बेचारा (bechaaraa)
adjective/noun
An adjective/noun meaning 'poor thing, helpless one' -- an expression of pity or mild condescension toward someone in an unfortunate situation.
Sense
1
:
pitiable, helpless (poor thing)
adjective
Synonyms: गरीब (gariib, used loosely for 'pitiable' rather than 'poor in money'), मजबूर (majboor, helpless/compelled)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you reach for when clicking your tongue in sympathy -- a friend who got soaked in the rain, a stray dog shivering in winter, a kid who failed an exam despite trying hard. It carries genuine warmth, but be aware it can also tip into gentle condescension, as in बेचारा, उसे कुछ नहीं आता (bechaaraa, use kuchh nahiin aataa, 'poor guy, he doesn't know anything'), where the pity has a slight edge of dismissal.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often confuse this with गरीब (gariib), which primarily means financially poor; बेचारा (bechaaraa) is about being pitiable or helpless, regardless of wealth -- a rich person can be बेचारा (bechaaraa) if they're in a sad situation. 2) It agrees in gender/number like a regular -आ adjective (बेचारी (bechaarii) for feminine, बेचारे (bechaare) for plural/oblique), which learners sometimes forget to adjust when describing a woman or multiple people.
Sample Sentences:
बेचारा राहुल पूरी रात बारिश में भीगता रहा।
Poor Rahul kept getting soaked in the rain all night.
(bechaaraa raahul poorii raat baarish men bhiigtaa rahaa।)
बेचारी बिल्ली सर्दी में ठंड से कांप रही थी।
The poor cat was shivering from the cold in winter.
(bechaarii billii sardii men thand se kaamp rahii thii।)
बेचारा, उसे कुछ नहीं आता।
Poor guy, he doesn't know anything.
(bechaaraa, use kuchh nahiin aataa।)
बेचारे बच्चे ने इतनी मेहनत की, फिर भी फेल हो गया।
The poor kid worked so hard, and still ended up failing.
(bechaare bachche ne itnii mehnat kii, phir bhii phel ho gayaa।)
उस बेचारे आदमी की दुकान आग में जल गई।
That poor man's shop burned down in the fire.
(us bechaare aadmii kii dukaan aag men jal gaii।)
बेचारी लड़की को कोई मदद नहीं मिलती।
The poor girl doesn't get any help.
(bechaarii ladkii ko koii madad nahiin miltii।)
काश उस बेचारे मरीज़ के पास इलाज के पैसे होते।
If only that poor patient had had money for treatment.
(kaash us bechaare mariiz ke paas ilaaj ke paise hote।)
उस बेचारे कर्मचारी को बिना किसी वजह के नौकरी से निकाल दिया गया।
That poor employee was fired without any reason.
(us bechaare karmchaarii ko binaa kisii vajah ke naukrii se nikaal diyaa gayaa।)
ज़रा उस बेचारे बूढ़े आदमी की मदद तो कर दो।
Just go and help that poor old man, will you.
(zaraa us bechaare boodhe aadmii kii madad to kar do।)
हे प्रभु, इस बेचारे जीव पर कृपा करो।
O Lord, have mercy on this poor helpless creature.
(he prabhu, is bechaare jiiv par kripaa karo।)
मुझे नहीं लगता कि उस बेचारे मज़दूर को कभी न्याय मिलेगा।
I don't think that poor laborer will ever get justice.
(mujhe nahiin lagtaa ki us bechaare mazdoor ko kabhii nyaay milegaa।)
Sense
2
:
a pitiable/helpless person (used as a noun)
noun, masculine/feminine Functions as a noun when used standalone to refer to the person, without a following noun it modifies -- e.g. बेचारा क्या करता (bechaaraa kyaa kartaa, 'what could the poor fellow do').
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll often hear this used almost like an interjection tacked onto a story -- someone describes a mishap and finishes with बेचारा! (bechaaraa), the way an English speaker might sigh 'poor thing!' This noun use is really the same word as the adjective, just standing on its own rather than describing a following noun.
Sample Sentences:
बेचारा! कितनी मुश्किल में फँस गया।
Poor thing! He got stuck in such a difficult situation.
(bechaaraa! kitnii mushkil men phans gayaa।)
बेचारा सारी रात स्टेशन पर बैठा रहा।
Poor fellow sat at the station all night.
(bechaaraa saarii raat steshan par baithaa rahaa।)
बेचारी को किसी ने मदद नहीं की।
Nobody helped the poor thing.
(bechaarii ko kisii ne madad nahiin kii।)
बेचारे को हर बार डाँट पड़ती है।
The poor fellow gets scolded every single time.
(bechaare ko har baar daant padtii hai।)
काश किसी बेचारे को इतना कष्ट न सहना पड़े।
I wish no poor soul had to suffer so much.
(kaash kisii bechaare ko itnaa kasht n sahnaa pade।)
अगर वह बेचारा समय पर पहुँच जाता, तो नौकरी बच जाती।
If the poor fellow had reached on time, his job would have been saved.
(agar vah bechaaraa samay par pahunch jaataa, to naukrii bach jaatii।)
बेचारे को क्या पता था कि ऐसा होगा।
How was the poor fellow to know this would happen?
(bechaare ko kyaa pataa thaa ki aisaa hogaa।)
अरे बेचारे को अकेला मत छोड़ो, उसकी तबीयत ठीक नहीं है।
Hey, don't leave the poor thing alone, he's not feeling well.
(are bechaare ko akelaa mat chhodo, uskii tabiiyat thiik nahiin hai।)
उस बेचारे को नौकरी से निकाल दिया गया।
That poor fellow was fired from his job.
(us bechaare ko naukrii se nikaal diyaa gayaa।)
बेचारी, उसका सारा सामान चोरी हो गया।
Poor thing, all her belongings got stolen.
(bechaarii, uskaa saaraa saamaan chorii ho gayaa।)
उस बेचारे के बारे में सोचकर मुझे बुरा लगता है।
Thinking about that poor fellow makes me feel bad.
(us bechaare ke baare men sochkar mujhe buraa lagtaa hai।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
बेचारा
(bechaaraa)
(pl.m):
बेचारे
(bechaare)
(sg.f):
बेचारी
(bechaarii)
(pl.f):
बेचारी
(bechaarii)
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct):
बेचारा
(bechaaraa)
(sg.m/f.oblique):
बेचारा
(bechaaraa)
(pl.m/f.direct):
बेचाराएँ
(bechaaraaen)
(pl.m/f.oblique):
बेचाराओं
(bechaaraaon)