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खराब

A1 adjective #1,200 most common 9 min read

खराब

kharab Top 1,200

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips खराब in 30 Seconds

Explanation खराब in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'kharaab' is a fundamental adjective you need to describe basic problems. You will use it primarily for two things: food and objects. If you are at a restaurant and the food is not good, or if you are at home and your toy or pen doesn't work, 'kharaab' is the word you use. It's important to learn it alongside 'hai' (is) and 'tha' (was). For example, 'Khana kharaab hai' (The food is bad). At this stage, don't worry about complex grammar; just focus on using it to point out things that are broken or spoiled. It is an invariant adjective, meaning it doesn't change for gender, which makes it very easy for beginners to use correctly every time. You will also hear it used for the weather, like 'Mausam kharaab hai' (The weather is bad), which is a very common small-talk phrase in India.

At the A2 level, you start using 'kharaab' in more varied contexts, especially concerning health and daily routines. You will learn the phrase 'tabiyat kharaab hai' to say you are feeling unwell. This is much more common than saying 'main bimar hoon' in casual conversation. You also begin to use the compound verbs 'kharaab hona' (to break/spoil) and 'kharaab karna' (to ruin/break something). For example, 'Mera mobile kharaab ho gaya' (My mobile broke/stopped working). You can now describe why something is bad, perhaps because of the rain or because it is old. You are also introduced to the idea that 'kharaab' can describe a person's mood or a situation that has gone wrong, like 'Mera din kharaab tha' (My day was bad).

By B1, you should be comfortable using 'kharaab' for abstract concepts and more complex social situations. You will use it to describe poor quality in services, systems, or even behavior. For instance, 'Yahan ki vyavastha bahut kharaab hai' (The system here is very bad). You also start using idiomatic expressions like 'dimaag kharaab karna' (to irritate someone) or 'waqt kharaab karna' (to waste time). At this level, you can distinguish between 'kharaab' and its synonyms like 'bekaar' (useless) or 'bura' (bad). You might use it to talk about environmental issues, such as 'Pradushan ki wajah se hawa kharaab ho rahi hai' (The air is getting bad due to pollution). Your sentences will become longer, incorporating reasons and consequences of things being 'kharaab'.

At the B2 level, you use 'kharaab' to discuss more nuanced topics like reputation, economic conditions, and complex social issues. You might talk about how a scandal 'naam kharaab kar diya' (ruined the name/reputation) of a family or company. You can use it in professional contexts to critique a strategy or a piece of work with more precision. You will also understand the subtle difference between 'kharaab' and more formal words like 'doshpurn' (defective) or 'nakaam' (failed). You can engage in debates about why certain public services are 'kharaab' and suggest ways to 'theek' (fix) them. Your use of the word becomes more idiomatic, and you can pick up on the emotional undertones when a native speaker uses it to express deep frustration or disappointment.

At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated grasp of 'kharaab' and its place in Hindi literature and formal discourse. You can use it to describe the decay of values in society or the deterioration of historical monuments. You understand how 'kharaab' functions in various registers, from street slang to academic critiques. You might analyze a text where 'kharaab' is used metaphorically to describe a 'spoiled' generation or a 'corrupt' political climate. You are also aware of its etymological roots and how it relates to similar words in Urdu and Persian. You can use the word to express sarcasm or irony, and you understand the cultural weight it carries in different regions of the Hindi-speaking world. Your vocabulary includes many alternatives, but you choose 'kharaab' specifically for its directness and impact.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'kharaab' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can use it to explore philosophical themes of entropy and decay. You might write an essay on how 'kharaab' systems can be reformed or use it in high-level negotiations to describe unacceptable terms. You understand the most obscure idioms and can even coin new expressions that feel natural to the language. You can distinguish between the 'kharaab' of a malfunctioning quantum computer and the 'kharaab' of a moral dilemma. Your usage is perfectly attuned to the context, whether you are in a rural village, a corporate boardroom, or a literary salon. You see 'kharaab' not just as a word for 'bad,' but as a versatile tool for describing the imperfect state of the world.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

खराब in 30 Seconds

Kharaab is the primary Hindi word for 'bad,' 'broken,' or 'spoiled.'
It is used for malfunctioning gadgets, rotten food, and poor health.
The word is invariant, meaning it does not change for gender or number.
It is commonly paired with 'hona' (to become) and 'karna' (to ruin).

The Hindi word खराब (kharaab) is one of the most versatile adjectives in the language, primarily used to describe something that is in a negative state, whether physically, functionally, or morally. At its core, it translates to 'bad,' 'spoiled,' or 'damaged.' However, its application spans across various domains of daily life, making it an essential term for any learner. When you encounter food that has gone past its expiration date or smells unpleasant, you would describe it as kharaab. Similarly, if your mobile phone stops working or your car breaks down on the side of the road, the state of the machine is described using this same word. It is not limited to physical objects; it also extends to abstract concepts like weather, moods, and health. For instance, if the weather is stormy or unpleasant, it is mausam kharaab hai. If someone is feeling unwell, they might say their health is tabiyat kharaab hai.

Physical Condition: Used for broken appliances, torn clothes, or malfunctioning gadgets. Example: 'Yeh pankha kharaab hai' (This fan is broken).
Biological State: Used for spoiled food, rotten vegetables, or poor health. Example: 'Khana kharaab ho gaya hai' (The food has spoiled).
Abstract Quality: Used for bad habits, poor behavior, or unpleasant weather. Example: 'Uski aadatein kharaab hain' (His habits are bad).

Understanding the nuance of kharaab requires recognizing that it often implies a transition from a good state to a bad one. While the word 'bura' also means bad, 'kharaab' is more frequently used for things that were once functional or fresh but are no longer so. It carries a sense of 'deterioration' or 'malfunction.' In social contexts, it can also refer to a person's reputation or character being 'spoiled.' For example, 'naam kharaab karna' means to ruin someone's reputation. This word is an absolute staple in Hindi markets, repair shops, and hospitals, making it a high-frequency vocabulary item for beginners and advanced speakers alike.

आज मेरा मूड बहुत खराब है। (Today my mood is very bad.)

यह दूध खराब हो चुका है। (This milk has spoiled.)

रास्ते में मेरी गाड़ी खराब हो गई। (My car broke down on the way.)

ज्यादा मिठाई खाना दांतों के लिए खराब है। (Eating too many sweets is bad for teeth.)

बारिश की वजह से सड़कें खराब हो गईं। (The roads got damaged due to the rain.)

Using खराब (kharaab) correctly involves understanding its grammatical placement and the common verbs it pairs with. As an adjective, it typically precedes the noun it describes or follows a linking verb like 'hai' (is) or 'tha' (was). One of the most important aspects for learners is the distinction between 'kharaab hona' (to become bad/broken/spoiled) and 'kharaab karna' (to make bad/to ruin/to break). 'Hona' is used when something happens naturally or the cause is not the focus, while 'karna' implies an active agent doing the damage. For example, 'Doodh kharaab ho gaya' (The milk spoiled) vs. 'Bachon ne khilona kharaab kar diya' (The children broke the toy). This distinction is crucial for expressing agency and causality in Hindi.

With 'Hona' (Intransitive): Used for states of being or passive occurrences. 'Mera phone kharaab ho gaya hai' (My phone is broken/has malfunctioned).
With 'Karna' (Transitive): Used when someone ruins or breaks something. 'Tumne mera kaam kharaab kar diya' (You ruined my work).
With 'Lagna' (Perception): Used to express how something feels or tastes. 'Mujhe yeh baat kharaab lagi' (I felt bad about this matter).

Another key point is that kharaab does not change its form based on gender or number. Unlike adjectives like 'achha' (good) which becomes 'achhi' or 'achhe', kharaab remains the same whether you are talking about a masculine singular noun like 'ladka' (boy) or a feminine plural noun like 'kitabein' (books). This makes it relatively easy for English speakers to use without worrying about complex agreement rules. However, you must be careful with the context. While you can say 'kharaab aadmi' (a bad man), it often implies he is corrupt or unreliable rather than inherently evil. For moral 'badness' or 'evil,' 'bura' is often a stronger choice. In technical contexts, 'kharaab' is the go-to word for anything that is 'out of order.' If you see a sign on an elevator in India, it will likely say 'kharaab hai' to indicate it is not working.

ज्यादा टीवी देखना आँखों के लिए खराब है। (Watching too much TV is bad for the eyes.)

क्या आपका कंप्यूटर खराब है? (Is your computer broken?)

उसने गुस्से में अपना फोन खराब कर लिया। (He ruined his phone in anger.)

In the bustling streets of India, खराब (kharaab) is a word you will hear constantly. From the local vegetable vendor explaining why the tomatoes are cheaper today to the auto-rickshaw driver telling you why he can't take you to your destination, this word is everywhere. In a marketplace (Sabzi Mandi), a vendor might shout, 'Yeh phal kharaab nahi hain!' (These fruits are not bad!) to reassure customers of their quality. If you are traveling by train and the air conditioning stops working, passengers will complain to the attendant saying, 'AC kharaab ho gaya hai.' It is the universal term for anything that is not functioning as it should. In professional settings, if a project is failing or a report is poorly written, a manager might say, 'Yeh performance bahut kharaab hai' (This performance is very bad).

At the Repair Shop: 'Bhaiya, mera laptop kharaab hai, ise theek kar do.' (Brother, my laptop is broken, please fix it.)
In the Kitchen: 'Fridge kharaab hone ki wajah se sabzi kharaab ho gayi.' (The vegetables spoiled because the fridge broke.)
In Social Conversations: 'Aaj kal shehar ki hawa bahut kharaab hai.' (These days the city's air is very bad/polluted.)

Beyond physical objects, kharaab is frequently used in emotional and psychological contexts. If someone is being annoying or difficult, you might hear the phrase 'Dimaag kharaab mat karo' (Don't mess with my head/Don't irritate me). This is a very common colloquial expression used when someone is frustrated. In Bollywood movies, you'll often hear characters lamenting their 'kismat' (fate) by saying 'Meri kismat hi kharaab hai' (My luck is just bad). This usage highlights how the word permeates the emotional landscape of Hindi speakers. Whether it's the weather ruining a picnic or a technical glitch during a Zoom call, kharaab is the linguistic tool used to express dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. It is a word that captures the frustration of things not going according to plan.

लिफ्ट खराब है, सीढ़ियों से चलिए। (The lift is out of order, please use the stairs.)

मेरा गला खराब है, मैं आज नहीं गा सकता। (My throat is bad/sore, I cannot sing today.)

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using खराब (kharaab) is confusing it with the word 'bura' (bad). While they are often interchangeable, they have distinct nuances. 'Bura' is generally used for moral badness, evil, or poor quality in a more permanent sense. For example, 'bura aadmi' implies a person with a bad character, whereas 'kharaab aadmi' might just mean someone who is currently being difficult or is unreliable. Another common error is trying to inflect 'kharaab' for gender. Beginners often say 'kharaabi' for feminine nouns, but 'kharaabi' is actually a noun meaning 'defect' or 'fault,' not an adjective. So, you should say 'Yeh machine kharaab hai' (adjective) and not 'Yeh machine kharaabi hai' (unless you mean 'This machine is a defect,' which makes little sense).

Confusing 'Kharaab' and 'Bura': Mistake: Using 'kharaab' for 'evil'. Correct: Use 'bura' for moral evil and 'kharaab' for functional failure.
Incorrect Inflection: Mistake: 'Kharaabi ladki' (Wrong). Correct: 'Kharaab ladki' (Though 'bura' is better here for character).
Overusing for 'Broken': While 'kharaab' means broken (malfunctioning), if a stick is snapped in two, 'toota hua' is more precise than 'kharaab'.

Another subtle mistake is using 'kharaab' when you mean 'dirty' (ganda). While something dirty might eventually become 'kharaab' (spoiled), they are not the same. If your shirt has a stain, it is 'ganda,' not 'kharaab.' However, if the fabric is torn or the color has faded significantly, then it is 'kharaab.' Learners also sometimes struggle with the placement of 'kharaab' in complex sentences. It should always describe the noun it is attached to. For instance, in 'kharaab mausam ki wajah se' (due to bad weather), 'kharaab' correctly modifies 'mausam.' Finally, be careful with the phrase 'dimaag kharaab.' While it can mean 'to go crazy' or 'to be irritated,' using it towards an elder or in a formal setting can be seen as quite rude. It is best reserved for friends or informal situations where you are expressing genuine frustration.

गलत: मेरी घड़ी खराबी है। (Wrong: My watch is a defect.)

सही: मेरी घड़ी खराब है। (Right: My watch is broken/not working.)

While खराब (kharaab) is a great all-purpose word, Hindi offers several more specific alternatives depending on what exactly is 'bad.' Understanding these synonyms will help you sound more like a native speaker. For instance, if you want to emphasize that something is 'useless' or 'worthless,' you might use 'bekaar.' If something is 'rotten' specifically (like fruit), 'sada hua' is the precise term. If a machine is 'out of order' in a more technical sense, 'bigda hua' is often used. Each of these words carries a slightly different weight and context, and choosing the right one can make your Hindi much more descriptive and accurate.

Bura (बुरा): General 'bad'. Used more for character, feelings, and quality. 'Bura sapna' (A bad dream).
Bekaar (बेकार): Useless or unemployed. 'Yeh idea bekaar hai' (This idea is useless).
Sada hua (सड़ा हुआ): Rotten or decomposed. Specifically for organic matter like food or wood.
Doshpurn (दोषपूर्ण): Defective or flawed. Used in formal or technical writing. 'Doshpurn niti' (Flawed policy).

On the flip side, the antonyms of kharaab are equally important. The most common is 'achha' (good), but in the context of functionality, 'theek' (okay/fixed) or 'sahi' (correct/right) are more common. If a mechanic fixes your car, he won't say it is 'achha' now; he will say 'Ab gaadi theek hai' (Now the car is fine). If you are checking if food is still edible, you might ask 'Kya yeh sahi hai?' (Is this alright?). Understanding this spectrum of 'badness' and 'goodness' allows you to navigate daily interactions in India with much more confidence. Whether you are rejecting a 'kharaab' product at a shop or appreciating a 'theek' repair job, these words are your primary tools for evaluation.

यह सेब अंदर से सड़ा हुआ है। (This apple is rotten from the inside.)

पुरानी चीज़ें बेकार नहीं होतीं। (Old things are not useless.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Despite its negative meaning, 'kharaab' is used in the names of some historical places that were once ruins but are now vibrant parts of cities. It is also a very common word in Urdu poetry to describe the 'ruined' state of a lover's heart.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kʰə.ɾɑːb/

US /kə.rɑːb/

The stress is slightly more on the second syllable 'raab'.

Rhymes With

जवाब (jawab - answer) गुलाब (gulab - rose) हिसाब (hisab - account/math) किताब (kitab - book) ख्वाब (khwab - dream) नवाब (nawab - lord) शराब (sharab - alcohol) आदाब (aadab - greetings)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'kh' as a simple 'k' without aspiration.
Making the 'r' sound like the English 'r' instead of a flap or roll.
Shortening the long 'aa' sound in the second syllable.
Confusing the word with 'kharaabi' (the noun form).
Adding a vowel sound at the end (e.g., kharaaba).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to read as it uses common characters and follows standard phonetic rules.

Writing 2/5

Simple to write, though learners must remember the 'kh' (ख) and 'b' (ब) sounds.

Speaking 2/5

Requires correct aspiration of the 'kh' sound to sound native.

Listening 1/5

Very distinct sound, easily recognizable in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

है (hai) था (tha) खाना (khana) पानी (paani) अच्छा (achha)

Learn Next

बुरा (bura) बेकार (bekaar) ठीक (theek) मशीन (machine) तबीयत (tabiyat)

Advanced

दोषपूर्ण (doshpurn) विनाशकारी (vinashkari) भ्रष्ट (bhrasht) जर्जर (jarjar) नगण्य (naganya)

Grammar to Know

Invariant Adjectives

खराब (kharaab) does not change for 'ladka' (boy) or 'ladki' (girl).

Compound Verbs with 'Hona'

खराब होना (kharaab hona) means 'to become bad' or 'to break'.

Compound Verbs with 'Karna'

खराब करना (kharaab karna) means 'to ruin' or 'to damage'.

Adjective Placement

Usually comes before the noun (खराब खाना) or after the verb (खाना खराब है).

Use of 'Lagna' for Perception

खराब लगना (kharaab lagna) means 'to feel/taste/look bad'.

Examples by Level

यह खाना खराब है।

This food is bad.

Simple subject + adjective + verb 'to be'.

मेरा पेन खराब है।

My pen is bad/broken.

Possessive pronoun 'mera' + noun + adjective.

आज मौसम खराब है।

The weather is bad today.

Adverb of time 'aaj' + noun + adjective.

यह सेब खराब है।

This apple is bad.

Demonstrative pronoun 'yeh' + noun + adjective.

दूध खराब हो गया।

The milk went bad.

Use of 'ho gaya' to show a change in state.

क्या यह खिलौना खराब है?

Is this toy broken?

Interrogative sentence starting with 'kya'.

वह फोन खराब था।

That phone was bad/broken.

Past tense using 'tha'.

रास्ता खराब है।

The road is bad.

Noun 'raasta' + adjective.

मेरी तबीयत खराब है।

My health is bad (I am unwell).

Standard phrase for feeling sick.

टीवी खराब हो गया है।

The TV has broken down.

Present perfect tense showing a recent change.

उसने मेरा काम खराब कर दिया।

He ruined my work.

Transitive use with 'kar diya'.

ज्यादा चॉकलेट खाना खराब है।

Eating too much chocolate is bad.

Gerund 'khana' as the subject.

मशीन खराब होने वाली है।

The machine is about to break.

Future intention/imminence with 'hone wali'.

आज मेरा मूड खराब है।

My mood is bad today.

Using 'kharaab' for emotional states.

यह पानी खराब लग रहा है।

This water looks/tastes bad.

Use of 'lag raha hai' for perception.

गाड़ी खराब होने की वजह से देरी हुई।

There was a delay because the car broke down.

Using 'ki wajah se' for reason.

बुरी संगति बच्चों को खराब कर देती है।

Bad company spoils children.

Habitual present tense with 'kar deti hai'.

शहर की हवा बहुत खराब हो गई है।

The city's air has become very bad.

Describing environmental degradation.

मेरा समय खराब मत करो।

Don't waste my time.

Imperative negative sentence.

क्या आपको मेरी बात खराब लगी?

Did you feel bad about what I said?

Using 'lagna' for taking offense.

यहाँ की सड़कें बहुत खराब हालत में हैं।

The roads here are in very bad condition.

Using 'halat' (condition) with 'kharaab'.

उसका व्यवहार सबके साथ खराब है।

His behavior with everyone is bad.

Describing social conduct.

बारिश ने सारा खेल खराब कर दिया।

The rain ruined the whole game.

Using 'kharaab karna' for events.

खराब आदतों को छोड़ना मुश्किल होता है।

It is difficult to leave bad habits.

Abstract use for habits.

इस घोटाले ने मंत्री का नाम खराब कर दिया।

This scandal ruined the minister's name.

Idiomatic use for reputation.

अर्थव्यवस्था की स्थिति काफी खराब है।

The state of the economy is quite bad.

Formal context for macro-issues.

खराब रोशनी में पढ़ना आँखों के लिए हानिकारक है।

Reading in bad light is harmful for the eyes.

Using 'kharaab' to describe quality of light.

अगर तुम मेहनत नहीं करोगे, तो तुम्हारा भविष्य खराब हो जाएगा।

If you don't work hard, your future will be ruined.

Conditional sentence with future tense.

कंपनी की खराब नीतियों के कारण कर्मचारी दुखी हैं।

Employees are unhappy due to the company's bad policies.

Describing institutional failure.

उसने अपनी सेहत खराब कर ली है।

He has ruined his health.

Reflexive sense of 'ruining oneself'.

रिश्तों में कड़वाहट आने से माहौल खराब हो जाता है।

The atmosphere gets bad when bitterness enters relationships.

Describing social/emotional atmosphere.

खराब मौसम की चेतावनी दी गई है।

A warning for bad weather has been given.

Passive construction in formal news.

भ्रष्टाचार समाज की जड़ों को खराब कर रहा है।

Corruption is rotting the roots of society.

Metaphorical use in social critique.

साहित्य में खराब अनुवाद मूल कृति का अर्थ बदल देता है।

In literature, a bad translation changes the meaning of the original work.

Academic context regarding translation.

उसकी बातों ने मेरा सारा दिन खराब कर दिया।

His words ruined my entire day.

Expressing deep emotional impact.

खराब प्रबंधन के कारण ऐतिहासिक इमारतें ढह रही हैं।

Historical buildings are collapsing due to bad management.

Formal context for heritage conservation.

इंटरनेट के अत्यधिक उपयोग से बच्चों का मानसिक स्वास्थ्य खराब हो सकता है।

Excessive use of the internet can damage children's mental health.

Using 'ho sakta hai' for possibility.

राजनीतिक अस्थिरता ने देश की छवि खराब की है।

Political instability has tarnished the country's image.

Describing national reputation.

गलत फैसलों ने उसकी पूरी मेहनत खराब कर दी।

Wrong decisions ruined all his hard work.

Focusing on the loss of effort.

क्या तुम्हें नहीं लगता कि यह रंग संयोजन खराब है?

Don't you think this color combination is bad?

Subjective aesthetic judgment.

नैतिक मूल्यों का पतन समाज को भीतर से खराब कर देता है।

The decline of moral values rots society from within.

Philosophical and abstract discourse.

इस दार्शनिक का मानना है कि सत्ता मनुष्य को खराब कर देती है।

This philosopher believes that power corrupts (spoils) man.

Using 'kharaab' for moral corruption.

खराब न्याय व्यवस्था लोकतंत्र के लिए सबसे बड़ा खतरा है।

A bad judicial system is the biggest threat to democracy.

High-level political analysis.

लेखक ने समाज की खराब प्रवृत्तियों पर तीखा प्रहार किया है।

The author has sharply attacked the bad tendencies of society.

Literary criticism context.

पर्यावरण का संतुलन खराब होने से विनाशकारी परिणाम हो सकते हैं।

The disruption of environmental balance can lead to catastrophic results.

Scientific and ecological discourse.

उसकी नियत खराब थी, इसलिए वह कभी सफल नहीं हुआ।

His intentions were bad, which is why he never succeeded.

Describing internal character/intent.

भाषा का खराब प्रयोग संचार में बाधा उत्पन्न करता है।

Bad use of language creates obstacles in communication.

Linguistic and technical context.

यह फिल्म समाज पर खराब प्रभाव डालती है।

This movie has a bad influence on society.

Sociological impact analysis.

Common Collocations

तबीयत खराब (tabiyat kharaab)

मौसम खराब (mausam kharaab)

दिमाग खराब (dimaag kharaab)

किस्मत खराब (kismat kharaab)

खाना खराब (khana kharaab)

मशीन खराब (machine kharaab)

नाम खराब (naam kharaab)

हालत खराब (halat kharaab)

आदतें खराब (aadatein kharaab)

रास्ता खराब (raasta kharaab)

Common Phrases

खराब हो जाना (kharaab ho jaana)

— To break down or spoil. Used for machines and food.

दूध खराब हो गया।

खराब कर देना (kharaab kar dena)

— To ruin or break something intentionally or accidentally.

उसने मेरा प्लान खराब कर दिया।

मूड खराब होना (mood kharaab hona)

— To be in a bad mood or to have one's mood ruined.

उसकी बातों से मेरा मूड खराब हो गया।

गला खराब होना (gala kharaab hona)

— To have a sore throat or to lose one's voice.

ठंडा पानी पीने से मेरा गला खराब हो गया।

दिन खराब जाना (din kharaab jaana)

— To have a bad day where everything goes wrong.

आज मेरा पूरा दिन खराब गया।

नियत खराब होना (niyat kharaab hona)

— To have bad or dishonest intentions.

उसकी नियत खराब लग रही है।

खेल खराब करना (khel kharaab karna)

— To spoil the fun or ruin a game/plan.

बारिश ने सारा खेल खराब कर दिया।

वक्त खराब होना (waqt kharaab hona)

— To go through a bad phase in life.

अभी मेरा वक्त खराब चल रहा है।

आँखें खराब होना (aankhein kharaab hona)

— To have failing eyesight or damaged eyes.

अंधेरे में पढ़ने से आँखें खराब हो जाती हैं।

रिश्ता खराब होना (rishta kharaab hona)

— For a relationship to turn sour or break.

गलतफहमी की वजह से उनका रिश्ता खराब हो गया।

Often Confused With

खराब vs बुरा (bura)

Bura is for moral badness; Kharaab is for functional or physical badness.

खराब vs गंदा (ganda)

Ganda means dirty; Kharaab means spoiled or broken.

खराब vs टूटा (toota)

Toota means physically broken in pieces; Kharaab means malfunctioning.

Idioms & Expressions

"दिमाग खराब करना (dimaag kharaab karna)"

— To annoy or irritate someone excessively.

फालतू बातें करके मेरा दिमाग खराब मत करो।

Informal

"नाम खराब करना (naam kharaab karna)"

— To bring disrepute to someone or a family.

उसने चोरी करके अपने बाप का नाम खराब कर दिया।

Neutral

"खून खराब करना (khoon kharaab karna)"

— To worry excessively or to get very angry (literally: to spoil one's blood).

छोटी बातों पर अपना खून खराब मत करो।

Colloquial

"नसीब खराब होना (naseeb kharaab hona)"

— To have bad luck.

मेरा नसीब ही खराब है कि मुझे यह नौकरी नहीं मिली।

Neutral

"पेट खराब होना (pet kharaab hona)"

— To have an upset stomach or indigestion.

बाहर का खाना खाने से मेरा पेट खराब हो गया।

Neutral

"खराब खून (kharaab khoon)"

— Bad blood or long-standing animosity between people.

उन दोनों परिवारों के बीच पुराना खराब खून है।

Literary

"हवा खराब होना (hawa kharaab hona)"

— For a situation to become dangerous or unfavorable.

दंगे के बाद शहर की हवा खराब हो गई है।

Metaphorical

"किस्मत का खराब होना (kismat ka kharaab hona)"

— To be unfortunate in a specific situation.

किस्मत खराब थी कि बस छूट गई।

Neutral

"बात खराब करना (baat kharaab karna)"

— To ruin a negotiation or a delicate situation by saying the wrong thing.

तुमने बीच में बोलकर सारी बात खराब कर दी।

Informal

"दिमाग की दही करना (dimaag ki dahi karna)"

— A slangier version of 'dimaag kharaab karna' (literally: to turn the brain into yogurt).

चुप हो जाओ, मेरे दिमाग की दही मत करो।

Slang

Easily Confused

खराब vs खराबी (kharaabi)

It sounds like a feminine version of the adjective.

Kharaabi is a noun meaning 'defect' or 'fault'. Kharaab is the adjective.

मशीन में खराबी (noun) है। मशीन खराब (adjective) है।

खराब vs बेकार (bekaar)

Both mean something isn't good.

Bekaar means useless or of no value. Kharaab means spoiled or broken.

यह पेन खराब है (doesn't write). यह पेन बेकार है (has no ink/is cheap).

खराब vs सड़ा (sada)

Both used for bad food.

Sada means literally rotten or decomposed. Kharaab is more general.

सड़ा हुआ टमाटर (rotten tomato). खराब खाना (bad food).

खराब vs गड़बड़ (gadbad)

Both imply something is wrong.

Gadbad means a mess, confusion, or a minor error. Kharaab is a state of being bad.

दाल में कुछ गड़बड़ है। दाल खराब है।

खराब vs बुरा (bura)

Direct translation of 'bad'.

Bura is often used for character and quality. Kharaab for state and function.

बुरा सपना (bad dream). खराब मौसम (bad weather).

Sentence Patterns

[Noun] खराब है।

दूध खराब है।

[Noun] खराब हो गया।

फोन खराब हो गया।

[Subject] ने [Noun] खराब कर दिया।

राम ने खिलौना खराब कर दिया।

[Noun] खराब होने की वजह से [Result]।

बस खराब होने की वजह से मैं लेट हो गया।

मुझे [Noun/Matter] खराब लगा।

मुझे उसका व्यवहार खराब लगा।

अगर [Condition], तो [Noun] खराब हो जाएगा।

अगर बारिश हुई, तो खेल खराब हो जाएगा।

[Abstract Noun] को खराब करना [Consequence] है।

रिश्तों को खराब करना आसान है, निभाना मुश्किल।

[Formal Noun] की खराब स्थिति [Action] की मांग करती है।

देश की खराब आर्थिक स्थिति सुधार की मांग करती है।

Word Family

Nouns

खराबी (kharaabi) - defect, fault, malfunction

Verbs

खराब करना (kharaab karna) - to ruin, to break

खराब होना (kharaab hona) - to spoil, to malfunction

Adjectives

खराब (kharaab) - bad, spoiled

बर्बाद (barbaad) - destroyed

नुकसान (nuksaan) - loss/damage

गड़बड़ (gadbad) - mess/error

दोष (dosh) - fault

बुराई (burai) - evil/badness

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily conversation.

Common Mistakes

Using 'kharaabi' as an adjective. → Yeh machine kharaab hai.
Kharaabi is a noun meaning 'defect'. You cannot say 'The machine is defect'.
Changing 'kharaab' to 'kharaabi' for feminine nouns. → Ladki kharaab hai.
Kharaab is invariant and does not change for gender.
Using 'kharaab' for a physically snapped object. → Lakdi tooti hui hai.
Use 'toota' for physical breakage and 'kharaab' for malfunctioning.
Using 'kharaab' for 'dirty'. → Kapde gande hain.
Ganda means dirty. Kharaab means the clothes are ruined or torn.
Using 'kharaab' for 'evil' in a religious context. → Buraai (Evil).
Kharaab is too mundane for 'evil'; 'bura' or 'paap' is better.

Tips

Invariant Adjective

Remember that 'kharaab' never changes its ending. Whether it's a 'kharaab' day, 'kharaab' milk, or 'kharaab' habits, the word remains the same.

Food Safety

In a market, if you see fruit that looks old, you can ask 'Kya yeh kharaab hai?' to check if it's still good to buy.

Polite Refusal

If you want to avoid a social event, 'Meri tabiyat thodi kharaab hai' (My health is a bit bad) is a standard and polite excuse.

Don't Irritate Me

Use 'Mera dimaag kharaab mat karo' only with friends. It's quite direct and can be rude if said to a stranger or elder.

Repair Shops

When taking something to be fixed, start with 'Yeh kharaab ho gaya hai' (This has become bad/broken).

Small Talk

'Mausam kharaab hai' is a perfect conversation starter when it starts raining unexpectedly in India.

Noun vs Adjective

Don't confuse 'kharaab' (bad) with 'kharaabi' (a defect). 'Machine kharaab hai' but 'Machine mein kharaabi hai'.

Mood Swings

If someone asks how you are and you're feeling grumpy, 'Mera mood kharaab hai' is the most natural response.

Bura vs Kharaab

Use 'bura' for a 'bad person' (character) and 'kharaab' for a 'broken machine' (function).

The 'Kh' Sound

Practice the 'kh' sound by pretending you are clearing your throat gently. It's different from the 'k' in 'kite'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Car-Robbed'. If your car is robbed, it's a very 'kharaab' (bad) situation and your car might be 'kharaab' (damaged).

Visual Association

Imagine a brown, mushy banana or a television screen with nothing but static. Associate these images with the sound 'kharaab'.

Word Web

Food (Spoiled) Machine (Broken) Weather (Bad) Health (Unwell) Mood (Angry) Character (Corrupt) Reputation (Ruined) Time (Wasted)

Challenge

Try to find five things in your house that are 'kharaab' or 'bekaar' and label them in your mind using the Hindi word.

Word Origin

The word 'kharaab' originates from the Arabic word 'kharāb' (خراب), which means ruined, desolated, or waste. It entered Hindi through Persian during the period of Islamic influence in the Indian subcontinent.

Original meaning: In its original Arabic context, it referred to ruins or a place that has been destroyed, often used to describe fallen buildings or desolate lands.

Afro-Asiatic (Arabic) -> Indo-European (Persian) -> Indo-Aryan (Hindi/Urdu).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'kharaab' to describe people; it can be more insulting than 'bura' as it implies they are 'spoiled' or 'useless'.

English speakers often use 'broken' for machines and 'bad' for food. In Hindi, 'kharaab' covers both, which can be a helpful simplification.

The song 'Mera Joota Hai Japani' mentions 'phir bhi dil hai Hindustani', but many parodies use 'kharaab' to describe modern struggles. Commonly used in Bollywood dialogue: 'Tumne mera dimaag kharaab kar diya!' Used in news headlines to describe 'Kharaab Mausam' (Bad Weather) during monsoon season.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a Restaurant

खाना खराब है।
सब्जी खराब हो गई है।
इसका स्वाद खराब है।
दूध खराब लग रहा है।

At a Repair Shop

मेरा फोन खराब है।
मशीन में क्या खराबी है?
यह कब खराब हुआ?
इसे ठीक करने में कितना समय लगेगा?

Talking about Health

मेरी तबीयत खराब है।
मेरा पेट खराब है।
उसका गला खराब है।
ज्यादा काम से सेहत खराब हो जाती है।

Discussing Weather

बाहर मौसम खराब है।
खराब मौसम की वजह से फ्लाइट लेट है।
कल मौसम खराब था।
क्या मौसम खराब होने वाला है?

Social/Emotional Situations

मेरा मूड खराब है।
दिमाग खराब मत करो।
उसने सब खराब कर दिया।
उसकी नियत खराब है।

Conversation Starters

"क्या आपकी गाड़ी भी खराब हो गई है?"

"आज मौसम कितना खराब है, है ना?"

"क्या आपको लगता है कि यह खाना खराब हो गया है?"

"मेरा लैपटॉप खराब है, क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं?"

"अगर तबीयत खराब हो, तो काम पर मत आना।"

Journal Prompts

आज आपका दिन खराब क्यों गया? विस्तार से लिखें।

क्या कभी आपकी कोई कीमती चीज़ खराब हुई है? आपने क्या किया?

समाज की कौन सी तीन चीज़ें आपको सबसे खराब लगती हैं?

खराब मौसम में आपको घर पर क्या करना पसंद है?

एक कहानी लिखें जिसमें एक खराब मशीन ने किसी की जान बचाई।

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but be careful. 'Kharaab aadmi' can mean a person who is currently being difficult, corrupt, or has a bad character. It is often more insulting than 'bura aadmi' because it implies they are 'spoiled' or 'broken' as a human being.

'Toota' means physically broken into pieces (like a glass). 'Kharaab' means it doesn't work (like a phone that won't turn on). If a chair has a broken leg, it is 'tooti hui'. If a computer has a software error, it is 'kharaab'.

You say 'Meri tabiyat kharaab hai'. This is the most natural way to express that you are feeling unwell in Hindi.

No, 'kharaab' is an invariant adjective. It stays the same for masculine, feminine, singular, and plural nouns. For example: 'kharaab ladka' and 'kharaab ladki'.

While it can imply moral corruption, 'bura' is the more common word for 'evil'. 'Kharaab' is more about being 'spoiled' or 'defective'.

It is a very common idiom meaning 'to annoy' or 'to irritate someone'. It literally translates to 'to spoil someone's brain'.

It is a neutral word used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal technical documents, you might see 'doshpurn' (defective) instead.

Yes, 'mausam kharaab hai' is the standard way to say the weather is bad, stormy, or unpleasant.

The most general opposite is 'achha' (good). For machines, 'theek' (fixed/working) is common. For food, 'taaza' (fresh) is the opposite of spoiled.

Yes, 'kharaab' is exactly the same in Urdu and is used in all the same contexts.