खुलना (khulnaa)
verb
The basic intransitive verb 'to open/to come undone'; its causative counterpart खोलना (kholnaa, 'to open something') is the transitive partner learners should pair it with. Also extends to figurative senses like a mystery or secret coming to light, and a business or event 'opening.'
Sense
1
:
to open (of a door, window, lid, etc.)
verb, intransitive
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the classic example Hindi teachers use to introduce the transitive/intransitive verb pairs: खुलना (khulnaa) 'to open (on its own)' versus खोलना (kholnaa) 'to open (something).' Once you have this pair solid, other pairs like टूटना (tootnaa)/तोड़ना (todnaa) fall into place the same way.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for खोलना (kholnaa) when खुलना (khulnaa) is needed -- दरवाज़ा खुलता है (darvaazaa khultaa hai, 'the door opens') describes the door opening by itself, while दरवाज़ा खोलता है (darvaazaa kholtaa hai, 'he opens the door') needs an agent doing the opening. 2) Since खुलना (khulnaa) is intransitive, it never takes ने (ne) in the past tense -- दरवाज़ा खुला (darvaazaa khulaa, 'the door opened'), not a ने-marked form.
Sample Sentences:
दरवाज़ा खुद ही खुल गया।
The door opened by itself.
(darvaazaa khud hii khul gayaa।)
यह खिड़की बहुत कड़ी है, आसानी से नहीं खुलती।
This window is very stiff, it doesn't open easily.
(yah khidkii bahut kadii hai, aasaanii se nahiin khultii।)
देखो, बोतल का ढक्कन खुल रहा है।
Look, the bottle's lid is opening.
(dekho, botal kaa dhakkan khul rahaa hai।)
अगर तुम इसे ज़ोर से धक्का दो तो यह दरवाज़ा खुल जाएगा।
If you push it hard, this door will open.
(agar tum ise zor se dhakkaa do to yah darvaazaa khul jaaegaa।)
अगर हवा तेज़ न होती तो खिड़की न खुलती।
If the wind hadn't been strong, the window wouldn't have opened.
(agar havaa tez n hotii to khidkii n khultii।)
यह ताला इस चाबी से नहीं खुलेगा।
This lock won't open with this key.
(yah taalaa is chaabii se nahiin khulegaa।)
जब मैं अंदर गया तो दरवाज़ा पहले ही खुला हुआ था।
When I went inside, the door was already open.
(jab main andar gayaa to darvaazaa pahle hii khulaa huaa thaa।)
कृपया देखिए कि खिड़की खुल तो नहीं गई है।
Please check whether the window has opened.
(kripyaa dekhie ki khidkii khul to nahiin gaii hai।)
भूकंप के झटके से सारे दरवाज़े खुल गए।
All the doors flew open from the tremor of the earthquake.
(bhookamp ke jhatke se saare darvaaze khul gae।)
जब भी बारिश होती है, यह छत का दरवाज़ा खुल जाता है।
Whenever it rains, this rooftop door opens on its own.
(jab bhii baarish hotii hai, yah chhat kaa darvaazaa khul jaataa hai।)
दरवाज़ा हाथ लगाए बिना कैसे खुल सकता है?
How can the door possibly open without anyone touching it?
(darvaazaa haath lagaae binaa kaise khul saktaa hai?)
Sense
2
:
to come undone, loosen, untie (of knots, laces, buttons, clothing)
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: ढीला होना (dhiilaa honaa, to become loose)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear mothers say जूते के फीते खुल गए हैं, बाँध लो (joote ke phiite khul gae hain, baandh lo, 'your shoelaces have come undone, tie them') constantly at the school gate -- a very everyday use of this sense.
Common Mistakes: 1) With clothing or fastenings, khulnaa describes the item coming loose on its own -- बटन खुल गया (batan khul gayaa, 'the button came undone') -- not a deliberate action, which would instead use खोलना (kholnaa).
Sample Sentences:
जूते के फीते खुल गए हैं, बाँध लो।
Your shoelaces have come undone, tie them up.
(joote ke phiite khul gae hain, baandh lo।)
मेरी शर्ट का बटन खुल गया है।
My shirt's button has come undone.
(merii shart kaa batan khul gayaa hai।)
यह गाँठ बहुत कसी है, आसानी से नहीं खुलती।
This knot is very tight, it doesn't come undone easily.
(yah gaanth bahut kasii hai, aasaanii se nahiin khultii।)
उसकी चोटी खुल रही थी और वह उसे फिर से बाँधने लगी।
Her braid was coming undone, and she started tying it again.
(uskii chotii khul rahii thii aur vah use phir se baandhne lagii।)
अगर तुमने फीते ठीक से नहीं बाँधे, तो वे दौड़ते वक्त खुल जाएँगे।
If you don't tie your laces properly, they will come undone while you're running.
(agar tumne phiite thiik se nahiin baandhe, to ve daudte vakt khul jaaenge।)
काश उसकी पगड़ी बीच सड़क पर न खुलती।
I wish his turban hadn't come undone in the middle of the road.
(kaash uskii pagdii biich sadak par n khultii।)
इस मशीन में कपड़े इतनी तेज़ी से धुलते हैं कि सिलाई भी खुल सकती है।
Clothes wash so vigorously in this machine that even the stitching can come loose.
(is mashiin men kapde itnii tezii se dhulte hain ki silaaii bhii khul saktii hai।)
साड़ी का पल्लू खुल न जाए, इसलिए उसने पिन लगा ली।
So that the sari's pallu wouldn't come undone, she pinned it.
(saadii kaa palloo khul n jaae, islie usne pin lagaa lii।)
बच्चे के मोज़े हर पाँच मिनट में खुल जाते हैं।
The child's socks come off every five minutes.
(bachche ke moze har paanch minat men khul jaate hain।)
रस्सी की गाँठ खोली नहीं जा सकी, इतनी उलझी हुई थी।
The knot in the rope couldn't be undone, it was so tangled.
(rassii kii gaanth kholii nahiin jaa sakii, itnii uljhii huii thii।)
अपने जूते के फीते बाँध लो, वरना फिर खुल जाएँगे।
Tie your shoelaces, otherwise they'll come undone again.
(apne joote ke phiite baandh lo, varnaa phir khul jaaenge।)
Sense
3
:
to open for business/operation (shop, school, event, account)
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: शुरू होना (shuroo honaa, to start)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Shopkeepers in most Indian markets will tell you their दुकान सुबह दस बजे खुलती है (dukaan subah das baje khultii hai, 'the shop opens at 10am') -- this sense is also used for bank accounts (खाता खुलना, khaataa khulnaa, 'an account gets opened') and even new schools or branches opening.
Common Mistakes: 1) दुकान खुलती है (dukaan khultii hai, 'the shop opens') refers to the shop's regular opening time or its coming into existence/operation, distinct from someone physically unlocking it, which would still often use खोलना (kholnaa) for the specific act.
Sample Sentences:
यह दुकान सुबह दस बजे खुलती है।
This shop opens at ten in the morning.
(yah dukaan subah das baje khultii hai।)
हमारा नया खाता कल बैंक में खुला।
Our new account was opened at the bank yesterday.
(hamaaraa nayaa khaataa kal baink men khulaa।)
स्कूल अगले महीने से खुलेगा।
The school will open starting next month.
(skool agle mahiine se khulegaa।)
दफ्तर अभी खुल रहा है, थोड़ी देर बाद अंदर जाना।
The office is opening right now, go in a little later.
(daphtar abhii khul rahaa hai, thodii der baad andar jaanaa।)
काश हमारी शाखा यहाँ भी खुलती।
If only our branch had opened here too.
(kaash hamaarii shaakhaa yahaan bhii khultii।)
अगर सरकारी मंज़ूरी मिल जाए तो नया मॉल जल्दी खुल जाएगा।
If government approval comes through, the new mall will open soon.
(agar sarkaarii manzoorii mil jaae to nayaa mol jaldii khul jaaegaa।)
त्योहार के मौसम में यह मेला हर साल खुलता है।
This fair opens every year during the festival season.
(tyohaar ke mausam men yah melaa har saal khultaa hai।)
इस बैंक में सिर्फ बड़े ग्राहकों के लिए विशेष खाता खोला जाता है।
In this bank, a special account is opened only for big customers.
(is baink men sirph bade graahkon ke lie vishesh khaataa kholaa jaataa hai।)
उम्मीद है कि नई शाखा जल्दी खुल जाए।
Hopefully the new branch opens soon.
(ummiid hai ki naii shaakhaa jaldii khul jaae।)
यह प्रदर्शनी पिछले हफ्ते ही खुली थी।
This exhibition had opened just last week.
(yah pradarshnii pichhle haphte hii khulii thii।)
रविवार को दुकानें मत खोलो, नियम है।
Don't open the shops on Sunday, it's the rule.
(ravivaar ko dukaanen mat kholo, niyam hai।)
उस समय शहर में मुश्किल से कोई अस्पताल खुला होता था।
Back then, hardly any hospital used to be open in the city.
(us samay shahar men mushkil se koii asptaal khulaa hotaa thaa।)
Sense
4
:
to be revealed, come to light (a secret, mystery, truth)
verb, intransitive Very commonly seen in the fixed collocation राज़ खुलना (raaz khulnaa, 'for a secret to come out').
Synonyms: प्रकट होना (prakat honaa, formal), राज़ खुलना (raaz khulnaa, fixed collocation for secrets)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: राज़ खुल गया (raaz khul gayaa, 'the secret came out') is a staple line in Hindi soap operas and films -- the idea of a secret 'opening up' on its own captures Hindi's love of framing revelations as events that happen to people rather than things people actively do.
Sample Sentences:
आखिरकार राज़ खुल गया।
Finally the secret came out.
(aakhirkaar raaz khul gayaa।)
उसका झूठ जल्द ही खुल जाएगा।
His lie will be exposed soon.
(uskaa jhooth jald hii khul jaaegaa।)
जब सच खुलता है, तो सब हैरान हो जाते हैं।
Whenever the truth comes to light, everyone is stunned.
(jab sach khultaa hai, to sab hairaan ho jaate hain।)
पुलिस की जांच से हत्या का रहस्य खुल रहा है।
The mystery of the murder is being unraveled through the police investigation.
(pulis kii jaanch se hatyaa kaa rahasy khul rahaa hai।)
अगर उसकी चोरी खुल जाती तो वह जेल चला जाता।
If his theft had come to light, he would have gone to jail.
(agar uskii chorii khul jaatii to vah jel chalaa jaataa।)
काश उसका असली चेहरा पहले ही खुल जाता।
If only his true colors had been revealed earlier.
(kaash uskaa aslii chehraa pahle hii khul jaataa।)
सीरियल के आखिरी एपिसोड में सारे राज़ खुल गए।
In the last episode of the serial, all the secrets came out.
(siiriyal ke aakhirii episod men saare raaz khul gae।)
अदालत में गवाही के दौरान सच्चाई खुल जाए, यही उम्मीद थी।
The hope was that the truth would come out during the testimony in court.
(adaalat men gavaahii ke dauraan sachchaaii khul jaae, yahii ummiid thii।)
सत्य कभी छिपा नहीं रहता, देर-सवेर खुल ही जाता है।
The truth never stays hidden -- sooner or later, it comes to light.
(saty kabhii chhipaa nahiin rahtaa, der-saver khul hii jaataa hai।)
उसकी असलियत आज खुल कर सामने आ गई।
His true reality was fully exposed today.
(uskii asliyat aaj khul kar saamne aa gaii।)
Sense
5
:
to clear up, brighten (weather, mood, complexion)
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: साफ़ होना (saaf honaa, of weather)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear मौसम खुल गया (mausam khul gayaa, 'the weather has cleared up') after monsoon clouds pass, and रंग खुलना (rang khulnaa, 'complexion brightening') is a common (if old-fashioned) compliment about someone's skin looking fresh or radiant.
Sample Sentences:
बारिश रुकने के बाद मौसम खुल गया।
After the rain stopped, the weather cleared up.
(baarish rukne ke baad mausam khul gayaa।)
सुबह की धूप में उसका रंग खुल गया।
Her complexion brightened up in the morning sun.
(subah kii dhoop men uskaa rang khul gayaa।)
बादल छाए रहते हैं तो मौसम कभी नहीं खुलता।
If the clouds keep hanging around, the weather never clears up.
(baadal chhaae rahte hain to mausam kabhii nahiin khultaa।)
देखो, आकाश धीरे-धीरे खुल रहा है।
Look, the sky is slowly clearing up.
(dekho, aakaash dhiire-dhiire khul rahaa hai।)
अच्छी नींद लेने से चेहरा खुल जाता है।
Getting good sleep makes the face brighten up.
(achchhii niind lene se chehraa khul jaataa hai।)
उम्मीद है कि कल तक मौसम खुल जाएगा।
Hopefully the weather will clear up by tomorrow.
(ummiid hai ki kal tak mausam khul jaaegaa।)
अगर धूप निकलती तो मौसम कब का खुल जाता।
If the sun had come out, the weather would have cleared up long ago.
(agar dhoop nikaltii to mausam kab kaa khul jaataa।)
क्रीम लगाने से उसका रंग बहुत खुल गया है।
Her complexion has really brightened up from using the cream.
(kriim lagaane se uskaa rang bahut khul gayaa hai।)
संभावना है कि दोपहर तक आसमान खुल जाए।
There's a chance the sky might clear up by noon.
(sambhaavnaa hai ki dopahar tak aasmaan khul jaae।)
इस मरहम से उसका रंग-रूप खुल गया था।
Her complexion had brightened up because of this ointment.
(is maraham se uskaa rang-roop khul gayaa thaa।)
Sense
6
:
to open up emotionally, become uninhibited/relaxed
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: सहज होना (sahaj honaa, to become comfortable/relaxed)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Said of a shy person at a party: कुछ देर बाद वह खुल गया (kuchh der baad vah khul gayaa, 'after a while he opened up') -- the same physical image of 'opening' extends naturally to a person's personality relaxing, just as it does in English.
Sample Sentences:
कुछ देर बाद वह खुल गया।
After a while, he opened up.
(kuchh der baad vah khul gayaa।)
पार्टी में लोग शराब पीने के बाद जल्दी खुल जाते हैं।
At parties, people open up quickly after drinking.
(paartii men log sharaab piine ke baad jaldii khul jaate hain।)
वह धीरे-धीरे खुल रही है, अब हमसे बातें भी करती है।
She's gradually opening up, she even talks to us now.
(vah dhiire-dhiire khul rahii hai, ab hamse baaten bhii kartii hai।)
थोड़ा खुल जाओ, यहाँ सब अपने ही हैं।
Loosen up a little, everyone here is family.
(thodaa khul jaao, yahaan sab apne hii hain।)
काश वह थोड़ा खुल पाता तो उसकी ज़िंदगी आसान होती।
If only he could have opened up a bit, his life would have been easier.
(kaash vah thodaa khul paataa to uskii zindgii aasaan hotii।)
अगर वह इतना गंभीर न होता तो अब तक खुल गया होता।
If he weren't so serious, he would have opened up by now.
(agar vah itnaa gambhiir n hotaa to ab tak khul gayaa hotaa।)
नई जगह में लोग खुलने में समय लेते हैं।
In a new place, people take time to open up.
(naii jagah men log khulne men samay lete hain।)
शायद दोस्तों के साथ रहकर वह खुल जाए।
Maybe he'll open up if he stays around friends.
(shaayad doston ke saath rahkar vah khul jaae।)
शादी के बाद वह पहले से कहीं ज़्यादा खुल गई है।
After marriage, she has opened up far more than before.
(shaadii ke baad vah pahle se kahiin zyaadaa khul gaii hai।)
जब तक भरोसा नहीं बनता, इंसान खुल नहीं सकता।
Until trust is built, a person cannot open up.
(jab tak bharosaa nahiin bantaa, insaan khul nahiin saktaa।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
खुलना
(khulnaa)
infinitive oblique:
खुलने
(khulne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
खुलता
(khultaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
खुलते
(khulte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
खुलती
(khultii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
खुलतीं
(khultiin)
continuous (sg.m):
खुल रहा
(khul rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
खुल रहे
(khul rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
खुल रही
(khul rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
खुल रहीं
(khul rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
खुला
(khulaa)
perfective (pl.m):
खुले
(khule)
perfective (sg.f):
खुली
(khulii)
perfective (pl.f):
खुलीं
(khuliin)
imperative (informal):
खुल
(khul)
imperative (neutral):
खुलो
(khulo)
imperative (formal):
खुलिए
(khulie)
future (1sg.m):
खुलूँगा
(khuloongaa)
future (1sg.f):
खुलूँगी
(khuloongii)
future (1pl.m):
खुलेंगे
(khulenge)
future (1pl.f):
खुलेंगी
(khulengii)
future (2sg.m):
खुलेगा
(khulegaa)
future (2sg.f):
खुलेगी
(khulegii)
future (2pl.m):
खुलोगे
(khuloge)
future (2pl.f):
खुलोगी
(khulogii)
future (3sg.m):
खुलेगा
(khulegaa)
future (3sg.f):
खुलेगी
(khulegii)
future (3pl.m):
खुलेंगे
(khulenge)
future (3pl.f):
खुलेंगी
(khulengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
खुलूँ
(khuloon)
subjunctive (1pl):
खुलें
(khulen)
subjunctive (2sg):
खुले
(khule)
subjunctive (2pl):
खुलो
(khulo)
subjunctive (3sg):
खुले
(khule)
subjunctive (3pl):
खुलें
(khulen)