आस-पास (aas-paas)

adverb/noun A single-sense spatial word meaning 'nearby, around, in the vicinity' -- used both as an adverb of place and loosely as a noun for 'the surroundings'.
Sense 1 : nearby, around (in the vicinity)
adverb Often paired with की/के as आस-पास की (aas-paas kii) or आस-पास के (aas-paas ke) to modify a following noun, functioning almost like a postposition-phrase meaning 'in the vicinity of'.
Synonyms: नज़दीक (nazdiik), पास (paas), इर्द-गिर्द (ird-gird)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you'd use asking a shopkeeper दुकान आस-पास ही है? (dukaan aas-paas hii hai?, 'is the shop nearby/around here?') -- it has a friendly, casual feel, like gesturing with your hand at the general neighborhood rather than pointing at one spot.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use सिर्फ़ पास (paas) when they mean the wider area 'around here' -- आस-पास (aas-paas) suggests a broader neighborhood or surrounding zone, not just one nearby point. 2) It is commonly followed by में (men) as in आस-पास में (aas-paas men), though में (men) is often dropped since आस-पास (aas-paas) already implies 'in the area'.
Sample Sentences:
दुकान आस-पास ही है? Is the shop nearby, around here?
(dukaan aas-paas hii hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कोई अच्छा रेस्टोरेंट आस-पास हो तो बताओ। If there's a good restaurant around here, let me know.
(koii achchhaa restorent aas-paas ho to bataao।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
मैं आस-पास ही हूँ, दस मिनट में पहुँच जाऊँगा। I'm nearby, I'll get there in ten minutes.
(main aas-paas hii hoon, das minat men pahunch jaaoongaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चे शाम को घर के आस-पास खेलते थे। The kids used to play around the house in the evening.
(bachche shaam ko ghar ke aas-paas khelte the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
आस-पास कहीं कोई एटीएम नहीं मिल रहा है। I can't find an ATM anywhere around here.
(aas-paas kahiin koii etiiem nahiin mil rahaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
आस-पास ही खड़े रहो, मुझे डर लग रहा है। Just stay around nearby, I'm feeling scared.
(aas-paas hii khade raho, mujhe dar lag rahaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर पुलिस स्टेशन आस-पास होता तो हम फौरन जा सकते थे। If the police station were nearby, we could have gone right away.
(agar pulis steshan aas-paas hotaa to ham phauran jaa sakte the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
जब मैं वहाँ पहुँचा, आस-पास कोई भी नहीं दिखा। When I got there, no one was visible around.
(jab main vahaan pahunchaa, aas-paas koii bhii nahiin dikhaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
आस-पास के सारे इलाके इस मंदिर की वजह से जाने जाते हैं। All the areas around are known because of this temple.
(aas-paas ke saare ilaake is mandir kii vajah se jaane jaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मेरा फोन आस-पास ही कहीं होगा, थोड़ा ढूँढो। My phone must be around here somewhere, look for it a bit.
(meraa phon aas-paas hii kahiin hogaa, thodaa dhoondho।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : the surroundings, vicinity, neighborhood (as a thing)
noun, masculine Used as a noun especially with का/की/के, e.g. आस-पास का इलाक़ा (aas-paas kaa ilaaqaa, 'the surrounding area'), treating the whole vicinity as a single referent.
Synonyms: इलाक़ा (ilaaqaa, area/locality), आस-पड़ोस (aas-pados, neighborhood)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear people describe अपने आस-पास के लोग (apne aas-paas ke log, 'the people around/near oneself') when talking about their immediate community or social circle -- it carries a slightly warmer, more personal sense than just 'nearby area'.
Sample Sentences:
हमारे आस-पास के लोग बहुत मददगार हैं। The people in our vicinity are very helpful.
(hamaare aas-paas ke log bahut madadgaar hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस इलाके का आस-पास बहुत शांत है। The surroundings of this area are very peaceful.
(is ilaake kaa aas-paas bahut shaant hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अपने आस-पास के लोगों का ख्याल रखना चाहिए। One should take care of the people around oneself.
(apne aas-paas ke logon kaa khyaal rakhnaa chaahie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले साल हमारा आस-पास पूरी तरह बदल गया था। Last year, our surroundings had completely changed.
(pichhle saal hamaaraa aas-paas poorii tarah badal gayaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम्हारा आस-पास साफ होता, तो बीमारियाँ कम फैलती। If your surroundings were clean, diseases would spread less.
(agar tumhaaraa aas-paas saaph hotaa, to biimaariyaan kam phailtii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
नए शहर में आस-पास के लोगों से घुलना-मिलना थोड़ा मुश्किल होता है। In a new city, mixing with the people around you is a bit difficult.
(nae shahar men aas-paas ke logon se ghulnaa-milnaa thodaa mushkil hotaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें अपने आस-पास के हालात का अंदाज़ा है? Do you have any idea about the conditions of your surroundings?
(kyaa tumhen apne aas-paas ke haalaat kaa andaazaa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
प्रशासन द्वारा मंदिर के आस-पास को सुंदर बनाया गया। The surroundings of the temple were beautified by the administration.
(prashaasan dvaaraa mandir ke aas-paas ko sundar banaayaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अपने आस-पास के लोगों को समझना ज़िंदगी की सबसे बड़ी सीख है। Understanding the people around oneself is life's greatest lesson.
(apne aas-paas ke logon ko samajhnaa zindgii kii sabse badii siikh hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जब तक हम अपने आस-पास को नहीं समझेंगे, बदलाव नहीं आएगा। Until we understand our surroundings, change will not come.
(jab tak ham apne aas-paas ko nahiin samjhenge, badlaav nahiin aaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): आस-पास ([[आस-पास]])
(sg.m.oblique): आस-पास ([[आस-पास]])
(pl.m.direct): आस-पास ([[आस-पास]])
(pl.m.oblique): आस-पासों ([[आस-पासों]])