Im Kapitel
Connecting Your Thoughts
The Conjunction
Mastering 'kyonki' (cause) versus 'isliye' (effect) transforms your Hindi from simple statements to complex, flowing narratives.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use 'aur' to add, 'lekin' to contrast.
- 'Kyonki' gives a reason (because).
- 'Isliye' gives a result (therefore/so).
- Never drop 'ki' (that) like in English.
Quick Reference
| Hindi Word | English Meaning | Function | Example Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aur | And | Addition | Main **aur** tum (Me and you) |
| Lekin / Par | But | Contrast | Mehnga **lekin** badhiya (Expensive but great) |
| Ya | Or | Option | Aaj **ya** kal? (Today or tomorrow?) |
| Kyonki | Because | Reason | Main soya **kyonki** thaka tha (I slept because I was tired) |
| Isliye | So / Therefore | Result | Thaka tha **isliye** soya (Was tired so I slept) |
| Ki | That | Connector | Usne kaha **ki**... (He said that...) |
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 10Mujhe chai pasand hai, lekin coffee nahin.
I like tea, but not coffee.
Kya tum aaj aaoge ya kal?
Will you come today or tomorrow?
Main market gaya aur sabzi khareedi.
I went to the market and bought vegetables.
The 'Ki' Trap
Never confuse the conjunction `की` (`ki`) (that) with the possessive `की` (`ki`) (of). Pronunciation matters! Short click vs long stretch.
Isliye Shortcut
In very casual Hindi, you might hear people drop `isliye` and just use `तो` (`to`) (so/then) to connect results. "Paisa nahin tha, **to** main nahin gaya."
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use 'aur' to add, 'lekin' to contrast.
- 'Kyonki' gives a reason (because).
- 'Isliye' gives a result (therefore/so).
- Never drop 'ki' (that) like in English.
Overview
Think of conjunctions as the Super Glue of Hindi. Without them, your speech is just a choppy list of facts. "I woke up. I ate. I went to work." Boring, right? Conjunctions let you say, "I woke up and ate because I had to go to work." Suddenly, you have flow. You have style. In this guide, we're mastering the heavy hitters: और (aur) (and), लेकिन (lekin) (but), kyonki (because), isliye (so/therefore), and the trickster की (ki) (that). These are your bread and butter for B1 level conversations.
How This Grammar Works
Conjunctions join two words, two phrases, or two entire sentences together. In Hindi, they usually sit right in the middle of the action, just like in English. However, Hindi has a specific rhythm. Some conjunctions signal that a reason is coming (kyonki), while others signal a result is coming (isliye). Mastering this cause-and-effect swap is key to sounding like a local and not a translation bot.
Formation Pattern
- 1The placement is generally straightforward:
- 2Clause A + Conjunction + Clause B.
- 3Example:
मैं आया(Main aaya) (I came) +और(aur) (and) +वो गया(woh gaya) (he went). - 4The
की(Ki) Exception: - 5
की(Ki) (that) connects a thought/speech verb to what was said. - 6Pattern: Subject + Said/Thought +
की(ki) + The Statement. - 7Example:
उसने कहा(Usne kaha) (He said) +की(ki) (that) +वो ayega(woh ayega) (he will come).
When To Use It
और(Aur) (And): When adding information. "Chai aur biscuit." (Tea and biscuits).लेकिन(Lekin) /Magar/पर(Par) (But): When giving a contrast. "Sasta hai lekin achha hai." (It's cheap but good).Kyonki(Because): When explaining *why*. "Main khush hoon kyonki pizza aaya." (I'm happy because pizza arrived).Isliye(Therefore/So): When explaining the *result*. "Barish thi, isliye main nahin aaya." (It was raining, so I didn't come).की(Ki) (That): When reporting speech or thoughts. "Mujhe laga ki..." (I felt that...).
When Not To Use It
- Don't use
और(aur) to start every single sentence. It's a common nervous habit! If you start 5 sentences in a row withऔर(aur), you sound like a breathless toddler telling a story. - Don't use
की(ki) (short 'i', connective) when you meanकी(ki) (long 'i', possessive 'of'). The spelling is similar, but the function is totally different. We'll cover this in the mistakes section.
Common Mistakes
- The
की(Ki) vsकी(Ki) Disaster: This is the #1 error. की(Ki) (connective 'that') has a short sound (towards the left in Devanagari).की(Ki) (possessive 'of' for feminine objects) has a long sound (towards the right).- *Wrong:*
उसने कहा ki (long) बात suno.(Usne kaha ki (long) baat suno.) - *Right:*
उसने कहा ki (short) बात suno.(Usne kaha ki (short) baat suno.) - Mixing up Cause and Effect: Using
kyonki(because) when you meanisliye(so). - *Wrong:* "I was hungry, because I ate." (Wait, what?)
- *Right:* "I was hungry, so (
isliye) I ate." - Over-formalizing: Using
tathaorevamfor "and" in casual chat. Save those for your PhD thesis or a wedding invitation. Stick toऔर(aur).
Contrast With Similar Patterns
लेकिन(Lekin) vs.पर(Par): Both mean "but".लेकिन(Lekin) is the standard reliable choice.पर(Par) is shorter, punchier, and very common in spoken Hindi.Magaris a bit more dramatic or literary (think Bollywood dialogue), but still used.- English "That" vs. Hindi
की(Ki): In English, we often drop "that" ("I think [that] he is nice"). In Hindi, you cannot drop theकी(ki). You must sayमुझे lagta है ki वो achha है(Mujhe lagta hai ki woh achha hai).
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can I start a sentence with
Kyonki? - A: In conversation? Absolutely. "Why are you late?" "Kyonki traffic tha."
- Q: Is
या(ya) the same as "yeah"? - A: No!
या(Ya) means "or". "Chai ya coffee?" - Q: How do I pronounce
kyonki? - A: Many locals slur it to "kyunki". Both are understood, but stick to the spelling first.
Reference Table
| Hindi Word | English Meaning | Function | Example Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aur | And | Addition | Main **aur** tum (Me and you) |
| Lekin / Par | But | Contrast | Mehnga **lekin** badhiya (Expensive but great) |
| Ya | Or | Option | Aaj **ya** kal? (Today or tomorrow?) |
| Kyonki | Because | Reason | Main soya **kyonki** thaka tha (I slept because I was tired) |
| Isliye | So / Therefore | Result | Thaka tha **isliye** soya (Was tired so I slept) |
| Ki | That | Connector | Usne kaha **ki**... (He said that...) |
The 'Ki' Trap
Never confuse the conjunction `की` (`ki`) (that) with the possessive `की` (`ki`) (of). Pronunciation matters! Short click vs long stretch.
Isliye Shortcut
In very casual Hindi, you might hear people drop `isliye` and just use `तो` (`to`) (so/then) to connect results. "Paisa nahin tha, **to** main nahin gaya."
Drama Kings
You'll hear `magar` often in songs and movies. It carries a bit more emotional weight than `लेकिन` (`lekin`), like a dramatic pause.
Sentence Length
Hindi speakers love long sentences connected by `और` (`aur`). Don't be afraid to chain 3-4 actions together. It's not considered 'run-on' like in English writing.
Beispiele
10Mujhe chai pasand hai, lekin coffee nahin.
Focus: लेकिन (lekin)
I like tea, but not coffee.
Standard contrast usage.
Kya tum aaj aaoge ya kal?
Focus: या (ya)
Will you come today or tomorrow?
Giving choices.
Main market gaya aur sabzi khareedi.
Focus: और (aur)
I went to the market and bought vegetables.
Connecting two actions.
Usne mujhe bataya ki woh beemar hai.
Focus: की (ki)
He told me that he is sick.
Don't drop the 'ki'!
Bahar barish hai, isliye main ghar par hoon.
Focus: isliye
It's raining outside, so I am at home.
Showing the result/effect.
Main ghar par hoon kyonki bahar barish hai.
Focus: kyonki
I am at home because it's raining outside.
Showing the cause/reason.
Gari purani hai magar chalti hai.
Focus: magar
The car is old but it runs.
'Magar' adds a slightly dramatic flair compared to 'lekin'.
✓ Maine socha ki main pass ho jaunga.
Focus: की (ki)
I thought (that) I would pass.
Correction: Missing 'ki' is a common error for English speakers.
✓ Main late tha kyonki traffic bahut tha.
Focus: kyonki
I was late because there was a lot of traffic.
Correction: 'Kyonki' usually needs a full clause after it, not just a noun.
Chahe tum aao ya na aao, main jaunga.
Focus: या (ya)
Whether you come or not, I will go.
Advanced: Using 'Chahe... ya' (Whether... or).
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct conjunction to show the result.
मुझे bhookh लगी thi, ___ maine खाना khaya. (Mujhe bhookh lagi thi, ___ maine khana khaya.)
You are stating the result (eating) of the hunger, so you use 'isliye' (so).
Connect these contrasting ideas.
हिन्दी मुश्किल hai, ___ मज़ेदार hai. (Hindi mushkil hai, ___ mazedaar hai.)
You are contrasting 'difficult' with 'fun', so 'lekin' (but) is the best fit.
Select the connector for reported speech.
papa ne कहा ___ आज chutti hai. (Papa ne kaha ___ aaj chutti hai.)
To connect 'Papa said' with what he said, use 'ki' (that).
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Cause vs. Effect
Choosing 'But'
Is it a formal writing?
Is it standard speech/text?
Do you want to be safe?
Use 'Lekin'
The Many Faces of 'Or'
Choice
- • Ya (This or That)
- • Athva (Formal Or)
Condition
- • Varna (Otherwise/Or else)
- • Nahin to (Or else)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
21 Fragenऔर (Aur) is what you use 99% of the time. Tatha is extremely formal, mostly found in religious texts or government documents.
Yes, especially when answering a question. "Why did you do it?" "Kyonki mujhe pasand hai." (Because I like it).
Good catch! Yes, पर (par) means "on" (meze par = on the table) AND "but". Context tells you which is which. If it connects sentences, it's "but".
In writing, yes, it helps clarity. In speaking, just a short pause works wonders.
Varna means "otherwise" or "or else". "Padhai karo, varna fail ho jaoge." (Study, or else you'll fail).
Yes, Hinglish (Hindi+English) is very common in cities. You will hear "Main late tha **so** maine taxi li." But for learning proper Hindi, stick to isliye.
Use Haalaanki. It's a bit advanced. "Haalaanki woh bimar tha, phir bhi aya." (Although he was sick, still he came).
Yes, the conjunction की (ki) is quick. If you drag it out to 'keee', it sounds like the possessive marker.
Usually a full new clause. "Usne kaha की (ki) [woh ayega]."
Yes! और (Aur) implies addition. "Ek और (aur) roti dena" (Give one **more** bread).
Balki means "rather" or "in fact". It's used to correct a previous statement. "Woh bura nahin, balki achha hai."
Use या to... या (Ya to... ya). "या तो (Ya to) yeh lo या (ya) woh lo." (Either take this or take that).
Use ना to... ना (Na to... na). "ना तो (Na to) main gaya ना (na) woh." (Neither I went nor he).
No. Like tatha, evam is very formal Sanskritized Hindi. Avoid it in daily chat.
Yes, तो (to) often acts as "then" or "so". "Agar tum aaoge, तो (to) main chalunga." (If you come, **then** I will go).
You can structure it as a result. Instead of "I ate because I was hungry", say "I was hungry so (isliye) I ate".
No! This is the best news. Conjunctions never change based on gender or number. और (Aur) is always और (aur).
Yes, और (Aur) can start a sentence to continue a story. "और (Aur) phir kya hua?" (And then what happened?).
Chunki means "since" or "as" and is slightly more formal. It usually starts the sentence. "Chunki barish thi..."
Use jaise ही (Jaise hi). "jaise ही (Jaise hi) main aya..." (As soon as I came...).
Atah is a formal synonym found in books, but isliye is the king of conversation.
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