खाली 30초 만에
- 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?
난이도
알아야 할 문법
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'
수준별 예문
यह गिलास खाली है।
This glass is empty.
Subject + Noun + Adjective + Verb.
क्या आप खाली हैं?
Are you free?
Interrogative sentence using 'khālī' for availability.
मेरे पास खाली समय है।
I have free time.
Possessive construction with 'khālī' modifying 'samay'.
वह खाली डिब्बा है।
That is an empty box.
Demonstrative pronoun + adjective + noun.
यहाँ कोई खाली कुर्सी नहीं है।
There is no empty chair here.
Negative sentence with 'koī' (any).
खाली बोतल कहाँ है?
Where is the empty bottle?
Question word 'kahāñ' at the end.
यह कमरा खाली है।
This room is empty.
Simple descriptive sentence.
मैं अभी खाली नहीं हूँ।
I am not free right now.
Negative 'nahīñ' before the verb.
वह खाली हाथ घर आया।
He came home empty-handed.
Idiomatic use of 'khālī hāth'.
खाली पेट दवा मत लो।
Don't take medicine on an empty stomach.
Imperative negative 'mat'.
बस में कोई सीट खाली नहीं थी।
There was no empty seat on the bus.
Past tense 'thī' agreeing with 'seat'.
क्या यहाँ पार्किंग खाली है?
Is parking vacant here?
Using 'khālī' for vacancy.
मैंने अलमारी खाली कर दी।
I emptied the cupboard.
Compound verb 'khālī karnā' (to empty).
खाली समय में आप क्या करते हैं?
What do you do in your free time?
Prepositional phrase 'khālī samay meñ'.
यह जगह खाली करो।
Vacate this place.
Direct imperative.
बाज़ार में दुकानें खाली थीं।
The shops in the market were empty.
Plural feminine subject 'dukāneñ'.
उसकी बातें खाली और बेकार हैं।
His words are empty and useless.
Metaphorical use for 'insubstantial'.
नौकरी के लिए दो पद खाली हैं।
Two posts are vacant for the job.
Formal use for job vacancies.
वह दिन भर खाली बैठा रहता है।
He keeps sitting idle all day.
Adverbial use meaning 'idle'.
खाली दिमाग शैतान का घर होता है।
An idle mind is the devil's workshop.
Common proverb.
क्या तुम कल शाम को खाली हो?
Are you free tomorrow evening?
Future-referring present tense.
उसने खाली कागज़ पर दस्तखत कर दिए।
He signed on a blank paper.
'Khālī' meaning 'blank'.
यह डिब्बा अंदर से खाली है।
This box is empty from inside.
Using 'andar se' (from inside).
सिर्फ खाली वादों से काम नहीं चलेगा।
Just empty promises won't work.
Using 'khālī' to mean 'hollow'.
उसका जीवन अब खाली सा लगता है।
His life feels somewhat empty now.
Use of 'sā' for 'somewhat/like'.
खाली हाथ जाने में मुझे शर्म आती है।
I feel ashamed going empty-handed.
Gerund 'jāne meñ' (in going).
उसने खाली बोतल को कचरे में फेंक दिया।
He threw the empty bottle in the trash.
Oblique case 'khālī botal ko'.
शहर की सड़कें आधी रात को खाली हो जाती हैं।
The city streets become empty at midnight.
Passive-style 'khālī ho jātī hain'.
तुम्हारी धमकी खाली नहीं जाएगी।
Your threat won't go in vain (will be acted upon).
Idiomatic 'khālī jānā' (to go in vain).
उसने खालीपन को भरने की कोशिश की।
He tried to fill the emptiness.
Noun form 'khālīpan' (emptiness).
क्या आपके पास कोई खाली कमरा उपलब्ध है?
Do you have any vacant room available?
Formal inquiry.
वह खाली पेट योग करता है।
He does yoga on an empty stomach.
Adverbial phrase of condition.
उसकी आँखों में एक अजीब सा खालीपन था।
There was a strange emptiness in his eyes.
Abstract noun usage.
बिना लक्ष्य के जीवन खाली बर्तन की तरह है।
Life without a goal is like an empty vessel.
Simile using 'kī tarah'.
संसद में कई सीटें खाली पड़ी हैं।
Many seats are lying vacant in the parliament.
Compound verb 'khālī paṛnā'.
उसकी सारी मेहनत खाली गई।
All his hard work went in vain.
Idiomatic 'khālī jānā' for effort.
लेखक ने खाली पन्नों को अपनी कल्पना से भर दिया।
The writer filled the blank pages with his imagination.
Transitive action on 'khālī' objects.
यह इलाका रात में बिल्कुल सूनसान और खाली हो जाता है।
This area becomes completely deserted and empty at night.
Pairing synonyms for emphasis.
खाली दिमाग में अक्सर नकारात्मक विचार आते हैं।
Negative thoughts often come to an idle mind.
Locative case 'khālī dimāg meñ'.
उसने खाली बोतल को फिर से भरने का निश्चय किया।
He decided to refill the empty bottle.
Infinitive 'bharne kā' (of filling).
अस्तित्व का यह खालीपन ही उसे दार्शनिक बनाता है।
This very emptiness of existence makes him a philosopher.
Philosophical subject.
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'.
राजनीतिक गलियारों में यह पद वर्षों से खाली पड़ा है।
This post has been lying vacant for years in political corridors.
Metaphorical 'corridors'.
उसने अपने हृदय के खालीपन को कला के माध्यम से व्यक्त किया।
He expressed the emptiness of his heart through art.
Abstract emotional context.
क्या यह ब्रह्मांड वास्तव में खाली है या ऊर्जा से भरा?
Is this universe truly empty or filled with energy?
Scientific/Philosophical inquiry.
उसका वार खाली नहीं गया और निशाना सटीक लगा।
His strike did not go in vain, and the aim was precise.
Martial/Action context.
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'.
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.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
자주 혼동되는 단어
관용어 및 표현
혼동하기 쉬운
문장 패턴
사용법
Can mean 'only' in some contexts.
Does not change form.
Used for 'vain' or 'hollow'.
팁
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'.
암기하기
어원
Arabic
문화적 맥락
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.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
대화 시작하기
"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?"
일기 주제
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?
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, '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'.
셀프 테스트 180 질문
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Mastering 'khālī' allows you to describe physical emptiness, check for availability in transport or seating, and express your own free time. It is a foundational adjective that rarely changes its form, making it easy for beginners to use correctly in various everyday situations.
- 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).
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.
예시
यह गिलास खाली है।
관련 콘텐츠
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B1감사를 표하다 또는 고마움을 공식적으로 나타내다. '저는 여러분 모두에게 감사를 표하고 싶습니다.'
आचरण करना
C1행동하다; (특히 도덕적이나 공식적인) 특정한 방식으로 처신하다. '그는 품위 있게 행동한다.'
आगे
A1Forward; ahead.
आगे बढ़ना
A2앞으로 나아가거나 발전하다.
आगामी
B1다가오는, 차기의. 가까운 미래에 예정된 사건을 나타낼 때 사용됩니다.
आह्वान करना
B1To call, to summon, to request someone's presence.
आज रात
A2오늘 밤; 현재 날짜의 밤.
आजमाना
A2작동 방식이나 어떤 일이 일어나는지 알아보기 위해 무언가를 시도하거나 테스트하는 것.
आक्रमण करना
B2국가나 집단을 상대로 군사 작전을 시작하다.
आखिरी
A2마지막, 최종. '마지막 버스'는 'Aakhiri bus'입니다. '마지막으로'는 'Aakhiri baar'라고 합니다.
