रिव्यू पढ़ लो

You use this phrase when someone is undecided. Maybe your friend wants to buy a new phone. Perhaps they are looking at a new restaurant. You are giving them a piece of practical advice. It is very versatile because 'review' is used universally in India now. You don't need a complex vocabulary to sound like a local here. Just drop this phrase and you'll sound like a savvy shopper.

Use it during online shopping marathons. Use it when picking a movie on Netflix. It’s perfect for travel planning too. If you're at a mall and your sibling wants an expensive pair of shoes, say it. It works best in casual conversations. It shows you care about their money and experience. It’s the ultimate 'I told you so' prevention tool.

Don't use this with your boss in a very formal meeting. It might sound a bit too casual or dismissive. Avoid using it for deeply personal decisions. You wouldn't tell someone to 'read reviews' about a potential spouse! Also, if someone is already upset about a bad purchase, saying this might feel like salt on the wound. Use it for products and services, not people.

India has a massive 'value-for-money' culture. We love a good deal, but we hate being cheated. Before the internet, we relied on 'word of mouth' or लोग क्या कहेंगे (what will people say). Now, that has shifted to Google and Amazon reviews. The use of the English word 'review' shows how deeply tech has integrated into Hindi. Even in small towns, people know what a 'review' is.

If you want to be more polite, say रिव्यू पढ़ लीजिए (Review padh lijiye). For a very close friend, you can say रिव्यू पढ़ ले (Review padh le). If you want to emphasize the importance, try पहले रिव्यू पढ़ लो (Read the reviews first). You can also swap 'read' for 'check' by saying रिव्यू चेक कर लो (Review check kar lo). All of these are used daily in modern India.