जब तक (jab tak)
conjunction
A correlative conjunction meaning 'as long as / until', usually paired with तब तक (tab tak, 'until then') and often working with negation to mean 'until'.
Sense
1
:
until (with negative verb)
conjunction This sense requires a negative verb in the जब तक (jab tak) clause: जब तक तुम न आओ (jab tak tum n aao, 'until you come') literally reads 'as long as you don't come'. English speakers often drop the negative, which changes the meaning in Hindi.
Synonyms: जब तक ... न (jab tak ... n, correlative frame)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This 'until' sense is extremely common in everyday warnings and instructions -- a mother saying जब तक खाना न खा लो, टीवी नहीं (jab tak khaanaa n khaa lo, tiivii nahiin, 'no TV until you finish your food') is a very typical household sentence in Delhi-NCR homes.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say जब तक तुम आओगे (jab tak tum aaoge) meaning 'until you come', but without न (n) this actually means 'as long as you keep coming' -- the negative is essential for the 'until' sense. 2) The verb in the जब तक (jab tak) clause is usually in the subjunctive or simple present, not the future tense, even though the English 'until you come' feels future-oriented.
Sample Sentences:
जब तक तुम खाना न खा लो, टीवी नहीं चलेगा।
The TV won't run until you finish eating.
(jab tak tum khaanaa n khaa lo, tiivii nahiin chalegaa।)
जब तक बारिश न रुके, हम बाहर नहीं जा सकते।
We can't go outside until the rain stops.
(jab tak baarish n ruke, ham baahar nahiin jaa sakte।)
जब तक वह न आए, मीटिंग शुरू नहीं होगी।
The meeting won't start until he arrives.
(jab tak vah n aae, miiting shuroo nahiin hogii।)
जब तक मैंने खुद न देखा, मुझे यकीन नहीं हुआ।
I didn't believe it until I saw it myself.
(jab tak mainne khud n dekhaa, mujhe yakiin nahiin huaa।)
जब तक तू सॉरी न बोले, मैं तुझसे बात नहीं करूँगी।
I won't talk to you until you say sorry.
(jab tak too sorii n bole, main tujhse baat nahiin karoongii।)
जब तक डॉक्टर न कहें, दवा बंद मत करो।
Don't stop the medicine until the doctor says so.
(jab tak doktar n kahen, davaa band mat karo।)
जब तक सारा कर्ज न चुका दिया जाए, यह जमीन बैंक के पास रहेगी।
Until the entire loan is repaid, this land will stay with the bank.
(jab tak saaraa karj n chukaa diyaa jaae, yah jamiin baink ke paas rahegii।)
जब तक न्याय न मिले, यह लड़ाई खत्म नहीं होगी।
Until justice is served, this fight will not end.
(jab tak nyaay n mile, yah ladaaii khatm nahiin hogii।)
अगर तुम मुझे जगाते, तो मैं जब तक तुम न कहते, सोता ही रहता।
If you hadn't woken me, I would have kept sleeping until you told me to stop.
(agar tum mujhe jagaate, to main jab tak tum n kahte, sotaa hii rahtaa।)
जब तक साहब न बुलाएँ, कोई अंदर नहीं जाएगा।
No one will go inside until sir calls for them.
(jab tak saahab n bulaaen, koii andar nahiin jaaegaa।)
Sense
2
:
as long as (duration/condition)
conjunction Here the जब तक (jab tak) clause has a positive (non-negated) verb, and often pairs with तब तक (tab tak) in the main clause: जब तक साँस तब तक आस (jab tak saans tab tak aas, 'as long as there's breath, there's hope').
Synonyms: जब तक ... तब तक (jab tak ... tab tak, full correlative pair)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This pairs naturally with तब तक (tab tak, 'until then/that long') to form a balanced 'as long as X, that long Y' structure, a very common correlative pattern in Hindi alongside जो...वह (jo...vah) and जैसा...वैसा (jaisaa...vaisaa).
Common Mistakes: 1) Confusing this sense with the 'until' sense above purely based on the presence or absence of न (n) in the second clause -- the negative marker is the key signal, not the English translation you have in mind.
Sample Sentences:
जब तक तुम साथ हो, मुझे कोई डर नहीं है।
As long as you are with me, I have no fear.
(jab tak tum saath ho, mujhe koii dar nahiin hai।)
जब तक सूरज है, तब तक धरती पर जीवन रहेगा।
As long as the sun exists, that long life will remain on earth.
(jab tak sooraj hai, tab tak dhartii par jiivan rahegaa।)
जब तक बारिश होती रही, हम घर के अंदर बैठे रहे।
As long as it kept raining, we stayed sitting inside the house.
(jab tak baarish hotii rahii, ham ghar ke andar baithe rahe।)
जब तक मैं यहाँ काम कर रहा हूँ, तब तक तुम आराम करो।
As long as I am working here, you rest.
(jab tak main yahaan kaam kar rahaa hoon, tab tak tum aaraam karo।)
जब तक पैसा है, दोस्त भी हैं।
As long as there is money, there are friends too.
(jab tak paisaa hai, dost bhii hain।)
जब तक वह जिंदा रहा, उसने कभी हार नहीं मानी।
As long as he lived, he never accepted defeat.
(jab tak vah jindaa rahaa, usne kabhii haar nahiin maanii।)
अगर तुम्हें सच में सफल होना है, तो जब तक मौका मिले, कोशिश करते रहो।
If you really want to succeed, then keep trying as long as you get the chance.
(agar tumhen sach men saphal honaa hai, to jab tak maukaa mile, koshish karte raho।)
जब तक हम एक दूसरे पर भरोसा करते, हमारा रिश्ता इतना मजबूत नहीं टूटता।
As long as we trusted each other, our relationship would not have broken so strongly.
(jab tak ham ek doosre par bharosaa karte, hamaaraa rishtaa itnaa majboot nahiin toottaa।)
जब तक शरीर स्वस्थ है, तब तक मन भी शांत रहता है।
As long as the body is healthy, that long the mind too stays calm.
(jab tak shariir svasth hai, tab tak man bhii shaant rahtaa hai।)
जब तक इस कंपनी में मेहनत की जाती है, तब तक मुनाफा भी होता रहेगा।
As long as hard work is done in this company, that long profit too will keep happening.
(jab tak is kampnii men mehnat kii jaatii hai, tab tak munaaphaa bhii hotaa rahegaa।)