ऐसा-वैसा (aisaa-vaisaa)

adjective An echo-pair built from ऐसा (aisaa, 'like this'), used mainly as a dismissive adjective meaning 'this sort of (bad/disreputable)' or, negated, to mean 'nothing out of the ordinary / not that kind of person.'

Sense 1 : of a disreputable or objectionable sort

adjective Almost always used to characterize a person, place, or behavior negatively, e.g. ऐसी-वैसी जगह (aisii-vaisii jagah, 'that kind of (disreputable) place'); rarely used in a neutral or positive sense.

Synonyms: उल्टा-सीधा (ultaa-siidhaa, of dubious/improper sort), फालतू (phaaltoo, colloquial)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You'll hear worried parents or neighbors warn ऐसी-वैसी हरकत मत करो (aisii-vaisii harkat mat karo, 'don't do that kind of (disreputable) thing') -- it's a classic tool of Indian moral scolding, gesturing at bad behavior without spelling it out.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use ऐसा-वैसा (aisaa-vaisaa) as a neutral synonym for 'this or that,' but it almost always carries a negative, disapproving shade -- it's not interchangeable with plain ऐसा (aisaa). 2) Because it inflects like ऐसा (aisaa), learners forget to change both halves together: it's ऐसी-वैसी लड़की (aisii-vaisii ladkii), not ऐसा-वैसी लड़की (aisaa-vaisii ladkii).

Sample Sentences:

ऐसी-वैसी हरकत मत करो, वरना पापा को बताऊँगी। Don't do that kind of (disreputable) thing, or I'll tell papa.

(aisii-vaisii harkat mat karo, varnaa paapaa ko bataaoongii।)

मेरी बेटी किसी ऐसे-वैसे आदमी से बात नहीं करती। My daughter doesn't talk to just any disreputable sort of man.

(merii betii kisii aise-vaise aadmii se baat nahiin kartii।)

अगर उसने कोई ऐसी-वैसी बात कही हो, तो मुझे बताना। If he said any disreputable kind of thing, do let me know.

(agar usne koii aisii-vaisii baat kahii ho, to mujhe bataanaa।)

पड़ोसी हमेशा कहते थे कि उस लड़के की कोई ऐसी-वैसी हरकत मत सहना। The neighbors used to always say, don't tolerate that boy's disreputable behavior.

(padosii hameshaa kahte the ki us ladke kii koii aisii-vaisii harkat mat sahnaa।)

अगर वह ऐसा-वैसा आदमी होता, तो हम उसे इतनी इज़्ज़त कभी नहीं देते। If he were that kind of disreputable man, we would never have given him so much respect.

(agar vah aisaa-vaisaa aadmii hotaa, to ham use itnii izzat kabhii nahiin dete।)

ऐसी-वैसी सोच रखने वालों से दूर ही रहना चाहिए। One should stay away from those who hold that kind of disreputable thinking.

(aisii-vaisii soch rakhne vaalon se door hii rahnaa chaahie।)

उसे किसी ऐसी-वैसी जगह पर देखा गया था, इसलिए घर में हंगामा हो गया। He had been seen at some disreputable kind of place, so there was an uproar at home.

(use kisii aisii-vaisii jagah par dekhaa gayaa thaa, islie ghar men hangaamaa ho gayaa।)

बुज़ुर्ग अक्सर कहते हैं, ऐसी-वैसी औरतों के साथ मत उठो-बैठो। Elders often say, don't associate with women of that disreputable sort.

(buzurg aksar kahte hain, aisii-vaisii aurton ke saath mat utho-baitho।)

माँ ने सख़्ती से कहा, ऐसी-वैसी दोस्ती से कोई फ़ायदा नहीं होगा। Mother said sternly, no good will come of that kind of disreputable friendship.

(maan ne sakhtii se kahaa, aisii-vaisii dostii se koii faaydaa nahiin hogaa।)

क्या तुम्हें पता नहीं कि उस मोहल्ले में ऐसे-वैसे लोग भी रहते हैं? Don't you know that disreputable sorts of people also live in that neighborhood?

(kyaa tumhen pataa nahiin ki us mohalle men aise-vaise log bhii rahte hain?)

Sense 2 : ordinary, nothing special (used with negation)

adjective Common in the negated frame कोई ऐसी-वैसी बात नहीं (koii aisii-vaisii baat nahiin, 'it's not just any (ordinary) matter') to assert that someone/something is significant, not to be underestimated.

Synonyms: मामूली (maamoolii, ordinary)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This is a favorite bit of Bollywood-style bravado: वह ऐसा-वैसा आदमी नहीं है (vah aisaa-vaisaa aadmii nahiin hai, 'he's no ordinary man') puffs someone up as important or dangerous, often right before a dramatic reveal.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often miss that this sense only surfaces under negation -- वह ऐसा-वैसा आदमी नहीं है (vah aisaa-vaisaa aadmii nahiin hai, 'he's not just any (ordinary) man') praises the person; without नहीं (nahiin) the phrase reverts to the negative/disreputable sense.

Sample Sentences:

वह ऐसा-वैसा आदमी नहीं है। He's no ordinary man.

(vah aisaa-vaisaa aadmii nahiin hai।)

यह ऐसी-वैसी कंपनी नहीं है, यह पूरे शहर में मशहूर है। This isn't just any company, it's famous all over the city.

(yah aisii-vaisii kampnii nahiin hai, yah poore shahar men mashahoor hai।)

मेरे पिताजी ऐसे-वैसे इंसान नहीं थे, उन्होंने अकेले पूरा कारोबार खड़ा किया था। My father was no ordinary man, he built the whole business alone.

(mere pitaajii aise-vaise insaan nahiin the, unhonne akele pooraa kaarobaar khadaa kiyaa thaa।)

समझ लो, यह ऐसा-वैसा मामला नहीं है, इसमें बड़े लोगों का नाम जुड़ा है। Understand this, it's no ordinary matter, big names are tied to it.

(samajh lo, yah aisaa-vaisaa maamlaa nahiin hai, ismen bade logon kaa naam judaa hai।)

अगर वह ऐसा-वैसा खिलाड़ी होता, तो टीम इतना पैसा उस पर खर्च नहीं करती। If he were just any ordinary player, the team wouldn't spend so much money on him.

(agar vah aisaa-vaisaa khilaadii hotaa, to tiim itnaa paisaa us par kharch nahiin kartii।)

देख लेना, यह ऐसा-वैसा प्रोजेक्ट साबित नहीं होगा, यह पूरा नक्शा बदल देगा। Just watch, this won't turn out to be any ordinary project, it will change the whole picture.

(dekh lenaa, yah aisaa-vaisaa projekt saabit nahiin hogaa, yah pooraa nakshaa badal degaa।)

श्रीमान, यह ऐसा-वैसा प्रस्ताव नहीं है, इस पर गंभीरता से विचार किया जाना चाहिए। Sir, this is no ordinary proposal, it should be considered seriously.

(shriimaan, yah aisaa-vaisaa prastaav nahiin hai, is par gambhiirtaa se vichaar kiyaa jaanaa chaahie।)

अरे भाई, यह ऐसी-वैसी अंगूठी नहीं है, यह मेरी दादी की निशानी है। Hey man, this isn't just any ring, it's a keepsake from my grandmother.

(are bhaaii, yah aisii-vaisii angoothii nahiin hai, yah merii daadii kii nishaanii hai।)

उसकी आवाज़ में एक ऐसा दम था कि लोग समझ गए, यह ऐसा-वैसा गायक नहीं है। There was such power in his voice that people understood, he was no ordinary singer.

(uskii aavaaz men ek aisaa dam thaa ki log samajh gae, yah aisaa-vaisaa gaayak nahiin hai।)

Morphology

Adjective (variable)

Morphology could not be generated (hyphen-joined variable adjective 'ऐसा-वैसा').