तक (tak)
postposition
A postposition covering both 'until/up to' (time or place limits) and 'even' (emphatic inclusion). The two uses share one word but feel quite different in the sentence.
Sense
1
:
up to / until (limit of time, place, or extent)
postposition Marks the noun it follows as a limit; the noun before तक (tak) takes the oblique case where applicable.
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear से ... तक (se ... tak) constantly for giving ranges -- सुबह से शाम तक (subah se shaam tak, 'from morning to evening'), दिल्ली से मुंबई तक (dillii se mumbaii tak, 'from Delhi to Mumbai'). Think of तक (tak) as marking the far edge of whatever से (se) started.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for से (se) alone to mean 'until,' but से (se) marks the starting point, not the limit -- you need the pair से ... तक (se ... tak, 'from ... to/until') to express a full range. 2) With time expressions, तक (tak) can mean either 'by' (deadline) or 'until' (duration) depending on context -- शाम तक (shaam tak, 'by evening') versus रात तक (raat tak, 'until night') both use the same word, and learners often try to force a single translation.
Sample Sentences:
मैं सुबह से शाम तक दफ़्तर में रहता हूँ।
I stay at the office from morning until evening.
(main subah se shaam tak daftar men rahtaa hoon।)
Listen: F85
वह कल रात दस बजे तक पढ़ती रही।
She kept studying until ten o'clock last night.
(vah kal raat das baje tak padhtii rahii।)
Listen: F85
यह ट्रेन दिल्ली से मुंबई तक जाती है।
This train goes from Delhi to Mumbai.
(yah tren dillii se mumbaii tak jaatii hai।)
Listen: M85
जब तक तुम यहाँ नहीं आते, मैं इंतज़ार करूँगा।
Until you come here, I will wait.
(jab tak tum yahaan nahiin aate, main intzaar karoongaa।)
Listen: M85
कृपया अगले सोमवार तक जवाब दे दें।
Please give a reply by next Monday.
(kripyaa agle somvaar tak javaab de den।)
Listen: M85
अगर वह समय पर निकलता, तो वह पाँच बजे तक पहुँच जाता।
If he had left on time, he would have reached by five o'clock.
(agar vah samay par nikaltaa, to vah paanch baje tak pahunch jaataa।)
Listen: M85
यह सामान कल तक पहुँचा दिया जाएगा।
This item will be delivered by tomorrow.
(yah saamaan kal tak pahunchaa diyaa jaaegaa।)
Listen: M85
बच्चा रोता रहा जब तक उसकी माँ नहीं आई।
The child kept crying until his mother came.
(bachchaa rotaa rahaa jab tak uskii maan nahiin aaii।)
Listen: M85
मुझे उम्मीद है कि हम आधी रात तक घर पहुँच जाएँ।
I hope that we manage to reach home by midnight.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki ham aadhii raat tak ghar pahunch jaaen।)
Listen: F85
यहाँ से स्टेशन तक कितनी दूर है?
How far is it from here to the station?
(yahaan se steshan tak kitnii door hai?)
Listen: M85
इस नदी का किनारा जहाँ तक नज़र जाती है, वहाँ तक फैला है।
The riverbank stretches as far as the eye can see.
(is nadii kaa kinaaraa jahaan tak nazar jaatii hai, vahaan tak phailaa hai।)
Listen: M85
Sense
2
:
even (emphatic inclusion)
postposition Attaches directly after the emphasized noun/pronoun to signal that even this extreme or unlikely case is included.
Synonyms: भी (bhii, less emphatic)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the तक (tak) you hear in complaints and exasperated storytelling -- उसने फ़ोन तक नहीं किया (usne fon tak nahiin kiyaa, 'he didn't even call'). The word leans into disbelief, so it shows up a lot in gossip and venting among friends.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often default to भी (bhii) for 'even' and miss that तक (tak) carries a stronger, more surprised tone -- उसने मुझे देखा तक नहीं (usne mujhe dekhaa tak nahiin, 'he didn't even look at me') hits harder than using भी (bhii) there.
Sample Sentences:
उसे मेरा नाम तक याद नहीं है।
He doesn't even remember my name.
(use meraa naam tak yaad nahiin hai।)
Listen: M85
बच्चे तक इस बात को समझते हैं।
Even children understand this.
(bachche tak is baat ko samajhte hain।)
Listen: F85
उसने एक गिलास पानी तक नहीं पिया।
He didn't even drink a glass of water.
(usne ek gilaas paanii tak nahiin piyaa।)
Listen: M85
यह बात तो मेरी माँ तक जानती हैं।
Even my mother knows this thing.
(yah baat to merii maan tak jaantii hain।)
Listen: M85
अगर वह मुझे बुलाता तक, तो मैं आ जाता।
If he had even called me, I would have come.
(agar vah mujhe bulaataa tak, to main aa jaataa।)
Listen: M85
यह ख़बर तो अख़बार वालों तक पहुँच गई होगी।
This news must have even reached the newspaper people.
(yah khabar to akhbaar vaalon tak pahunch gaii hogii।)
Listen: M85
उसने एक बार तक मुझसे माफ़ी नहीं माँगी।
He didn't even apologize to me once.
(usne ek baar tak mujhse maafii nahiin maangii।)
Listen: M85
इस मामले में तो पुलिस तक कुछ नहीं कर सकती।
In this matter, even the police can't do anything.
(is maamle men to pulis tak kuchh nahiin kar saktii।)
Listen: F85
मत भूलना, बड़े-बड़े लोग तक धोखा खा जाते हैं।
Don't forget, even the biggest people get deceived.
(mat bhoolnaa, bade-bade log tak dhokhaa khaa jaate hain।)
Listen: M85
इतनी बड़ी बात तो अनजान लोगों तक फैला दी गई।
Such a big thing was even spread to strangers.
(itnii badii baat to anjaan logon tak phailaa dii gaii।)
Listen: F85