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पड़ना (padnaa)

verb A hugely productive verb built on the core image of 'falling' -- physically falling/landing (rain, light, objects), lying in a resting state (पड़ा/padaa), being situated on a route, abstract things 'falling' onto you (effect, need, trouble), falling under a category, turning out costly, getting caught up in a state (with में (men)), and two grammaticalized uses: the necessitive 'have to' modal (infinitive + पड़ना (padnaa)) and the inceptive 'suddenly happen' vector verb (verb stem + पड़ना (padnaa)).
Sense 1 : to fall/land on (rain, light, objects)
verb, intransitive Subject is the thing falling (rain, snow, hail, sunlight, shadow, a leaf); the surface or person it lands on takes पर (par).
Synonyms: गिरना (girnaa, for objects falling, not weather/light)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the most literal 'falling' sense and the conceptual root the whole word's other meanings grow from -- think of धूप पड़ना (dhoop padnaa, 'sunlight falls/lands') as the same mental picture as बारिश पड़ना (baarish padnaa), just with light instead of water.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for गिरना (girnaa) for rain or sunlight, but Hindi uses पड़ना (padnaa) for precipitation and light/shadow -- बारिश गिर रही है (baarish gir rahii hai) sounds odd; बारिश पड़ रही है (baarish pad rahii hai, 'it's raining') is natural.
Sample Sentences:
आज सुबह से बारिश पड़ रही है। It has been raining since this morning.
(aaj subah se baarish pad rahii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कमरे की खिड़की से सीधी धूप पड़ती है। Direct sunlight falls through the room's window.
(kamre kii khidkii se siidhii dhoop padtii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल रात ओले पड़े थे। Hailstones fell last night.
(kal raat ole pade the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
देखना, कहीं दीवार पर पेंट के छींटे न पड़ें। Watch out, make sure paint splatters don't land on the wall.
(dekhnaa, kahiin diivaar par pent ke chhiinte n paden।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
अगर पेड़ न होता, तो धूप सीधी छत पर पड़ती। If the tree weren't there, the sunlight would fall directly on the roof.
(agar ped n hotaa, to dhoop siidhii chhat par padtii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस साल मानसून में बहुत कम बारिश पड़ी। Very little rain fell during the monsoon this year.
(is saal maansoon men bahut kam baarish padii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
फूलों पर ओस की बूँदें पड़ी हुई थीं। Dewdrops had settled onto the flowers.
(phoolon par os kii boonden padii huii thiin।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शाम होते ही पत्तों पर पीली रोशनी पड़ने लगती है। As soon as evening falls, yellow light starts landing on the leaves.
(shaam hote hii patton par piilii roshnii padne lagtii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगले हफ्ते तेज़ बारिश पड़ेगी, मौसम विभाग ने बताया है। Heavy rain will fall next week, the weather department has said.
(agle haphte tez baarish padegii, mausam vibhaag ne bataayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
बिजली पेड़ पर पड़ी और वह जलकर गिर गया। Lightning struck the tree and it caught fire and fell.
(bijlii ped par padii aur vah jalkar gir gayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मंदिर की घंटी की आवाज़ पर जैसे ही रोशनी पड़ी, वह चमक उठी। As soon as the light fell on the temple bell, it gleamed.
(mandir kii ghantii kii aavaaz par jaise hii roshnii padii, vah chamak uthii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : to lie (in a resting state, as a result of having been put or fallen)
verb, intransitive Almost always appears as the perfective participle पड़ा/पड़ी/पड़े (padaa) used predicatively with होना (honaa) -- किताब मेज़ पर पड़ी है (kitaab mez par padii hai, 'the book is lying on the table'). Combined with रहना (rahnaa) as पड़ा रहना (padaa rahnaa), it adds the sense of continuing to lie there over time (see रहना (rahnaa) for that construction).
Synonyms: लेटना (letnaa, the act of lying down, not the resulting state)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: There's a mild negative shading to this sense when used of a person -- वह दिन भर बिस्तर पर पड़ा रहा (vah din bhar bistar par padaa rahaa, 'he lay in bed all day') can carry a tone of laziness or being unwell, unlike the neutral लेटना (letnaa).
Common Mistakes: 1) This describes a resulting state, not the action -- 'he lay down on the bed' is वह बिस्तर पर लेटा (vah bistar par letaa), but 'he is lying on the bed' (already in that position) is वह बिस्तर पर पड़ा है (vah bistar par padaa hai).
Sample Sentences:
किताब मेज़ पर पड़ी है। The book is lying on the table.
(kitaab mez par padii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह दिन भर बिस्तर पर पड़ा रहा। He lay in bed all day.
(vah din bhar bistar par padaa rahaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सड़क के किनारे एक कुत्ता पड़ा था। A dog was lying by the side of the road.
(sadak ke kinaare ek kuttaa padaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
तुम यूँ ही पड़े मत रहो, उठो और कुछ काम करो। Don't just lie around like that, get up and do some work.
(tum yoon hii pade mat raho, utho aur kuchh kaam karo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उसका सामान महीनों से बरामदे में पड़ा है। His stuff has been lying in the veranda for months.
(uskaa saamaan mahiinon se baraamde men padaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर वह इतना बीमार न होता तो यूँ बिस्तर पर न पड़ा रहता। If he weren't so sick, he wouldn't be lying in bed like this.
(agar vah itnaa biimaar n hotaa to yoon bistar par n padaa rahtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Continuous -- Voice: Active
जब मैं कमरे में घुसा तो देखा कि बिल्ली सोफे पर पड़ी सो रही थी। When I entered the room, I saw that the cat was lying on the sofa, sleeping.
(jab main kamre men ghusaa to dekhaa ki billii sophe par padii so rahii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शायद यह चाबी कहीं दराज़ में पड़ी हो। Maybe this key is lying somewhere in the drawer.
(shaayad yah chaabii kahiin daraaz men padii ho।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
पुराने खिलौने अभी भी अटारी में पड़े मिलेंगे। You'll still find the old toys lying in the attic.
(puraane khilaune abhii bhii ataarii men pade milenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
घायल सिपाही युद्धभूमि में निढाल पड़ा था। The wounded soldier lay exhausted on the battlefield.
(ghaayal sipaahii yuddhbhoomi men nidhaal padaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काम छोड़कर यूँ पड़े रहने से कुछ नहीं होगा। Nothing will come of leaving your work and just lying around like this.
(kaam chhodkar yoon pade rahne se kuchh nahiin hogaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Sense 3 : to be situated (of a place along a route or relative to another)
verb, intransitive Used of places, landmarks, or stops that lie along a path or in a described direction -- often with रास्ते में (raaste men) or के उस पार (ke us paar).
Synonyms: स्थित होना (sthit honaa, formal/written)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly when asking for directions in Delhi -- रास्ते में एक मंदिर पड़ता है (raaste men ek mandir padtaa hai, 'there's a temple on the way') is exactly how a local would describe a route, rather than using होना (honaa) or स्थित होना (sthit honaa).
Sample Sentences:
रास्ते में एक मंदिर पड़ता है। There's a temple on the way.
(raaste men ek mandir padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेरा घर बाजार के पास पड़ता है। My house is located near the market.
(meraa ghar baajaar ke paas padtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या स्टेशन इस रास्ते में पड़ता है? Does the station fall along this route?
(kyaa steshan is raaste men padtaa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दिल्ली से आगरा जाते हुए मथुरा पड़ती है। Mathura lies on the way while going from Delhi to Agra.
(dillii se aagraa jaate hue mathuraa padtii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसका ऑफिस मेरे घर से दूर पड़ता है। His office is quite far from my house.
(uskaa ophis mere ghar se door padtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पहले यह गाँव दूसरे जिले में पड़ता था। Earlier this village was situated in a different district.
(pahle yah gaanv doosre jile men padtaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर हम इस सड़क से जाएँ, तो कौन-कौन सी जगहें पड़ेंगी? If we go by this road, which places will fall along the way?
(agar ham is sadak se jaaen, to kaun-kaun sii jagahen padengii?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
नक्शे के हिसाब से, नदी शहर के उत्तर में पड़ती है। According to the map, the river lies to the north of the city.
(nakshe ke hisaab se, nadii shahar ke uttar men padtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह मंदिर हमारे गाँव और शहर के बीचोबीच पड़ता है। This temple is located right between our village and the city.
(yah mandir hamaare gaanv aur shahar ke biichobiich padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर वह पहाड़ी रास्ते में न पड़ती, तो सफर इतना लंबा न होता। If that hill hadn't lain on the way, the journey wouldn't have been so long.
(agar vah pahaadii raaste men n padtii, to saphar itnaa lambaa n hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया बताइए कि बस स्टैंड किस तरफ पड़ता है। Please tell me which direction the bus stand is located in.
(kripyaa bataaie ki bas staind kis taraph padtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 4 : to befall, to be exerted on (effect, need, trouble, pressure, etc.)
verb, intransitive Productive frame: abstract noun + पर (par) + पड़ना (padnaa), where the abstract noun is the grammatical subject -- असर पड़ना (asar padnaa, 'an effect falls'), फ़र्क़ पड़ना (farq padnaa, 'a difference results'), ज़रूरत पड़ना (zaroorat padnaa, 'a need arises'), मुसीबत पड़ना (musiibat padnaa, 'trouble befalls'). This is one sense covering many nouns, not a separate sense per collocation.
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Hindi treats effects, needs, and troubles as things that 'fall' onto you from outside rather than things you simply 'have' -- सेहत पर बुरा असर पड़ेगा (sehat par buraa asar padegaa, 'it will have a bad effect on [his] health') frames health as a surface being struck, which is a very different conceptual picture from the English 'affect'.
Common Mistakes: 1) Don't confuse this with getting caught up in a state (sense below): मुसीबत पड़ना (musiibat padnaa, 'trouble befalls someone', person marked with पर (par)) is the mirror image of मुसीबत में पड़ना (musiibat men padnaa, 'to get into trouble', person is the one who enters), and they are easy to mix up.
Sample Sentences:
सेहत पर बुरा असर पड़ेगा। It will have a bad effect on [his] health.
(sehat par buraa asar padegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
इस फैसले से बाज़ार पर गहरा असर पड़ा है। This decision has had a deep impact on the market.
(is phaisle se baazaar par gahraa asar padaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उस पर बहुत दबाव पड़ रहा है। A lot of pressure is being exerted on him.
(us par bahut dabaav pad rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम ऐसे बोलते रहोगे तो उस पर बुरा असर पड़ेगा। If you keep talking like this, it will have a bad effect on him.
(agar tum aise bolte rahoge to us par buraa asar padegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
हर नए नियम का असर आम आदमी पर ही पड़ता है। The effect of every new rule falls on the common man alone.
(har nae niyam kaa asar aam aadmii par hii padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश उस पर इतना बोझ न पड़ता। If only such a burden hadn't fallen on him.
(kaash us par itnaa bojh n padtaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर समय पर काम न हुआ तो सारा दोष तुम पर पड़ेगा। If the work isn't done on time, all the blame will fall on you.
(agar samay par kaam n huaa to saaraa dosh tum par padegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
इस घटना का असर पूरे परिवार पर पड़ा। This incident had an effect on the whole family.
(is ghatnaa kaa asar poore parivaar par padaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
माना जाता है कि चाँद का असर समुद्र की लहरों पर पड़ता है। It is believed that the moon's effect falls upon the waves of the sea.
(maanaa jaataa hai ki chaand kaa asar samudr kii lahron par padtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद इसका असर उसकी पढ़ाई पर पड़े। Perhaps this will have an effect on his studies.
(shaayad iskaa asar uskii padhaaii par pade।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
ऐसी बातों का उस पर कोई असर नहीं पड़ता। Such talk has no effect on him.
(aisii baaton kaa us par koii asar nahiin padtaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 5 : to turn out to be (costly, heavy, hard) for someone
verb, intransitive Frame: adjective + (dative person, often with को (ko)) + पड़ना (padnaa) -- यह सौदा मुझे महँगा पड़ा (yah saudaa mujhe mahangaa padaa, 'this deal turned out costly for me'), उसकी लापरवाही उसे भारी पड़ी (uskii laaparvaahii use bhaarii padii, 'his carelessness cost him dearly'). One sense covering many adjectives, not one per adjective.
Synonyms: साबित होना (saabit honaa, more neutral, not limited to costly/burdensome outcomes)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is a favorite construction for warnings and cautionary remarks -- लापरवाही भारी पड़ सकती है (laaparvaahii bhaarii pad saktii hai, 'carelessness can cost you dearly') is the kind of line an older relative might say to you.
Common Mistakes: 1) The person who suffers the consequence is marked with को (ko), not ने (ne) -- learners used to agent marking sometimes want to mark the affected person as the doer, but they are the dative experiencer here, not an agent.
Sample Sentences:
लापरवाही भारी पड़ सकती है। Carelessness can cost you dearly.
(laaparvaahii bhaarii pad saktii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह फैसला उसे बहुत महंगा पड़ा। This decision turned out to be very costly for him.
(yah phaislaa use bahut mahangaa padaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह काम मेरे लिए बहुत भारी पड़ रहा है। This work is turning out to be too much for me to handle.
(yah kaam mere lie bahut bhaarii pad rahaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुमने झूठ बोला तो यह तुम्हें महंगा पड़ेगा। If you lie, it will cost you dearly.
(agar tumne jhooth bolaa to yah tumhen mahangaa padegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर वह थोड़ा सावधान रहता, तो यह गलती उसे इतनी भारी न पड़ती। If he had been a bit careful, this mistake wouldn't have cost him so much.
(agar vah thodaa saavdhaan rahtaa, to yah galtii use itnii bhaarii n padtii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
सस्ता सामान खरीदना अक्सर बाद में महंगा पड़ता है। Buying cheap goods often turns out to be expensive later.
(sastaa saamaan khariidnaa aksar baad men mahangaa padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कहीं यह जल्दबाज़ी आपको भारी न पड़ जाए। Let's hope this haste doesn't end up costing you dearly.
(kahiin yah jaldbaazii aapko bhaarii n pad jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
ज़्यादा खर्च करना अंततः परिवार पर भारी पड़ता है। Overspending ultimately proves burdensome for the family.
(zyaadaa kharch karnaa anttah parivaar par bhaarii padtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उस गद्दार का धोखा आखिरकार उसी पर भारी पड़ा। That traitor's deceit ultimately proved costly for him alone.
(us gaddaar kaa dhokhaa aakhirkaar usii par bhaarii padaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
देखना, कहीं यह ज़िद तुम्हें भारी न पड़ जाए। Watch out, this stubbornness of yours might cost you dearly.
(dekhnaa, kahiin yah zid tumhen bhaarii n pad jaae।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Sense 6 : to fall under, to come within (a category, jurisdiction, or domain)
verb, intransitive Takes में (men) marking the category, jurisdiction, or domain -- यह मामला किस अदालत के अधिकार क्षेत्र में पड़ता है (yah maamlaa kis adaalat ke adhikaar kshetr men padtaa hai, 'which court's jurisdiction does this case fall under').
Synonyms: आना (aanaa, in the sense of 'to come under', e.g. दायरे में आना (daayre men aanaa))
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense shows up most often in slightly formal or official contexts -- bureaucratic or legal talk about jurisdiction, categories, or departments -- rather than in casual chat.
Sample Sentences:
यह मामला अदालत के अधिकार क्षेत्र में पड़ता है। This matter falls under the court's jurisdiction.
(yah maamlaa adaalat ke adhikaar kshetr men padtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह इलाका किस थाने के अंतर्गत पड़ता है? Which police station does this area come under?
(yah ilaakaa kis thaane ke antargat padtaa hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह शिकायत उपभोक्ता संरक्षण कानून के दायरे में पड़ती है। This complaint falls within the scope of consumer protection law.
(yah shikaayat upbhoktaa sanrakshan kaanoon ke daayre men padtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जांच अधिकारी ने बताया कि यह केस राज्य सरकार के विभाग में नहीं पड़ता। The investigating officer explained that this case does not fall under the state government's department.
(jaanch adhikaarii ne bataayaa ki yah kes raajy sarkaar ke vibhaag men nahiin padtaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर यह विषय शिक्षा मंत्रालय के अधीन पड़ता, तो हमें वहीं आवेदन देना होता। If this subject fell under the education ministry, we would have had to submit the application there.
(agar yah vishay shikshaa mantraalay ke adhiin padtaa, to hamen vahiin aavedan denaa hotaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
संभव है कि यह प्रकरण केंद्र सरकार के क्षेत्राधिकार में पड़े, आप कानूनी सलाह ले लीजिए। It's possible that this matter falls under the central government's jurisdiction, so you should take legal advice.
(sambhav hai ki yah prakran kendr sarkaar ke kshetraadhikaar men pade, aap kaanoonii salaah le liijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
यह योजना किस श्रेणी में पड़ेगी, इसका फैसला समिति करेगी। Which category this scheme will fall under will be decided by the committee.
(yah yojnaa kis shrenii men padegii, iskaa phaislaa samiti karegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
यह सारा इलाका दक्षिणी दिल्ली नगर निगम के अंतर्गत पड़ता है। This entire area falls under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
(yah saaraa ilaakaa dakshinii dillii nagar nigam ke antargat padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वकील ने स्पष्ट किया कि यह अपराध आर्थिक अपराधों की श्रेणी में पड़ता है, न कि आपराधिक हिंसा में। The lawyer clarified that this offense falls within the category of economic crimes, not criminal violence.
(vakiil ne spasht kiyaa ki yah apraadh aarthik apraadhon kii shrenii men padtaa hai, n ki aapraadhik hinsaa men।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Sense 7 : to get caught up in, to fall into (a state or situation)
verb, intransitive Frame: person (subject) + situation/state + में (men) + पड़ना (padnaa) -- प्यार में पड़ना (pyaar men padnaa, 'to fall in love'), चक्कर में पड़ना (chakkar men padnaa, 'to get caught up in a muddle'), सोच में पड़ना (soch men padnaa, 'to fall to thinking/get lost in thought'), मुसीबत में पड़ना (musiibat men padnaa, 'to get into trouble').
Synonyms: फँसना (phansnaa, stronger, more like 'to get trapped')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: प्यार में पड़ना (pyaar men padnaa, 'to fall in love') is a direct conceptual match with English 'falling' in love -- both languages picture love as something you tumble into, not something you simply have.
Common Mistakes: 1) This is the mirror image of the abstract 'befalls' sense: मुसीबत में पड़ना (musiibat men padnaa, the person actively ends up in trouble) versus मुसीबत पड़ना (musiibat padnaa, trouble falls on the person from outside) -- same noun, different frame, different meaning.
Sample Sentences:
वह उससे प्यार में पड़ गई। She fell in love with him.
(vah usse pyaar men pad gaii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सावधान रहना, कहीं किसी बुरी आदत में मत पड़ जाना। Be careful, don't end up falling into some bad habit.
(saavdhaan rahnaa, kahiin kisii burii aadat men mat pad jaanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
वह जुए की लत में पड़ चुका है। He has already fallen into the addiction of gambling.
(vah jue kii lat men pad chukaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम गलत संगत में पड़ते तो आज यह हाल होता। If you had fallen into bad company, this would be your state today.
(agar tum galat sangat men padte to aaj yah haal hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
लोग अक्सर कर्ज के चक्कर में पड़ जाते हैं। People often end up getting caught in the cycle of debt.
(log aksar karj ke chakkar men pad jaate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे डर है कि कहीं मैं झगड़े में न पड़ जाऊँ। I'm afraid I might end up getting caught in a quarrel.
(mujhe dar hai ki kahiin main jhagde men n pad jaaoon।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
हम दोनों एक अजीब मुसीबत में पड़ गए हैं। The two of us have gotten caught up in a strange predicament.
(ham donon ek ajiib musiibat men pad gae hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सावधान रहो, वरना किसी साजिश में फँसाए जाकर मुश्किल में पड़ोगे। Stay careful, or else you'll get trapped by some conspiracy and fall into trouble.
(saavdhaan raho, varnaa kisii saajish men phansaae jaakar mushkil men padoge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
किशोरावस्था में बच्चे अक्सर बुरी सोहबत में पड़ जाते हैं, इसलिए माता-पिता को सतर्क रहना चाहिए। In adolescence children often fall into bad company, so parents should remain alert.
(kishoraavasthaa men bachche aksar burii sohbat men pad jaate hain, islie maataa-pitaa ko satark rahnaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह शराब की लत में ऐसा पड़ा कि परिवार ही बिखर गया। He fell into the addiction of alcohol so badly that the family fell apart.
(vah sharaab kii lat men aisaa padaa ki parivaar hii bikhar gayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्रेम में पड़ना कोई तर्क नहीं जानता, यह तो दिल का मामला है। Falling in love knows no logic -- it's purely a matter of the heart.
(prem men padnaa koii tark nahiin jaantaa, yah to dil kaa maamlaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 8 : to have to (necessitive modal: strong obligation, often reluctant/externally compelled)
verb, intransitive Frame: dative-subject (को (ko)) + verb infinitive + पड़ना (padnaa). Tense modulates the obligation's strength: subjunctive is softest/tentative (मुझे जाना पड़े (mujhe jaanaa pade)), simple future is a strong prediction of compulsion, future + ही (hii) is most immediate/forceful, and habitual present marks a recurring obligation. Distinct from होगा-type presumptive/inferential mood, which पड़ना does not express.
Synonyms: चाहिए (chaahie, softer 'should', not compulsion), मजबूर होना (majboor honaa, emphasizes being forced)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the construction behind countless everyday complaints -- मुझे जल्दी उठना पड़ता है (mujhe jaldii uthnaa padtaa hai, 'I have to get up early') -- and it always carries a faint sigh of 'I don't really want to, but...' that चाहिए (chaahie) lacks.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for चाहिए (chaahie) here, but चाहिए (chaahie) is a recommendation ('should'), while पड़ना (padnaa) conveys real external compulsion, often with reluctance -- 'I had no choice but to.' 2) The obligation-bearer is always marked with को (ko) (dative subject), never ने (ne), even though the main verb may otherwise be transitive.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे रोज़ सुबह जल्दी उठना पड़ता है। I have to get up early every morning.
(mujhe roz subah jaldii uthnaa padtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल बारिश की वजह से हमें घर पर ही रुकना पड़ा। Yesterday, because of the rain, we had to stay home.
(kal baarish kii vajah se hamen ghar par hii ruknaa padaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर ट्रैफ़िक ऐसा ही रहा तो हमें ऑटो बदलना पड़ेगा। If the traffic stays like this, we'll have to change autos.
(agar traifik aisaa hii rahaa to hamen oto badalnaa padegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उसे अपनी ग़लती के लिए माफ़ी माँगनी पड़ी। She had to apologize for her mistake.
(use apnii ghaltii ke lie maafii maangnii padii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर समय पर पैसे न चुकाए होते, तो हमें ब्याज़ भरना पड़ता। If we hadn't paid the money on time, we would have had to pay interest.
(agar samay par paise n chukaae hote, to hamen byaaz bharnaa padtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शायद मुझे यह नौकरी छोड़नी पड़े। I might have to quit this job.
(shaayad mujhe yah naukrii chhodnii pade।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
नागरिकों को नए नियमों का पालन करना पड़ेगा। Citizens will have to comply with the new rules.
(naagrikon ko nae niymon kaa paalan karnaa padegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
हर बार उसे अपनी बात साबित करनी पड़ती है, चाहे वह कितना भी सही क्यों न हो। Every time, he has to prove his point, no matter how right he is.
(har baar use apnii baat saabit karnii padtii hai, chaahe vah kitnaa bhii sahii kyon n ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दूतावास में वीज़ा के लिए घंटों लाइन में खड़ा रहना पड़ा। At the embassy, I had to stand in line for hours for the visa.
(dootaavaas men viizaa ke lie ghanton laain men khadaa rahnaa padaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कई बार हमें ग़लत होते हुए भी चुप रहना पड़ता है। Many times we have to stay quiet even when we're wrong.
(kaii baar hamen ghalat hote hue bhii chup rahnaa padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कंपनी के घाटे में जाने से सैकड़ों कर्मचारियों को निकाला जाना पड़ा। Because the company went into losses, hundreds of employees had to be let go.
(kampnii ke ghaate men jaane se saikdon karmchaariyon ko nikaalaa jaanaa padaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Sense 9 : to suddenly happen/begin (inceptive vector verb)
verb, intransitive Frame: verb stem (not infinitive) + पड़ना (padnaa), marking an abrupt, unforeseen occurrence, often with a downward or sudden-onset flavor -- उसे बुरा लग पड़ा (use buraa lag padaa, 'he suddenly felt bad'), वह कमरे में आ पड़ी (vah kamre men aa padii, 'she suddenly burst into the room'). This is a distinct grammaticalized compound-verb pattern, not the same frame as the necessitive sense above; the stem-vs-infinitive distinction is what tells them apart.
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This vector-verb use is mostly found in narrative, literary, or storytelling Hindi -- describing a sudden twist in a tale -- rather than in everyday conversation, so you will meet it more in reading than in speech.
Common Mistakes: 1) This looks superficially like the necessitive 'have to' sense but is grammatically different -- necessitive पड़ना (padnaa) follows a full infinitive (जाना पड़ना (jaanaa padnaa)), while this inceptive sense follows a bare stem (जा पड़ना (jaa padnaa)) and has nothing to do with obligation.
Sample Sentences:
अचानक बादल गरज पड़े और सब डर गए। Suddenly the clouds burst into thunder and everyone got scared.
(achaanak baadal garaj pade aur sab dar gae।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
राजा की बात सुनकर सभा हँस पड़ी। On hearing the king's words, the court burst out laughing.
(raajaa kii baat sunkar sabhaa hans padii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह सुनते ही बुढ़िया रो पड़ी। On hearing this, the old woman suddenly burst into tears.
(yah sunte hii budhiyaa ro padii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कहानी में अचानक एक नया मोड़ आ पड़ा। Suddenly a new twist arose in the story.
(kahaanii men achaanak ek nayaa mod aa padaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जैसे ही उसने दरवाज़ा खोला, सब लोग चिल्ला पड़े। As soon as he opened the door, everyone suddenly cried out.
(jaise hii usne darvaazaa kholaa, sab log chillaa pade।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि वह सच बोल देता, तो सब हैरान हो पड़ते। If he had told the truth, everyone would have suddenly been astonished.
(yadi vah sach bol detaa, to sab hairaan ho padte।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
शायद यह सुनकर वह काँप पड़े। Perhaps on hearing this he will suddenly tremble.
(shaayad yah sunkar vah kaamp pade।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
कथा में वर्णित है कि राजकुमारी अचानक गा पड़ी थी। It is described in the tale that the princess had suddenly burst into song.
(kathaa men varnit hai ki raajkumaarii achaanak gaa padii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Verb
infinitive: पड़ना (padnaa)
infinitive oblique: पड़ने (padne)
habitual/simple (sg.m): पड़ता (padtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m): पड़ते (padte)
habitual/simple (sg.f): पड़ती (padtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f): पड़तीं (padtiin)
continuous (sg.m): पड़ रहा (pad rahaa)
continuous (pl.m): पड़ रहे (pad rahe)
continuous (sg.f): पड़ रही (pad rahii)
continuous (pl.f): पड़ रहीं (pad rahiin)
perfective (sg.m): पड़ा (padaa)
perfective (pl.m): पड़े (pade)
perfective (sg.f): पड़ी (padii)
perfective (pl.f): पड़ीं (padiin)
imperative (informal): पड़ (pad)
imperative (neutral): पड़ो (pado)
imperative (formal): पड़िए (padie)
future (1sg.m): पड़ूँगा (padoongaa)
future (1sg.f): पड़ूँगी (padoongii)
future (1pl.m): पड़ेंगे (padenge)
future (1pl.f): पड़ेंगी (padengii)
future (2sg.m): पड़ेगा (padegaa)
future (2sg.f): पड़ेगी (padegii)
future (2pl.m): पड़ोगे (padoge)
future (2pl.f): पड़ोगी (padogii)
future (3sg.m): पड़ेगा (padegaa)
future (3sg.f): पड़ेगी (padegii)
future (3pl.m): पड़ेंगे (padenge)
future (3pl.f): पड़ेंगी (padengii)
subjunctive (1sg): पड़ूँ (padoon)
subjunctive (1pl): पड़ें (paden)
subjunctive (2sg): पड़े (pade)
subjunctive (2pl): पड़ो (pado)
subjunctive (3sg): पड़े (pade)
subjunctive (3pl): पड़ें (paden)