe quel adjectif en superlatif (le plus...), place simplement sabse (सबसे) juste avant l'adjectif.
यह वाला सबसे सस्ता है।
11 exemples
3

Plus ..., plus ... (Jitnā... Utnā)

B2
Utilise la paire magique jitnā et utnā pour lier deux quantités. C'est ton outil pour dire plus ou autant : jitnā, utnā, jitne, jitnī.
जितनी चीनी डालोगे, उतनी मीठी चाय होगी।
10 exemples
4

Comparaisons : Ki Tarah vs Jaisa (Comme...)

B2
Utilise jaisa pour décrire ce qu'une chose EST (qualité), et ki tarah pour décrire COMMENT quelqu'un agit (manière).
तुम्हारी आवाज़ कोयल जैसी है।
10 exemples
5

L'insistance avec 'Hii' : Seulement, exactement (ही)

B2
Utilise «ही» pour exclure tout le reste ; ça transforme 'ceci' en «यही» (celui-ci précisément) et 'moi' en «मैं ही» (seulement moi).
Main hii ghar jaauungaa.
10 exemples
6

La magie de 'Bhi' (Aussi/Même)

B2
C'est ton outil polyvalent pour dire aussi, même ou non plus. Place-le toujours juste après le mot que tu veux souligner : bhi (भी).
Main bhi tumhare saath chalunga.
10 exemples
7

L'intensificateur ultime : Bahut (बहुत)

B2
Utilise «बहुत» comme un outil universel et invariable pour intensifier tes adjectifs et tes verbes, peu importe le contexte social.
Yah film bahut acchī hai.
10 exemples
8

Exprimer l'approximation : Environ et Presque (करीब)

B2
Utilise «करीब» juste avant un chiffre pour une estimation décontractée et «के करीब» pour parler de proximité physique.
Qareeb paanch-sau log party mein aaye the.
10 exemples

Next Steps

You've just unlocked the ability to express preference and intensity—the heart of personality in any language. Keep practicing these small particles; they make a huge difference!

Go to a grocery store and compare prices of two items aloud in Hindi.

Write 5 sentences about your 'best' and 'worst' habits.

Continue to: Linking Thoughts and Reasons

Pratique rapide (10)

Quelle phrase dit correctement 'Il mange aussi du poulet' ?

Choisis l'ordre correct :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Woh chicken bhi khata hai.
'Bhi' doit suivre le nom qu'il modifie (le poulet). Il ne se place presque jamais en fin de phrase.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La magie de 'Bhi' (Aussi/Même)

Complète la phrase pour dire : 'Cette voiture est la plus rapide.'

Yeh car ___ tez hai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sabse
On a besoin du marqueur de superlatif 'sabse' (parmi tous) pour signifier 'la plus rapide'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les superlatifs en hindi : Le meilleur, le pire (Sabse)

Choisis la phrase grammaticalement correcte.

Quelle phrase signifie : 'Plus il y a de gens, mieux c'est' ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitne log, utnā acchā.
'Log' (les gens) est pluriel, donc il faut 'Jitne'. Le résultat 'c'est bien' est un état général au masculin singulier.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Plus ..., plus ... (Jitnā... Utnā)

Complète pour dire 'J'ai faim moi aussi'.

Main ___ bhookha hoon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bhi
'Main bhi' signifie 'Moi aussi'. 'To' marquerait un contraste et 'Aur' signifie 'et'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La magie de 'Bhi' (Aussi/Même)

Complète la phrase pour dire 'plus grand que moi'

वह _____ लंबा है।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: मुझसे
Les pronoms comme 'maiṃ' passent à leur forme oblique 'mujh-' devant une postposition comme 'se'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparer des choses en hindi : Mieux, plus et le meilleur (से, ज़्यादा, सब से)

Trouve l'erreur : 'Mumbai Delhi se zyādā baṛā hai.' (Les villes sont féminines)

Find and fix the mistake:

मुंबई दिल्ली से ज़्यादा बड़ा है।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: मुंबई दिल्ली से ज़्यादा बड़ी है।
L'adjectif doit s'accorder avec le sujet. Mumbai étant féminin, 'baṛā' devient 'baṛī'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparer des choses en hindi : Mieux, plus et le meilleur (से, ज़्यादा, सब से)

Trouve l'erreur de traduction.

Find and fix the mistake:

Français : 'Même aujourd'hui.' / Hindi : 'Bhi aaj.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aaj bhi
La particule 'bhi' vient APRÈS le mot, donc 'Même aujourd'hui' se dit 'Aaj bhi'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: La magie de 'Bhi' (Aussi/Même)

Complète la phrase pour dire 'environ 20 personnes'.

पार्टी में ___ २० लोग थे।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: करीब
Pour estimer un nombre, on place 'करीब' directement devant le chiffre.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Exprimer l'approximation : Environ et Presque (करीब)

Quelle phrase signifie correctement 'Comme moi' ?

Choisis la traduction correcte pour 'Fais comme moi'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Meri tarah karo.
'Tarah' est un nom féminin, donc le pronom possessif doit être féminin : 'Meri'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparaisons : Ki Tarah vs Jaisa (Comme...)

Quelle phrase signifie 'C'est le meilleur joueur' ?

Choisis la bonne traduction :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Woh sabse achha khiladi hai.
'Sabse' doit se placer immédiatement avant l'adjectif 'achha'. 'Bahut' signifie seulement 'très'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les superlatifs en hindi : Le meilleur, le pire (Sabse)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

En général, non. Utilise ज़्यादा. और signifie 'et' ou 'encore' (pour demander plus d'eau). Pour comparer des qualités, ज़्यादा est le bon choix : «यह ज़्यादा अच्छा है।»
Les deux formes सब से et सबसे sont acceptables. Dans les SMS ou les journaux, tu le verras souvent écrit en un seul mot : «यह सबसे अच्छा है।»
Non, jamais ! Sabse reste identique. C'est le mot juste après (l'adjectif) qui s'accorde. Pour une fille, on dira sabse achhi et non sabsi achhi.
Oui, c'est très fréquent en Hinglish. Tu peux dire sabse boring, sabse interesting ou sabse late.
'Kitnā' est un mot interrogatif qui signifie 'Combien ?'. 'Jitnā' est la réponse ou le relatif qui signifie 'Autant que'. Tu utilises 'kitnā' pour poser la question et 'jitnā' pour expliquer la quantité. Par exemple : Kitnā cāhiye?
Oui, dans la langue parlée décontractée, la partie 'utnā' est parfois sous-entendue, surtout en fin de phrase. Par exemple :
Khāo jitnā khānā hai
(Mange autant que tu veux). Mais grammaticalement, ils vont de pair.
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Building Complex Nouns and Phrases
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Linking Thoughts and Reasons
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