Hindi · Real conversations
Support and boundaries: Hindi conversation practice
Show care while being clear about your limits. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
B1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A friend having a thoughtful private conversation.
Goal: Show care while being clear about your limits.
Read the conversation
Partner
हफ्ता मुश्किल रहा, लेकिन समझ नहीं आ रहा क्या कहूँ।hafta mushkil raha, lekin samajh nahin aa raha kya kahoon.
Show English translation
I've had a hard week, but I'm not sure what to say.
You
क्या आप इसके बारे में बात करना चाहेंगे?kya aap iske baare mein baat karna chaahenge?
Show English translation
Would you like to talk about it?
Partner
शायद बाद में। क्या पूछ सकता / सकती हूँ कि आपने पिछली नौकरी क्यों छोड़ी?shaayad baad mein. kya poochh sakta / sakti hoon ki aapne pichhli naukri kyon chhodi?
Show English translation
Maybe later. Can I ask why you left your last job?
You
मैं इस पर बात नहीं करना चाहूँगा / चाहूँगी।main is par baat nahin karna chaahoonga / chaahoongi.
Show English translation
I'd prefer not to discuss that.
Partner
ज़रूर। मुझे लगा कि आज फैसला करने से बात आसान होगी।zaroor. mujhe laga ki aaj faisla karne se baat aasaan hogi.
Show English translation
Of course. I thought deciding today would make things easier.
You
मैं आपकी बात समझता/समझती हूँ, लेकिन मुझे और समय चाहिए।main aapki baat samajhta/samajhti hoon, lekin mujhe aur samay chahiye.
Show English translation
I see what you mean, but I need more time.
Partner
आराम से सोचिए। क्या आप चाहेंगे / चाहेंगी कि मैं यह समूह को बताऊँ?aaraam se sochiye. kya aap chaahenge / chaahengi ki main yah samooh ko bataoon?
Show English translation
Take your time. Would you like me to share this with the group?
You
मुझे इसमें सहज नहीं लग रहा।mujhe ismein sahaj nahin lag raha.
Show English translation
I don't feel comfortable with that.
Partner
मैं नहीं बताऊँगा / बताऊँगी। इसकी जगह हम कल मिल सकते हैं।main nahin bataoonga / bataoongi. iski jagah ham kal mil sakte hain.
Show English translation
I won't share it. We could meet tomorrow instead.
You
मुझे इसके बारे में सोचने दीजिए।mujhe iske baare mein sochne dijiye.
Show English translation
Let me think about it.
Try your part first
Partner says: I've had a hard week, but I'm not sure what to say. Your goal: Would you like to talk about it?
Reveal a sample reply
क्या आप इसके बारे में बात करना चाहेंगे?kya aap iske baare mein baat karna chaahenge?
Would you like to talk about it?
Partner says: Maybe later. Can I ask why you left your last job? Your goal: I'd prefer not to discuss that.
Reveal a sample reply
मैं इस पर बात नहीं करना चाहूँगा / चाहूँगी।main is par baat nahin karna chaahoonga / chaahoongi.
I'd prefer not to discuss that.
Partner says: Of course. I thought deciding today would make things easier. Your goal: I see what you mean, but I need more time.
Reveal a sample reply
मैं आपकी बात समझता/समझती हूँ, लेकिन मुझे और समय चाहिए।main aapki baat samajhta/samajhti hoon, lekin mujhe aur samay chahiye.
I see what you mean, but I need more time.
Partner says: Take your time. Would you like me to share this with the group? Your goal: I don't feel comfortable with that.
Reveal a sample reply
मुझे इसमें सहज नहीं लग रहा।mujhe ismein sahaj nahin lag raha.
I don't feel comfortable with that.
Partner says: I won't share it. We could meet tomorrow instead. Your goal: Let me think about it.
Reveal a sample reply
मुझे इसके बारे में सोचने दीजिए।mujhe iske baare mein sochne dijiye.
Let me think about it.
Make it your own
- Offer company instead of advice.
- Set a different boundary.
- Ask for time before answering.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Hindi
These examples generally use respectful आप (aap). Familiar तुम (tum) changes the verb ending, and तू (tu) can sound too intimate or disrespectful in the wrong relationship. Where gender changes a first-person form, choose the version that describes the speaker.
Read the Devanagari alongside the romanization. Romanization is a reading aid rather than an exact description of every sound. Everyday Hindi can use familiar loanwords, while a literal English word order may sound unnatural.
