Introduction

The English expressions “meant to,” “meant for,” and “meant to be” (का मतलब होना / ke liye tay kiya gaya / hone ke liye likha gaya) are subtle yet powerful phrases that convey intention, suitability, and destiny. They are frequently used in both casual conversations and formal writing, and mastering their usage can significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension. Many learners, especially Hindi-speaking students, struggle with these expressions due to their nuanced meanings and similar structures. This article will guide you through the detailed use of these phrases, providing beginner to advanced-level explanations, contextual examples, translations, exercises, and tips to help you fully grasp their meaning and correct usage.

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Basic Level: Understanding the Fundamentals

At the beginner level, it’s essential to build a strong foundation by understanding the basic meanings and common uses of these phrases.

What Does “Meant To” Mean?

“Meant to” is used to express intention or plan (इरादा / irada). It is often followed by a verb in its base form and shows what someone is supposed to do or what was intended.

Structure: Subject + be (am/is/are/was/were) + meant to + verb

Examples:

• I am meant to go to the doctor today. (मैं आज डॉक्टर के पास जाने वाला हूँ / main aaj doctor ke paas jaane wala hoon)
• She was meant to attend the meeting. (वह मीटिंग में शामिल होने वाली थी / woh meeting mein shaamil hone wali thi)

What Does “Meant For” Mean?

“Meant for” refers to purpose or suitability (के लिए उपयुक्त / ke liye upyukt). It indicates who or what something is intended or designed for.

Structure: Subject + be (am/is/are/was/were) + meant for + noun/pronoun

Examples:

• This pen is meant for writing on glass. (यह पेन कांच पर लिखने के लिए है / yeh pen kaanch par likhne ke liye hai)
• That gift was meant for you. (वह तोहफा तुम्हारे लिए था / woh tohfa tumhare liye tha)

What Does “Meant To Be” Mean?

“Meant to be” is used to convey the idea of destiny or fate (नसीब में होना / naseeb mein hona). It suggests that something was destined to happen or someone was destined for something.

Structure: Subject + be (am/is/are/was/were) + meant to be + noun/adjective

Examples:

• They are meant to be together. (वे एक साथ रहने के लिए बने हैं / ve ek saath rehne ke liye bane hain)
• It wasn’t meant to be. (यह होना नहीं था / yeh hona nahi tha)

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Intermediate Level: Usage and Application

At this level, you should focus on understanding tense usage, polite instructions, and deeper context of these phrases.

Tense Variation with “Meant To”

“Meant to” can be used in different tenses:

Tense	Example	Translation
Present	I am meant to complete this today.	मुझे आज यह पूरा करना है / mujhe aaj yeh poora karna hai
Past	He was meant to arrive early.	उसे जल्दी आना था / use jaldi aana tha
Future (implied)	You’re meant to start next week.	आपको अगले हफ्ते शुरू करना है / aapko agle hafte shuru karna hai
Negative	She wasn’t meant to hear that.	उसे यह सुनना नहीं था / use yeh sunna nahi tha

“Meant To” for Rules and Politeness

When giving polite instructions or rules, “meant to” softens the tone.

• You are meant to wear a helmet while riding. (आपको हेलमेट पहनना चाहिए / aapko helmet pehnna chahiye)
• We are meant to turn off the lights before leaving. (हमें जाने से पहले लाइट बंद करनी चाहिए / humein jaane se pehle light band karni chahiye)

“Meant For” in Context

• With People: This seat is meant for the elderly. (यह सीट बुजुर्गों के लिए है / yeh seat buzurgon ke liye hai)
• With Objects: This software is meant for beginners. (यह सॉफ्टवेयर शुरुआती लोगों के लिए है / yeh software shuruati logon ke liye hai)

“Meant To Be” for Relationships and Purpose

• Their love story was meant to be. (उनकी प्रेम कहानी होने के लिए ही बनी थी / unki prem kahani hone ke liye hi bani thi)
• This job is meant to be fulfilling. (यह नौकरी संतोषजनक होनी चाहिए / yeh naukri santoshjanak honi chahiye)

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Advanced Level: Nuances and Deeper Insights

Advanced learners must understand more complex sentence structures, implied meanings, idiomatic usage, and formal expressions.

Expressing Regret or Missed Opportunities

• I was meant to call her, but I forgot. (मैं उसे कॉल करने वाला था, लेकिन भूल गया / main use call karne wala tha, lekin bhool gaya)
• He was meant to be the team leader, but someone else was chosen. (वह टीम लीडर बनने वाला था, लेकिन किसी और को चुना गया / woh team leader banne wala tha, lekin kisi aur ko chuna gaya)

Passive Voice and Formality

• The medicine is meant to relieve pain. (यह दवा दर्द को कम करने के लिए है / yeh dawa dard ko kam karne ke liye hai)
• This regulation is meant to protect consumers. (यह नियम उपभोक्ताओं की सुरक्षा के लिए है / yeh niyam upbhoktaon ki suraksha ke liye hai)

Conditional and Philosophical Usage

• If it’s meant to be, it will happen. (अगर ऐसा होना लिखा है, तो यह होगा / agar aisa hona likha hai, to yeh hoga)
• Sometimes things aren’t meant to be. (कभी-कभी चीजें होने के लिए नहीं बनी होती / kabhi-kabhi cheezein hone ke liye nahi bani hoti)

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Examples and Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. This chair is ________ the balcony.
2. You were ________ submit the assignment yesterday.
3. That performance was ________ inspirational.
4. It was never ________ happen.

Answers:

1. meant for
2. meant to
3. meant to be
4. meant to

Translation Practice:

Translate the following Hindi sentences into English using “meant to,” “meant for,” or “meant to be.”

1. यह किताब बच्चों के लिए है।
2. वह आज आने वाला था।
3. वे हमेशा एक साथ रहने के लिए बने थे।

Answers:

1. This book is meant for children.
2. He was meant to come today.
3. They were meant to be together.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Correction	Reason
He meant for go.	He meant to go.	“Meant to” must be followed by a verb.
This is meant to beginners.	This is meant for beginners.	Use “meant for” with nouns.
It is meant for be.	It is meant to be.	Correct verb structure is “to be.”
They are meant for be friends.	They are meant to be friends.	“Meant to be” indicates fate or compatibility.

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Tips for Mastery

1. Watch and Listen: Notice how native speakers use these expressions in movies, interviews, or podcasts.
2. Practice Translating: Translate sentences from Hindi to English and vice versa using the phrases.
3. Use Daily Examples: Think of your day-to-day tasks and form sentences with “meant to.” Example: I was meant to clean the room today.
4. Create Flashcards: Include the English phrase, its Hindi meaning, and Roman Urdu transliteration.
5. Quiz Yourself Weekly: Test your understanding by revising old examples and writing new ones.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Mastering the use of “meant to,” “meant for,” and “meant to be” (का मतलब होना / ke liye tay kiya gaya / hone ke liye likha gaya) is essential for effective communication in English. These expressions help convey purpose, intention, and even the concept of destiny, making your language sound more fluent and native-like. By understanding the grammar, usage, and context—along with regular practice—you can become confident in using these phrases correctly. Use the examples, translations, and exercises in this guide to deepen your understanding and avoid common mistakes.