लालची (laalchii)

adjective A single-sense adjective meaning 'greedy' or 'covetous' -- describing a person's character or a momentary attitude.
Sense 1 : greedy, covetous
adjective
Synonyms: लोभी (lobhii, literary), स्वार्थी (svaarthii, selfish -- overlapping but not identical)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi speech, लालची (laalchii) is a favorite word in moral scoldings -- a mother might call a child लालची (laalchii) for grabbing all the mithai (mithaaii, sweets) at a festival, and it carries a light but real note of disapproval, evoking the folk-tale trope of the greedy merchant or the greedy king who loses everything for wanting more.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use लालची (laalchii) for simple hunger or appetite ('I'm greedy for food right now'), but Hindi speakers reserve it for a character trait or a grasping attitude toward money, gifts, or advantage -- for wanting to eat a lot, भूखा (bhookhaa) or खाने का शौकीन (khaane kaa shaukiin) fits better. 2) It is commonly paired with होना (honaa) -- वह लालची है (vah laalchii hai, 'he is greedy') -- rather than any verb suggesting a temporary state, since greed is framed as a trait one has, not an action one does.
Sample Sentences:
वह बहुत लालची आदमी है। He is a very greedy man.
(vah bahut laalchii aadmii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इतना लालची मत बनो, थोड़ी मिठाई भाई को भी दे दो। Don't be so greedy, give some sweets to your brother too.
(itnaa laalchii mat bano, thodii mithaaii bhaaii ko bhii de do।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मम्मी ने उसे लालची कहकर डांटा क्योंकि उसने सारी मिठाई खुद रख ली थी। Mom scolded him, calling him greedy, because he had kept all the sweets for himself.
(mammii ne use laalchii kahkar daantaa kyonki usne saarii mithaaii khud rakh lii thii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम इतने लालची न होते, तो सब मिलकर बराबर बांट लेते। If you weren't so greedy, everyone would have shared equally together.
(agar tum itne laalchii n hote, to sab milkar baraabar baant lete।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कहानी का राजा इतना लालची था कि उसने पूरा राज्य ही खो दिया। The king in the story was so greedy that he lost his entire kingdom.
(kahaanii kaa raajaa itnaa laalchii thaa ki usne pooraa raajy hii kho diyaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें नहीं लगता कि वह दुकानदार बहुत लालची है? Don't you think that shopkeeper is very greedy?
(kyaa tumhen nahiin lagtaa ki vah dukaandaar bahut laalchii hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि तुम पैसों के लिए इतने लालची नहीं बनोगे। I hope you won't become so greedy for money.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki tum paison ke lie itne laalchii nahiin banoge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
व्यापारी की लालची निगाहें हमेशा और मुनाफे की तलाश में रहती थीं। The merchant's greedy eyes were always searching for more profit.
(vyaapaarii kii laalchii nigaahen hameshaa aur munaaphe kii talaash men rahtii thiin।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अच्छे व्यापारी को लालची नहीं होना चाहिए, वरना ग्राहक भरोसा खो देते हैं। A good merchant should not be greedy, otherwise customers lose trust.
(achchhe vyaapaarii ko laalchii nahiin honaa chaahie, varnaa graahak bharosaa kho dete hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चों को यह सिखाया जाता है कि लालची होना बुरी बात है। Children are taught that being greedy is a bad thing.
(bachchon ko yah sikhaayaa jaataa hai ki laalchii honaa burii baat hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अरे, थोड़ा तो शरम कर, कितना लालची बन गया है तू! Hey, have some shame, how greedy you've become!
(are, thodaa to sharam kar, kitnaa laalchii ban gayaa hai too!)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): लालची (laalchii)
(pl.m): लालचीे ([[लालचीे]])
(sg.f): लालचीी ([[लालचीी]])
(pl.f): लालचीी ([[लालचीी]])