कभी भी नहीं en 30 secondes
- Emphatic version of 'never'.
- Used for absolute time negation.
- Common in dramatic or firm contexts.
- Requires 'nahi' at the end.
The Hindi phrase कभी भी नहीं (kabhī bhī nahī̃) is a powerful, emphatic adverbial construction used to denote absolute negation in terms of time. It translates most accurately to 'never ever' or 'at no point at all.' While the simple word नहीं means 'no' or 'not,' and कभी नहीं means 'never,' the addition of the emphatic particle भी (bhī) intensifies the statement, leaving no room for exceptions or possibilities.
- Morphological Breakdown
- The phrase consists of three distinct parts: कभी (kabhī - sometime/ever), भी (bhī - even/also), and नहीं (nahī̃ - not). Combined, they literally mean 'not even sometime,' which functions as a strong 'never.'
मैं वहाँ कभी भी नहीं जाऊँगा। (I will never ever go there.)
In Hindi linguistics, this is categorized as a temporal adverb of frequency with extreme negative polarity. It is used to express a permanent state of non-occurrence. Whether you are talking about a habit you don't have, a place you've never visited, or a principle you will never break, this phrase provides the necessary weight to your conviction. It is common in both formal speeches and passionate daily conversations.
- Syntactic Position
- It usually precedes the verb or is placed at the beginning of the sentence for dramatic effect. In standard SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order, it sits between the subject and the verb phrase.
वह झूठ कभी भी नहीं बोलती। (She never ever tells a lie.)
Using कभी भी नहीं requires an understanding of emphasis in Hindi. While 'कभी नहीं' is a factual statement of frequency, 'कभी भी नहीं' adds a layer of emotional or logical finality. It is the difference between saying 'I don't eat meat' and 'I would never ever eat meat.'
- Grammar Rule
- When using this phrase, the verb must always be in the negative form, but since 'नहीं' is already part of the phrase, you do not need an additional 'नहीं' after the verb unless you are constructing a complex double negative (which is rare in standard Hindi).
मैंने ऐसा कभी भी नहीं सोचा था। (I had never ever thought so.)
For learners at the A2 level, it is important to distinguish this from 'कोई भी नहीं' (no one) or 'कहीं भी नहीं' (nowhere). This phrase is strictly temporal. It answers the question 'When?' with 'Never.'
- Tense Flexibility
- It can be used with past, present, and future tenses. Past: 'I never did it.' Present: 'I never do it.' Future: 'I will never do it.'
वह कभी भी नहीं सुधरेगा। (He will never ever improve.)
You will encounter कभी भी नहीं in a variety of high-stakes contexts. In Bollywood movies, it is a staple for dramatic declarations of love or enmity. A hero might say, 'मैं तुम्हें कभी भी नहीं भूलूँगा' (I will never ever forget you). In political rhetoric, it is used to make firm promises or denials.
- Contextual Usage
- 1. Legal/Formal: Denying an accusation. 2. Personal: Expressing a lifelong habit. 3. Emotional: Making a vow.
यह बात कभी भी नहीं हो सकती। (This can never ever happen.)
In daily life, parents use it to set strict boundaries with children: 'रात को अकेले बाहर कभी भी नहीं जाना' (Never ever go out alone at night). It is also common in religious or philosophical discourses when discussing eternal truths or forbidden actions. The frequency of this phrase in Hindi music is also notable, often used to emphasize the timelessness of feelings.
One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is forgetting the नहीं at the end. In English, 'never' is a single word, but in Hindi, the negation must be explicit. Saying 'कभी भी' without 'नहीं' changes the meaning to 'anytime' or 'ever' in a positive sense.
- Incorrect vs Correct
- Incorrect: मैं कभी भी वहाँ गया। (Meaningless/Broken)
Correct: मैं वहाँ कभी भी नहीं गया। (I never ever went there.)
गलती: वह कभी भी आता है। (He comes anytime.)
सही: वह कभी भी नहीं आता। (He never ever comes.)
Another mistake is confusing it with बिल्कुल नहीं (not at all). While 'बिल्कुल नहीं' negates the degree or quantity, 'कभी भी नहीं' negates the time. If someone asks 'Do you like tea?', you say 'बिल्कुल नहीं.' If they ask 'Do you drink tea?', you can say 'कभी भी नहीं' to mean you never drink it.
Understanding the nuances between different negative time adverbs helps in achieving fluency. Here is a comparison of कभी भी नहीं with its close relatives.
- कभी नहीं vs. कभी भी नहीं
- 'कभी नहीं' is a standard 'never.' 'कभी भी नहीं' is 'never ever.' The latter is more emphatic and often used in emotional or formal denials.
- बिल्कुल नहीं vs. कभी भी नहीं
- 'बिल्कुल नहीं' means 'absolutely not' (degree). 'कभी भी नहीं' means 'at no time' (frequency).
- कदापि नहीं (Kadapi Nahi)
- This is the highly formal/Sanskritized version of 'कभी भी नहीं.' You will find this in literature or formal legal documents.
मैं यह कदापि नहीं स्वीकार करूँगा। (I will never ever accept this - Formal.)
How Formal Is It?
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Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Exemples par niveau
मैं कभी भी नहीं सोता।
I never ever sleep (early).
Simple present negation.
वह कभी भी नहीं आती।
She never ever comes.
Third person singular.
हम कभी भी नहीं खेलते।
We never ever play.
Plural subject.
तुम कभी भी नहीं सुनते।
You never ever listen.
Informal 'you'.
यह कभी भी नहीं होता।
This never ever happens.
Neuter/Object subject.
मैं मांस कभी भी नहीं खाता।
I never ever eat meat.
Direct object placement.
वे कभी भी नहीं हँसते।
They never ever laugh.
Plural negation.
आप कभी भी नहीं भूलते।
You never ever forget.
Formal 'you'.
मैंने ताजमहल कभी भी नहीं देखा।
I have never ever seen the Taj Mahal.
Past tense with 'ne' particle.
वह झूठ कभी भी नहीं बोलता।
He never ever tells a lie.
Habitual present.
हम वहाँ कभी भी नहीं गए।
We never ever went there.
Simple past plural.
क्या आपने यह कभी भी नहीं किया?
Have you never ever done this?
Interrogative negation.
मेरी माँ कभी भी नहीं थकतीं।
My mother never ever gets tired.
Honorific plural verb.
वह शराब कभी भी नहीं पीता।
He never ever drinks alcohol.
Specific habit negation.
मैंने उसे कभी भी नहीं मारा।
I never ever hit him.
Transitive past.
सूरज पश्चिम से कभी भी नहीं उगता।
The sun never ever rises from the west.
Universal truth.
अगर तुम चाहो तो भी मैं कभी भी नहीं मानूँगा।
Even if you want, I will never ever agree.
Conditional clause.
उसने अपनी गलती कभी भी नहीं मानी।
He never ever admitted his mistake.
Past perfective.
मैं ऐसी जगह कभी भी नहीं रहना चाहूँगा।
I would never ever want to live in such a place.
Desiderative compound verb.
वे लोग कभी भी नहीं सुधर सकते।
Those people can never ever improve.
Modal 'can' (sakna).
मैंने सपने में भी ऐसा कभी भी नहीं सोचा था।
I had never ever thought so even in my dreams.
Emphatic past perfect.
क्या तुम्हें कभी भी नहीं लगा कि वह गलत है?
Did you never ever feel that he is wrong?
Experiencer subject (ko).
बिना मेहनत के सफलता कभी भी नहीं मिलती।
Success is never ever achieved without hard work.
Passive-like habitual.
वह अपने वादे से कभी भी नहीं मुकरता।
He never ever goes back on his promise.
Idiomatic verb usage.
इतनी बड़ी चुनौती का सामना मैंने कभी भी नहीं किया।
I have never ever faced such a big challenge.
Complex object phrase.
लोकतंत्र में जनता की आवाज़ को कभी भी नहीं दबाया जा सकता।
In a democracy, the voice of the people can never ever be suppressed.
Passive voice with modal.
चाहे कुछ भी हो जाए, मैं हार कभी भी नहीं मानूँगा।
No matter what happens, I will never ever give up.
Concessive clause.
वैज्ञानिकों ने ऐसा चमत्कार पहले कभी भी नहीं देखा था।
Scientists had never ever seen such a miracle before.
Past perfect with 'pehle'.
इतिहास खुद को इस तरह कभी भी नहीं दोहराता।
History never ever repeats itself in this way.
Reflexive pronoun 'khud'.
उसके व्यवहार में ऐसी विनम्रता मैंने कभी भी नहीं देखी।
I never ever saw such humility in his behavior.
Abstract noun object.
भ्रष्टाचार को समाज से कभी भी नहीं मिटाया जा सका है।
Corruption has never ever been able to be erased from society.
Passive potential perfect.
वह अपनी जड़ों को कभी भी नहीं भूलना चाहता।
He never ever wants to forget his roots.
Infinitive as object.
कभी भी नहीं सोचा था कि मानवता इस स्तर तक गिर जाएगी।
Never ever had I thought that humanity would fall to this level.
Sentence-initial emphasis.
न्याय की उम्मीद कभी भी नहीं छोड़नी चाहिए।
One should never ever give up hope for justice.
Obligative 'chahiye'.
उसकी आँखों में मैंने कभी भी नहीं देखा था वो डर।
In his eyes, I had never ever seen that fear.
Inverted word order for poetic effect.
यह तर्क किसी भी सभ्य समाज में कभी भी नहीं स्वीकारा जाएगा।
This argument will never ever be accepted in any civilized society.
Future passive.
समय का पहिया कभी भी नहीं रुकता, चाहे राजा हो या रंक।
The wheel of time never ever stops, whether it be a king or a pauper.
Metaphorical usage.
ऐसी क्रूरता की मिसाल इतिहास में कभी भी नहीं मिलती।
An example of such cruelty is never ever found in history.
Existential negation.
मैंने अपने सिद्धांतों से कभी भी नहीं समझौता किया।
I never ever compromised with my principles.
Compound verb negation.
वह दृश्य मेरे मस्तिष्क से कभी भी नहीं मिट सकता।
That scene can never ever be erased from my mind.
Abstract locative.
शून्यता की उस गहराई को शब्दों में कभी भी नहीं बाँधा जा सकता।
That depth of emptiness can never ever be bound in words.
Highly abstract passive.
सत्य की लौ को झूठ की आँधी कभी भी नहीं बुझा सकती।
The storm of lies can never ever extinguish the flame of truth.
Literary metaphor.
आत्मा का अस्तित्व कभी भी नहीं मिटता, वह शाश्वत है।
The existence of the soul never ever vanishes; it is eternal.
Philosophical assertion.
कभी भी नहीं! यह मेरा अंतिम निर्णय है।
Never ever! This is my final decision.
Exclamatory standalone usage.
उसकी कला में जो सादगी है, वह बनावटीपन से कभी भी नहीं आ सकती।
The simplicity in his art can never ever come from artificiality.
Comparative negation.
ब्रह्मांड के रहस्यों को पूर्णतः कभी भी नहीं समझा जा सकेगा।
The mysteries of the universe will never ever be able to be fully understood.
Future potential passive.
राजनीति और नैतिकता का मेल कभी भी नहीं हो पाया।
The union of politics and morality has never ever been able to happen.
Historical present perfect.
वह मौन जो सब कुछ कह देता है, शोर में कभी भी नहीं मिलता।
That silence which says everything is never ever found in noise.
Relative clause negation.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
— Better late than never (though usually just 'कभी नहीं' is used).
— Never ever until the last breath.
— Never ever for seven lifetimes (hyperbolic).
— Never ever even in dreams.
— Never ever, even if the earth and sky become one.
— Never ever until doomsday.
— Never ever, even if the sun rises in the west.
— Never ever, even after suffering greatly.
— It's set in stone, it will never ever change.
— Never ever while alive.
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
The 'bhi' is the key to emphasis.
Flexible but usually pre-verbal.
- Omitting 'nahi' at the end.
- Using it to mean 'nowhere'.
- Using it to mean 'no one'.
- Putting 'bhi' before 'kabhi'.
- Forgetting to nasalize the 'nahi'.
Astuces
Verb Agreement
The verb still agrees with the subject or object as per standard rules; the phrase only changes the frequency.
Tone Matters
Saying it quickly makes it sound factual; saying it slowly makes it sound like a vow.
Placement
In formal writing, keep 'कभी भी नहीं' together before the verb.
Synonym Choice
Use 'कदापि नहीं' if you are writing a formal letter or a speech.
Social Context
Be careful using this with elders as it can sound defiant.
Focus Particle
Train your ear to catch the 'भी'—it changes the whole mood of the sentence.
Association
Associate it with the English phrase 'No way, Jose!' for that level of finality.
Practice
Try making five sentences about things you will 'never ever' do.
Common Pitfall
Don't confuse 'कभी' with 'कहाँ' (where).
Poetic Use
In songs, you might hear 'कभी भी न', where the 'हीं' is shortened for rhythm.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Sanskrit/Prakrit
Contexte culturel
Commonly used in 'Saas-Bahu' serials for dramatic effect.
Using this phrase in a polite disagreement might sound too harsh; 'शायद नहीं' (perhaps not) is softer.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"क्या आपने कभी भी नहीं सोचा कि...?"
"क्या आप कभी भी नहीं थकते?"
"आपने ऐसा कभी भी नहीं किया?"
"क्या वह कभी भी नहीं आता?"
"क्या यह कभी भी नहीं बदलेगा?"
Sujets d'écriture
एक ऐसी चीज़ के बारे में लिखें जो आपने कभी भी नहीं की।
क्या कोई ऐसी आदत है जिसे आप कभी भी नहीं छोड़ना चाहेंगे?
एक ऐसी जगह जहाँ आप कभी भी नहीं जाना चाहते।
क्या आपने कभी भी नहीं सोचा कि दुनिया कैसी होगी?
अपने जीवन के एक 'कभी भी नहीं' पल के बारे में लिखें।
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, without 'नहीं', it means 'anytime' or 'ever'. You must include the negative marker.
It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings, though 'कदापि नहीं' is more formal.
Usually right after 'भी', but in spoken Hindi, it can move to the end of the sentence.
No, for 'no one' use 'कोई भी नहीं'.
Yes, it works perfectly with past, present, and future tenses.
It has the same basic meaning but lacks the extra emphasis of 'भी'.
In Hindi, it's often translated as 'कभी भी कभी नहीं मत कहो' or more idiomatically 'वक्त का कुछ पता नहीं'.
Yes, like 'क्या तुमने कभी भी नहीं देखा?' (Have you never ever seen?).
No, it is a nasalized vowel sound, like the French 'en'.
Yes, it is very common in literature and journalism to express strong negation.
Teste-toi 185 questions
Write a sentence: 'I will never ever leave you.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'He never ever tells the truth.'
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Write a sentence: 'We have never ever seen such a place.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'I never ever drink coffee.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'She will never ever come back.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'They never ever listen to me.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'I never ever thought about it.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'Success never ever comes without hard work.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'I will never ever forgive him.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'It never ever rains here.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'I have never ever been to India.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'He never ever admits his mistake.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'We will never ever forget this day.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'She never ever eats meat.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'I never ever use this phone.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'He never ever gets angry.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'They never ever play cricket.'
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Write a sentence: 'I never ever sleep late.'
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Write a sentence: 'She never ever buys expensive clothes.'
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Write a sentence: 'We never ever go there at night.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Say: 'I will never ever go there.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'He never ever tells a lie.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'I have never ever seen this.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'We will never ever forget you.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'She never ever eats spicy food.'
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Say: 'I never ever smoke.'
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Say: 'They never ever come on time.'
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Say: 'I never ever thought so.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'It never ever happens like this.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'I will never ever leave my country.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'He never ever gets tired.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'We never ever play cards.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'I never ever drink alcohol.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'She never ever tells secrets.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'I will never ever forgive you.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'They never ever help anyone.'
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Say: 'I never ever use plastic.'
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Say: 'He never ever watches horror movies.'
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Say: 'We never ever go out in the rain.'
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Say: 'I never ever forget my keys.'
Read this aloud:
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Listen and identify the phrase: 'मैं कभी भी नहीं जाऊँगा।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'वह कभी भी नहीं आती।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'हमने कभी भी नहीं देखा।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'तुम कभी भी नहीं सुनते।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'वे कभी भी नहीं खेलते।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'मैं झूठ कभी भी नहीं बोलता।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'वह कभी भी नहीं थकता।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'हम कभी भी नहीं भूलेंगे।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'मैंने कभी भी नहीं सोचा था।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'यह कभी भी नहीं होगा।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'आप कभी भी नहीं आते।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'उसने कभी भी नहीं बताया।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'मैं कभी भी नहीं सोता।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'वे कभी भी नहीं हँसते।'
Listen and identify the phrase: 'यह मशीन कभी भी नहीं रुकती।'
/ 185 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use 'कभी भी नहीं' (kabhī bhī nahī̃) when you want to emphasize that something is impossible or strictly forbidden at all times. Example: 'मैं हार कभी भी नहीं मानूँगा' (I will never ever give up).
- Emphatic version of 'never'.
- Used for absolute time negation.
- Common in dramatic or firm contexts.
- Requires 'nahi' at the end.
Verb Agreement
The verb still agrees with the subject or object as per standard rules; the phrase only changes the frequency.
Tone Matters
Saying it quickly makes it sound factual; saying it slowly makes it sound like a vow.
Placement
In formal writing, keep 'कभी भी नहीं' together before the verb.
Synonym Choice
Use 'कदापि नहीं' if you are writing a formal letter or a speech.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur general
आभार व्यक्त करना
B1Exprimer sa gratitude ou sa reconnaissance de manière formelle. 'Je souhaite exprimer ma gratitude à toute l'équipe.'
आचरण करना
C1Se conduire ; se comporter d'une manière particulière, souvent selon une règle morale. 'Il doit se conduire avec dignité.'
आगे
A1Forward; ahead.
आगे बढ़ना
A2Avancer physiquement ou progresser dans ses projets.
आगामी
B1Prochain, à venir. Se dit d'un événement qui doit avoir lieu bientôt.
आह्वान करना
B1To call, to summon, to request someone's presence.
आज रात
A2Ce soir; la nuit du jour présent.
आजमाना
A2Essayer quelque chose ou le tester pour voir comment cela fonctionne ou ce qui se passe.
आक्रमण करना
B2Commencer des opérations militaires contre un pays ou un groupe.
आखिरी
A2Dernier, final. 'C'est le dernier bus' se traduit par 'Yeh aakhiri bus hai'. 'La dernière fois' est 'Aakhiri baar'.
