घूस खाना (ghoos khaanaa)
verb
A compound verb meaning 'to take a bribe' -- literally 'to eat a bribe,' using the eating metaphor Hindi favors for illicit gain.
Sense
1
:
to take a bribe
verb, transitive
Synonyms: रिश्वत लेना (rishvat lenaa), घूस लेना (ghoos lenaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: The image of 'eating' a bribe is deeply embedded in Hindi -- a corrupt official is often described as एक नंबर का घूसखोर (ek nambar kaa ghooskhor, 'a first-class bribe-taker'), where घूसखोर (ghooskhor) literally means 'bribe-eater.' This eating metaphor for illicit gain shows up elsewhere too, like कमीशन खाना (kamiishan khaanaa, 'to skim a commission'), reflecting a broader Hindi pattern where खाना (khaanaa) extends beyond food to anything consumed for private benefit at others' expense.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say घूस लेना (ghoos lenaa, 'to take a bribe') instead, which is also correct and arguably more common in formal/written contexts -- घूस खाना (ghoos khaanaa) is the more colloquial, spoken-register version, evoking the corrupt official 'feeding' off bribes. 2) The object घूस (ghoos) is not marked with ने (ne) despite खाना (khaanaa) being transitive with a direct object -- this follows normal ने-marking rules, but learners sometimes hesitate here because the idiom feels fixed.
Sample Sentences:
वह हर काम के लिए घूस खाता है।
He takes a bribe for every single task.
(vah har kaam ke lie ghoos khaataa hai।)
पुलिसवाले ने चालान फाड़ने के लिए पाँच सौ रुपये की घूस खाई।
The policeman took a five-hundred-rupee bribe to tear up the ticket.
(pulisvaale ne chaalaan phaadne ke lie paanch sau rupye kii ghoos khaaii।)
अफसर घूस खाते-खाते इतना निडर हो गया था कि खुले में पैसे माँगता था।
The officer had become so brazen from taking bribes constantly that he demanded money openly.
(aphsar ghoos khaate-khaate itnaa nidar ho gayaa thaa ki khule men paise maangtaa thaa।)
अगर वह घूस खा रहा होता, तो कैमरे में साफ दिख जाता।
If he had been taking a bribe, it would have shown clearly on camera.
(agar vah ghoos khaa rahaa hotaa, to kaimre men saaph dikh jaataa।)
घूस मत खाओ, वरना एक दिन जेल पहुँच जाओगे।
Don't take bribes, or you'll end up in jail one day.
(ghoos mat khaao, varnaa ek din jel pahunch jaaoge।)
क्लर्क पर आरोप है कि उसने फाइल आगे बढ़ाने के लिए घूस खाई।
The clerk is accused of taking a bribe to move the file forward.
(klark par aarop hai ki usne phaail aage badhaane ke lie ghoos khaaii।)
शायद ठेकेदार ने भी इस बार घूस खाई हो।
Perhaps the contractor took a bribe this time too.
(shaayad thekedaar ne bhii is baar ghoos khaaii ho।)
पकड़े जाने पर पता चला कि इंस्पेक्टर को घूस खाते हुए रिकॉर्ड किया गया था।
When he was caught, it turned out the inspector had been recorded taking a bribe.
(pakde jaane par pataa chalaa ki inspektar ko ghoos khaate hue rikord kiyaa gayaa thaa।)
वह एक नंबर का घूसखोर है, बिना घूस खाए एक फाइल भी नहीं सरकाता।
He's a first-class bribe-taker; he won't move even one file without taking a bribe.
(vah ek nambar kaa ghooskhor hai, binaa ghoos khaae ek phaail bhii nahiin sarkaataa।)
उस विभाग में तो अफसर से लेकर चपरासी तक सब घूस खाते हैं।
In that department, everyone from the officer down to the peon takes bribes.
(us vibhaag men to aphsar se lekar chapraasii tak sab ghoos khaate hain।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
घूस खाना
(ghoos khaanaa)
infinitive oblique:
घूस खाने
(ghoos khaane)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
घूस खाता
(ghoos khaataa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
घूस खाते
(ghoos khaate)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
घूस खाती
(ghoos khaatii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
घूस खातीं
(ghoos khaatiin)
continuous (sg.m):
घूस खा रहा
(ghoos khaa rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
घूस खा रहे
(ghoos khaa rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
घूस खा रही
(ghoos khaa rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
घूस खा रहीं
(ghoos khaa rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
घूस खाया
(ghoos khaayaa)
perfective (pl.m):
घूस खाए
(ghoos khaae)
perfective (sg.f):
घूस खाई
(ghoos khaaii)
perfective (pl.f):
घूस खाईं
(ghoos khaaiin)
imperative (informal):
घूस खा
(ghoos khaa)
imperative (neutral):
घूस खाओ
(ghoos khaao)
imperative (formal):
घूस खाइए
(ghoos khaaie)
future (1sg.m):
घूस खाऊँगा
(ghoos khaaoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
घूस खाऊँगी
(ghoos khaaoongii)
future (1pl.m):
घूस खाएँगे
(ghoos khaaenge)
future (1pl.f):
घूस खाएँगी
(ghoos khaaengii)
future (2sg.m):
घूस खाएगा
(ghoos khaaegaa)
future (2sg.f):
घूस खाएगी
(ghoos khaaegii)
future (2pl.m):
घूस खाओगे
(ghoos khaaoge)
future (2pl.f):
घूस खाओगी
(ghoos khaaogii)
future (3sg.m):
घूस खाएगा
(ghoos khaaegaa)
future (3sg.f):
घूस खाएगी
(ghoos khaaegii)
future (3pl.m):
घूस खाएँगे
(ghoos khaaenge)
future (3pl.f):
घूस खाएँगी
(ghoos khaaengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
घूस खाऊँ
(ghoos khaaoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
घूस खाएँ
(ghoos khaaen)
subjunctive (2sg):
घूस खाए
(ghoos khaae)
subjunctive (2pl):
घूस खाओ
(ghoos khaao)
subjunctive (3sg):
घूस खाए
(ghoos khaae)
subjunctive (3pl):
घूस खाएँ
(ghoos khaaen)