Signification
Failing in an attempt
Contexte culturel
In the capital, 'Hawa Khanu' is often used by youth to describe 'ghosting' on social media or dating apps. If someone doesn't reply to a message, they say they 'ate air.' In farming communities, the phrase is used literally for a crop failure due to wind or hail, but idiomatically for any effort that doesn't yield a harvest. There is a massive culture around the Lok Sewa exams. 'Hawa Khanu' is the standard, almost ritualistic way candidates describe not making the cut. During football matches (especially when the national team plays), fans use this to describe missed opportunities or a loss.
Context is King
If you are at a park, 'Hawa khanu' means strolling. If you are at an exam hall, it means failing. Always look at the surroundings!
Don't use with Elders
It can sound disrespectful to tell an elder they 'ate air.' Use 'Asaphal hunubhayo' instead.
Signification
Failing in an attempt
Context is King
If you are at a park, 'Hawa khanu' means strolling. If you are at an exam hall, it means failing. Always look at the surroundings!
Don't use with Elders
It can sound disrespectful to tell an elder they 'ate air.' Use 'Asaphal hunubhayo' instead.
The 'Empty Hand' Combo
Combine it with 'Ritto hat' for maximum effect: 'Ma ta hawa khayer ritto hat pharkie.' (I failed and came back empty-handed.)
Teste-toi
Choose the correct meaning of 'हावा खानु' in this sentence: 'रामले धेरै मेहनत गर्यो तर अन्तमा हावा खायो।'
What happened to Ram?
In this context, 'tara' (but) indicates that despite his hard work, the result was negative (failure).
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'हावा खानु'.
मैले हिजो अन्तर्वार्ता दिएँ, तर ________। (I gave an interview yesterday, but I failed.)
Since the sentence is in the past tense ('diyeँ'), the verb must be 'khāeँ'.
Match the sentence to the correct sense of 'हावा खानु'.
1. गर्मी भयो, छतमा गएर हावा खाउँ। 2. बिना तयारी परीक्षा दिँदा उसले हावा खायो।
The first sentence refers to cooling down in the breeze, the second to failing an exam.
Complete the dialogue.
A: तिम्रो नयाँ व्यापार कस्तो चल्दैछ? B: के भन्नु यार, ________।
'Ke bhannu yaar' (What to say, friend) usually precedes bad news, making 'hawa khaiyo' (failed) the natural choice.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
The Two Faces of 'Hawa Khanu'
Sense 1: Failure
- • Exams
- • Job Interviews
- • Business Deals
- • Dating
Sense 2: Leisure
- • Evening Walk
- • Park Visit
- • Roof Chilling
- • Fresh Air
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesWhat happened to Ram?
In this context, 'tara' (but) indicates that despite his hard work, the result was negative (failure).
मैले हिजो अन्तर्वार्ता दिएँ, तर ________। (I gave an interview yesterday, but I failed.)
Since the sentence is in the past tense ('diyeँ'), the verb must be 'khāeँ'.
1. गर्मी भयो, छतमा गएर हावा खाउँ। 2. बिना तयारी परीक्षा दिँदा उसले हावा खायो।
The first sentence refers to cooling down in the breeze, the second to failing an exam.
A: तिम्रो नयाँ व्यापार कस्तो चल्दैछ? B: के भन्नु यार, ________।
'Ke bhannu yaar' (What to say, friend) usually precedes bad news, making 'hawa khaiyo' (failed) the natural choice.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsIt's not inherently rude, but it is very informal. It's like saying 'I tanked it' in English. Use it with friends, not your CEO.
Yes! 'Hawa khana jau' (Let's go get some air) is a very common and polite invitation to take a walk.
Usle hawa khayo. (उसले हावा खायो।)
There isn't a direct 'eating' idiom for success, but you could say 'Safal hunu' (to be successful) or 'Nam nikalnu' (to get your name on the list).
Expressions liées
रित्तो हात
similarEmpty-handed
असफल हुनु
synonymTo be unsuccessful
धोका खानु
builds onTo be cheated/betrayed
हावा तालमा
similarRandomly / Without a plan
