कब (kab)
adverb
An interrogative adverb meaning 'when', used to ask about time; also appears in a few fixed idiomatic turns of phrase expressing surprise or rhetorical emphasis.
Sense
1
:
when (question word)
adverb
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is one of the first question words learners meet, right alongside क्या (kyaa, 'what') and कहाँ (kahaan, 'where'). Notice the family resemblance: कब (kab, 'when'), कहाँ (kahaan, 'where'), कैसे (kaise, 'how'), कौन (kaun, 'who') -- most Hindi question words share that initial क- (k) sound, which is a handy memory hook.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes place कब (kab) at the end of the sentence as in English word order ('You are coming when?'); in Hindi it goes right before the verb phrase, e.g. तुम कब आओगे (tum kab aaoge, 'when will you come'). 2) Do not confuse with कभी (kabhii, 'ever/sometime'), which is not a question word -- कब (kab) always asks or marks a direct/indirect question, while कभी (kabhii) refers to an indefinite time.
Sample Sentences:
तुम कब आओगे?
When will you come?
(tum kab aaoge?)
आपकी ट्रेन कब आती है?
When does your train arrive?
(aapkii tren kab aatii hai?)
पार्टी कब थी?
When was the party?
(paartii kab thii?)
मुझे नहीं पता कि मीटिंग कब शुरू होगी।
I don't know when the meeting will start.
(mujhe nahiin pataa ki miiting kab shuroo hogii।)
क्या आप बता सकते हैं कि दुकान कब खुलती है?
Can you tell me when the shop opens?
(kyaa aap bataa sakte hain ki dukaan kab khultii hai?)
पता नहीं वो कब सो गया।
No idea when he fell asleep.
(pataa nahiin vo kab so gayaa।)
यह कब हो रहा है, यह अभी तय नहीं है।
It's not yet decided when this is happening.
(yah kab ho rahaa hai, yah abhii tay nahiin hai।)
बताओ, तुमने कब सोचा कि इस्तीफा दे दो?
Tell me, when did you think of resigning?
(bataao, tumne kab sochaa ki istiiphaa de do?)
काश मुझे पता होता कि परीक्षा कब है।
I wish I knew when the exam was.
(kaash mujhe pataa hotaa ki pariikshaa kab hai।)
देखते हैं कब मौका मिलता है।
Let's see when we get a chance.
(dekhte hain kab maukaa miltaa hai।)
निर्णय कब लिया जाएगा, यह अभी स्पष्ट नहीं है।
It is not yet clear when the decision will be taken.
(nirnay kab liyaa jaaegaa, yah abhii spasht nahiin hai।)
Sense
2
:
rhetorical 'never' (implying the opposite of when/ever)
adverb Used in a rhetorical question to assert the opposite -- मैंने कब कहा? (mainne kab kahaa?, 'when did I say that?') implies 'I never said that.'
Synonyms: कभी नहीं (kabhii nahiin, 'never')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Delhi speakers love this rhetorical jab -- it lets you deny something with a bit of attitude instead of a flat नहीं (nahiin, 'no'). You will hear it a lot in arguments between friends or siblings, often with a raised eyebrow and a stretched-out tone on कब (kab).
Common Mistakes: 1) This use can trip up learners because it looks like a genuine question but is actually a strong denial -- मैं कब मानता हूँ! (main kab maantaa hoon!, 'when do I ever agree!') means 'I never agree', not a real question expecting a time as an answer.
Sample Sentences:
मैंने कब कहा कि मुझे पैसे नहीं चाहिए?
When did I ever say I don't want the money? (I never said that.)
(mainne kab kahaa ki mujhe paise nahiin chaahie?)
तूने कब मेरी बात सुनी है?
When have you ever listened to me? (You never do.)
(toone kab merii baat sunii hai?)
मैं कब मना करता हूँ तुम्हें?
When do I ever refuse you? (I never do.)
(main kab manaa kartaa hoon tumhen?)
वो कब झूठ बोलता है, भई?
When does he ever lie, man? (He never lies.)
(vo kab jhooth boltaa hai, bhaii?)
हमने कब कहा था कि हम नहीं आएँगे?
When had we ever said we wouldn't come? (We never said any such thing.)
(hamne kab kahaa thaa ki ham nahiin aaenge?)
यह काम कब मुश्किल था तुम्हारे लिए?
When was this work ever difficult for you? (It never was.)
(yah kaam kab mushkil thaa tumhaare lie?)
मैंने कब कहा था कि मुझे तुमसे प्यार नहीं?
When did I ever say I don't love you? (I never said that.)
(mainne kab kahaa thaa ki mujhe tumse pyaar nahiin?)
आपने कब यह बात मानी है, बताइए तो?
When have you ever accepted this, tell me? (You never have.)
(aapne kab yah baat maanii hai, bataaie to?)
मैं कब कमज़ोर पड़ा हूँ इस लड़ाई में?
When have I ever faltered in this fight? (I never have.)
(main kab kamzor padaa hoon is ladaaii men?)