At the A1 level, 'khālī' is a simple descriptive word. You use it to talk about physical objects that have nothing inside. For example, 'khālī glass' (empty glass) or 'khālī box' (empty box). It is also used to ask if someone is free: 'Are you free?' (Kyā āp khālī hain?). It is one of the first adjectives you learn because it helps you describe your surroundings and your availability for basic social interactions. You don't need to worry about gender changes with this word.
At the A2 level, you start using 'khālī' in more specific contexts like travel and shopping. You learn to look for a 'khālī seat' on a bus or a 'khālī parking' spot. You also begin to use common compound phrases like 'khālī hāth' (empty-handed) and 'khālī peṭ' (empty stomach). You understand that 'khālī' is different from 'muft' (free of cost). You can describe a room as 'khālī' and use it to talk about your schedule more fluently.
At the B1 level, you use 'khālī' to describe abstract concepts. You might talk about 'khālī bātein' (empty talk/nonsense) or 'khālī vāde' (empty promises). You start to see the word in literature and news, describing 'khālī pad' (vacant posts) in a company. You can use it as an adverb in casual speech to mean 'just' or 'only' (e.g., 'khālī baithnā' - just sitting). Your understanding of the word moves from purely physical to including social and professional nuances.
At the B2 level, you can use 'khālī' in idiomatic expressions and understand its role in complex sentence structures. You recognize the difference between 'khālī' and its more formal synonyms like 'rikt' or 'shūnya'. You can use it to describe emotional states metaphorically, such as feeling 'empty' after an event. You are comfortable with the invariant nature of the adjective even in complex grammatical cases (oblique cases).
At the C1 level, you appreciate the poetic and stylistic uses of 'khālī'. You can distinguish between 'khālī', 'vīrān' (desolate), and 'sūnsān' (deserted) to set a specific tone in your writing. You understand the historical etymology (Arabic roots) and how it fits into the broader Persian-influenced vocabulary of Urdu-Hindi. You can use 'khālī' in sophisticated debates to dismiss an argument as 'khālī' (hollow/insubstantial).
At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'khālī'. You can use it with perfect precision in all its shades—from the literal empty bottle to the philosophical void. You can play with the word in puns or high-level literature. You understand regional variations in its usage as an adverb and can code-switch between formal 'rikt' and colloquial 'khālī' effortlessly depending on the audience and context.

खाली 30秒で

  • Khālī is the standard Hindi word for 'empty' or 'vacant', used for physical objects like bottles and rooms.
  • It also means 'free' in terms of time, such as asking if someone is available for a meeting or chat.
  • The word is invariant, so it doesn't change for masculine or feminine nouns in most standard Hindi contexts.
  • Common idioms include 'khālī hāth' (empty-handed) and 'khālī peṭ' (on an empty stomach).

The Hindi word खाली (khālī) is a versatile adjective primarily meaning 'empty' or 'vacant'. At its most basic level, it describes a physical space or container that lacks contents. However, its semantic range extends far beyond mere physical emptiness, touching upon availability, futility, and even emotional states. In the context of a glass, it means there is no liquid; in the context of a chair, it means no one is sitting there; and in the context of time, it means one is not busy. The word is borrowed from Arabic 'khālī', and it has integrated so deeply into Hindi that it is used in almost every register of the language, from street slang to formal literature.

Physical State
Refers to containers like bottles, boxes, or rooms that contain nothing.
Availability
Used for seats, parking spots, or positions that are currently unoccupied.
Temporal State
Refers to being free or having leisure time (e.g., 'I am free today').

यह कमरा खाली है। (This room is empty.)

Beyond the literal, 'khālī' often appears in phrases describing something done in vain or without result. For instance, the phrase 'khālī hāth' (empty-handed) implies returning without achieving a goal or without gifts. In philosophical terms, it can describe a sense of inner void or loneliness, though other words like 'shūnya' are more formal for this. Interestingly, 'khālī' can also act as an adverb in colloquial speech to mean 'just' or 'merely', as in 'khālī baithnā' (just sitting/doing nothing).

वह खाली हाथ लौट आया। (He returned empty-handed.)

In urban environments, you will frequently hear this word when dealing with public transport. A 'khālī auto' is a dream for a commuter in Delhi or Mumbai. In job listings, 'khālī pad' refers to a vacant post. The word's ubiquity makes it one of the first fifty adjectives a learner should master. It bridges the gap between describing the world around you and describing your own state of being.

क्या आपके पास कोई खाली समय है? (Do you have any free time?)

Abstract Emptiness
Used to describe words or promises that lack substance (e.g., 'khālī bātein').
Adverbial Usage
Used to mean 'only' or 'simply' in specific regional dialects and casual talk.

यह सब खाली दिखावा है। (This is all just a show/empty display.)

Using खाली (khālī) correctly requires understanding its position as an adjective and its occasional role as an adverb. In a sentence, it typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb. Because it is an invariant adjective, you don't need to worry about changing it to 'khālā' or 'khāle'—it remains 'khālī' regardless of whether you are talking about a masculine 'dibba' (box) or a feminine 'botal' (bottle).

मैंने एक खाली बोतल देखी। (I saw an empty bottle.)

When using it to mean 'free' (as in time), it is often paired with 'samay' (time) or 'waqt' (time). If you want to ask someone if they are free, you can simply ask 'Kyā āp khālī hain?'. However, be aware that in some contexts, asking if someone is 'khālī' might imply they are unemployed or have nothing better to do, so 'free' in a professional sense might sometimes be better expressed with 'available' (upalabdha), though 'khālī' is perfectly fine for friends.

With Nouns
Placed directly before: Khālī ghar (Empty house), Khālī kursī (Empty chair).
With Verbs
Used with 'honā' (to be) or 'karnā' (to make empty/vacate).

कृपया यह जगह खाली करें। (Please vacate this place.)

A common idiomatic use is 'khālī hāth', which literally means 'empty hands'. This is used to describe coming or going without anything. If you go to a party without a gift, you go 'khālī hāth'. If a thief leaves a house without stealing anything because he found nothing, he leaves 'khālī hāth'. Another important phrase is 'khālī peṭ' (empty stomach), which is crucial for medical instructions or religious fasting contexts.

दवा खाली पेट न लें। (Do not take the medicine on an empty stomach.)

You will encounter खाली (khālī) in a variety of everyday settings. In a bustling Indian city, the most common place is at a bus stop or an auto-rickshaw stand. Commuters constantly scan for 'khālī' vehicles. If a bus is full, the conductor might shout 'Jagah nahīñ hai!' (No space!), but if there's room, they might say 'Andar khālī hai' (It's empty inside/There's space inside).

ऑटो खाली है क्या? (Is the auto empty/available?)

In a domestic setting, 'khālī' is used for groceries. A mother might tell her son, 'Cheenī kā dibba khālī hai' (The sugar jar is empty). In the kitchen, it's a constant descriptor for supplies. In social circles, friends ask each other about their weekend plans using this word: 'Ravivār ko khālī ho?' (Are you free on Sunday?).

Public Spaces
Parking lots ('parking khālī hai'), Cinemas ('seats khālī hain').
Workplace
Vacant positions ('khālī pad'), empty meeting rooms.

यहाँ कोई सीट खाली नहीं है। (No seat is vacant here.)

In movies and dramas, 'khālī' is often used metaphorically. A character might talk about their 'khālī jīvan' (empty life) or 'khālī ghar' (empty house) to express loneliness after a loved one leaves. In Bollywood songs, the word often rhymes with 'wālī' or 'jālī', used to depict the emptiness of the heart. Even in news reports, you'll hear about 'khālī āshvāsan' (empty promises) made by politicians.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with खाली (khālī) is confusing it with 'mukt' (free/liberated) or 'muft' (free of cost). While English uses the word 'free' for all three, Hindi is specific. If you say a shirt is 'khālī', you mean it is empty (perhaps no one is in it), not that it costs zero rupees. For zero cost, use 'muft'. For freedom/liberation, use 'āzād' or 'mukt'.

Incorrect: यह चाय खाली है। (Meaning: This tea is free of cost - WRONG)
Correct: यह चाय मुफ्त है।

Another mistake is over-inflecting the word. As mentioned, 'khālī' is an invariant adjective. Beginners often try to change it to 'khāle' when referring to plural nouns (like 'khāle kamre' for empty rooms). In standard Hindi, it should remain 'khālī kamre'.

Confusing with 'Muft'
Khālī = Empty/Vacant; Muft = Zero price.
Confusing with 'Vailā'
'Vailā' is a slang term for someone who is idle or uselessly free, whereas 'khālī' is neutral.

Incorrect: वे खाली लोग हैं। (They are empty people - sounds weird)
Correct: वे खाली बैठे हैं। (They are sitting idle.)

Lastly, learners sometimes use 'khālī' when they should use 'ritta' (formal/technical empty) or 'shūnya' (zero/void). 'Khālī' is the everyday word. Using 'ritta' in a grocery store would sound unnaturally formal, like saying 'the vessel is devoid of contents' instead of 'the pot is empty'. Conversely, using 'khālī' in a high-level mathematical or philosophical discussion might sound too simplistic.

While खाली (khālī) is the most common word for 'empty', several synonyms and related words exist depending on the context. Understanding these nuances will elevate your Hindi from basic to intermediate.

शून्य (Shūnya)
Literally 'zero'. Used for 'void' or 'absolute emptiness' in mathematical or spiritual contexts.
रिक्त (Rikt)
A formal, Sanskrit-derived word for 'vacant'. You'll see this on official forms ('rikt sthān' - blank space/vacancy).
सूनसान (Sūnsān)
Used for a place that is deserted or lonely-empty (like an empty street at night).

रिक्त स्थानों की पूर्ति करें। (Fill in the blanks - formal.)

On the opposite side, the antonyms are quite useful. The most direct opposite is 'bharā' (full). If a glass isn't 'khālī', it is 'bharā'. For a room full of people, you might use 'bharā huā' or 'khachākhach' (packed/crowded). For a person who is busy, the opposite of 'khālī' is 'vyast' (busy).

गिलास आधा भरा है। (The glass is half full.)

There are also words that capture specific types of emptiness. 'Vīrān' describes a place that is desolate or ruined. 'Thothā' is a colloquial word for something that is hollow or lacks substance (like an empty promise or a hollow nut). Knowing when to use 'khālī' versus 'vīrān' can change the mood of your sentence from a simple observation to a poetic description.

How Formal Is It?

難易度

知っておくべき文法

Adjective-Noun agreement (noting 'khālī' is an exception/invariant)

Compound verbs with 'karnā' and 'honā'

Oblique case with adjectives

Use of 'sā' with adjectives for approximation

Postpositions with nouns modified by 'khālī'

レベル別の例文

1

यह गिलास खाली है।

This glass is empty.

Subject + Noun + Adjective + Verb.

2

क्या आप खाली हैं?

Are you free?

Interrogative sentence using 'khālī' for availability.

3

मेरे पास खाली समय है।

I have free time.

Possessive construction with 'khālī' modifying 'samay'.

4

वह खाली डिब्बा है।

That is an empty box.

Demonstrative pronoun + adjective + noun.

5

यहाँ कोई खाली कुर्सी नहीं है।

There is no empty chair here.

Negative sentence with 'koī' (any).

6

खाली बोतल कहाँ है?

Where is the empty bottle?

Question word 'kahāñ' at the end.

7

यह कमरा खाली है।

This room is empty.

Simple descriptive sentence.

8

मैं अभी खाली नहीं हूँ।

I am not free right now.

Negative 'nahīñ' before the verb.

1

वह खाली हाथ घर आया।

He came home empty-handed.

Idiomatic use of 'khālī hāth'.

2

खाली पेट दवा मत लो।

Don't take medicine on an empty stomach.

Imperative negative 'mat'.

3

बस में कोई सीट खाली नहीं थी।

There was no empty seat on the bus.

Past tense 'thī' agreeing with 'seat'.

4

क्या यहाँ पार्किंग खाली है?

Is parking vacant here?

Using 'khālī' for vacancy.

5

मैंने अलमारी खाली कर दी।

I emptied the cupboard.

Compound verb 'khālī karnā' (to empty).

6

खाली समय में आप क्या करते हैं?

What do you do in your free time?

Prepositional phrase 'khālī samay meñ'.

7

यह जगह खाली करो।

Vacate this place.

Direct imperative.

8

बाज़ार में दुकानें खाली थीं।

The shops in the market were empty.

Plural feminine subject 'dukāneñ'.

1

उसकी बातें खाली और बेकार हैं।

His words are empty and useless.

Metaphorical use for 'insubstantial'.

2

नौकरी के लिए दो पद खाली हैं।

Two posts are vacant for the job.

Formal use for job vacancies.

3

वह दिन भर खाली बैठा रहता है।

He keeps sitting idle all day.

Adverbial use meaning 'idle'.

4

खाली दिमाग शैतान का घर होता है।

An idle mind is the devil's workshop.

Common proverb.

5

क्या तुम कल शाम को खाली हो?

Are you free tomorrow evening?

Future-referring present tense.

6

उसने खाली कागज़ पर दस्तखत कर दिए।

He signed on a blank paper.

'Khālī' meaning 'blank'.

7

यह डिब्बा अंदर से खाली है।

This box is empty from inside.

Using 'andar se' (from inside).

8

सिर्फ खाली वादों से काम नहीं चलेगा।

Just empty promises won't work.

Using 'khālī' to mean 'hollow'.

1

उसका जीवन अब खाली सा लगता है।

His life feels somewhat empty now.

Use of 'sā' for 'somewhat/like'.

2

खाली हाथ जाने में मुझे शर्म आती है।

I feel ashamed going empty-handed.

Gerund 'jāne meñ' (in going).

3

उसने खाली बोतल को कचरे में फेंक दिया।

He threw the empty bottle in the trash.

Oblique case 'khālī botal ko'.

4

शहर की सड़कें आधी रात को खाली हो जाती हैं।

The city streets become empty at midnight.

Passive-style 'khālī ho jātī hain'.

5

तुम्हारी धमकी खाली नहीं जाएगी।

Your threat won't go in vain (will be acted upon).

Idiomatic 'khālī jānā' (to go in vain).

6

उसने खालीपन को भरने की कोशिश की।

He tried to fill the emptiness.

Noun form 'khālīpan' (emptiness).

7

क्या आपके पास कोई खाली कमरा उपलब्ध है?

Do you have any vacant room available?

Formal inquiry.

8

वह खाली पेट योग करता है।

He does yoga on an empty stomach.

Adverbial phrase of condition.

1

उसकी आँखों में एक अजीब सा खालीपन था।

There was a strange emptiness in his eyes.

Abstract noun usage.

2

बिना लक्ष्य के जीवन खाली बर्तन की तरह है।

Life without a goal is like an empty vessel.

Simile using 'kī tarah'.

3

संसद में कई सीटें खाली पड़ी हैं।

Many seats are lying vacant in the parliament.

Compound verb 'khālī paṛnā'.

4

उसकी सारी मेहनत खाली गई।

All his hard work went in vain.

Idiomatic 'khālī jānā' for effort.

5

लेखक ने खाली पन्नों को अपनी कल्पना से भर दिया।

The writer filled the blank pages with his imagination.

Transitive action on 'khālī' objects.

6

यह इलाका रात में बिल्कुल सूनसान और खाली हो जाता है।

This area becomes completely deserted and empty at night.

Pairing synonyms for emphasis.

7

खाली दिमाग में अक्सर नकारात्मक विचार आते हैं।

Negative thoughts often come to an idle mind.

Locative case 'khālī dimāg meñ'.

8

उसने खाली बोतल को फिर से भरने का निश्चय किया।

He decided to refill the empty bottle.

Infinitive 'bharne kā' (of filling).

1

अस्तित्व का यह खालीपन ही उसे दार्शनिक बनाता है।

This very emptiness of existence makes him a philosopher.

Philosophical subject.

2

उसकी बातों में सच्चाई का लेशमात्र भी नहीं, सब खाली प्रलाप है।

There isn't a trace of truth in his words; it's all empty ranting.

High-level vocabulary 'pralāp'.

3

राजनीतिक गलियारों में यह पद वर्षों से खाली पड़ा है।

This post has been lying vacant for years in political corridors.

Metaphorical 'corridors'.

4

उसने अपने हृदय के खालीपन को कला के माध्यम से व्यक्त किया।

He expressed the emptiness of his heart through art.

Abstract emotional context.

5

क्या यह ब्रह्मांड वास्तव में खाली है या ऊर्जा से भरा?

Is this universe truly empty or filled with energy?

Scientific/Philosophical inquiry.

6

उसका वार खाली नहीं गया और निशाना सटीक लगा।

His strike did not go in vain, and the aim was precise.

Martial/Action context.

7

वह खाली समय का सदुपयोग करना बखूबी जानता है।

He knows perfectly well how to make good use of free time.

Advanced phrase 'sadupayog karnā'.

8

मकान खाली करने का नोटिस मिलते ही वह घबरा गया।

He got panicked as soon as he received the notice to vacate the house.

Legal/Rental context.

よく使う組み合わせ

खाली समय (Free time)
खाली पेट (Empty stomach)
खाली हाथ (Empty handed)
खाली जगह (Empty space/blank)
खाली कुर्सी (Empty chair)
खाली बोतल (Empty bottle)
खाली कमरा (Empty room)
खाली पद (Vacant post)
खाली दिमाग (Idle mind)
खाली बर्तन (Empty vessel)

よく混同される語

खाली vs मुफ्त (Muft)

खाली vs काली (Kālī)

खाली vs खुली (Khulī)

間違えやすい

खाली vs

खाली vs

खाली vs

खाली vs

खाली vs

文型パターン

使い方

adverbial

Can mean 'only' in some contexts.

invariant

Does not change form.

metaphorical

Used for 'vain' or 'hollow'.

よくある間違い

ヒント

Invariance

Don't overthink the ending. Whether it's one empty house or ten empty bottles, the word remains 'khālī'. This makes it one of the easiest adjectives to use.

Avoid 'Muft'

Remember that English 'free' is a trap. If you mean 'zero price', use 'muft'. If you mean 'empty' or 'available', use 'khālī'. This is a classic learner mistake.

Checking Availability

When looking for a seat in a cafe or bus, just point and ask 'Khālī hai?'. It's short, polite, and perfectly natural.

Gifts and Visits

Avoid going 'khālī hāth' to someone's home. Even a small packet of sweets or fruit is expected. Mentioning you don't want to go 'khālī hāth' shows great cultural awareness.

Formal vs Informal

In a formal essay, try using 'rikt' for vacancies. In a story or dialogue, stick to 'khālī' to keep it realistic.

Empty Stomach

Use 'khālī peṭ' when discussing health or fasting. It's a very common collocation you'll hear in clinics and at home.

Rhyming Slang

In Mumbai, you might hear 'khālī-pīlī'. It adds a bit of local flavor to your Hindi if you use it in casual settings.

Aspiration

Listen for the breathy 'h' sound after the 'k'. If you hear 'kālī', the person is talking about the color black or the Goddess Kali.

Visual Link

Visualize an empty 'Gully' (street) to remember 'Khali'. Both are spaces that can be empty.

Compound Verbs

Learn 'khālī karnā' (to empty) as a single unit. It's much more common than trying to find a single verb for 'to empty'.

暗記しよう

語源

Arabic

文化的な背景

Being 'khālī' (free) is an invitation for social calls.

Empty plates are refilled immediately.

The concept of 'Shūnya' (zero/empty) is deep in Indian philosophy, though 'khālī' is the more secular, everyday version.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

会話のきっかけ

"क्या आप इस सप्ताहांत खाली हैं?"

"क्या यह सीट खाली है?"

"आपका खाली समय कैसे बीतता है?"

"क्या यहाँ कोई पार्किंग खाली मिलेगी?"

"क्या आपके पास कोई खाली बोतल होगी?"

日記のテーマ

आज आपने अपने खाली समय में क्या किया?

एक ऐसी जगह के बारे में लिखें जो बिल्कुल खाली और शांत हो।

क्या आपको कभी 'खालीपन' महसूस हुआ है? कब?

अगर आपका बैंक खाता खाली हो जाए, तो आप क्या करेंगे?

खाली हाथ कहीं जाने पर आपको कैसा लगता है?

よくある質問

10 問

No, 'khālī' is an invariant adjective in standard Hindi. You say 'khālī dibba' (masculine) and 'khālī botal' (feminine). It remains the same regardless of gender or number.

No, for something that costs no money, use 'muft'. 'Khālī' only means empty or vacant. Using it for a gift would imply the gift box is empty!

'Khālī' is the common, everyday word. 'Rikt' is formal and Sanskrit-based, used in official documents, job vacancies, or 'fill in the blanks' exercises.

Yes, to mean they are free/available. 'Are you free?' is 'Kyā āp khālī hain?'. However, it can also mean someone is idle or unemployed depending on context.

The phrase is 'khālī hāth'. It is used both literally (no bags) and figuratively (no success/gifts).

This is Mumbai slang (Bambaiya Hindi) meaning 'for no reason' or 'unnecessarily'. E.g., 'Khālī-pīlī tension mat lo' (Don't take tension for no reason).

In some dialects and casual speech, yes. 'Khālī tū hī āyā?' can mean 'Only you came?'. But 'sirf' is the standard word for 'only'.

Yes, it is exactly the same in Urdu (خالی). It is a very common word in both languages due to its Arabic origin.

The most common opposite is 'bharā' (full). For people being busy, the opposite is 'vyast'.

It is an aspirated 'k'. Imagine you are trying to blow out a candle while saying 'k'. It's deeper than a regular 'k'.

自分をテスト 180 問

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

関連コンテンツ

役に立った?
まだコメントがありません。最初に考えをシェアしましょう!