जब (jab)
conjunction
A relative adverb meaning 'when', almost always paired with तब (tab, 'then') or used alone to mean 'whenever'; it is the backbone of Hindi's जब...तब correlative time construction.
Sense
1
:
when (relative time connector)
conjunction Works as the relative half of a correlative pair: जब (relative clause) ... तब/तो (main clause), though तब/तो is often dropped in casual speech.
Synonyms: जिस समय (jis samay, 'the time at which')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of जब (jab) and कब (kab) as a matched pair the way English has 'when' (statement) versus 'when?' (question) -- except Hindi actually uses two different words, which is a common trap for learners used to English's single 'when' doing both jobs.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often forget that जब (jab) needs a correlative तब (tab) or तो (to) in the main clause for formal or written style, even though spoken Hindi frequently drops it; dropping it is natural in conversation but can feel incomplete in writing. 2) जब (jab) is not used for yes/no questions about time ("when did you come?" uses कब (kab), not जब (jab)) -- जब is only for linking clauses, never for asking a direct question.
Sample Sentences:
जब मैं बच्चा था, तब हम दिल्ली में रहते थे।
When I was a child, we used to live in Delhi.
(jab main bachchaa thaa, tab ham dillii men rahte the।)
जब वह घर पहुँचा, तो सब सो रहे थे।
When he reached home, everyone was sleeping.
(jab vah ghar pahunchaa, to sab so rahe the।)
जब मैं दफ़्तर पहुँचूँगा, तब तुम्हें फ़ोन करूँगा।
When I reach the office, I will call you.
(jab main daftar pahunchoongaa, tab tumhen fon karoongaa।)
जब बारिश हो रही थी, तब हम अंदर बैठे थे।
When it was raining, we were sitting inside.
(jab baarish ho rahii thii, tab ham andar baithe the।)
जब तुम आते, तो हम साथ खाना खाते।
If you had come, we would have eaten together.
(jab tum aate, to ham saath khaanaa khaate।)
जब खाना बन जाए, तो मुझे बता देना।
When the food is ready, let me know.
(jab khaanaa ban jaae, to mujhe bataa denaa।)
जब चाहो, चले आना।
Come over whenever, when you like.
(jab chaaho, chale aanaa।)
जब गाड़ी छूट गई, तब उसे बहुत गुस्सा आया।
When the train was missed, he got very angry.
(jab gaadii chhoot gaii, tab use bahut gussaa aayaa।)
जब सूरज ढलता है, तब आकाश का रंग बदल जाता है।
When the sun sets, the color of the sky changes.
(jab sooraj dhaltaa hai, tab aakaash kaa rang badal jaataa hai।)
जब समय आएगा, सच सामने आ जाएगा।
When the time comes, the truth will come out.
(jab samay aaegaa, sach saamne aa jaaegaa।)
Sense
2
:
whenever (indefinite/habitual time)
conjunction Often reinforced with भी (bhii) as जब भी (jab bhii, 'whenever') to stress the indefinite, repeated nature of the time reference.
Synonyms: जब भी (jab bhii, 'whenever, emphatic')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear जब भी मौका मिले (jab bhii maukaa mile, 'whenever I/one gets the chance') constantly in everyday chatter -- it's a handy frame for talking about habits and recurring opportunities.
Sample Sentences:
जब भी मौका मिले, मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ।
Whenever I get the chance, I read a book.
(jab bhii maukaa mile, main kitaab padhtaa hoon।)
जब भी वह गुस्सा होती है, चुप हो जाती है।
Whenever she gets angry, she goes quiet.
(jab bhii vah gussaa hotii hai, chup ho jaatii hai।)
जब भी बारिश होती थी, बिजली चली जाती थी।
Whenever it used to rain, the power would go out.
(jab bhii baarish hotii thii, bijlii chalii jaatii thii।)
जब भी तुम्हें मदद चाहिए हो, बता देना।
Whenever you need help, just let me know.
(jab bhii tumhen madad chaahie ho, bataa denaa।)
जब भी मैं दिल्ली जाऊँ, तुमसे मिलना चाहूँगा।
Whenever I go to Delhi, I'd like to meet you.
(jab bhii main dillii jaaoon, tumse milnaa chaahoongaa।)
जब भी वह मुसीबत में होता, दोस्त उसकी मदद करते।
Whenever he'd be in trouble, his friends would have helped him.
(jab bhii vah musiibat men hotaa, dost uskii madad karte।)
जब भी वेतन मिलता है, वह कुछ पैसे बचा लेता है।
Whenever he gets his salary, he saves some money.
(jab bhii vetan miltaa hai, vah kuchh paise bachaa letaa hai।)
जब भी कोई पुराना गाना बजता है, पुरानी यादें ताज़ा हो जाती हैं।
Whenever an old song plays, old memories come back fresh.
(jab bhii koii puraanaa gaanaa bajtaa hai, puraanii yaaden taazaa ho jaatii hain।)
जब भी अवसर उत्पन्न होता है, मनुष्य को उसका सदुपयोग करना चाहिए।
Whenever an opportunity arises, one should make good use of it.
(jab bhii avsar utpann hotaa hai, manushy ko uskaa sadupyog karnaa chaahie।)
जब भी माँ मंदिर जाती हैं, प्रसाद ज़रूर लाती हैं।
Whenever mother goes to the temple, she always brings back prasad.
(jab bhii maan mandir jaatii hain, prasaad zaroor laatii hain।)