काम-चलाऊ (kaam-chalaaoo)

adjective A compound adjective built from काम (kaam, 'work') and चलाना (chalaanaa, 'to run/operate') -- literally 'work-running,' used to describe something that is makeshift, functional-but-not-ideal, or 'good enough' to get by.
Sense 1 : makeshift, good enough to get by, stopgap
adjective
Synonyms: अस्थायी (asthaayii, temporary), सामान्य (saamaany, meaning scope: only overlaps when describing 'ordinary, adequate'), जैसे-तैसे (jaise-taise, colloquial)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word captures a very Indian attitude of jugaad (jugaad) -- making do with what's available. You'll hear it used for everything from a काम-चलाऊ पुल (kaam-chalaaoo pul, 'makeshift bridge') thrown together after monsoon damage, to someone's काम-चलाऊ हिंदी (kaam-chalaaoo hindii, 'passable Hindi'). It's a practical, slightly self-deprecating word, not a harsh criticism.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat this as a negative word like 'bad' or 'cheap,' but it really means 'adequate for now, not ideal' -- there's a resigned, practical tone rather than a purely critical one. 2) It's commonly used for skills too, e.g. काम-चलाऊ अंग्रेज़ी (kaam-chalaaoo angrezii, 'functional/passable English') -- meaning enough to get by, not fluent.
Sample Sentences:
मानसून के बाद यह काम-चलाऊ पुल बना दिया गया। After the monsoon, this makeshift bridge was put together.
(maansoon ke baad yah kaam-chalaaoo pul banaa diyaa gayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
मेरी हिंदी बस काम-चलाऊ है, ज़्यादा मत उम्मीद रखना। My Hindi is just passable, don't expect too much.
(merii hindii bas kaam-chalaaoo hai, zyaadaa mat ummiid rakhnaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जब तक नया पंखा नहीं आता, यह काम-चलाऊ इंतज़ाम चलता रहेगा। Until the new fan arrives, this makeshift arrangement will keep working.
(jab tak nayaa pankhaa nahiin aataa, yah kaam-chalaaoo intzaam chaltaa rahegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कोई काम-चलाऊ हल ढूंढ लो, अभी असली मिस्त्री नहीं मिलेगा। Find some makeshift solution, you won't get a proper mechanic right now.
(koii kaam-chalaaoo hal dhoondh lo, abhii aslii mistrii nahiin milegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर बजट थोड़ा और होता, तो हम काम-चलाऊ मरम्मत से काम नहीं चलाते। If the budget were a bit more, we wouldn't have made do with a makeshift repair.
(agar bajat thodaa aur hotaa, to ham kaam-chalaaoo marammat se kaam nahiin chalaate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
दुकानदार ने टूटी शेल्फ़ के लिए काम-चलाऊ जुगाड़ लगा दिया। The shopkeeper rigged up a makeshift jugaad fix for the broken shelf.
(dukaandaar ne tootii shelf ke lie kaam-chalaaoo jugaad lagaa diyaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
गाँव में बिजली न होने पर लोग काम-चलाऊ लालटेन इस्तेमाल करते हैं। When there's no electricity in the village, people use a makeshift lantern.
(gaanv men bijlii n hone par log kaam-chalaaoo laalten istemaal karte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह प्रबंधन को कहना होगा कि यह केवल एक काम-चलाऊ व्यवस्था है, स्थायी हल नहीं। Management will have to be told that this is only a stopgap arrangement, not a permanent solution.
(yah prabandhan ko kahnaa hogaa ki yah keval ek kaam-chalaaoo vyavasthaa hai, sthaayii hal nahiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
शायद कोई काम-चलाऊ रास्ता निकल आए, फिर आगे सोचेंगे। Maybe some makeshift way will turn up, then we'll think further.
(shaayad koii kaam-chalaaoo raastaa nikal aae, phir aage sochenge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: काम-चलाऊ ([[काम-चलाऊ]])