सरासर (saraasar)
adverb
An intensifying adverb used to brand something as complete, total, or through-and-through -- almost always with a negative-leaning noun like झूठ (jhooth), गलत (galat), or बेईमानी (beiimaanii).
Sense
1
:
utterly, completely, through and through
adverb Placed directly before the noun or adjective it intensifies, e.g. सरासर झूठ (saraasar jhooth, 'a complete lie'), sarcastically underscoring how blatant or unmistakable the quality is.
Synonyms: बिल्कुल (bilkul), पूरी तरह (poorii tarah), नरा (naraa, rare)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word has a courtroom or accusation flavor to it -- you'll hear it when someone is calling out a lie or an injustice in a raised, indignant voice: यह सरासर झूठ है (yah saraasar jhooth hai, 'this is an outright lie'). It carries a built-in tone of moral outrage that plain बिल्कुल (bilkul) lacks.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners try to use सरासर (saraasar) as a general-purpose intensifier like 'very,' but it almost always carries a negative or accusatory shade -- you'd say सरासर झूठ (saraasar jhooth, 'a complete lie') or सरासर अन्याय (saraasar anyaay, 'sheer injustice'), not सरासर खुशी (saraasar khushii) for 'complete happiness.' 2) It modifies nouns/adjectives, not verbs -- you can't use it to mean 'completely' in the sense of finishing an action.
Sample Sentences:
यह सरासर झूठ है।
This is an outright lie.
(yah saraasar jhooth hai।)
तुमने मेरे साथ सरासर धोखा किया।
You utterly betrayed me.
(tumne mere saath saraasar dhokhaa kiyaa।)
यह फैसला सरासर अन्याय है।
This verdict is a complete injustice.
(yah phaislaa saraasar anyaay hai।)
क्या यह सरासर बेईमानी नहीं है?
Isn't this utter dishonesty?
(kyaa yah saraasar beiimaanii nahiin hai?)
अगर तुम ऐसा कहते तो यह सरासर झूठ होता।
If you had said that, it would have been an outright lie.
(agar tum aisaa kahte to yah saraasar jhooth hotaa।)
वकील ने कहा कि गवाह सरासर मुकर गया है।
The lawyer said that the witness has completely gone back on his word.
(vakiil ne kahaa ki gavaah saraasar mukar gayaa hai।)
उसका यह आरोप सरासर बेबुनियाद साबित होगा।
This accusation of his will be proven utterly baseless.
(uskaa yah aarop saraasar bebuniyaad saabit hogaa।)
यह तो सरासर बेइंसाफी होगी अगर उसे सज़ा दी जाए।
It would be utterly unjust if he were to be punished.
(yah to saraasar beinsaaphii hogii agar use sazaa dii jaae।)
मत बोलो सरासर बकवास, थोड़ी शर्म करो!
Don't talk utter nonsense, have some shame!
(mat bolo saraasar bakvaas, thodii sharm karo!)
अदालत में उसने माना कि यह सरासर उसकी गलती थी।
In court he admitted that it was entirely his fault.
(adaalat men usne maanaa ki yah saraasar uskii galtii thii।)