चुपके से (chupke se)
adverb
An adverbial phrase meaning 'quietly, secretly, on the sly' -- describes an action done without others noticing. One core sense.
Sense
1
:
secretly, stealthily, without being noticed
adverb Formed from चुपके (chupke) + से (se); functions as a fixed adverbial phrase modifying the verb, usually placed right before it.
Synonyms: छिपकर (chhipkar), गुपचुप (gupchup, colloquial), खुफिया तौर पर (khuphiyaa taur par, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the phrase every Hindi-speaking kid has heard from a parent noticing something was taken without permission: 'तुमने चुपके से मेरा फोन लिया?' (tumne chupke se meraa phon liyaa?, 'Did you take my phone secretly/without asking?'). It carries a mild scolding or mischievous flavor -- sneaking a snack, tiptoeing out, or hiding something from family -- and is a staple of everyday household speech.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes drop the से (se) and just say चुपके (chupke) alone -- this also occurs in casual speech but चुपके से (chupke se) is the fuller, more standard adverbial form. 2) Don't confuse with धीरे से (dhiire se, 'slowly/gently') -- चुपके से (chupke se) is about secrecy and avoiding detection, not about speed or softness of movement.
Sample Sentences:
तुमने चुपके से मेरा फोन लिया?
Did you take my phone secretly?
(tumne chupke se meraa phon liyaa?)
बच्चा चुपके से रसोई से बिस्किट उठा लाया।
The kid sneaked a biscuit from the kitchen without anyone noticing.
(bachchaa chupke se rasoii se biskit uthaa laayaa।)
वह हर रात चुपके से घर से निकल जाता है।
He sneaks out of the house every night.
(vah har raat chupke se ghar se nikal jaataa hai।)
वह चुपके से दरवाजे के पीछे खड़ी सुन रही थी।
She was secretly standing behind the door, listening.
(vah chupke se darvaaje ke piichhe khadii sun rahii thii।)
चुपके से मत जाओ, सबको बता कर जाओ।
Don't sneak off -- tell everyone before you go.
(chupke se mat jaao, sabko bataa kar jaao।)
अगर वह चुपके से पैसे न निकालता तो हमें शक ही न होता।
If he hadn't secretly taken out the money, we wouldn't even have suspected anything.
(agar vah chupke se paise n nikaaltaa to hamen shak hii n hotaa।)
मुझे डर है कि वह चुपके से कोई गलत काम कर रहा हो।
I fear he might secretly be doing something wrong.
(mujhe dar hai ki vah chupke se koii galat kaam kar rahaa ho।)
पत्र चुपके से उसकी जेब में रखा गया था।
The letter had been secretly placed in his pocket.
(patr chupke se uskii jeb men rakhaa gayaa thaa।)
क्या तुम चुपके से यह काम कर सकते हो, ताकि किसी को पता न चले?
Can you do this quietly, so that no one finds out?
(kyaa tum chupke se yah kaam kar sakte ho, taaki kisii ko pataa n chale?)
प्रेमी-प्रेमिका चुपके से मिलते रहे, यह किसी को खबर न हुई।
The lovers kept meeting secretly, and no one ever got wind of it.
(premii-premikaa chupke se milte rahe, yah kisii ko khabar n huii।)
माँ को शक था कि कोई चुपके से रात में उसकी अलमारी खोलता है।
Mother suspected that someone secretly opened her cupboard at night.
(maan ko shak thaa ki koii chupke se raat men uskii almaarii kholtaa hai।)