بے کار
be-kār
The English word useless is بے کار (be-kār) in Urdu. Wiktionary also lists فضول (fazūl).
Meaning: without use or possibility to be used (adj)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| بے کار | be-kār | |
| فضول | fazūl | /fʊ.zuːl/ (Standard, Urdu) |
بے کار is commonly used to describe objects, tools or people who are unemployed or idle. فضول is frequently used to describe useless talk, unnecessary arguments or wasted resources.
What does it mean word for word?
The word بے کار is composed of the prefix بے meaning 'without' and کار meaning 'work' or 'use'.
Which one should you use?
While بے کار refers to something that has no function or utility, فضول often implies something that is redundant, superfluous or a waste of time/effort.
How do you pronounce it?
be-kār
Did you know?
- Even though کار sounds like the English word 'car', it actually comes from a completely different Sanskrit root meaning 'action' or 'work'.
- If you describe someone's advice as فضول, you are suggesting it is not just useless, but entirely unnecessary and intrusive.
- The word کار can refer to 'work', but it also refers to 'deeds' or 'actions' in many poetic contexts.
Examples in context
- یہ پورے دن کا بے فائدہ کام ہوگیا۔The whole day has become useless.
- اس طریقے کا استعمال بیکار ہے۔The use of this method is useless.
- یہ پرانا فون اب بے کار ہے۔yeh purana phone ab bekaar hai.This old phone is useless now.
- وہ مشین بالکل بے کار ہو چکی ہے۔woh machine bilkul bekaar ho chuki hai.That machine has become completely useless.
- اس ٹوٹے ہوئے کھلونے کا کیا فائدہ؟ یہ بے کار ہے۔is toote huay khilone ka kya faida? yeh bekaar hai.What is the use of this broken toy? It is useless.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Fatima are looking at a broken electronic device in their living room.
- فاطمہ Fatimaاحمد، کیا یہ ریڈیو ٹھیک ہو سکتا ہے؟Ahmed, kya yeh radio theek ho sakta hai?Ahmed, can this radio be fixed?
- احمد Ahmedنہیں فاطمہ، یہ بالکل بے کار ہے۔Nahi Fatima, yeh bilkul bekaar hai.No Fatima, it is completely useless.
- فاطمہ Fatimaکیا ہمیں اسے ٹھیک کرنے کی کوشش کرنی چاہیے؟Kya hamein isay theek karnay ki koshish karni chahiye?Should we try to fix it?
- احمد Ahmedنہیں، اس پر وقت ضائع نہ کرو۔Nahi, is par waqt zaya na karo.No, don't waste time on it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “useless” translations and entries بے کار, فضول, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بے, بے کار, فضول, کار, CC BY-SA 4.0.
