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बिताना

A2 verb #1,500 most common 7 min read

बिताना

bitana Top 1,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips बिताना in 30 Seconds

Explanation बिताना in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'बिताना' as a simple word for 'spending time'. Focus on basic sentences like 'I spend time with my family' (मैं परिवार के साथ समय बिताता हूँ). At this stage, don't worry too much about complex past tense agreements. Just remember that it is the word you use for time, not money. You can use it to talk about your daily routine or weekend plans. It is usually paired with 'समय' (samay - time) or 'वक्त' (vaqt - time). Practice saying who you spend time with using the postposition 'के साथ' (ke saath). For example, 'दोस्तों के साथ' (with friends). This is a very useful verb for basic social interactions and introducing yourself and your hobbies.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'बिताना' in the past tense, which introduces the 'ne' (ने) construction. You should learn that 'मैंने समय बिताया' (I spent time) is the standard form. You can now describe your past holidays or how you spent your childhood. You should also be able to distinguish between 'बिताना' and 'खर्च करना' (spending money). Start using it with specific durations like 'दो घंटे' (two hours) or 'एक हफ्ता' (one week). You might also hear it in simple questions like 'आपने अपनी छुट्टियाँ कहाँ बिताईं?' (Where did you spend your holidays?). This level focuses on using the verb to provide more detail about your life experiences and routines.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'बिताना' in various moods and complex sentences. You can use it to express desires, such as 'मैं अपना जीवन शांति से बिताना चाहता हूँ' (I want to spend my life in peace). You will also start to notice the difference between 'बिताना' and 'काटना' (to kill/endure time). You can use 'बिताना' to talk about experiences more abstractly, like spending time in thought or in a particular state of mind. Your understanding of gender agreement in the past tense should be solid—knowing that 'बिताया' changes to 'बिताई' if the object is feminine like 'रात' (night) or 'छुट्टी' (holiday).

At the B2 level, you can use 'बिताना' to discuss social issues, personal philosophies, and more nuanced narratives. You might use it in the passive voice or in complex conditional sentences: 'अगर मुझे मौका मिले, तो मैं अपना समय समाज सेवा में बिताऊँगा' (If I get a chance, I will spend my time in social service). You should also be familiar with its Urdu-origin synonym 'गुज़ारना' and be able to switch between them depending on the context or the person you are speaking to. You can use the verb to describe not just physical presence, but also emotional or intellectual investment in a period of time.

At the C1 level, 'बिताना' becomes a tool for sophisticated expression. You can use it in literary contexts to describe the passage of eras or the 'spending' of a legacy. You understand the subtle connotations it carries in poetry versus news reporting. You can use it with abstract objects like 'यौवन' (youth) or 'बुढ़ापा' (old age). You are also aware of its causative nature and how it relates to the intransitive 'बीतना'. You can analyze how authors use this verb to create a specific mood—perhaps a sense of leisure, or a sense of deliberate action in the face of time's inevitable flow.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'बिताना' and its place in the vast landscape of Hindi temporal verbs. You can use it in philosophical discourse about the nature of time and existence. You can appreciate and use it in high-level wordplay or complex metaphors. You understand its historical evolution and its relationship with Sanskrit roots. Whether you are writing a formal essay, a poem, or engaging in a deep philosophical debate, you use 'बिताना' with precision, choosing it over 'यापन करना' or 'गुज़ारना' based on the exact register and emotional frequency you wish to hit.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

बिताना in 30 Seconds

बिताना (bitānā) means 'to spend time'.
It is used only for time, never for money.
It is a transitive verb requiring an object like 'samay' (time).
In the past tense, it agrees with the gender of the time unit.

The Hindi verb बिताना (bitānā) is an essential transitive verb used to describe the act of spending or passing time. While in English the word 'spend' can be used for both money and time, Hindi makes a sharp linguistic distinction. You 'spend' money using the verb खर्च करना (kharch karnā), but you 'spend' time using बिताना. It originates from the intransitive root बीतना (bītnā), which means 'to pass' (as in 'time passes'). By adding the causative suffix, it becomes 'to cause time to pass' or 'to spend time'.

Core Concept: The intentional or unintentional occupation of a duration. It implies an agent (the person) who is experiencing the flow of time through specific activities or states of being.

मैंने अपनी छुट्टियाँ गाँव में बिताईं। (I spent my holidays in the village.)

Understanding 'बिताना' requires recognizing its emotional weight. It is often used in nostalgic contexts, such as reminiscing about childhood or precious moments with loved ones. It isn't just about the clock ticking; it's about the quality of the experience within that time frame. Whether you are 'spending' a life, a day, or just a few minutes, this verb carries the weight of the experience.

Grammatical Category: Transitive Verb (सकर्मक क्रिया). It requires an object, which is almost always a unit of time (e.g., दिन, साल, वक्त, समय).

वह अपना सारा समय किताबों के साथ बिताता है। (He spends all his time with books.)

In literary Hindi, 'बिताना' can also take on a more poetic tone, signifying the passage of a lifetime or an era. It is frequently paired with adverbs of manner to describe how that time was spent—happily, sadly, or in struggle. The verb is versatile enough to cover mundane daily routines and the grand arc of human existence.

Synonym Note: While 'गुज़ारना' (guzārnā) is a common Urdu-origin synonym, 'बिताना' is the preferred Sanskrit-derived term in formal and standard Hindi contexts, though both are widely understood.

क्या आप मेरे साथ कुछ पल बिताना चाहेंगे? (Would you like to spend a few moments with me?)

उन्होंने अपना पूरा जीवन समाज सेवा में बिता दिया। (He spent his entire life in social service.)

Using बिताना correctly involves mastering its conjugation across various tenses and understanding its relationship with the subject and object. As a transitive verb, its past tense forms agree with the object (the time unit) rather than the subject when the 'ne' (ने) construction is used. This is a common hurdle for learners.

Present Tense: Subject + Time + बिताता/बिताती/बिताते + है/हैं. Example: 'मैं समय बिताता हूँ' (I spend time).

बच्चे पार्क में समय बिताते हैं। (Children spend time in the park.)

In the past tense, the verb changes based on the gender and number of the time period being spent. Since 'समय' (samay - time) and 'वक्त' (vaqt - time) are masculine, the verb usually takes the masculine form 'बिताया'. However, if you spend 'रातें' (rātein - nights, feminine plural), the verb becomes 'बिताईं'.

Past Tense (Perfective): Subject + ने + Time + बिताया/बिताई/बिताए/बिताईं. Example: 'उसने दो घंटे बिताए' (He spent two hours).

हमने साथ में बहुत अच्छा समय बिताया। (We spent a very good time together.)

For future intentions or plans, the verb follows standard future conjugation. It is often used when discussing upcoming vacations, weekends, or retirement plans. It pairs naturally with postpositions like 'के साथ' (with) or 'में' (in/at).

Future Tense: Subject + Time + बिताएगा/बिताएगी/बिताएंगे. Example: 'हम कल साथ समय बिताएंगे' (We will spend time together tomorrow).

अगले साल मैं विदेश में समय बिताऊँगा। (Next year I will spend time abroad.)

क्या तुम अपनी ज़िंदगी अकेले बिताना चाहते हो? (Do you want to spend your life alone?)

You will encounter बिताना in almost every facet of Hindi-speaking life, from the most casual conversations to high-brow literature and Bollywood lyrics. It is a word that bridges the gap between the mundane and the deeply emotional.

In Daily Conversation: Friends often ask each other, 'सप्ताहांत कैसे बिताया?' (How did you spend the weekend?). It's the standard way to inquire about someone's activities over a period of time.

चलो, आज शाम साथ में बिताते हैं। (Come, let's spend this evening together.)

Bollywood movies and songs are saturated with this verb. It often appears in romantic contexts where lovers express a desire to spend their lives together or mourn the time spent apart. Phrases like 'तेरे बिन एक पल बिताना मुश्किल है' (It's hard to spend a single moment without you) are iconic tropes in Indian cinema.

In Media and News: News reports might use it when discussing how public figures spend their time or when describing the duration a prisoner has spent in jail (though 'काटना' is also used there).

प्रधानमंत्री ने सैनिकों के साथ दिवाली बिताई। (The Prime Minister spent Diwali with the soldiers.)

In literature and poetry, 'बिताना' is used to reflect on the passage of seasons, years, and life stages. It carries a sense of narrative flow. Authors use it to set the scene for a character's history—'उसने अपने जीवन के दस साल बनारस में बिताए' (He spent ten years of his life in Varanasi).

रिटायरमेंट के बाद वे अपना समय बागवानी में बिताते हैं। (After retirement, they spend their time in gardening.)

Learners often struggle with 'बिताना' because of its specific constraints and its relationship with similar-sounding or similar-meaning words. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Hindi sound much more natural and native-like.

The Money Trap: As mentioned, never use 'बिताना' for money. WRONG: 'मैंने 100 रुपये बिताए'. RIGHT: 'मैंने 100 रुपये खर्च किए'.

Correct: समय बिताना | Incorrect: पैसा बिताना.

Another common error is confusing 'बिताना' (transitive) with 'बीतना' (intransitive). If you say 'समय बिता रहा है' without a subject, it sounds like the time itself is spending something. If you want to say 'Time is passing', use 'समय बीत रहा है'.

Transitive vs Intransitive: बिताना (Bitānā) = To spend (You do it). बीतना (Bītnā) = To pass (It happens by itself).

गलत: दिन बिता गया। (Wrong: The day 'spent'.) सही: दिन बीत गया। (Right: The day passed.)

Learners also sometimes over-rely on 'बिताना' when 'काटना' (kāṭnā) might be more appropriate. While 'बिताना' is neutral or positive, 'काटना' often implies 'killing time' or enduring a difficult period. Using 'बिताना' for a prison sentence sounds too pleasant; 'काटना' is used there.

उसने जेल में पाँच साल काटे (Not बिताए, unless it was a luxury jail!).

Hindi has several verbs that deal with the passage of time. Choosing the right one depends on the nuance you want to convey—whether the time is being enjoyed, endured, or simply observed.

बिताना vs गुज़ारना (Guzārnā): These are almost perfect synonyms. 'बिताना' is pure Hindi (Tatsama/Tadbhav), while 'गुज़ारना' is of Persian/Urdu origin. 'गुज़ारना' is very common in poetry and daily speech in North India.

'वक्त बिताना' and 'वक्त गुज़ारना' are interchangeable in 99% of cases.

Then there is काटना (kāṭnā). Literally meaning 'to cut', when applied to time, it means to 'get through' it. It is often used when time is moving slowly or when one is suffering. If you are bored in a meeting, you are 'cutting' time, not just 'spending' it.

बिताना vs काटना: बिताना is neutral/positive (spending time). काटना is often negative or implies effort (killing/enduring time).

सज़ा काटना (To serve a sentence) vs छुट्टियाँ बिताना (To spend holidays).

For formal or academic contexts, you might encounter यापन करना (yāpan karnā). This is a highly formal Sanskritized term, usually used in the phrase 'जीवन यापन करना' (to lead/spend one's life or livelihood).

वह बड़ी मुश्किल से अपने दिन काट रहा है। (He is passing his days with great difficulty.)

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

The 'ne' (ने) rule for transitive verbs in the past tense.

Causative verb structures (bītnā -> bitānā).

Gender and number agreement with the object.

Use of postpositions with verbs.

Infinitive as a verbal noun.

Examples by Level

मैं समय बिताता हूँ।

I spend time.

Simple present tense, masculine subject.

वह परिवार के साथ समय बिताती है।

She spends time with family.

Simple present tense, feminine subject.

हम साथ में समय बिताते हैं।

We spend time together.

Present plural form.

क्या आप मेरे साथ समय बिताएंगे?

Will you spend time with me?

Future tense, polite form.

बच्चे बाहर समय बिताते हैं।

Children spend time outside.

Plural subject.

मुझे दोस्तों के साथ समय बिताना पसंद है।

I like spending time with friends.

Infinitive used as a noun.

वह सारा दिन टीवी के सामने बिताता है।

He spends the whole day in front of the TV.

Use of 'सारा दिन' (whole day).

आप अपना समय कैसे बिताते हैं?

How do you spend your time?

Interrogative sentence.

मैंने कल बहुत अच्छा समय बिताया।

I spent a very good time yesterday.

Past tense with 'ne' (ने).

उसने अपनी छुट्टियाँ पहाड़ों में बिताईं।

She spent her holidays in the mountains.

Verb agrees with feminine plural 'छुट्टियाँ'.

हमने गाँव में दो हफ्ते बिताए।

We spent two weeks in the village.

Verb agrees with masculine plural 'हफ्ते'.

क्या तुमने अपना बचपन यहाँ बिताया?

Did you spend your childhood here?

Past tense question.

वे अपना सप्ताहांत लाइब्रेरी में बिताते हैं।

They spend their weekend in the library.

Habitual present.

मैंने उसके साथ कुछ घंटे बिताए।

I spent a few hours with him.

Agreement with 'घंटे'.

उसने पूरी रात जागकर बिताई।

She spent the whole night staying awake.

Agreement with feminine 'रात'.

हम अगले महीने गोवा में समय बिताएंगे।

We will spend time in Goa next month.

Future tense.

मैं अपना खाली समय पेंटिंग करने में बिताता हूँ।

I spend my free time painting.

Using 'में' to show activity.

उसने अपना सारा जीवन दूसरों की मदद करने में बिता दिया।

He spent his whole life helping others.

Compound verb 'बिता दिया' for emphasis.

क्या आप अपना बुढ़ापा शांति से बिताना चाहते हैं?

Do you want to spend your old age in peace?

Abstract object 'बुढ़ापा'.

हमने बहुत मुश्किल से वो दिन बिताए।

We spent those days with great difficulty.

Adverbial phrase 'मुश्किल से'.

वह अपना समय व्यर्थ नहीं बिताना चाहता।

He doesn't want to spend his time uselessly.

Negative sentence.

मैंने अपनी ज़िंदगी का सबसे अच्छा साल यहाँ बिताया।

I spent the best year of my life here.

Superlative 'सबसे अच्छा'.

वे अक्सर शामें समुद्र किनारे बिताते हैं।

They often spend evenings by the seashore.

Agreement with feminine plural 'शामें'.

हमें अपना समय सोच-समझकर बिताना चाहिए।

We should spend our time thoughtfully.

Modal 'चाहिए' (should).

लेखक ने कई साल इस किताब को लिखने में बिताए।

The author spent many years writing this book.

Complex transitive structure.

उसने अपनी जवानी जेल में बिताई।

He spent his youth in prison.

Agreement with feminine 'जवानी'.

अगर मैं अमीर होता, तो मैं अपना समय यात्रा करने में बिताता।

If I were rich, I would spend my time traveling.

Conditional sentence.

उन्होंने अपना अवकाश सामाजिक कार्यों में बिताने का निर्णय लिया।

They decided to spend their vacation in social work.

Infinitive as object of 'निर्णय लिया'.

वह अपनी उदासी अकेले में बिताना पसंद करती है।

She prefers to spend her sadness in solitude.

Abstract emotional context.

समय बिताने के लिए उसने एक नया शौक पाल लिया।

To pass the time, he took up a new hobby.

Purpose clause 'के लिए'.

हमने घंटों पुरानी यादों को ताज़ा करने में बिताए।

We spent hours refreshing old memories.

Complex gerund phrase.

वैज्ञानिकों ने दशकों इस शोध में बिताए हैं।

Scientists have spent decades in this research.

Present perfect tense.

दार्शनिक ने अपना संपूर्ण जीवन सत्य की खोज में बिताया।

The philosopher spent his entire life in search of truth.

Formal vocabulary 'संपूर्ण', 'खोज'.

उसने अपने निर्वासन के दिन एकांत में बिताए।

He spent the days of his exile in solitude.

Literary term 'निर्वासन' (exile).

समय बिताने की कला हर किसी को नहीं आती।

Not everyone knows the art of spending time.

Metaphorical usage.

उन्होंने अपनी विरासत को सहेजने में कई साल बिता दिए।

They spent many years in preserving their heritage.

Compound verb 'बिता दिए'.

साधु ने अपनी तपस्या हिमालय की कंदराओं में बिताई।

The sage spent his penance in the caves of the Himalayas.

Religious/Literary context.

इतिहासकारों ने इस रहस्य को सुलझाने में पीढ़ियाँ बिता दीं।

Historians spent generations in solving this mystery.

Plural feminine 'पीढ़ियाँ'.

वह अपनी रातों को तारों को निहारने में बिताता था।

He used to spend his nights gazing at the stars.

Habitual past.

जीवन के अंतिम क्षण उन्होंने अपने परिवार के बीच बिताए।

He spent the final moments of his life among his family.

Poignant, formal context.

अस्तित्व की सार्थकता इस पर निर्भर करती है कि आपने अपना समय कैसे बिताया।

The meaningfulness of existence depends on how you spent your time.

Philosophical register.

कवि ने अपनी विरह-वेदना को शब्दों में पिरोने में युग बिता दिए।

The poet spent ages weaving his pain of separation into words.

Highly poetic/metaphorical.

समय बिताने का तात्पर्य केवल घड़ी की सुइयों को देखना नहीं है।

The meaning of spending time is not just watching the hands of a clock.

Abstract definition.

उन्होंने अपनी बौद्धिक ऊर्जा को व्यर्थ के विवादों में बिता दिया।

They spent their intellectual energy in useless disputes.

Abstract object 'ऊर्जा'.

शून्य में समय बिताना एक आध्यात्मिक अनुभव हो सकता है।

Spending time in the void can be a spiritual experience.

Metaphysical context.

मानवता ने सदियाँ अज्ञानता के अंधकार में बिताई हैं।

Humanity has spent centuries in the darkness of ignorance.

Collective subject 'मानवता'.

अपनी चेतना के विस्तार में बिताया गया हर क्षण बहुमूल्य है।

Every moment spent in the expansion of one's consciousness is precious.

Passive participle 'बिताया गया'.

उसने अपनी कलात्मक साधना में अपना सर्वस्व बिता दिया।

He spent his everything in his artistic pursuit.

Extreme devotion context.

Common Collocations

समय बिताना (spend time)

वक्त बिताना (spend time)

छुट्टियाँ बिताना (spend holidays)

जीवन बिताना (spend life)

रात बिताना (spend the night)

बचपन बिताना (spend childhood)

साथ बिताना (spend together)

अकेले बिताना (spend alone)

खुशी से बिताना (spend happily)

मुश्किल से बिताना (spend with difficulty)

Common Phrases

समय बिताने के लिए (to pass the time)

साथ समय बिताना (to spend time together)

फुर्सत में समय बिताना (to spend time at leisure)

अच्छे से समय बिताना (to spend time well)

पूरा दिन बिताना (to spend the whole day)

ज़िंदगी बिताना (to spend one's life)

यादगार पल बिताना (to spend memorable moments)

शांति से बिताना (to spend peacefully)

काम में समय बिताना (to spend time in work)

परिवार के साथ बिताना (to spend with family)

Often Confused With

बिताना vs खर्च करना (spending money)

बिताना vs बीतना (time passing by itself)

बिताना vs काटना (killing/enduring time)

Idioms & Expressions

"दिन बिताना (To just get through the days/survive)"

"वक्त काटना (To kill time/endure a boring period)"

"ज़िंदगी के दिन बिताना (To live out one's remaining days)"

"हंसी-खुशी समय बिताना (To live happily)"

"अकेलेपन में समय बिताना (To live in loneliness)"

"किताबों में समय बिताना (To be a bookworm)"

"सोच में समय बिताना (To be lost in thought)"

"इंतज़ार में समय बिताना (To spend time waiting)"

"खेल-कूद में समय बिताना (To spend time in play)"

"साधना में समय बिताना (To spend time in spiritual practice)"

Easily Confused

बिताना vs

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

nuance

Positive/Neutral tone.

formality

Standard.

restriction

Time only.

Common Mistakes

Using 'bitānā' for money.
Forgetting the 'ne' in the past tense.
Agreeing the past tense verb with the subject instead of the object.
Confusing 'bitānā' with 'batānā' (to tell).
Using 'bitānā' when the time is passing by itself (should be 'bītnā').

Tips

Past Tense Agreement

Remember: 'Maine chhuṭṭiyān bitāīn' (I spent holidays). The 'n' at the end of 'bitāīn' is because 'chhuṭṭiyān' is feminine plural.

Money vs Time

Never mix 'kharch' and 'bitānā'. Time is 'bitānā', money is 'kharch'.

Compound Verbs

Use 'bitā denā' to sound more like a native when talking about completing a period of time.

Socializing

Spending time with family is a huge part of Indian life. Use this verb to show interest in someone's family life.

Soft 'T'

The 't' in 'bitānā' is dental. Touch your tongue to your upper teeth.

Abstract Time

You can spend 'youth' (javānī) or 'childhood' (bachpan) using this verb.

Interrogatives

Ask 'Kaise bitāyā?' to ask how someone's day or trip was.

Context Clues

If you hear 'ne', look for the time word to understand the verb's ending.

Rhyme

Bitānā rhymes with 'khazānā' (treasure). Time spent well is a treasure.

Poetic Touch

Use 'guzārnā' in songs or poems for a softer feel.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Bit' - you spend a 'bit' of time. 'Bit-ana'.

Word Origin

Sanskrit

Cultural Context

Elderly people often talk about 'पुराने दिन' (old days) they 'spent' in their youth.

Guests are often invited to 'spend a few days' (कुछ दिन बिताइए).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"आपने अपना सप्ताहांत कैसे बिताया?"

"आप अपना खाली समय कैसे बिताना पसंद करते हैं?"

"क्या आप मेरे साथ कुछ समय बिताना चाहेंगे?"

"आपने अपना बचपन कहाँ बिताया?"

"छुट्टियाँ बिताने के लिए आपकी पसंदीदा जगह कौन सी है?"

Journal Prompts

आज आपने अपना समय कैसे बिताया?

अपने जीवन के सबसे यादगार दिन के बारे में लिखें जो आपने दोस्तों के साथ बिताया।

अगर आपके पास असीमित समय हो, तो आप उसे कैसे बिताएंगे?

क्या आप अपना समय सही तरीके से बिता रहे हैं?

अपने बचपन के उन दिनों को याद करें जो आपने अपने दादा-दादी के साथ बिताए।

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, 'bitānā' is strictly for time. For money, use 'kharch karnā'.

They are synonyms. 'Bitānā' is Hindi-origin, 'guzārnā' is Urdu-origin. Both are common.

Use 'मैंने रात बिताई'. Since 'raat' is feminine, the verb becomes 'bitāī'.

Yes, it is a transitive verb and requires an object (the time being spent).

The root is 'bīt' (बीत), from the intransitive verb 'bītnā' (to pass).

You can, but 'kāṭnā' (to cut/endure) is more common and appropriate for prison.

It becomes 'बिताएंगे' (bitāenge). 'हम समय बिताएंगे'.

No, in the past tense with 'ne', it agrees with the object (time), not the subject.

It simply means 'to spend time'.

It is standard. For very formal contexts, 'vyatīt karnā' is used.