When learning Hindi, one of the fundamental aspects you’ll encounter is the use of verbs in their various forms. Two very common but often confusing verb forms are करना (karna) and कराना (karana). Essentially, these verbs translate to “doing” and “getting done” respectively in English. Understanding the difference between these two can significantly improve your command over Hindi language usage, especially in everyday conversations.
Understanding करना (karna)
The verb करना (karna) means “to do” in English. It is a direct verb that indicates the subject of the sentence is performing the action by themselves. This verb form is straightforward and is used when the action is being done directly by the subject.
For example:
- मैं खाना बना रहा हूँ। (Main khana bana raha hoon.) – “I am making food.”
- वह किताब पढ़ रही है। (Woh kitab padh rahi hai.) – “She is reading a book.”
In these examples, the subjects (‘I’ and ‘she’) are performing the actions (‘making’ and ‘reading’) themselves.
Understanding कराना (karana)
On the other hand, कराना (karana) translates to “to get done” or “to have something done.” This form of the verb is used when the subject is causing someone else to perform the action, essentially when the action is being delegated.
For example:
- मैंने अपनी कार साफ करवाई। (Maine apni car saaf karwai.) – “I got my car cleaned.”
- राज अपने बाल कटवा रहा है। (Raj apne baal katwa raha hai.) – “Raj is getting his hair cut.”
In these examples, the subjects (‘I’ and ‘Raj’) are not performing the actions themselves; instead, they are having someone else do it for them.
When to Use कराना (karana)
The use of कराना (karana) is particularly useful in situations where the subject of the sentence needs to delegate tasks or when an action is indirectly caused by the subject. It’s a crucial verb form for expressing causative actions in Hindi.
- उसने अपना होमवर्क पूरा करवाया। (Usne apna homework poora karvaya.) – “He had his homework completed.”
- मैं मेरे कपड़े धुलवाने जा रहा हूँ। (Main mere kapde dhulwane ja raha hoon.) – “I am going to have my clothes washed.”
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between करना (karna) and कराना (karana) is essential for mastering Hindi verbs. This distinction helps in effectively communicating whether you are doing something yourself or arranging for someone else to do it. Regular practice with these verbs will help in building your proficiency and confidence in handling various conversational scenarios in Hindi.
