ख़ाली-हाथ (khaalii-haath)
adjective
Literally 'empty-handed'; used both literally (arriving without a gift or without bringing anything) and figuratively (returning from an effort with nothing to show for it, i.e. unsuccessful).
Sense
1
:
empty-handed (literal, without bringing anything)
adjective Functions as an invariant adjective/adverbial modifier, typically paired with verbs of coming or going: ख़ाली-हाथ आना (khaalii-haath aanaa, 'to come empty-handed'), ख़ाली-हाथ जाना (khaalii-haath jaanaa, 'to go empty-handed').
Synonyms: बिना कुछ लिए (binaa kuchh lie, without bringing anything)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In North Indian households, showing up ख़ाली-हाथ (khaalii-haath) to someone's home, especially for a festival or family visit, is considered mildly impolite -- a small box of mithai or fruit is the norm. This is why hosts and guests alike joke about it, and why the phrase carries a light social judgment beyond its literal meaning.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to inflect it like an ordinary -आ adjective (e.g. adding gender/number endings); it stays fixed as ख़ाली-हाथ (khaalii-haath) regardless of the subject's gender or number.
Sample Sentences:
शादी में ख़ाली-हाथ मत जाओ, कुछ मिठाई ले लो।
Don't go to the wedding empty-handed, get some sweets.
(shaadii men khaalii-haath mat jaao, kuchh mithaaii le lo।)
वह दिवाली पर मामा के घर ख़ाली-हाथ पहुँच गया।
He arrived at his maternal uncle's house empty-handed on Diwali.
(vah divaalii par maamaa ke ghar khaalii-haath pahunch gayaa।)
मुझे ख़ाली-हाथ जाना अच्छा नहीं लगता, इसलिए फल ले लेती हूँ।
I don't like going empty-handed, so I bring fruit.
(mujhe khaalii-haath jaanaa achchhaa nahiin lagtaa, islie phal le letii hoon।)
अगर वह ख़ाली-हाथ आया, तो सब उसे टोकेंगे।
If he comes empty-handed, everyone will tease him about it.
(agar vah khaalii-haath aayaa, to sab use tokenge।)
अतिथियों को ख़ाली-हाथ भेजना हमारी परंपरा में उचित नहीं माना जाता।
Sending guests away empty-handed is not considered proper in our tradition.
(atithiyon ko khaalii-haath bhejnaa hamaarii parampraa men uchit nahiin maanaa jaataa।)
काश मैं ख़ाली-हाथ न आया होता, कम से कम कुछ फल तो ले आता।
I wish I hadn't come empty-handed, I could at least have brought some fruit.
(kaash main khaalii-haath n aayaa hotaa, kam se kam kuchh phal to le aataa।)
बच्चे मौसी के घर ख़ाली-हाथ आते हुए थोड़े शर्मा रहे थे।
The children were a bit shy about coming to their aunt's house empty-handed.
(bachche mausii ke ghar khaalii-haath aate hue thode sharmaa rahe the।)
कृपया ख़ाली-हाथ न आएँ, कुछ भी छोटा-सा उपहार ले आइए।
Please don't come empty-handed, bring some small gift or the other.
(kripyaa khaalii-haath n aaen, kuchh bhii chhotaa-saa upahaar le aaie।)
पड़ोसी शायद ख़ाली-हाथ न आए, क्योंकि उसे हमारे रीति-रिवाज़ पता हैं।
The neighbor probably won't come empty-handed, since he knows our customs.
(padosii shaayad khaalii-haath n aae, kyonki use hamaare riiti-rivaaz pataa hain।)
पहले के ज़माने में मेहमान कभी ख़ाली-हाथ नहीं आते थे।
In earlier times, guests never used to come empty-handed.
(pahle ke zamaane men mehmaan kabhii khaalii-haath nahiin aate the।)
Sense
2
:
empty-handed, unsuccessful (figurative, having gained nothing)
adjective Common in the pattern ख़ाली-हाथ लौटना (khaalii-haath lautnaa, 'to return empty-handed') meaning an effort, negotiation, or search yielded nothing.
Synonyms: नाकाम (naakaam, unsuccessful), निराश (niraash, disappointed, partial overlap)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This figurative sense shows up often in news and everyday complaint -- a candidate returning ख़ाली-हाथ (khaalii-haath) from an interview, or a team from a tournament -- extending the physical image of empty hands to empty results.
Sample Sentences:
इस बार भी हमारी टीम टूर्नामेंट से ख़ाली-हाथ लौटी।
This time too, our team returned from the tournament empty-handed.
(is baar bhii hamaarii tiim toornaament se khaalii-haath lautii।)
वह इंटरव्यू देकर ख़ाली-हाथ घर आया।
He gave the interview and came home empty-handed.
(vah intravyoo dekar khaalii-haath ghar aayaa।)
सरकार की योजनाओं के बावजूद कई किसान ख़ाली-हाथ रह जाते हैं।
Despite the government's schemes, many farmers end up with nothing to show for it.
(sarkaar kii yojnaaon ke baavjood kaii kisaan khaalii-haath rah jaate hain।)
अगर तुमने अभी से तैयारी नहीं की, तो परीक्षा के बाद ख़ाली-हाथ रहोगे।
If you don't start preparing now, you'll be left with nothing after the exam.
(agar tumne abhii se taiyaarii nahiin kii, to pariikshaa ke baad khaalii-haath rahoge।)
काश वह ख़ाली-हाथ न लौटा होता, तो सबका हौसला बढ़ता।
If only he hadn't come back empty-handed, everyone's morale would have lifted.
(kaash vah khaalii-haath n lautaa hotaa, to sabkaa hauslaa badhtaa।)
इतनी मेहनत के बाद भी ख़ाली-हाथ रहना बहुत निराश करता है।
Even after so much hard work, ending up with nothing to show for it is deeply disheartening.
(itnii mehnat ke baad bhii khaalii-haath rahnaa bahut niraash kartaa hai।)
उम्मीद है कि इस बार वह ख़ाली-हाथ न लौटे।
One hopes that this time he doesn't return empty-handed.
(ummiid hai ki is baar vah khaalii-haath n laute।)
बरसों की तपस्या के बाद भी साधक ख़ाली-हाथ ही रह गया।
Even after years of penance, the seeker was left with nothing to show for it.
(barson kii tapasyaa ke baad bhii saadhak khaalii-haath hii rah gayaa।)
चुनाव हारने के बाद वह नेता पूरी तरह ख़ाली-हाथ हो गया।
After losing the election, that leader was left completely empty-handed.
(chunaav haarne ke baad vah netaa poorii tarah khaalii-haath ho gayaa।)
इतने बड़े निवेश के बाद कंपनी को ख़ाली-हाथ नहीं रहना चाहिए।
After such a big investment, the company shouldn't be left with nothing to show for it.
(itne bade nivesh ke baad kampnii ko khaalii-haath nahiin rahnaa chaahie।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
ख़ाली-हाथ
([[ख़ाली-हाथ]])