के बजाय (ke bajaay)
postposition
A postposition phrase meaning 'instead of, rather than' -- used to set up a contrast between two options with the second (or implied) one being chosen. Related to बजाय (bajaay) alone, which is less common in everyday speech than the full के बजाय (ke bajaay) form.
Sense
1
:
instead of, rather than
postposition Takes the oblique/genitive-marked noun or verb stem before it, e.g. जाने के बजाय (jaane ke bajaay, 'instead of going'); the noun or infinitive it follows is marked with के (ke) as if governed by a postposition.
Synonyms: की जगह (kii jagah), के स्थान पर (ke sthaan par, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in everyday complaints and suggestions -- चाय के बजाय कॉफी (chaay ke bajaay kophii, 'coffee instead of tea']) is the kind of thing said at every Delhi breakfast table. It pairs naturally with बल्कि (balki, 'rather') in more elaborate contrastive sentences: वह पढ़ने के बजाय, बल्कि सोता रहा (vah padhne ke bajaay, balki sotaa rahaa, 'instead of studying, he rather kept sleeping').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often forget that a verb before के बजाय (ke bajaay) must be in its oblique infinitive form (ending in -ने), not the plain dictionary form -- so 'instead of eating' is खाने के बजाय (khaane ke bajaay), not खाना के बजाय (khaanaa ke bajaay). 2) Some learners try to use के बजाय (ke bajaay) to mean 'in exchange for' (like an actual trade), but it only expresses a preference/contrast between choices, not a literal exchange.
Sample Sentences:
चाय के बजाय आज कॉफी पी लो।
Have coffee instead of tea today.
(chaay ke bajaay aaj kophii pii lo।)
वह पढ़ने के बजाय, बल्कि सोता रहा।
Instead of studying, he rather kept sleeping.
(vah padhne ke bajaay, balki sotaa rahaa।)
बस के बजाय हम मेट्रो से जाते हैं।
We go by metro instead of by bus.
(bas ke bajaay ham metro se jaate hain।)
शिकायत करने के बजाय समस्या का हल ढूँढो।
Instead of complaining, look for a solution to the problem.
(shikaayat karne ke bajaay samasyaa kaa hal dhoondho।)
अगर वह मेहनत करता, तो असफल होने के बजाय सफल होता।
If he had worked hard, he would have succeeded instead of failing.
(agar vah mehnat kartaa, to asphal hone ke bajaay saphal hotaa।)
नए फ़ोन के बजाय शायद वह पुराना ही रख ले।
Instead of a new phone, maybe he'll just keep the old one.
(nae fon ke bajaay shaayad vah puraanaa hii rakh le।)
कृपया नकद के बजाय कार्ड से भुगतान करें।
Please pay by card instead of cash.
(kripyaa nakad ke bajaay kaard se bhugtaan karen।)
इस मामले में बातचीत के बजाय मुक़दमा दर्ज़ किया गया।
In this matter, a lawsuit was filed instead of a negotiation.
(is maamle men baatchiit ke bajaay muqadmaa darz kiyaa gayaa।)
सत्य के मार्ग पर, भय के बजाय, बल्कि साहस ही मनुष्य का संगी होना चाहिए।
On the path of truth, instead of fear, it is rather courage that should be man's companion.
(saty ke maarg par, bhay ke bajaay, balki saahas hii manushy kaa sangii honaa chaahie।)
क्या तुम इस बार बाहर खाने के बजाय घर पर कुछ बनाओगे?
Will you cook something at home instead of eating out this time?
(kyaa tum is baar baahar khaane ke bajaay ghar par kuchh banaaoge?)
उन्होंने डराने के बजाय बच्चों को प्यार से समझाया।
Instead of scaring the children, they explained things to them lovingly.
(unhonne daraane ke bajaay bachchon ko pyaar se samjhaayaa।)