Signification
Managing to survive through difficult times.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is often used to avoid 'Drishṭi' (the evil eye). By saying one is just 'getting by' rather than 'doing great', people believe they protect themselves from envy. In many 80s movies by directors like K. Balachander, this phrase is used to highlight the dignity of the educated unemployed youth. In villages, 'Kālam' is synonymous with the rainy season. 'Kālam taḷḷutal' originally meant surviving until the rains arrived. Today, it's used ironically by IT employees to talk about the 'dry days' before the monthly salary credit.
Humble Response
If someone asks how you are and you don't want to brag, use this phrase. It sounds very grounded.
Not for Fun
Never use this to describe your time at a party or a movie. It will make you sound like you hated it.
Signification
Managing to survive through difficult times.
Humble Response
If someone asks how you are and you don't want to brag, use this phrase. It sounds very grounded.
Not for Fun
Never use this to describe your time at a party or a movie. It will make you sound like you hated it.
Adverb Pairing
Pair it with 'eppadiyāvatu' (somehow) to sound exactly like a native speaker describing a struggle.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'Kālam taḷḷutal'.
வேலை இல்லாததால் அவர் கஷ்டப்பட்டு ________.
The sentence is in the present/general state, so 'taḷḷukiṟār' (honorific/singular) is correct.
Which situation is appropriate for 'Kālam taḷḷutal'?
In which of these scenarios would you say 'Kālam taḷḷukiṟēṉ'?
'Kālam taḷḷutal' is for survival and managing during scarcity.
Match the Tamil phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the primary distinctions between time-related idioms.
Complete the dialogue.
A: வியாபாரம் எப்படி இருக்கிறது? B: ________.
This is a standard humble response to a business inquiry.
Match the emotion to the phrase.
If someone says 'Kālam taḷḷukiṟēṉ', what are they likely feeling?
The phrase conveys a sense of tired but steady endurance.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesவேலை இல்லாததால் அவர் கஷ்டப்பட்டு ________.
The sentence is in the present/general state, so 'taḷḷukiṟār' (honorific/singular) is correct.
In which of these scenarios would you say 'Kālam taḷḷukiṟēṉ'?
'Kālam taḷḷutal' is for survival and managing during scarcity.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the primary distinctions between time-related idioms.
A: வியாபாரம் எப்படி இருக்கிறது? B: ________.
This is a standard humble response to a business inquiry.
If someone says 'Kālam taḷḷukiṟēṉ', what are they likely feeling?
The phrase conveys a sense of tired but steady endurance.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is generally neutral to slightly negative. It implies a lack of abundance, but it also shows resilience.
Yes, in an informal context, it can mean aimlessly passing time, but 'surviving' is the more common meaning.
'Kālam' refers to time in a larger sense (seasons, eras, life periods), while 'Nēram' is clock time. This idiom requires 'Kālam'.
No, it sounds too informal and suggests you are just 'getting by' rather than being proactive.
You can say 'Vandi ōṭuṭu' (The cart is running).
Often, yes. It is the standard way to describe living with financial constraints.
Yes, 'Hospital-il moonru mani neram kalam thallinen' (I pushed through three hours at the hospital).
Yes, newspapers use it to describe the plight of people during disasters or economic shifts.
'Vaalkaiyil munneruthal' (Progressing in life) or 'Selippaaga vaalthal' (Living prosperously).
Yes, 'Avan summa irunthe kalam thalluran' (He is just passing time being idle).
Expressions liées
வாழ்க்கையை ஓட்டுதல்
synonymDriving life forward.
பொழுது போக்குதல்
similarPassing time.
நாட்களை எண்ணுதல்
similarCounting the days.
பிழைப்பு நடத்துதல்
synonymRunning a living.
காலத்தை வீணடித்தல்
contrastWasting time.
