Expressing Approximation: About & Nearly (करीब)
करीब before a number for a casual estimate and के करीब for physical proximity.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'करीब' (kareeb) or 'लगभग' (lagbhag) before a number or quantity to express an estimate.
- Place 'करीब' before the number: 'करीब दस लोग' (About ten people).
- Use 'लगभग' for more formal estimations: 'लगभग पाँच बजे' (Approximately 5 o'clock).
- Combine with 'ही' for emphasis: 'करीब ही दस लोग' (Just about ten people).
Overview
करीब (qareeb), derived from Arabic, is a fundamental Hindi particle used to express both approximation (e.g., "about," "approximately," "around") and physical proximity ("near," "close to"). Its versatility makes it indispensable in daily conversation across various registers, from casual chat to more formal discussions. While other terms like लगभग (lagbhag) also convey approximation, करीब is distinguished by its naturalness and broad applicability, particularly in spoken Hindi.
Mastering करीब is critical for B2 learners as it allows for more nuanced and natural expression, moving beyond precise, textbook language. It reflects the speaker's pragmatic need to provide estimates rather than exact figures, whether due to uncertainty, irrelevance of precision, or conversational politeness. Understanding its interaction with postpositions like के (ke) and its reduplicated form करीब-करीब further demonstrates a sophisticated grasp of Hindi grammar, enabling learners to communicate with greater fluidity and accuracy.
How This Grammar Works
करीब functions primarily as an adverbial modifier for numerical quantities or as a component in a postpositional phrase indicating proximity. Its core linguistic function is to introduce a degree of indefiniteness or generality where exactness is either unattainable, undesirable, or unnecessary. This stands in contrast to stating precise facts, allowing for a natural flow in communication.करीब modifies a number, it signals that the number is an estimate, not a fixed value. For instance, करीब दस लोग (qareeb das log) suggests a group whose size is around ten—it could be nine, ten, or eleven individuals. This usage makes conversations more realistic, as exact counts are often unknown or inconvenient to state.करीब, indicating a range rather than a single point.करीब pairs with the postposition के (के करीब). This construction literally means "close to" or "near to" a particular noun or location. For example, शहर के करीब (shahar ke qareeb) means "near the city." This highlights a spatial relationship, placing an object or event in the vicinity of another.करीब is its invariance. Unlike many Hindi adjectives and nouns, करीब does not inflect for gender, number, or case. This stability is due to its adverbial and postpositional nature, simplifying its application across diverse sentence structures without requiring complex agreement rules.Formation Pattern
करीब integrates into sentences using three primary patterns, each serving a distinct purpose related to approximation or proximity. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for accurate and idiomatic usage.
करीब, directly preceding the numerical expression it modifies. It conveys "about," "approximately," or "around" a specific quantity, duration, or measurement. The placement before the number is standard and expected.
करीब + [Numeral/Quantity] + [Noun (if applicable)]
मुझे करीब पचास रुपये चाहिए। (Mujhe qareeb pachaas rupaye chaahie.) – "I need about fifty rupees."
पार्टी करीब आठ बजे शुरू होगी। (Party qareeb aath baje shuru hogi.) – "The party will start around eight o'clock."
दुकान यहाँ से करीब दो किलोमीटर दूर है। (Dukaan yahaan se qareeb do kilometer door hai.) – "The shop is about two kilometers away from here."
करीब + Number + Noun | करीब दस छात्र (qareeb das chhaatr) | About ten students |
करीब + Time Expression | करीब एक घंटा (qareeb ek ghantaa) | About an hour |
करीब + Monetary Value | करीब हज़ार रुपये (qareeb hazaar rupaye) | About a thousand rupees |
करीब + Distance Measurement | करीब तीन मीटर (qareeb teen meter) | About three meters |
करीब combines with the postposition के (ke) to form के करीब. This structure indicates physical closeness, temporal proximity to an event, or an abstract state of being "close to" something. The noun or pronoun preceding के करीब will be in its oblique form.
के करीब
मेरा घर मंदिर के करीब है। (Meraa ghar mandir ke qareeb hai.) – "My house is near the temple."
परीक्षा के करीब मैं बहुत पढ़ाई करता हूँ। (Pariksha ke qareeb main bahut padhaai kartaa hoon.) – "Near the exam, I study a lot."
वह सफलता के करीब है। (Vah safaltaa ke qareeb hai.) – "He is close to success."
के करीब | स्टेशन के करीब (station ke qareeb) | Near the station |
के करीब | मेरे करीब (mere qareeb) | Near me |
के करीब| रात के करीब (raat ke qareeb) | Near night (around nightfall) |
करीब-करीब):
करीब-करीब (qareeb-qareeb) denotes a stronger sense of "almost," "nearly," or "pretty much completely." It typically modifies an action or a state, emphasizing that something is very close to its final or desired outcome. This reduplication serves to intensify the original meaning of proximity or approximation, suggesting a high degree of completeness.
करीब-करीब + [Verb/Adjective/State]
मेरा काम करीब-करीब खत्म हो गया है। (Meraa kaam qareeb-qareeb khatm ho gayaa hai.) – "My work is almost finished."
खाना करीब-करीब तैयार है। (Khaanaa qareeb-qareeb taiyaar hai.) – "The food is nearly ready."
हम करीब-करीब पहुँच गए हैं। (Ham qareeb-qareeb pahunch gaye hain.) – "We have almost arrived."
करीब-करीब + Verb (perfective) | लगभग करीब-करीब पूरा कर लिया है (lagbhag qareeb-qareeb pooraa kar liyaa hai)| Have almost completely finished |
करीब-करीब + Adjective | करीब-करीब ठीक (qareeb-qareeb theek) | Almost entirely fine |
When To Use It
करीब serves various practical communication needs by providing flexibility where precision is impractical or undesirable. Its usage spans numerical estimations, geographical indications, and assessments of progress. Understanding these contexts allows for more natural and effective communication in Hindi.- Estimating Quantities and Counts: Use
करीबto provide an approximate number of people, objects, or units when an exact count is unknown, difficult to ascertain, or simply not crucial for the context. मीटिंग में करीब बीस लोग मौजूद थे।(Meeting mein qareeb bees log maujood the.) – "About twenty people were present at the meeting."मैंने करीब पांच सौ किताबें पढ़ी हैं।(Maine qareeb paanch sau kitaaben padhi hain.) – "I have read approximately five hundred books."
- Approximating Time and Duration: This is very common in daily scheduling and discussions about travel.
करीबhelps convey that an event will happen around a certain time or that an activity will take a certain amount of time, with a small margin of error. वह करीब शाम सात बजे आएगा।(Vah qareeb shaam saat baje aaegaa.) – "He will come around seven in the evening."इस प्रोजेक्ट में करीब दो महीने लगेंगे।(Is project mein qareeb do maheene lagenge.) – "This project will take about two months."
- Indicating Physical Proximity: When describing the location of something relative to another point,
के करीबis essential. It provides a general sense of "nearness" without specifying an exact distance. रेलवे स्टेशन मेरे घर के करीब है।(Railway station mere ghar ke qareeb hai.) – "The railway station is near my house."पहाड़ों के करीब हमेशा ठंड होती है।(Pahaadon ke qareeb hameshaa thand hoti hai.) – "It's always cold near the mountains."
- Expressing Near Completion or Attainment (with
करीब-करीब): When describing a task, project, or goal that is on the verge of being finished or achieved,करीब-करीबis the appropriate intensifier. It suggests that only a small portion remains. मेरा उपन्यास करीब-करीब पूरा हो चुका है।(Meraa upanyaas qareeb-qareeb pooraa ho chukaa hai.) – "My novel is almost complete."हमारा लक्ष्य करीब-करीब हासिल हो गया है।(Hamaaraa lakshya qareeb-qareeb haasil ho gayaa hai.) – "Our goal has been almost achieved."
- Being Politely Vague: In social contexts,
करीबoffers a convenient way to avoid giving precise figures, especially for personal details like age or income, or simply when precision is not expected or necessary. This pragmatic function contributes significantly to smoother social interactions. उसकी उम्र करीब तीस साल होगी।(Uski umr qareeb tees saal hogi.) – "She must be about thirty years old."
Common Mistakes
करीब. These typically stem from direct translation from English, misunderstanding the role of के, or conflating करीब with similar-sounding or related terms. Addressing these common pitfalls is crucial for accurate B2-level Hindi.- 1Misusing
केwith Numerical Approximation:
के when करीब is used adverbially for numerical estimation. The structure के करीब is reserved for proximity to a noun or event, not for quantifying numbers.- Incorrect:
के करीब पचास लोग आए थे।(Ke qareeb pachaas log aaye the.) - Correct:
करीब पचास लोग आए थे।(Qareeb pachaas log aaye the.) – "About fifty people came."
के acts as an oblique marker for the preceding noun, not as a general particle for approximation. In numerical contexts, करीब directly modifies the numeral.- 1Omitting
केfor Proximity:
के is mandatory. Omitting it changes the grammatical function or renders the phrase ungrammatical.- Incorrect:
स्कूल करीब एक दुकान है।(School qareeb ek dukaan hai.) – This sounds like "a shop is about the school," not "near the school." - Correct:
स्कूल के करीब एक दुकान है।(School ke qareeb ek dukaan hai.) – "There is a shop near the school."
के here functions similarly to "of" or "to" in possessive or relational contexts, connecting करीब to the preceding noun.- 1Incorrect Placement of
करीब:
करीब after the number or quantity is unidiomatic.- Incorrect:
दस लोग करीब आए थे।(Das log qareeb aaye the.) - Correct:
करीब दस लोग आए थे।(Qareeb das log aaye the.) – "About ten people came."
- 1Confusing
करीबwithपास(paas):
करीब and पास can mean "near," but their primary usages differ significantly. पास has two main meanings: "to have/possess" (with के पास) and "close by/right next to." करीब is broader for approximation and general proximity.के पासfor possession:मेरे पास एक किताब है।(Mere paas ek kitaab hai.) – "I have a book."पासfor immediate physical closeness:वह मेरे पास बैठा है।(Vah mere paas baithaa hai.) – "He is sitting next to me." (Implies very close, often touching.)के करीबfor general proximity:कॉलेज के करीब एक कैफे है।(College ke qareeb ek cafe hai.) – "There's a cafe near the college." (Could be a block or two away).
पास for numerical approximation (पास दस लोग) is grammatically incorrect and makes no sense in Hindi.- 1Misunderstanding
करीब-करीबvs.करीब:
करीब-करीब carries a stronger sense of "almost entirely" or "very nearly complete," typically describing states or actions. It should not be used as a direct synonym for simple numerical approximation करीब.- Incorrect:
करीब-करीब दस छात्र आए।(Qareeb-qareeb das chhaatr aaye.) – While understandable, it's slightly awkward. It implies that the group almost reached ten, perhaps it was nine and they were hoping for ten to be a 'full' group. - Correct:
करीब दस छात्र आए।(Qareeb das chhaatr aaye.) – "About ten students came." (Simple approximation). - Correct use of
करीब-करीब:काम करीब-करीब पूरा हो गया है।(Kaam qareeb-qareeb pooraa ho gayaa hai.) – "The work is almost entirely finished."
- 1Overlooking Register Differences:
करीब is generally neutral, choosing लगभग (lagbhag) in highly formal contexts when numerical precision is being approximated can sound more polished. Using लगभग in casual conversation, however, can make speech sound stilted. करीब is the safer, more ubiquitous choice for B2 learners in most daily scenarios.Real Conversations
Understanding how करीब functions in real, natural Hindi conversations is key to internalizing its usage beyond grammatical rules. It reflects a fluid, often less precise, approach to sharing information, which is a hallmark of authentic spoken language. These examples showcase करीब in various modern contexts, from casual chats to more structured discussions.
1. Everyday Quantities and Estimates:
In daily life, exact figures are often unnecessary or impractical. करीब provides a convenient way to communicate estimates for numbers, prices, or amounts.
- Scenario: Asking about costs
A
ये जूते कितने के हैं? (Ye joote kitne ke hain?) – "How much are these shoes?"B
करीब दो हज़ार के होंगे। (Qareeb do hazaar ke honge.) – "They must be about two thousand (rupees)."(Here, करीब signals an estimated price, not an exact one.)*
- Scenario: Describing crowd size
कन्सर्ट में करीब पंद्रह हज़ार लोग थे। (Concert mein qareeb pandrah hazaar log the.) – "There were about fifteen thousand people at the concert."
(No one counts every person, so करीब is essential.)*
2. Time and Scheduling:
When arranging meetings, discussing travel times, or referencing points in time, करीब allows for flexibility.
- Scenario: Making plans with friends
A
हम कब मिलें? (Ham kab milen?) – "When should we meet?"B
करीब शाम छह बजे ठीक रहेगा। (Qareeb shaam chhah baje theek rahegaa.) – "Around six in the evening would be fine."(This implies a window around 6 PM, not exactly on the dot.)*
- Scenario: Estimating travel time
एयरपोर्ट पहुँचने में करीब चालीस मिनट लगते हैं। (Airport pahunchne mein qareeb chaalis minat lagte hain.) – "It takes about forty minutes to reach the airport."
3. Physical Proximity (with के करीब):
Describing locations is a fundamental part of conversation. के करीब is used extensively for general spatial relations.
- Scenario: Giving directions
मेरा ऑफिस नदी के करीब है। (Meraa office nadi ke qareeb hai.) – "My office is near the river."
- Scenario: Describing a new establishment
हमारे घर के करीब एक नया रेस्टोरेंट खुला है। (Hamaare ghar ke qareeb ek nayaa restaurant khulaa hai.) – "A new restaurant has opened near our house."
4. Expressing Near Completion (करीब-करीब):
This form is frequently heard in work contexts, academic discussions, or personal projects, conveying that a goal is almost met.
- Scenario: Reporting project progress
सर, यह रिपोर्ट करीब-करीब तैयार है। (Sir, yah report qareeb-qareeb taiyaar hai.) – "Sir, this report is almost ready."
- Scenario: Discussing personal achievements
मैंने करीब-करीब अपनी सारी पढ़ाई पूरी कर ली है। (Maine qareeb-kareeb apni saari padhaai poori kar li hai.) – "I have almost entirely finished all my studies."
5. Social Media and Texting:
In informal digital communication, करीब maintains its function of quick estimation, fitting the concise nature of these platforms.
- Social Media Post: करीब दस किलोमीटर की हाइकिंग की आज! (Qareeb das kilometer ki hiking ki aaj!) – "Did about ten kilometers of hiking today!"
- Text Message: पहुंचने में करीब 15 मिनट लगेंगे। (Pahunchne mein qareeb pandrah minat lagenge.) – "Will take about 15 minutes to arrive."
These examples illustrate करीब as a flexible and natural part of the Hindi lexicon, reflecting pragmatic communication needs for approximation and general proximity across various social and formal settings. Its natural integration into different contexts is what elevates a learner's fluency.
Quick FAQ
करीब, clarifying nuances and differentiating it from related Hindi expressions. These insights help solidify your understanding and prevent common usage errors.- Q: Can
करीबbe used with non-numeric concepts or abstract nouns?
Yes, but typically in the के करीब construction for proximity to a state or abstract idea, rather than directly for approximation. For numerical approximation, it must be with a quantifiable element.
वह अपनी मंज़िल के करीब है।(Vah apni manzil ke qareeb hai.) – "He is close to his destination (goal)."हम सफलता के करीब हैं।(Ham safaltaa ke qareeb hain.) – "We are close to success."
- Q: What is the primary difference between
करीबandलगभग(lagbhag)?
Both translate to "approximately." The distinction lies largely in register and nuance. लगभग is generally more formal, often used in written language, news reports, or academic contexts. It implies a precise calculation or estimation was made, even if the result is approximate. करीब is more colloquial, natural, and widely used in everyday spoken Hindi. It conveys a more casual estimation or a general sense of "around." For B2 learners, करीब is usually the safer and more natural choice in most conversational settings.
- Q: Does
करीबalways imply a range that includes both slightly more and slightly less than the stated number?
Yes, करीब generally suggests a reasonable deviation around the stated number. It implies a degree of leeway. If you specifically mean "less than" or "more than," you should use explicit constructions like से कम (se kam – less than) or से ज़्यादा (se zyaadaa – more than).
यह दस बजे के करीब खत्म होगा।(Yah das baje ke qareeb khatm hogaa.) – "This will finish around ten o'clock (could be a little before or after)."
- Q: How does
करीबdiffer fromआस-पास(aas-paas)?
आस-पास means "around," "nearby," or "in the vicinity." It's primarily used for physical surroundings or loose temporal estimates that are less precise than करीब.
घर के आस-पास दुकानें हैं।(Ghar ke aas-paas dukaanen hain.) – "There are shops around the house (in the general area)."दस बजे के आस-पास मिलेंगे।(Das baje ke aas-paas milenge.) – "Let's meet around ten o'clock (a broader, less precise temporal window thanकरीब दस बजे)."
करीब is more direct and implies a tighter estimate. आस-पास used with numbers can sound looser, implying a rough range rather than a specific number's vicinity.- Q: Can
करीबbe used as an adjective, for instance, to mean "a close friend"?
No, करीब itself is not an adjective in this context. To express "close" as an adjective (e.g., a close friend, a close relative), the derived adjective करीबी (qareebi) is used. करीबी inflects for gender and number.
- Incorrect:
मेरा करीब दोस्त(meraa qareeb dost). - Correct:
मेरा करीबी दोस्त है।(Meraa qareebi dost hai.) – "He is my close friend." वह मेरी करीबी रिश्तेदार है।(Vah meri qareebi rishtedaar hai.) – "She is my close relative."
- Q: Does
करीबinflect for gender, number, or case?
No, करीब is invariable. It maintains the same form regardless of the gender, number, or case of the noun or pronoun it relates to. This makes its application simpler compared to inflecting adjectives in Hindi.
- Q: Can
करीबbe used with dates or specific days?
While understandable, it's less common than with times or quantities. For dates, के आस-पास (पाँच मई के आस-पास – "around the fifth of May") or लगभग are more frequently heard. Using करीब with a specific date might sound slightly less natural but is not strictly incorrect. Context often dictates the most idiomatic choice.
Approximation Structure
| Approximator | Number | Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
करीब
|
दस
|
लोग
|
करीब दस लोग
|
|
लगभग
|
पाँच
|
बजे
|
लगभग पाँच बजे
|
|
करीब
|
सौ
|
रुपये
|
करीब सौ रुपये
|
|
लगभग
|
दो
|
दिन
|
लगभग दो दिन
|
|
करीब
|
आधा
|
किलो
|
करीब आधा किलो
|
|
लगभग
|
बीस
|
साल
|
लगभग बीस साल
|
Meanings
These adverbs function to indicate that a value, time, or quantity is not exact but close to the stated amount.
Numerical Approximation
Used to estimate counts or amounts.
“करीब बीस छात्र आए थे।”
“लगभग दस किलोमीटर दूर।”
Temporal Approximation
Used to estimate time.
“लगभग चार बजे हैं।”
“करीब रात के आठ बजे।”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Approximator + Number
|
करीब दस
|
|
Negative
|
Approximator + Number + Verb
|
करीब दस नहीं थे
|
|
Question
|
क्या + Approximator + Number
|
क्या करीब दस थे?
|
|
Time
|
Approximator + Time
|
लगभग चार बजे
|
|
Distance
|
Approximator + Distance
|
करीब दस किमी
|
|
Emphasis
|
Approximator + ही + Number
|
करीब ही दस
|
Formality Spectrum
लगभग दस व्यक्ति उपस्थित थे। (Meeting attendance)
करीब दस लोग आए थे। (Meeting attendance)
करीब दस लोग थे। (Meeting attendance)
दस-एक लोग थे। (Meeting attendance)
Approximation Map
Numbers
- करीब दस about 10
Time
- लगभग चार बजे about 4 o'clock
Examples by Level
करीब दो लोग।
About two people.
करीब पाँच।
About five.
करीब दस।
About ten.
करीब एक।
About one.
लगभग तीन बजे हैं।
It is about 3 o'clock.
करीब दस रुपये।
About 10 rupees.
लगभग पाँच दिन।
About five days.
करीब दो घंटे।
About two hours.
वहाँ करीब पचास लोग थे।
There were about fifty people there.
लगभग सौ किलोमीटर दूर।
About 100 kilometers away.
करीब रात के नौ बजे।
About 9 at night.
लगभग आधा किलो।
About half a kilo.
इस काम में लगभग दो दिन लगेंगे।
This work will take about two days.
करीब पंद्रह प्रतिशत की वृद्धि।
An increase of about 15 percent.
लगभग सभी लोग सहमत थे।
Almost everyone agreed.
करीब दस साल पहले।
About ten years ago.
लगभग नगण्य अंतर है।
There is a nearly negligible difference.
करीब तीन चौथाई आबादी।
About three-quarters of the population.
लगभग असंभव कार्य।
A nearly impossible task.
करीब दो दशक बीत चुके हैं।
About two decades have passed.
लगभग पूर्णतः सत्य है।
It is nearly entirely true.
करीब-करीब समाप्त हो चुका है।
It is almost finished.
लगभग एक दशक के उपरांत।
After about a decade.
करीब अस्सी प्रतिशत सफलता।
About 80 percent success.
Easily Confused
Learners think 'paas' means 'about' because it means 'near'.
Learners don't know which is more formal.
Learners add 'hi' everywhere.
Common Mistakes
दस करीब
करीब दस
करीब-लगभग दस
करीब दस
दस लोग करीब
करीब दस लोग
करीब है दस
करीब दस
लगभग दस लोग थे करीब
करीब दस लोग थे
करीब के दस
करीब दस
लगभग के पाँच
लगभग पाँच
करीब-करीब दस लोग आए थे
करीब दस लोग आए थे
लगभग करीब दस
लगभग दस
करीब दस बजे के करीब
करीब दस बजे
लगभग-लगभग
लगभग
करीब-करीब
करीब
लगभग के करीब
लगभग
करीब के लगभग
करीब
Sentence Patterns
___ ___ लोग आए थे।
यह काम ___ ___ घंटे लेगा।
___ ___ रुपये की बचत हुई।
___ ___ प्रतिशत लोग सहमत हैं।
Real World Usage
करीब पचास रुपये में दे दो।
लगभग दो बजे मिलते हैं।
लगभग साठ प्रतिशत लोग आए।
करीब 10 मिनट में पहुँच रहा हूँ।
लगभग 5 घंटे लगेंगे।
करीब 30 मिनट में खाना आएगा।
The 'Nearly' Double
करीब-करीब when you want to say 'almost' for a status, like 'The file is almost uploaded'.Placement Matters
करीब BEFORE the number. Putting it after makes you sound like a non-native speaker.The 'Indian Time' Context
Smart Tips
Use 'लगभग' to sound professional.
Stick to 'करीब'.
Always use 'लगभग'.
Add 'ही' after the approximator.
Pronunciation
Kareeb
The 'ee' is long. Stress the second syllable.
Lagbhag
Ensure the 'bh' is aspirated.
Rising
करीब दस? ↑
Uncertainty or asking for confirmation.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Kareeb (करीब) sounds like 'care of'—take care of the estimate.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale that is slightly tilted, not perfectly balanced, representing an estimate.
Rhyme
करीब हो या लगभग, संख्या के आगे लगाओ, अंदाज़ा तुम बताओ।
Story
Ravi went to the market. He asked for 'करीब' (about) 2 kilos of apples. The shopkeeper said it would take 'लगभग' (about) 5 minutes to weigh them. Ravi waited, knowing it was just an estimate.
Word Web
Challenge
Look at 3 objects in your room and estimate their count using 'करीब'.
Cultural Notes
People often use 'करीब' in markets to negotiate prices.
In reports, 'लगभग' is preferred for accuracy.
Friends often use 'करीब' when meeting up.
Both words have roots in Persian and Sanskrit respectively.
Conversation Starters
वहाँ कितने लोग थे?
कितना समय लगेगा?
इसकी कीमत क्या है?
कितनी दूर है?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ दस लोग आए थे।
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
लगभग करीब दस लोग आए थे।
करीब दो घंटे लगेंगे।
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Order: [लोग, करीब, दस]
Choose:
___ चार बजे हैं।
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ दस लोग आए थे।
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
लगभग करीब दस लोग आए थे।
करीब दो घंटे लगेंगे।
Match: 1. Formal, 2. Casual
Order: [लोग, करीब, दस]
Choose:
___ चार बजे हैं।
Score: /8
Practice Bank
5 exercisesAbout one hour.
Reorder: [काम] [करीब-करीब] [है] [हो गया]
Match the following:
Formal version of 'करीब':
वह मेरे ___ रहता है।
Score: /5
FAQ (8)
Yes, but 'पास' is more common for physical distance. 'करीब' is better for numerical estimates.
It is standard, but often used in both formal and neutral contexts. It is rarely used in very casual speech.
No, that is redundant and sounds unnatural.
No, these are adverbs and do not change.
You will sound very precise, which might sound unnatural in casual conversation.
Yes, 'करीब ही' adds emphasis to the approximation.
Mostly yes, but register is the main difference.
Both 'करीब' and 'लगभग' work for 'nearly'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
aproximadamente
Hindi places it before the number.
environ
Hindi is more flexible with register.
ungefähr
German has more complex declensions.
yaku
Japanese uses kanji characters.
taqriban
Arabic places it after the number.
dàyuē
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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