दायाँ (daayaan)

adjective Means 'right' as in the right-hand side or direction, the opposite of बायाँ (baayaan, 'left'). One core sense, used as an adjective.
Sense 1 : right (side/direction, as opposed to left)
adjective
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Paired always with बायाँ (baayaan, 'left') in everyday direction-giving -- taxi drivers and rickshaw-wallahs in Delhi will shout दायें (daayen) or बायें (baayen) at intersections rather than using English 'right' and 'left'. Note the nasalized vowel at the end (दायाँ, not दाया) -- dropping it is a common learner slip when writing.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often forget this adjective inflects like a regular -आ (aa) adjective, so it becomes दायें (daayen) before a masculine oblique noun and दायीं/दाईं (daayiin/daaiin) before a feminine noun -- e.g. दायें हाथ से (daayen haath se, 'with the right hand'), दायीं तरफ़ (daayiin taraf, 'on the right side'). 2) Both दायीं (daayiin) and दाईं (daaiin) are seen for the feminine form; this is just spelling variation, not a meaning difference.
Sample Sentences:
आगे दायाँ मोड़ लेना। Take a right turn ahead.
(aage daayaan mod lenaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
दायें मुड़ जाओ, फिर सीधे चले जाना। Turn right, then just keep going straight.
(daayen mud jaao, phir siidhe chale jaanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मेरा दायाँ हाथ अभी भी दर्द कर रहा है। My right hand is still hurting.
(meraa daayaan haath abhii bhii dard kar rahaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने अपना दायाँ पैर सीढ़ी पर रखा। He placed his right foot on the stair.
(usne apnaa daayaan pair siidhii par rakhaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
रिक्शेवाला हर मोड़ पर दायें या बायें चिल्लाता रहता है। The rickshaw-wallah keeps shouting 'right' or 'left' at every turn.
(rikshevaalaa har mod par daayen yaa baayen chillaataa rahtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यदि सड़क बंद हो तो दायें से जाइए। If the road is closed, please go via the right.
(yadi sadak band ho to daayen se jaaie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
दायाँ रास्ता बंद कर दिया गया है। The right-hand path has been closed off.
(daayaan raastaa band kar diyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर वह दायाँ मोड़ लेता, तो जल्दी पहुँच जाता। If he had taken the right turn, he would have arrived sooner.
(agar vah daayaan mod letaa, to jaldii pahunch jaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
गाड़ी दायें लेन में चल रही है। The car is moving in the right lane.
(gaadii daayen len men chal rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया अगले चौराहे से दायें मुड़ें। Please turn right at the next intersection.
(kripyaa agle chauraahe se daayen muden।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
बच्चे को दायाँ और बायाँ हाथ पहचानना सिखाया जा रहा है। The child is being taught to recognize the right and left hand.
(bachche ko daayaan aur baayaan haath pahchaannaa sikhaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): दायाँ (daayaan)
(pl.m): दायाँे ([[दायाँे]])
(sg.f): दायाँी ([[दायाँी]])
(pl.f): दायाँी ([[दायाँी]])