उधर (udhar)
adverb
A directional/locational adverb meaning 'there, that way, over there' -- pairs naturally with इधर (idhar, 'here, this way') in everyday speech.
Sense
1
:
over there, that way (location/direction)
adverb
Synonyms: वहाँ (vahaan, that place, more static/specific)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of उधर (udhar) as pointing with your chin or a hand gesture -- it's the word Delhi shopkeepers and rickshaw drivers use to wave you toward a general direction rather than naming an exact spot. The pair इधर-उधर (idhar-udhar, 'here and there') is extremely common in casual speech for aimless movement or scattered things.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use वहाँ (vahaan) and उधर (udhar) interchangeably, but उधर (udhar) leans toward a general direction or side ('that way, that side') while वहाँ (vahaan) points to a specific place ('at that spot'). 2) उधर (udhar) is frequently paired with इधर (idhar) as a set expression meaning 'here and there' or 'on one side... on the other side' -- learners sometimes miss this idiomatic pairing.
Sample Sentences:
उधर देखो, वो सामने वाली दुकान है।
Look over there, that's the shop across the way.
(udhar dekho, vo saamne vaalii dukaan hai।)
मेरा बैग उधर मेज़ पर रखा है।
My bag is kept over there on the table.
(meraa baig udhar mez par rakhaa hai।)
बच्चे इधर-उधर भाग रहे थे।
The children were running here and there.
(bachche idhar-udhar bhaag rahe the।)
अगर तुम उधर जाते तो रास्ता आसान होता।
If you had gone that way, the route would have been easier.
(agar tum udhar jaate to raastaa aasaan hotaa।)
वो उधर से आया और सीधा दफ़्तर चला गया।
He came from that direction and went straight to the office.
(vo udhar se aayaa aur siidhaa daftar chalaa gayaa।)
क्या तुम कभी उधर जाओगे?
Will you ever go over there?
(kyaa tum kabhii udhar jaaoge?)
सामान उधर ही रखा जाता है, इधर मत रखो।
The goods are usually kept over there, don't keep them here.
(saamaan udhar hii rakhaa jaataa hai, idhar mat rakho।)
शायद वो उधर ही छुपा हो।
Maybe he's hiding right over there.
(shaayad vo udhar hii chhupaa ho।)
आप उधर वाली सीट पर बैठ जाइए।
Please sit on that seat over there.
(aap udhar vaalii siit par baith jaaie।)
रिक्शावाला बस उधर इशारा करके चला गया।
The rickshaw driver just pointed over there and left.
(rikshaavaalaa bas udhar ishaaraa karke chalaa gayaa।)
पूरा बाज़ार उधर ही फैला हुआ है।
The whole market is spread out over there.
(pooraa baazaar udhar hii phailaa huaa hai।)
Sense
2
:
on that side, in that matter (figurative/topical use)
adverb Used to shift topic or refer to a different matter/party under discussion, similar to English 'meanwhile, over there' or 'on that front.'
Synonyms: उस तरफ़ (us taraf, that side/direction, more explicit phrase)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In conversation or storytelling, उधर (udhar) often works like 'meanwhile' in English -- shifting attention to another person, place, or situation, as in news reports or family gossip: उधर उसने कुछ नहीं कहा (udhar usne kuchh nahiin kahaa, 'meanwhile/for his part, he said nothing').
Sample Sentences:
उधर उसने कुछ नहीं कहा।
Meanwhile, he said nothing.
(udhar usne kuchh nahiin kahaa।)
उधर सरकार इस मसले पर चुप है।
On that front, the government is silent on this issue.
(udhar sarkaar is masle par chup hai।)
इधर बच्चे रो रहे थे, उधर मेहमान आ गए।
Here the kids were crying, and meanwhile the guests arrived.
(idhar bachche ro rahe the, udhar mehmaan aa gae।)
उधर शेयर बाज़ार में भारी गिरावट देखी जा रही है।
Meanwhile, a sharp fall is being seen in the stock market.
(udhar sheyar baazaar men bhaarii giraavat dekhii jaa rahii hai।)
उधर की खबर सुनकर सब परेशान हो गए।
Hearing the news on that front, everyone got worried.
(udhar kii khabar sunkar sab pareshaan ho gae।)
काश उधर भी हालात इतने ना बिगड़ते।
If only things hadn't gotten so bad on that side too.
(kaash udhar bhii haalaat itne naa bigadte।)
तुम अपना काम देखो, उधर की चिंता मत करो।
You look after your own work, don't worry about that matter.
(tum apnaa kaam dekho, udhar kii chintaa mat karo।)
उधर बातचीत आगे बढ़े, यही सबकी उम्मीद है।
Everyone hopes that things move forward on that front.
(udhar baatchiit aage badhe, yahii sabkii ummiid hai।)
उधर कंपनी के शेयरों में उछाल आया है, इधर मुनाफे की खबर भी आई है।
On that front the company's shares have jumped, and here news of profit has also come in.
(udhar kampnii ke sheyron men uchhaal aayaa hai, idhar munaaphe kii khabar bhii aaii hai।)