लंबा-चौड़ा (lambaa-chaudaa)
adjective
A compound adjective built from लंबा (lambaa, 'long/tall') and चौड़ा (chaudaa, 'wide'); it has a literal sense describing physical size and a very common figurative sense meaning 'extensive, elaborate, big' (as in a long list, a big speech, or a huge plan).
Sense
1
:
extensive, elaborate, exaggeratedly big (figurative)
adjective Frequently modifies abstract nouns like बातें (baaten, 'talk'), वादे (vaade, 'promises'), or योजना (yojnaa, 'plan') to suggest something is grander in words than in substance.
Synonyms: बड़ा-चढ़ा (badaa-chadhaa, less common variant), भारी-भरकम (bhaarii-bharkam)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the phrase behind that very Indian eye-roll at someone making लंबे-चौड़े वादे (lambe-chaude vaade, 'big promises']) before an election or a wedding -- big talk that everyone quietly doubts will be fully honored.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often miss the mildly skeptical undertone: लंबी-चौड़ी बातें (lambii-chaudii baaten, 'big talk') usually implies exaggeration or empty promises, not neutral 'long conversation'. 2) It is not used for physical length of time (a long meeting is not लंबा-चौड़ा (lambaa-chaudaa)) -- reserve it for scope/scale of claims, plans, or lists.
Sample Sentences:
नेता ने चुनाव से पहले लंबे-चौड़े वादे किए।
The leader made big promises before the election.
(netaa ne chunaav se pahle lambe-chaude vaade kie।)
शादी में उसके परिवार ने लंबा-चौड़ा भाषण दे दिया।
At the wedding, his family gave a long, elaborate speech.
(shaadii men uske parivaar ne lambaa-chaudaa bhaashan de diyaa।)
वह हमेशा अपनी योजनाओं के बारे में लंबी-चौड़ी बातें करता है।
He always talks big about his plans.
(vah hameshaa apnii yojnaaon ke baare men lambii-chaudii baaten kartaa hai।)
कंपनी लंबे-चौड़े दावे कर रही है, पर डिलीवरी कहाँ है?
The company is making tall claims, but where's the delivery?
(kampnii lambe-chaude daave kar rahii hai, par diliivrii kahaan hai?)
अगर वह लंबे-चौड़े वादे न करता, तो लोग उस पर भरोसा करते।
If he hadn't made such big promises, people would have trusted him.
(agar vah lambe-chaude vaade n kartaa, to log us par bharosaa karte।)
इतना लंबा-चौड़ा भाषण मत दो, बस मुद्दे की बात करो।
Don't give such a long-winded speech, just get to the point.
(itnaa lambaa-chaudaa bhaashan mat do, bas mudde kii baat karo।)
उम्मीद है कि इस बार उसके लंबे-चौड़े दावे सच साबित हों।
One hopes his tall claims turn out true this time.
(ummiid hai ki is baar uske lambe-chaude daave sach saabit hon।)
विज्ञापन में लंबे-चौड़े दावे किए गए, पर उत्पाद औसत ही निकला।
Tall claims were made in the advertisement, but the product turned out just average.
(vigyaapan men lambe-chaude daave kie gae, par utpaad ausat hii niklaa।)
मंत्री जी का लंबा-चौड़ा भाषण सुनकर जनता को कुछ नई उम्मीद बंधी थी, मगर कुछ नहीं बदला।
Hearing the minister's elaborate speech, the public had gained some new hope, but nothing changed.
(mantrii jii kaa lambaa-chaudaa bhaashan sunkar jantaa ko kuchh naii ummiid bandhii thii, magar kuchh nahiin badlaa।)
अगली बार वह इतने लंबे-चौड़े वादे नहीं करेगा।
Next time, he won't make such elaborate promises.
(aglii baar vah itne lambe-chaude vaade nahiin karegaa।)
Sense
2
:
physically large in area/extent (literal)
adjective
Synonyms: बड़ा (badaa), विशाल (vishaal, somewhat more formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Used the way an English speaker might say 'a sprawling place' -- think of a real estate agent describing a house with लंबा-चौड़ा आँगन (lambaa-chaudaa aangan, 'a big, spacious courtyard'). It paints a picture of generous, stretched-out space rather than just 'big'.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat this as a fixed invariant compound, but both parts agree with the noun's gender/number like ordinary adjectives, e.g. लंबी-चौड़ी सड़क (lambii-chaudii sadak, 'a broad, sprawling road']) for a feminine noun.
Sample Sentences:
उनका घर बहुत लंबा-चौड़ा है।
Their house is very spacious.
(unkaa ghar bahut lambaa-chaudaa hai।)
गाँव में एक लंबा-चौड़ा आँगन था जहाँ बच्चे खेलते थे।
In the village there was a big, spacious courtyard where the children used to play.
(gaanv men ek lambaa-chaudaa aangan thaa jahaan bachche khelte the।)
इतना लंबा-चौड़ा मैदान देखकर मन खुश हो गया।
Seeing such a sprawling field, my heart felt happy.
(itnaa lambaa-chaudaa maidaan dekhkar man khush ho gayaa।)
क्या तुमने कभी इतना लंबा-चौड़ा हॉल देखा है?
Have you ever seen such a spacious hall?
(kyaa tumne kabhii itnaa lambaa-chaudaa hol dekhaa hai?)
अगर हमारे पास इतना लंबा-चौड़ा प्लॉट होता, तो हम यहीं घर बनाते।
If we had such a large plot, we would build a house right here.
(agar hamaare paas itnaa lambaa-chaudaa plot hotaa, to ham yahiin ghar banaate।)
यह फार्महाउस इतना लंबा-चौड़ा है कि पूरा दिन घूमने में लग जाता है।
This farmhouse is so sprawling that it takes a whole day to walk around it.
(yah phaarmahaaus itnaa lambaa-chaudaa hai ki pooraa din ghoomne men lag jaataa hai।)
एजेंट ने कहा कि यह बंगला बहुत लंबा-चौड़ा है, इसमें पाँच कमरे हैं।
The agent said that this bungalow is quite spacious, it has five rooms.
(ejent ne kahaa ki yah banglaa bahut lambaa-chaudaa hai, ismen paanch kamre hain।)
इतनी लंबी-चौड़ी जगह को साफ करने में बहुत मेहनत लगेगी।
Cleaning such a large, sprawling place will take a lot of effort.
(itnii lambii-chaudii jagah ko saaph karne men bahut mehnat lagegii।)
पहले यहाँ एक लंबा-चौड़ा बगीचा हुआ करता था।
Earlier there used to be a big, spacious garden here.
(pahle yahaan ek lambaa-chaudaa bagiichaa huaa kartaa thaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
Morphology could not be generated (hyphen-joined variable adjective 'लंबा-चौड़ा').