क़र्ज़ in 30 Seconds
- Karz means debt or loan in Hindi.
- It is a masculine noun used for formal or heavy financial obligations.
- Common verbs used with it are 'lena' (take), 'dena' (give), and 'chukana' (repay).
- It carries a strong cultural and emotional weight in India.
The word क़र्ज़ (Karz) is a masculine noun of Arabic origin that has become deeply embedded in the Hindi and Urdu languages. At its most fundamental level, it refers to money, goods, or services that are borrowed by one party from another with the expectation that they will be paid back, usually with interest. However, in the socio-cultural fabric of India, क़र्ज़ is more than just a financial transaction; it is often viewed as a heavy moral and psychological burden. The term encompasses everything from a small loan between friends to massive national deficits or corporate liabilities. Understanding this word requires looking beyond the ledger and into the emotional weight it carries in daily life.
- Financial Context
- A formal agreement where a lender provides capital to a borrower.
- Metaphorical Context
- A sense of obligation or gratitude, such as 'the debt of one's mother's milk' (maa ka karz).
- Legal Context
- A liability that is enforceable by law.
"इंसान को कभी अपनी चादर से बाहर पैर नहीं फैलाने चाहिए, वरना क़र्ज़ में डूबने का डर रहता है।" (A person should never stretch their legs beyond their blanket, or they risk drowning in debt.)
Historically, the concept of debt in the Indian subcontinent has been fraught with complexity. In rural settings, the 'Sahukar' or moneylender was a central figure, and the cycle of क़र्ज़ often passed from father to son, creating a generational trap. This has led to the word carrying a somewhat negative or ominous connotation in literature and cinema. When someone says they are in 'karz', it usually implies a state of stress rather than a strategic financial move. Even though modern banking has changed the mechanics, the linguistic weight remains heavy. To be 'Karz-dar' (a debtor) is often seen as a position of vulnerability.
बैंक ने मेरा क़र्ज़ माफ़ कर दिया। (The bank forgave my debt.)
In contemporary Hindi, the word is used in news headlines daily, particularly concerning 'Kisan Karz Maafi' (Farmer Debt Waiver). It is a politically charged word. Furthermore, the spiritual or emotional use of the word is significant. One might say, "Mujh par aapka bahut karz hai" (I owe you a lot), not meaning money, but referring to a favor or kindness that can never truly be repaid. This duality makes it one of the most versatile and essential words for a B1 learner to master.
देश पर विदेशी क़र्ज़ बढ़ता जा रहा है। (The foreign debt on the country is increasing.)
क्या तुमने अपना क़र्ज़ चुका दिया? (Did you pay off your debt?)
बिना क़र्ज़ के जीना सबसे बड़ी खुशी है। (Living without debt is the greatest happiness.)
Using क़र्ज़ correctly involves pairing it with specific verbs that define the action being taken with the debt. Because it is a masculine noun, any adjectives or verbs associated with it must agree in gender. For example, 'Bada Karz' (Big debt) or 'Karz chukaya gaya' (Debt was paid). The most common verbs used are लेना (to take), देना (to give), and चुकाना (to repay).
- Karz Lena (To borrow)
- Used when you are the one receiving the money. Example: 'Maine bank se karz liya.'
- Karz Chukana (To repay)
- The act of finishing the debt. Example: 'Usne saara karz chuka diya.'
- Karz Mein Doobna (To be drowned in debt)
- An idiom meaning to have overwhelming debt.
When you want to describe someone who owes money, you use the suffix '-dar' to create क़र्ज़दार (Karzdar). Interestingly, the person who gives the loan is often called a 'Lenden-dar' or simply 'Bank' in modern contexts. In formal Hindi, you might encounter the word 'Rin' (ऋण), which is the Sanskrit-derived synonym. While 'Karz' is common in spoken Hindi and Urdu-heavy contexts, 'Rin' is used in official government documents and high-level academic writing. As a learner, sticking to 'Karz' for daily conversation is safer and sounds more natural.
Another important aspect is the preposition usage. We use पर (on) when talking about debt being 'on' someone. "Mujh par karz hai" literally translates to "Debt is on me," meaning "I am in debt." If you use का (of), it usually refers to the source or the type: "Ghar ka karz" (Home loan/debt). Mastering these small nuances will make your Hindi sound much more authentic and sophisticated.
You will encounter क़र्ज़ in a variety of settings, ranging from the highly formal to the deeply personal. In the financial world, it is the bread and butter of banking discussions. If you walk into an Indian bank, you will see posters for 'Home Loan', but the staff and customers will frequently use the word 'Karz' or 'Loan' interchangeably. On news channels like NDTV India or Aaj Tak, 'Karz' is a constant keyword in debates about the economy, inflation, and government spending.
"सरकार ने किसानों का क़र्ज़ माफ़ करने का वादा किया है।" (The government has promised to waive the farmers' debt.)
In Bollywood, the word is iconic. There is a very famous 1980 film titled Karz, starring Rishi Kapoor, which deals with themes of reincarnation and 'repaying' a debt from a past life. This highlights the metaphorical use of the word—repaying a debt of blood, love, or revenge. You will hear it in songs where the lover says they are 'indebted' to the beauty of their beloved. In daily life, it's heard in hushed tones during family discussions about buying a house or a car, or more urgently when someone is asking for a personal favor.
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing क़र्ज़ (Karz) with उधार (Udhaar). While they both translate to 'debt' or 'credit' in English, their usage is distinct. 'Udhaar' is typically used for small, informal borrowing—like borrowing 100 rupees from a friend or buying groceries on credit from a local shop. 'Karz' is more formal, larger in scale, and often involves interest. You wouldn't usually say you took a 'Karz' of a pen from a classmate; that would be 'Udhaar'.
- Wrong Gender
- Saying 'Badi karz' instead of 'Bada karz'.
- Confusing with 'Karch'
- Learners often confuse 'Karz' (debt) with 'Kharch' (expense). They sound similar but are opposites in a financial flow!
Another mistake is using the wrong verb for 'repaying'. Many learners try to use 'Wapas dena' (to give back). While understandable, the specific and more natural term is 'Chukana'. If you say "Maine karz wapas diya," it sounds okay, but "Maine karz chuka diya" sounds like a native speaker. Additionally, be careful with the pronunciation of the 'z' (ज़) sound. It is a voiced alveolar sibilant, like the 'z' in 'zebra'. Pronouncing it as 'j' (Karj) is common in some dialects but is considered incorrect in standard Hindi/Urdu.
To truly master the vocabulary of obligation, you should know the synonyms and related terms for क़र्ज़. The most formal synonym is ऋण (Rin). This is a pure Sanskrit word. You will see it on tax forms, in textbooks, and in formal speeches. Another related term is देयता (Deyta), which means 'liability' in a legal or accounting sense. If you are talking about a specific 'loan' from a bank, the word ऋण or simply the English लोन (Loan) is very common.
- उधार (Udhaar)
- Informal credit or borrowing.
- बकाया (Bakaya)
- Outstanding balance or arrears.
- किस्त (Kist)
- Installment (EMI).
On the opposite side, we have जमा (Jama) which means deposit or savings, and बचत (Bachat) which means savings. Understanding these words as a cluster helps you navigate financial conversations in Hindi. For example, you might use your 'Bachat' to pay off your 'Karz'. Or you might have 'Bakaya' (dues) on your 'Kist' (installment). Knowing these nuances allows for much more precise communication.
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Masculine noun agreement
Compound verbs with 'Karna'
Use of 'Par' for possession of debt
Oblique case for plural nouns
Suffix '-dar' for professions/states
Examples by Level
मेरे पास थोड़ा क़र्ज़ है।
I have a little debt.
Masculine singular noun.
क्या यह आपका क़र्ज़ है?
Is this your debt?
Use of 'aapka' for masculine possession.
मुझे क़र्ज़ नहीं चाहिए।
I don't want a loan.
Simple negation.
राम पर क़र्ज़ है।
Ram is in debt.
Use of 'par' (on) to indicate owing.
यह बड़ा क़र्ज़ है।
This is a big debt.
Adjective 'bada' agrees with masculine 'karz'.
क़र्ज़ बुरा होता है।
Debt is bad.
General statement.
उसका क़र्ज़ कितना है?
How much is his debt?
Interrogative 'kitna'.
पापा ने क़र्ज़ लिया।
Father took a loan.
Past tense of 'lena'.
मैंने बैंक से क़र्ज़ लिया है।
I have taken a loan from the bank.
Present perfect tense.
वह अपना क़र्ज़ चुकाना चाहता है।
He wants to repay his debt.
Infinitive 'chukana'.
क्या तुम क़र्ज़दार हो?
Are you a debtor?
Suffix '-dar' creates a person noun.
मेरे दोस्त ने मुझे क़र्ज़ दिया।
My friend gave me a loan.
Subject 'dost' with 'ne'.
गाड़ी के लिए क़र्ज़ ज़रूरी है।
A loan is necessary for the car.
Use of 'ke liye' (for).
क़र्ज़ वापस करना मुश्किल है।
Returning the debt is difficult.
Gerundial use of 'karna'.
उसने सारा क़र्ज़ दे दिया।
He gave back all the debt.
Use of 'sara' (all).
बिना क़र्ज़ के घर खरीदो।
Buy a house without a loan.
Use of 'bina' (without).
ज़्यादा क़र्ज़ लेना खतरनाक हो सकता है।
Taking too much debt can be dangerous.
Modal 'sakta hai'.
सरकार ने किसानों का क़र्ज़ माफ़ कर दिया।
The government waived the farmers' debt.
Compound verb 'maaf karna'.
मुझ पर आपकी दया का क़र्ज़ है।
I owe a debt of your kindness.
Metaphorical usage.
क़र्ज़ की किश्तें समय पर भरनी चाहिए।
Debt installments should be paid on time.
Use of 'chahiye' for obligation.
वह क़र्ज़ के जाल में फँस गया है।
He is caught in a debt trap.
Idiomatic 'jaal mein fansna'.
क्या आप क़र्ज़ मुक्त होना चाहते हैं?
Do you want to be debt-free?
Compound word 'karz-mukt'.
शिक्षा के लिए क़र्ज़ लेना आम बात है।
Taking a loan for education is a common thing.
Abstract noun phrase.
उसने क़र्ज़ चुकाने के लिए अपनी ज़मीन बेच दी।
He sold his land to repay the debt.
Purpose clause with 'ke liye'.
देश की अर्थव्यवस्था भारी क़र्ज़ के नीचे दबी है।
The country's economy is buried under heavy debt.
Passive-like state description.
क़र्ज़ लेने से पहले ब्याज दर की जाँच करें।
Check the interest rate before taking a loan.
Prepositional phrase 'se pehle'.
उसकी बातों में सच्चाई का क़र्ज़ नज़र आता है।
A debt of truth is visible in his words.
Advanced metaphorical use.
बढ़ता हुआ क़र्ज़ विकास में बाधा डालता है।
Increasing debt creates obstacles in development.
Participle 'badhta hua' as adjective.
क्या यह क़र्ज़ व्यक्तिगत है या व्यावसायिक?
Is this debt personal or professional?
Formal adjectives.
क़र्ज़ वसूली के नियम अब और सख्त हो गए हैं।
Debt recovery rules have now become stricter.
Noun compounding 'karz vasuli'.
उसने अपने माता-पिता का क़र्ज़ उतारने की कसम खाई।
He swore to repay his parents' debt.
Verb 'utarna' used for clearing debt.
विदेशी क़र्ज़ के कारण महंगाई बढ़ रही है।
Inflation is rising due to foreign debt.
Causal 'ke kaaran'.
क़र्ज़ की संस्कृति ने समाज के नैतिक मूल्यों को प्रभावित किया है।
The culture of debt has influenced the moral values of society.
Complex subject-object relationship.
लेखक ने अपनी पुस्तक में 'क़र्ज़' को एक सामाजिक अभिशाप बताया है।
The author described 'debt' as a social curse in his book.
Reporting speech/ideas.
अत्यधिक क़र्ज़ लेने की प्रवृत्ति मानसिक तनाव का मुख्य कारण है।
The tendency to take excessive debt is a major cause of mental stress.
Gerundial subject 'lene ki pravritti'.
क़र्ज़ और ब्याज के इस चक्र से निकलना नामुमकिन सा लगता है।
Escaping this cycle of debt and interest seems almost impossible.
Use of 'sa' for approximation.
कॉर्पोरेट क़र्ज़ की पुनर्संरचना एक जटिल प्रक्रिया है।
Restructuring corporate debt is a complex process.
Technical vocabulary 'punarsanrachna'.
उसने अपनी पूरी ज़िंदगी दूसरों का क़र्ज़ चुकाने में बिता दी।
He spent his whole life repaying others' debts.
Time duration with 'mein bita di'.
क्या क़र्ज़ माफ़ी वास्तव में किसानों की समस्याओं का समाधान है?
Is debt waiver really the solution to farmers' problems?
Rhetorical question structure.
क़र्ज़ की अदायगी न करना कानूनी अपराध की श्रेणी में आता है।
Non-payment of debt falls under the category of a legal offense.
Formal 'adayagi' (payment).
क़र्ज़ का बोझ केवल आर्थिक नहीं, बल्कि मनोवैज्ञानिक भी होता है।
The burden of debt is not just economic, but psychological as well.
Correlative conjunction 'keval... balki'.
वैश्विक ऋण संकट ने क़र्ज़ की परिभाषा को ही बदल कर रख दिया है।
The global debt crisis has completely changed the very definition of debt.
Emphatic 'hi' and compound verb.
उसकी कविताओं में 'क़र्ज़' अस्तित्व की विवशता का प्रतीक बनकर उभरता है।
In his poems, 'debt' emerges as a symbol of the helplessness of existence.
Literary analysis style.
ऋणग्रस्तता की यह स्थिति विकासशील देशों के लिए एक गंभीर चुनौती है।
This state of indebtedness is a serious challenge for developing nations.
High-level Sanskritized Hindi 'ringrastata'.
क़र्ज़ के लेन-देन में पारदर्शिता का अभाव भ्रष्टाचार को जन्म देता है।
Lack of transparency in debt transactions gives rise to corruption.
Abstract causal link.
संप्रभु ऋण (Sovereign Debt) का प्रबंधन किसी भी राष्ट्र की संप्रभुता से जुड़ा होता है।
The management of sovereign debt is linked to the sovereignty of any nation.
Technical political-economic term.
क़र्ज़ की अदायगी में चूक होने पर संपत्ति की कुर्की की जा सकती है।
In case of default in debt payment, the property can be attached/seized.
Legal terminology 'kurki'.
मानवीय संबंधों में 'क़र्ज़' का विचार अक्सर कृतज्ञता और विवशता के बीच झूलता है।
In human relations, the idea of 'debt' often swings between gratitude and helplessness.
Philosophical nuance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sanskrit origin, more formal.
Informal, often interest-free.
The installment, not the whole debt.
The remaining amount.
The interest on the debt.
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Karz is often used for money, while Udhaar is used for things and money.
Karz is standard; Rin is high-formal.
-
Karz is masculine.
-
'Dena' means to lend; 'chukana' means to repay.
-
The 'z' sound is standard.
-
Kharch means expense, Karz means loan.
-
Udhaar is too informal for a bank.
Tips
Gender Check
Always treat Karz as masculine. 'Mera karz' is correct, 'Meri karz' is wrong.
Formal vs Informal
Use 'Loan' in modern offices, 'Karz' in general conversation, and 'Rin' in writing.
The Z sound
Practice the 'z' in Karz. It’s a buzz, not a 'j' sound.
Emotional Debt
Don't be surprised if someone says they owe you a 'karz' for a small favor; it's a sign of deep respect.
Compound Verbs
Pair Karz with 'chukana' for a more native feel when talking about repayment.
News Keywords
When you hear 'Kisan' (farmer) in the news, 'Karz' is likely to follow.
Prepositions
Use 'par' to say someone is in debt: 'Us par karz hai'.
Drowning in Debt
Use 'Karz mein doobna' to describe a very bad financial situation.
Borrowing
In India, asking for 'Udhaar' is common, but admitting to 'Karz' is more private.
Synonym practice
Try replacing 'Karz' with 'Rin' in formal sentences to see how the tone changes.
Memorize It
Word Origin
Arabic
Cultural Context
The movie 'Karz' (1980) is a cult classic.
Farmer suicides due to 'Karz' is a major socio-political issue in India.
During Diwali, it is traditional to clear all debts to start the new year with a clean slate.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"क्या आपने कभी बैंक से क़र्ज़ लिया है?"
"आपके देश में क़र्ज़ लेना अच्छा माना जाता है या बुरा?"
"अगर सरकार सारा क़र्ज़ माफ़ कर दे, तो क्या होगा?"
"क्या आप क़र्ज़ मुक्त जीवन जीना पसंद करते हैं?"
"शिक्षा के लिए क़र्ज़ लेना कितना सही है?"
Journal Prompts
मेरे जीवन का सबसे बड़ा क़र्ज़ (वित्तीय या भावनात्मक) क्या है?
क़र्ज़ मुक्त होने के लिए मेरी क्या योजना है?
क्या हमें दूसरों को क़र्ज़ देना चाहिए?
एक ऐसी कहानी लिखें जहाँ नायक क़र्ज़ के कारण मुश्किल में है।
क्या क़र्ज़ के बिना आधुनिक दुनिया चल सकती है?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is a masculine noun. You should use masculine adjectives and verbs with it, such as 'bada karz' or 'karz liya'.
Karz is usually a formal loan with interest, while Udhaar is informal borrowing, often between friends or at a local shop.
You can say 'Karz-mukt' (क़र्ज़-मुक्त). 'Mukt' means free.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically. For example, 'Mujh par aapka karz hai' means 'I am indebted to you for your kindness'.
The formal, Sanskrit-derived word is 'Rin' (ऋण).
In standard Hindi, it should be 'Karz' with a 'z' sound. 'Karj' is a common dialectal variation but less formal.
The phrase is 'Karz maaf karna' (क़र्ज़ माफ़ करना).
A debtor is called a 'Karzdar' (क़र्ज़दार).
Mostly yes, but in literature and songs, it can mean a moral or emotional obligation.
Yes, it is a very common word in Urdu and is used in the exact same way.
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Summary
Karz is the essential Hindi word for debt. While 'Udhaar' is for small favors, 'Karz' is for significant loans. It is masculine, so use 'Mera Karz' and 'Karz chukaya'. Culturally, it often implies a heavy burden.
- Karz means debt or loan in Hindi.
- It is a masculine noun used for formal or heavy financial obligations.
- Common verbs used with it are 'lena' (take), 'dena' (give), and 'chukana' (repay).
- It carries a strong cultural and emotional weight in India.
Gender Check
Always treat Karz as masculine. 'Mera karz' is correct, 'Meri karz' is wrong.
Formal vs Informal
Use 'Loan' in modern offices, 'Karz' in general conversation, and 'Rin' in writing.
The Z sound
Practice the 'z' in Karz. It’s a buzz, not a 'j' sound.
Emotional Debt
Don't be surprised if someone says they owe you a 'karz' for a small favor; it's a sign of deep respect.
Example
उस पर बहुत ज़्यादा क़र्ज़ है।
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