Punjabi was one of the subjects my maximum marks came from. Its syllabus is limited, and nothing beyond the Punjab Board books of classes 10, 11 and 12 is needed. Papers like SI also have a separate qualifying Punjabi paper, so never take it lightly. These five grammar areas are asked the most. The full tables are on the Punjabi edition of this page; below are the essentials.
What this topic covers
Muhavare (idioms)
A phrase whose meaning differs from its literal words, completed when used in a sentence.
- ਅੱਖਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਘੱਟਾ ਪਾਉਣਾ: to deceive.
- ਈਦ ਦਾ ਚੰਨ ਹੋਣਾ: to be seen after a long time.
- ਅੱਗ ਬਬੂਲਾ ਹੋਣਾ: to be furious.
- ਦੰਦ ਖੱਟੇ ਕਰਨੇ: to defeat badly.
- ਹਵਾ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਕਰਨੀਆਂ: to run very fast.
- ਪੱਤਰਾ ਵਾਚ ਜਾਣਾ: to run away.
- ਲੋਹੇ ਦੇ ਚਣੇ ਚੱਬਣੇ: to do something very hard.
Akhan (proverbs)
A complete sentence carrying long experience.
- ਨਾਚ ਨਾ ਜਾਣੇ ਵਿਹੜਾ ਟੇਢਾ: blaming others for your own shortcoming.
- ਇੱਕ ਅਨਾਰ ਸੌ ਬਿਮਾਰ: too little of a thing for too many who need it.
- ਨੌਂ ਨਕਦ ਨਾ ਤੇਰਾਂ ਉਧਾਰ: a little in cash is better than more on credit.
- ਅੰਨ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਾਣਾ ਰਾਜਾ: among fools, the slightly wise is king.
- ਦੂਰ ਦੇ ਢੋਲ ਸੁਹਾਵਣੇ: things look better from afar.
Samas (compounds)
| Type | How to identify | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tatpurakh | Second word is main; "ਦਾ, ਦੀ, ਨੂੰ, ਲਈ" hidden between | ਰਾਜਪੁੱਤਰ (ਰਾਜੇ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ) |
| Karmdharya | First word describes the second | ਮਹਾਂਪੁਰਖ (ਮਹਾਨ ਪੁਰਖ) |
| Dvigu | First word is a number; sense of a group | ਪੰਜਾਬ (ਪੰਜ ਆਬ), ਚੌਰਾਹਾ |
| Dvand | Both words equal; "ਅਤੇ" hidden | ਮਾਂ-ਪਿਓ, ਦਿਨ-ਰਾਤ |
| Bahubrihi | Together they point to a third person or thing | ਨੀਲਕੰਠ (Shiva), ਲੰਬੋਦਰ (Ganesh) |
| Avyayibhav | First word is indeclinable; whole works as an adverb | ਹਰ ਰੋਜ਼, ਯਥਾਸ਼ਕਤੀ |
Some books classify a few examples differently; follow the Punjab Board book.
One word for many, and antonyms
- ਜਿਸਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਅੰਤ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ → ਅਨੰਤ; ਜੋ ਰੱਬ ਨੂੰ ਨਾ ਮੰਨੇ → ਨਾਸਤਿਕ; ਜੋ ਮਾਸ ਨਾ ਖਾਵੇ → ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ.
- Antonyms: ਆਸਤਿਕ–ਨਾਸਤਿਕ, ਉਸਤਤ–ਨਿੰਦਾ, ਸਾਕਾਰ–ਨਿਰਾਕਾਰ, ਉਪਜਾਊ–ਬੰਜਰ, ਸੁਗੰਧ–ਦੁਰਗੰਧ.
How it is asked in the exam
- Meaning of an idiom or proverb, with four close options.
- "Which samas is ਮਾਂ-ਪਿਓ?" (Dvand.) "Which samas is ਪੰਜਾਬ?" (Dvigu.)
- One word for a phrase, and antonym of a given word.
- Completing a proverb.
Points to remember
- To separate Dvigu from Bahubrihi, ask: does the word point to a third person? If yes, Bahubrihi.
- An idiom is incomplete, a proverb is complete. Idioms usually end in "-ਣਾ / -ਨਾ".
- Antonyms often use the prefixes ਅ-, ਨਿ-, ਦੁ-.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the literal meaning of an idiom.
- Calling ਨੀਲਕੰਠ Karmdharya when it means Shiva; it points to a third, so it is Bahubrihi.
- Only memorising lists. Use every idiom in a sentence of your own, and you won't forget it.
Practise straight after reading
Copy all the idioms and proverbs from the grammar section of the Punjab Board books into one notebook, with your own sentence for each. Read 20 a day and revise with 1-7-30. Then solve the Punjabi quizzes on this site.