डटना (datnaa)
verb
One core meaning: to stand firm, hold one's ground, or stay put with determination -- physically or figuratively (in an argument, task, or fight).
Sense
1
:
to stand firm / hold one's ground
verb, intransitive Often used with पर (par) marking the position or front held -- मोर्चे पर डटना (morche par datnaa, 'to hold one's position at the front').
Synonyms: जमे रहना (jame rahnaa), टिके रहना (tike rahnaa), अड़ना (adnaa, more about stubborn refusal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in news reports about soldiers or protesters: सैनिक सीमा पर डटे रहे (sainik siimaa par date rahe, 'the soldiers stood firm at the border'). It carries a heroic, dogged-persistence flavor -- someone who refuses to budge despite pressure, tiredness, or danger.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse डटना (datnaa) with अड़ना (adnaa): डटना (datnaa) is about steadfast presence or resistance under pressure (staying put, holding ground), while अड़ना (adnaa) is about stubborn insistence in an argument or demand. 2) डटना (datnaa) is intransitive -- it takes पर (par) or में (men) for the place/front, never a direct object.
Sample Sentences:
सैनिक सीमा पर डटे रहे।
The soldiers stood firm at the border.
(sainik siimaa par date rahe।)
वह हर मुश्किल के सामने डटा रहता है।
He remains standing firm in the face of every difficulty.
(vah har mushkil ke saamne dataa rahtaa hai।)
तुम डटे रहो, मदद अभी पहुँचती है।
Hold your ground, help is arriving right now.
(tum date raho, madad abhii pahunchtii hai।)
प्रदर्शनकारी पूरी रात सड़क पर डटे रहे।
The protesters remained steadfastly on the road all night.
(pradarshankaarii poorii raat sadak par date rahe।)
अगर हम डटे रहें तो जीत हमारी होगी।
If we hold firm, the victory will be ours.
(agar ham date rahen to jiit hamaarii hogii।)
अगर वह डटा होता तो टीम हार नहीं जाती।
If he had stood his ground, the team would not have lost.
(agar vah dataa hotaa to tiim haar nahiin jaatii।)
थकान के बावजूद पहरेदार अपनी जगह डटा रहा।
Despite the exhaustion, the guard remained firmly at his post.
(thakaan ke baavjood pahredaar apnii jagah dataa rahaa।)
देश की रक्षा के लिए सेना अंत तक डटी रहेगी।
The army will stand firm to the very end to defend the country.
(desh kii rakshaa ke lie senaa ant tak datii rahegii।)
किसान अपनी मांगों पर डटे हैं।
The farmers are standing firm on their demands.
(kisaan apnii maangon par date hain।)
गोलीबारी के बीच भी जवान अपनी चौकी पर डटे रहे, यही उनकी बहादुरी थी।
Even amid the gunfire, the soldiers stood firm at their post -- that was their bravery.
(goliibaarii ke biich bhii javaan apnii chaukii par date rahe, yahii unkii bahaadurii thii।)
Sense
2
:
to apply oneself persistently / stick to a task
verb, intransitive Common in the compound-verb form डटे रहना (date rahnaa), stressing continued, unwavering effort -- पढ़ाई में डटे रहना (padhaaii men date rahnaa, 'to stay dedicated to one's studies').
Synonyms: जुटे रहना (jute rahnaa), लगे रहना (lage rahnaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: A parent encouraging a child before exams might say मेहनत में डटे रहो (mehnat men date raho, 'keep at your hard work') -- it's a word of encouragement toward grit and follow-through, similar in spirit to 'keep pushing.'
Common Mistakes: 1) This sense overlaps with the 'stand firm' sense -- both describe not giving up, but here the context is effort/work rather than physical or confrontational ground-holding, so the object of में (men) is typically an activity (study, work) rather than a place or fight.
Sample Sentences:
मेहनत में डटे रहो, सफलता ज़रूर मिलेगी।
Keep at your hard work, you will definitely succeed.
(mehnat men date raho, saphaltaa zaroor milegii।)
वह पूरी रात पढ़ाई में डटा रहा।
He stayed dedicated to his studies all night long.
(vah poorii raat padhaaii men dataa rahaa।)
वह हर मुश्किल काम में डटी रहती है।
She stays committed to every difficult task.
(vah har mushkil kaam men datii rahtii hai।)
अगर तुम इस प्रोजेक्ट में डटे रहो तो हम समय से पहले पूरा कर लेंगे।
If you stay dedicated to this project, we will finish it ahead of time.
(agar tum is projekt men date raho to ham samay se pahle pooraa kar lenge।)
काश मैं भी उसकी तरह अपने काम में डटा रहता।
I wish I too stayed as dedicated to my work as he does.
(kaash main bhii uskii tarah apne kaam men dataa rahtaa।)
बच्चे इम्तिहान की तैयारी में डटे हुए हैं।
The children are fully applying themselves to exam preparation.
(bachche imtihaan kii taiyaarii men date hue hain।)
यह ज़रूरी है कि हर कर्मचारी अपने लक्ष्य में डटा रहे।
It is essential that every employee stays committed to their goal.
(yah zaroorii hai ki har karmchaarii apne lakshy men dataa rahe।)
कड़ी मेहनत करने वाले छात्र हमेशा अपने सपनों की ओर डटे रहते हैं।
Hard-working students always remain steadfastly dedicated toward their dreams.
(kadii mehnat karne vaale chhaatr hameshaa apne sapnon kii or date rahte hain।)
उसने कहा कि वह अपने व्यापार में डटा रहेगा, चाहे कितना भी नुकसान हो।
He said he would stay dedicated to his business, no matter how much loss he faced.
(usne kahaa ki vah apne vyaapaar men dataa rahegaa, chaahe kitnaa bhii nuksaan ho।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
डटना
(datnaa)
infinitive oblique:
डटने
(datne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
डटता
(dattaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
डटते
(datte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
डटती
(dattii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
डटतीं
(dattiin)
continuous (sg.m):
डट रहा
(dat rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
डट रहे
(dat rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
डट रही
(dat rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
डट रहीं
(dat rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
डटा
(dataa)
perfective (pl.m):
डटे
(date)
perfective (sg.f):
डटी
(datii)
perfective (pl.f):
डटीं
(datiin)
imperative (informal):
डट
(dat)
imperative (neutral):
डटो
(dato)
imperative (formal):
डटिए
(datie)
future (1sg.m):
डटूँगा
(datoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
डटूँगी
(datoongii)
future (1pl.m):
डटेंगे
(datenge)
future (1pl.f):
डटेंगी
(datengii)
future (2sg.m):
डटेगा
(dategaa)
future (2sg.f):
डटेगी
(dategii)
future (2pl.m):
डटोगे
(datoge)
future (2pl.f):
डटोगी
(datogii)
future (3sg.m):
डटेगा
(dategaa)
future (3sg.f):
डटेगी
(dategii)
future (3pl.m):
डटेंगे
(datenge)
future (3pl.f):
डटेंगी
(datengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
डटूँ
(datoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
डटें
(daten)
subjunctive (2sg):
डटे
(date)
subjunctive (2pl):
डटो
(dato)
subjunctive (3sg):
डटे
(date)
subjunctive (3pl):
डटें
(daten)