बल्कि (balki)
conjunction
A single-sense connective meaning 'rather' or 'but rather' -- used to correct or upgrade a preceding statement, almost always paired with a negation earlier in the sentence.
Sense
1
:
rather, but rather (correcting/upgrading a prior statement)
conjunction Typically completes a न सिर्फ़...बल्कि... (n sirf...balki..., 'not only... but also...') or नहीं...बल्कि... (nahiin...balki...) frame, where the first clause is negated or limited and बल्कि (balki) introduces the stronger or truer alternative.
Synonyms: वरन (varan, literary), बल्कि तो (balki to, emphatic variant)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of बल्कि (balki) as Hindi's way of saying 'no wait, it's actually even more than that' -- it upgrades a claim rather than just opposing it. For example, 'वह ग़रीब नहीं है, बल्कि बहुत अमीर है' (vah ghariib nahiin hai, balki bahut amiir hai, 'He is not poor, rather he's very rich') shows how it swaps in a stronger truth after knocking down a weaker or wrong one. You will hear it constantly in News Hindi and everyday argument alike, e.g. when someone corrects a common misconception.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use बल्कि (balki) as a plain 'but,' where लेकिन (lekin) or पर (par) is correct -- बल्कि (balki) specifically replaces or upgrades the first idea rather than just contrasting with it. 2) It almost always needs a negative or limiting setup before it (नहीं (nahiin), न सिर्फ़ (n sirf)); using it standalone like 'but rather' in English without that setup sounds off in Hindi. 3) Word order: बल्कि (balki) sits at the start of its own clause, not mid-clause like 'rather' can in English.
Sample Sentences:
वह ग़रीब नहीं है, बल्कि बहुत अमीर है।
He is not poor, rather he's very rich.
(vah ghariib nahiin hai, balki bahut amiir hai।)
मैंने उसे डाँटा नहीं, बल्कि प्यार से समझाया।
I did not scold him, rather I explained things to him lovingly.
(mainne use daantaa nahiin, balki pyaar se samjhaayaa।)
यह समस्या छोटी नहीं है, बल्कि दिन-ब-दिन बढ़ती जा रही है।
This problem is not small, rather it's growing bigger day by day.
(yah samasyaa chhotii nahiin hai, balki din-b-din badhtii jaa rahii hai।)
कृपया गुस्सा न करें, बल्कि शांति से बात सुनें।
Please don't get angry, rather listen calmly.
(kripyaa gussaa n karen, balki shaanti se baat sunen।)
अगर वह मेहनत करता, तो वह असफल नहीं होता, बल्कि सबसे आगे निकल जाता।
If he had worked hard, he wouldn't have failed, rather he would have come out ahead of everyone.
(agar vah mehnat kartaa, to vah asphal nahiin hotaa, balki sabse aage nikal jaataa।)
हो सकता है कि वह नाराज़ न हो, बल्कि सिर्फ़ थका हुआ हो।
It may be that he isn't angry, but rather just tired.
(ho saktaa hai ki vah naaraaz n ho, balki sirf thakaa huaa ho।)
सरकार ने टैक्स कम नहीं किया, बल्कि उसे और बढ़ा दिया।
The government did not reduce the tax, rather it increased it further.
(sarkaar ne taiks kam nahiin kiyaa, balki use aur badhaa diyaa।)
यह खबर झूठी नहीं मानी जाती, बल्कि पूरी तरह सच मानी जाती है।
This news is not considered false, rather it is considered completely true.
(yah khabar jhoothii nahiin maanii jaatii, balki poorii tarah sach maanii jaatii hai।)
यार, वो नाराज़ नहीं थी, बल्कि बस शर्मा रही थी।
Dude, she wasn't angry, she was just feeling shy.
(yaar, vo naaraaz nahiin thii, balki bas sharmaa rahii thii।)
यह न सोचें कि हम हार गए हैं, बल्कि यह समझें कि हमने एक नया रास्ता चुना है।
Do not think that we have lost, rather understand that we have chosen a new path.
(yah n sochen ki ham haar gae hain, balki yah samjhen ki hamne ek nayaa raastaa chunaa hai।)