← Grammar

Negation

nahin, na, mat - three flavors of "no".

nahin - the everyday negator

Goes before the verb. "I am not eating" = "Main nahin kha raha".

میں نہیں جا رہا
Main nahin ja rahaI am not going
مجھے پسند نہیں
Mujhe pasand nahinI do not like it

mat - for prohibitions (commands)

Use mat in a negative imperative: "do not". "Mat jao" = "Don't go".

مت جاؤ
Mat jaoDon't go
یہ مت کرو
Yeh mat karoDon't do this

na - softer, often paired

na is gentler - "na karo" is less harsh than "mat karo". Also pairs with subjunctive: "na jaao to behtar" (better if you don't go).