खींचना (khiinchnaa)
verb
A physical verb meaning 'to pull/drag' that extends naturally into related senses: drawing a line or picture, taking a photograph, and figuratively pulling attention or teasing someone.
Sense
1
:
to pull, drag, tug
verb, transitive
Synonyms: घसीटना (ghasiitnaa, to drag along, often forcefully)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you will hear from an auto-rickshaw driver telling you to pull the door shut, or a mother telling a child to stop pulling the cat's tail -- it is the default physical 'pull' verb in daily life, paired naturally with धकेलना (dhakelnaa, 'to push').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for घसीटना (ghasiitnaa) when खींचना (khiinchnaa) is more natural -- खींचना (khiinchnaa) is the everyday default for pulling a rope, door, or someone's sleeve, while घसीटना (ghasiitnaa) implies dragging something heavy or unwilling across a surface. 2) रस्सी खींचो (rassii khiincho, 'pull the rope') uses खींचना (khiinchnaa) even for a light tug; do not assume it always implies great effort.
Sample Sentences:
दरवाज़ा ठीक से खींचना, वरना खुल जाएगा।
Pull the door properly, otherwise it will open.
(darvaazaa thiik se khiinchnaa, varnaa khul jaaegaa।)
बच्चा बिल्ली की पूँछ खींच रहा था।
The child was pulling the cat's tail.
(bachchaa billii kii poonchh khiinch rahaa thaa।)
वह रोज़ सुबह पानी की बाल्टी रस्सी से खींचता है।
He pulls the bucket of water up with a rope every morning.
(vah roz subah paanii kii baaltii rassii se khiinchtaa hai।)
मैंने उसकी बाँह खींची और उसे पीछे कर दिया।
I pulled his arm and pulled him back.
(mainne uskii baanh khiinchii aur use piichhe kar diyaa।)
गाड़ी को धकेलने के बजाय पीछे से खींचो।
Instead of pushing the cart, pull it from behind.
(gaadii ko dhakelne ke bajaay piichhe se khiincho।)
अगर तुम रस्सी को इतना खींचते तो वह टूट जाती।
If you had pulled the rope that hard, it would have broken.
(agar tum rassii ko itnaa khiinchte to vah toot jaatii।)
मेज़ को थोड़ा खींचकर दीवार के पास रख दो।
Pull the table a little and put it near the wall.
(mez ko thodaa khiinchkar diivaar ke paas rakh do।)
पर्दा इतनी ज़ोर से मत खींचो, वह फट जाएगा।
Don't pull the curtain so hard, it will tear.
(pardaa itnii zor se mat khiincho, vah phat jaaegaa।)
बैलों द्वारा खींची जाने वाली गाड़ी अब गाँवों में भी कम दिखती है।
A cart pulled by oxen is now rarely seen even in villages.
(bailon dvaaraa khiinchii jaane vaalii gaadii ab gaanvon men bhii kam dikhtii hai।)
कृपया अपनी सीट बेल्ट को धीरे से खींचिए।
Please pull your seatbelt gently.
(kripyaa apnii siit belt ko dhiire se khiinchie।)
उसने पूरी ताकत से जाल खींचा और मछली बाहर आ गई।
He pulled the net with all his strength and the fish came out.
(usne poorii taakat se jaal khiinchaa aur machhlii baahar aa gaii।)
Sense
2
:
to take a photograph
verb, transitive Used in the fixed collocation फोटो खींचना (photo khiinchnaa, 'to take a photo') alongside the equally common फोटो लेना (photo lenaa).
Synonyms: फोटो लेना (photo lenaa, more literal, 'to take a photo')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This sense comes from old film cameras where you literally had to pull or wind a lever to advance the film -- so photographers still say कैमरा खींचना (kaimraa khiinchnaa) or फोटो खींचना (photo khiinchnaa) even though nobody winds film anymore.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes only know फोटो लेना (photo lenaa) and are surprised to hear फोटो खींचना (photo khiinchnaa) used just as often, especially by older speakers -- both are correct and interchangeable in this collocation.
Sample Sentences:
ज़रा मेरी फोटो खींच दो।
Please take a photo of me.
(zaraa merii photo khiinch do।)
वह शादियों में फोटो खींचता है।
He takes photos at weddings.
(vah shaadiyon men photo khiinchtaa hai।)
मैंने ताजमहल के सामने कई तस्वीरें खींचीं।
I took several pictures in front of the Taj Mahal.
(mainne taajmahal ke saamne kaii tasviiren khiinchiin।)
वह मंच पर कलाकारों की फोटो खींच रहा है।
He is taking photos of the performers on stage.
(vah manch par kalaakaaron kii photo khiinch rahaa hai।)
अगर रोशनी अच्छी होती तो मैं और तस्वीरें खींचता।
If the light had been good, I would have taken more pictures.
(agar roshnii achchhii hotii to main aur tasviiren khiinchtaa।)
क्या तुम मेरी और दोस्त की एक साथ फोटो खींच सकते हो?
Can you take a photo of me and my friend together?
(kyaa tum merii aur dost kii ek saath photo khiinch sakte ho?)
समारोह में हर पल का फोटो खींचा जाएगा।
Every moment of the ceremony will be photographed.
(samaaroh men har pal kaa photo khiinchaa jaaegaa।)
उद्घाटन समारोह की तस्वीरें कई फोटोग्राफरों द्वारा खींची गईं।
Pictures of the inauguration ceremony were taken by several photographers.
(udghaatan samaaroh kii tasviiren kaii photograaphron dvaaraa khiinchii gaiin।)
फोटोग्राफर ने कहा, "थोड़ा मुस्कुराइए, मैं कैमरा खींचने ही वाला हूँ।"
The photographer said, "Smile a little, I'm just about to click the camera."
(photograaphar ne kahaa, "thodaa muskuraaie, main kaimraa khiinchne hii vaalaa hoon।")
काश मैं भी वहाँ होता और वह नज़ारा खींच पाता।
I wish I had also been there and could have captured that view.
(kaash main bhii vahaan hotaa aur vah nazaaraa khiinch paataa।)
Sense
3
:
to draw (a line, picture, or diagram)
verb, transitive
Synonyms: बनाना (banaanaa, to make/draw, broader sense)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of a schoolteacher telling a student to draw a straight line in their notebook -- लाइन खींचो (laain khiincho, 'draw a line') -- the verb captures the physical motion of the hand dragging the pen or chalk across the page.
Common Mistakes: 1) Used specifically for lines, diagrams, or maps -- लाइन खींचना (laain khiinchnaa, 'to draw a line') and नक्शा खींचना (nakshaa khiinchnaa, 'to draw a map/plan') are the classic collocations; for a full artistic painting, बनाना (banaanaa) or चित्र बनाना (chitr banaanaa) is more common.
Sample Sentences:
अध्यापक ने बच्चों से कॉपी में एक सीधी लाइन खींचने को कहा।
The teacher told the children to draw a straight line in their notebook.
(adhyaapak ne bachchon se kopii men ek siidhii laain khiinchne ko kahaa।)
पहले हाशिया खींचो, फिर लिखना शुरू करो।
First draw the margin, then start writing.
(pahle haashiyaa khiincho, phir likhnaa shuroo karo।)
वह हर रोज़ अपनी नोटबुक में तरह-तरह के डिज़ाइन खींचता है।
He draws all kinds of designs in his notebook every day.
(vah har roz apnii notbuk men tarah-tarah ke dizaain khiinchtaa hai।)
इंजीनियर नक्शे पर इमारत की रूपरेखा खींच रहा है।
The engineer is drawing the outline of the building on the map.
(injiiniyar nakshe par imaarat kii rooprekhaa khiinch rahaa hai।)
क्या तुम इस पेड़ की तस्वीर खींच सकते हो?
Can you draw a picture of this tree?
(kyaa tum is ped kii tasviir khiinch sakte ho?)
अगर मुझे कागज़ मिल जाता, तो मैं भी एक नक्शा खींच लेता।
If I had gotten paper, I would have drawn a map too.
(agar mujhe kaagaz mil jaataa, to main bhii ek nakshaa khiinch letaa।)
बोर्ड पर एक त्रिकोण खींचा गया था ताकि छात्र कोण समझ सकें।
A triangle had been drawn on the board so that the students could understand angles.
(bord par ek trikon khiinchaa gayaa thaa taaki chhaatr kon samajh saken।)
कल कक्षा में हम सब मिलकर एक बड़ा चार्ट खींचेंगे।
Tomorrow in class we will all draw a big chart together.
(kal kakshaa men ham sab milkar ek badaa chaart khiinchenge।)
शायद वह इस बार नक्शा थोड़ा और साफ़ खींचे।
Perhaps he will draw the map a bit more neatly this time.
(shaayad vah is baar nakshaa thodaa aur saaf khiinche।)
चित्रकार ने कैनवस पर कुछ ही मिनटों में पूरा चेहरा खींच दिया।
The artist drew the entire face on the canvas in just a few minutes.
(chitrkaar ne kainvas par kuchh hii minton men pooraa chehraa khiinch diyaa।)
Sense
4
:
to attract or draw (attention, a crowd)
verb, transitive Common in the collocation ध्यान खींचना (dhyaan khiinchnaa, 'to draw attention').
Synonyms: आकर्षित करना (aakarshit karnaa, more formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this in advertising and everyday commentary alike -- इस विज्ञापन ने सबका ध्यान खींचा (is vigyaapan ne sabkaa dhyaan khiinchaa, 'this ad grabbed everyone's attention') -- treating attention as something physically pulled toward the source, much like English 'drew a crowd.'
Sample Sentences:
इस विज्ञापन ने सबका ध्यान खींचा।
This ad grabbed everyone's attention.
(is vigyaapan ne sabkaa dhyaan khiinchaa।)
उसकी नई किताब बहुत सारे पाठकों को खींच रही है।
Her new book is drawing in a lot of readers.
(uskii naii kitaab bahut saare paathkon ko khiinch rahii hai।)
यह मेला हर साल हजारों लोगों को खींचता है।
This fair attracts thousands of people every year.
(yah melaa har saal hajaaron logon ko khiinchtaa hai।)
अगर हेडलाइन दिलचस्प होती तो यह लेख ज़्यादा ध्यान खींचता।
If the headline had been interesting, this article would have drawn more attention.
(agar hedlaain dilchasp hotii to yah lekh zyaadaa dhyaan khiinchtaa।)
दुकान की सजावट ऐसी बनाओ कि हर राहगीर का ध्यान खिंच जाए।
Make the shop's decoration such that every passerby's attention gets drawn to it.
(dukaan kii sajaavat aisii banaao ki har raahgiir kaa dhyaan khinch jaae।)
उम्मीद है कि यह प्रदर्शनी विदेशी निवेशकों को खींचेगी।
It is hoped that this exhibition will attract foreign investors.
(ummiid hai ki yah pradarshnii videshii niveshkon ko khiinchegii।)
कंपनी की रणनीति ऐसी बनाओ जो ज़्यादा ग्राहकों को खींचे।
Design the company's strategy so that it attracts more customers.
(kampnii kii ranniiti aisii banaao jo zyaadaa graahkon ko khiinche।)
इस मुद्दे ने पूरे देश का ध्यान अपनी ओर खींच लिया।
This issue drew the attention of the entire country toward itself.
(is mudde ne poore desh kaa dhyaan apnii or khiinch liyaa।)
सड़क किनारे उस कलाकार की पेंटिंग्स भीड़ खींच रही थीं।
The artist's paintings on the roadside were drawing a crowd.
(sadak kinaare us kalaakaar kii pentings bhiid khiinch rahii thiin।)
इस तरह की खबरों से टीवी चैनलों की टीआरपी खिंच जाती है।
News of this kind pulls up TV channels' TRP ratings.
(is tarah kii khabron se tiivii chainlon kii tiiaarpii khinch jaatii hai।)
Sense
5
:
to tease, provoke, or wind someone up (figurative)
verb, transitive Often appears as किसी को खींचना (kisii ko khiinchnaa) in colloquial banter, close in feel to छेड़ना (chhednaa) but with a slight edge of provoking a reaction.
Synonyms: छेड़ना (chhednaa, more common for teasing)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: Among friends you might hear यार, उसे मत खींच (yaar, use mat khiinch, 'dude, don't provoke him') -- the imagery is of pulling someone's strings to get a rise out of them.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative use is far less common than छेड़ना (chhednaa) for playful teasing -- learners should recognize it when they hear it but default to छेड़ना (chhednaa) in their own speech.
Sample Sentences:
यार, उसे मत खींच, वो सच में गुस्सा हो जाएगा।
Dude, don't tease him, he'll actually get angry.
(yaar, use mat khiinch, vo sach men gussaa ho jaaegaa।)
सब लोग मिलकर उसे खींचते रहते हैं, वो चुपचाप सह लेता है।
Everyone keeps teasing him together, and he quietly puts up with it.
(sab log milkar use khiinchte rahte hain, vo chupchaap sah letaa hai।)
क्लास में लड़के उसकी नई हेयरस्टाइल पर उसे खींच रहे थे।
The boys in class were winding him up about his new hairstyle.
(klaas men ladke uskii naii heyrastaail par use khiinch rahe the।)
मैंने बस मज़े में उसे थोड़ा खींचा, इतना बुरा मान गया।
I just teased him a little for fun, and he got so offended.
(mainne bas maze men use thodaa khiinchaa, itnaa buraa maan gayaa।)
अगर तू उसे ऐसे खींचता रहेगा, तो एक दिन झगड़ा हो जाएगा।
If you keep provoking him like this, there'll be a fight one day.
(agar too use aise khiinchtaa rahegaa, to ek din jhagdaa ho jaaegaa।)
काश तुम उसे इस तरह न खींचते, वो अभी भी नाराज़ है।
I wish you hadn't provoked him like that, he's still upset.
(kaash tum use is tarah n khiinchte, vo abhii bhii naaraaz hai।)
उसे मत खींचिए, उसका मन आज पहले से ही खराब है।
Please don't tease him, he's already in a bad mood today.
(use mat khiinchie, uskaa man aaj pahle se hii kharaab hai।)
हो सकता है वो जान-बूझकर तुझे खींच रहा हो, तू बेवजह भड़क मत।
Maybe he's deliberately winding you up, don't blow up over nothing.
(ho saktaa hai vo jaan-boojhkar tujhe khiinch rahaa ho, too bevjah bhadak mat।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
खींचना
(khiinchnaa)
infinitive oblique:
खींचने
(khiinchne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
खींचता
(khiinchtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
खींचते
(khiinchte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
खींचती
(khiinchtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
खींचतीं
(khiinchtiin)
continuous (sg.m):
खींच रहा
(khiinch rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
खींच रहे
(khiinch rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
खींच रही
(khiinch rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
खींच रहीं
(khiinch rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
खींचा
(khiinchaa)
perfective (pl.m):
खींचे
(khiinche)
perfective (sg.f):
खींची
(khiinchii)
perfective (pl.f):
खींचीं
(khiinchiin)
imperative (informal):
खींच
(khiinch)
imperative (neutral):
खींचो
(khiincho)
imperative (formal):
खींचिए
(khiinchie)
future (1sg.m):
खींचूँगा
(khiinchoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
खींचूँगी
(khiinchoongii)
future (1pl.m):
खींचेंगे
(khiinchenge)
future (1pl.f):
खींचेंगी
(khiinchengii)
future (2sg.m):
खींचेगा
(khiinchegaa)
future (2sg.f):
खींचेगी
(khiinchegii)
future (2pl.m):
खींचोगे
(khiinchoge)
future (2pl.f):
खींचोगी
(khiinchogii)
future (3sg.m):
खींचेगा
(khiinchegaa)
future (3sg.f):
खींचेगी
(khiinchegii)
future (3pl.m):
खींचेंगे
(khiinchenge)
future (3pl.f):
खींचेंगी
(khiinchengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
खींचूँ
(khiinchoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
खींचें
(khiinchen)
subjunctive (2sg):
खींचे
(khiinche)
subjunctive (2pl):
खींचो
(khiincho)
subjunctive (3sg):
खींचे
(khiinche)
subjunctive (3pl):
खींचें
(khiinchen)