In chapter
Adding Nuance with Compound Verbs
Compound Verb बैठ
Use the helper verb `बैठ` to turn a normal action into a mistake, a regret, or something done without thinking.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Adds meaning of regret or mistake
- Indicates rash or sudden actions
- Main verb root + conjugated बैठना
- Usually removes 'ne' in past tense
Quick Reference
| Subject | Main Verb (Root) | Helper (बैठना) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| मैं (Main) | खो (lose) | बैठा (Past M) | I lost (it) rashly/regretfully |
| वह (He) | कर (do) | बैठा (Past M) | He did (it) by mistake |
| हम (We) | लड़ (fight) | बैठे (Past M) | We ended up fighting |
| तू (You) | बोल (speak) | बैठेगा (Fut M) | You will blurt it out |
| वे (They) | गँवा (waste) | बैठे (Past M) | They wasted (it) foolishly |
Key Examples
3 of 9Vah gusse mein sab kuch bata baitha.
In anger, he blurted out everything.
Main apna keemti samay barbad kar baitha.
I ended up wasting my precious time (and I regret it).
Anjaane mein vah bahut badi galti kar baithi.
Unknowingly, she made a huge mistake.
The 'Ne' Eraser
This is the biggest grammar trap. 'Baithna' is a strong intransitive verb. It acts like an eraser for the word 'ne'. Even if you 'did' (karna) something, if you 'kar baithe', the 'ne' disappears!
Bollywood Drama
You'll hear this constantly in sad songs. 'Dil de baithe' (I gave my heart away... and now I'm suffering). It adds that perfect touch of tragic destiny.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Adds meaning of regret or mistake
- Indicates rash or sudden actions
- Main verb root + conjugated बैठना
- Usually removes 'ne' in past tense
Overview
Ever done something and immediately thought, "Oh no, why did I do that?" Maybe you accidentally told a secret, bought something way too expensive, or started a fight you didn't mean to? In Hindi, we have a specific grammar tool just for these "oops" moments. It’s the compound verb using बैठ (baiṭh). While बैठना literally means "to sit," when it joins another verb as a helper, it adds a flavor of regret, mistake, or impulsiveness. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a facepalm.
How This Grammar Works
Think of बैठ as a filter you apply to an action. It doesn't change *what* happened, but it tells the listener *how* you feel about it. It suggests the action was:
- Unintentional or involuntary
- Done rashly without thinking
- Something you now regret
- Often final and irreversible
It turns a neutral statement like "I lost my phone" into the dramatic "I went and lost my phone (and I feel terrible about it)!"
Formation Pattern
- 1The structure is super simple, just like other compound verbs in Hindi.
- 2Take the root of the main verb (e.g.,
करfromकरना,बोलfromबोलना). - 3Add the conjugated form of
बैठना(to sit) according to the tense and subject. - 4Formula: [Main Verb Root] + [Conjugated
बैठना] - 5Examples:
- 6
कर+बैठा=कर बैठा(did [rashly]) - 7
खो+बैठे=खो बैठे(lost [regretfully])
When To Use It
Use this pattern when things go wrong.
- Accidents: You broke a vase. (
तोड़ बैठा) - Social Blunders: You laughed at a funeral. (
हँस बैठा) - Romantic Dramas: You lost your heart to someone. (
दिल दे बैठा- yes, Bollywood loves this one!) - Arguments: You said something mean in anger. (
कह बैठा)
When Not To Use It
Don't use बैठ for achievements or things you are proud of. If you studied hard and passed an exam, you wouldn't say "मैं पास हो बैठा" because that sounds like you passed by mistake and regret it! Also, avoid it for planned, deliberate actions unless you want to sound ironic.
Common Mistakes
1. The "Ne" Trap (The Big One!)
This is the tricky part. Usually, past tense transitive verbs (like करना) require ने (usne kiya). BUT, because बैठना is an intransitive helper, the whole compound often acts intransitive. So, you drop the ने.
- Wrong:
उसने गलती कर बैठी✗ - Correct:
वह गलती कर बैठा✓ (He made a mistake).
2. Translating "Sat" Literally
Don't confuse पढ़ बैठा (read rashly/regrettably) with पढ़कर बैठा (sat after reading). Context is key, but usually, if there's no "kar," it's the compound verb.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
लेना(lena): Focuses on completing an action for oneself.पढ़ लेना(read it for yourself). Positive/Neutral.देना(dena): Focuses on doing something for others or outward.बता देना(tell someone). Positive/Neutral.बैठना(baithna): Focuses on foolishness, suddenness, or regret.लड़ बैठना(quarrel foolishly). Negative/Regretful.
Quick FAQ
Q: Can I use it in the future tense?
Yes! "अगर तुम ऐसा करोगे, तो मुसीबत मोल ले बैठोगे" (If you do this, you will end up buying trouble).
Q: Is it slang?
Not at all. It's standard Hindi, used in literature, news, and daily chat. But it is expressive!
Reference Table
| Subject | Main Verb (Root) | Helper (बैठना) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| मैं (Main) | खो (lose) | बैठा (Past M) | I lost (it) rashly/regretfully |
| वह (He) | कर (do) | बैठा (Past M) | He did (it) by mistake |
| हम (We) | लड़ (fight) | बैठे (Past M) | We ended up fighting |
| तू (You) | बोल (speak) | बैठेगा (Fut M) | You will blurt it out |
| वे (They) | गँवा (waste) | बैठे (Past M) | They wasted (it) foolishly |
The 'Ne' Eraser
This is the biggest grammar trap. 'Baithna' is a strong intransitive verb. It acts like an eraser for the word 'ne'. Even if you 'did' (karna) something, if you 'kar baithe', the 'ne' disappears!
Bollywood Drama
You'll hear this constantly in sad songs. 'Dil de baithe' (I gave my heart away... and now I'm suffering). It adds that perfect touch of tragic destiny.
Don't Overdo It
Use it only when the regret is real. If you use it for every small mistake, you'll sound like a drama queen/king. Save it for when you really messed up.
Not Literally Sitting
If you hear 'woh kar baitha', don't look for a chair. There is no sitting involved. It's metaphorical 'sitting'—like the action 'settled' heavily upon you.
Examples
9Vah gusse mein sab kuch bata baitha.
Focus: बता बैठा
In anger, he blurted out everything.
Notice 'Vah' (He) is used, not 'Usne', because of the compound.
Main apna keemti samay barbad kar baitha.
Focus: कर बैठा
I ended up wasting my precious time (and I regret it).
Shows clear regret over an action.
Anjaane mein vah bahut badi galti kar baithi.
Focus: कर बैठी
Unknowingly, she made a huge mistake.
Feminine subject 'vah' -> 'baithi'.
Tum phir se vahi bevakoofi kar baithoge.
Focus: कर बैठोगे
You will go and do the same stupidity again.
Future tense prediction of a rash action.
Hamein dar tha ki vah police ko bula baithega.
Focus: बुला बैठेगा
We were afraid that he would rashly call the police.
Shows fear of an impulsive action.
Usne yeh baat kah baithi.
Focus: कह बैठी
Incorrect usage of 'ne'.
Correction: 'वह यह बात कह बैठी' (She blurted this out).
Ve chhoti si baat par lad baithe.
Focus: लड़ बैठे
They got into a fight over a small matter.
Common phrase 'lad baithna' (to quarrel rashly).
Dil to pagal hai... lekin yeh kya kar baitha?
Focus: कर बैठा
The heart is crazy... but what has it gone and done?
Often used in songs for helplessness in love.
Main pass ho baitha.
Focus: हो बैठा
I passed regretfully.
Correction: Don't use for positive achievements unless ironic.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form to express a regrettable mistake.
अरे नहीं! मैं अपना पर्स घर पर ही ___ बैठा। (Oh no! I went and left my purse at home.)
'भूल बैठा' implies forgetting something important with regret. 'छोड़' (leave) is also grammatically possible, but 'forget' fits the context of 'Oh no!' slightly better as a mental slip.
Select the correct pronoun for this sentence.
___ गुस्से में उसे थप्पड़ मार बैठा। (He slapped him in anger.)
Even though 'maarna' (to hit) is transitive, the compound 'maar baithna' acts intransitive, so we use the nominative 'वह' (Vah), not the ergative 'उसने' (Usne).
Complete the sentence with the correct future form.
अगर तुम ध्यान नहीं दोगे, तो एक्सीडेंट ___ बैठोगे। (If you don't pay attention, you will cause an accident.)
You need 'do' (an accident). 'kar baithoge' means you will rashly commit an accident.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Normal vs. Regretful Action
Should I use 'Baithna'?
Did the action happen?
Was it done on purpose/happily?
Do you regret it or was it impulsive?
Common Verbs with Baithna
Speech
- • कह बैठना
- • बोल बैठना
- • बता बैठना
Action
- • कर बैठना
- • लड़ बैठना
- • मार बैठना
Loss
- • खो बैठना
- • गँवा बैठना
- • दे बैठना
Frequently Asked Questions
21 questionskar diya is neutral or beneficial—you finished the job. kar baitha implies you did it by mistake, rashly, or you regret doing it.
Technically yes, but it sounds weird with positive verbs. jeet baitha (won regretfully?) implies you didn't want to win. It works best with neutral or negative verbs like kho (lose), tod (break), bol (speak).
Yes, baithna conjugates according to the subject. If a girl speaks, she says main kar baithi. If a boy, main kar baitha.
Because compound verbs follow the nature of the *helper* verb. Since baithna (to sit) is intransitive (doesn't take an object), the whole compound becomes intransitive, so ne is dropped.
It fits both. You can use it in a formal apology: main galti kar baitha (I made a mistake), or in casual chat: main phone tod baitha.
You can say main use tod baitha. It captures the 'accidentally' part without needing a separate word for 'accidentally'.
Yes! Main uska naam bhool baitha (I completely forgot his name—darn it!). It adds emphasis to the forgetting.
Hindi speakers usually don't use baith for happy accidents. We use padna or just ho gaya. Baith usually implies a negative 'oops'.
No, Hindi has many! Jana, lena, dena, dalna. Baithna is just the one specific for regret or rashness.
Haha, no. We don't usually combine a verb with itself in this way. Just say main gir pada (I fell down) if you sat too hard!
Very common. If you watch a cricket match and a player plays a bad shot, the commentator will say wicket gava baitha (he threw away his wicket).
Often, yes. It suggests a finalized action that can't be undone easily. Bol baitha means the words are out and can't be taken back.
Rarely. We usually don't say main nahi kar baitha. We use it to describe things that *did* happen. Negatives are usually simple past: main nahi gira.
It is the past participle/simple past form of baithna. But you can conjugate it: baithunga (future), baithta (habitual - rare but possible).
No, it's not rude. It actually makes you sound humble if you are admitting a mistake (main galti kar baitha).
Absolutely. Woh bewakoofi kar baitha (He did something stupid). It emphasizes your judgment of their action.
You could say kuch ulta-seedha mat kar baithna (Don't go and do something upside-down/wrong).
Yes, it works *mostly* with transitive verbs (do, say, break, lose) to show the result was unintended.
Literal: 'Do and sit'. Metaphorical: 'Do and be stuck with the consequences'.
Think of phrases like 'He went and did it', 'I messed up and...', or 'ended up doing'.
Yes! Bol uthna means to speak up suddenly (startlingly). Baithna is the opposite—it's heavy and regretful.
Learn These First
Understanding these concepts will help you master this grammar rule.
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