छापा मारना (chhaapaa maarnaa)

verb A compound expression meaning 'to raid' (as in a police or tax raid) -- built from छापा (chhaapaa, 'raid/stamp') plus मारना (maarnaa, 'to hit', here used as a light verb of forceful action).
Sense 1 : to conduct a raid (police, tax, etc.)
verb, transitive The place raided is marked with पर (par): घर पर छापा मारना (ghar par chhaapaa maarnaa, 'to raid the house').
Synonyms: धावा बोलना (dhaavaa bolnaa, used more for a sudden attack/assault)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the everyday phrase you will hear on the news whenever the income tax department, police, or customs officials conduct a surprise raid -- आयकर विभाग ने छापा मारा (aaykar vibhaag ne chhaapaa maaraa, 'the income tax department raided'). छापा (chhaapaa) itself carries a sense of 'sudden, unannounced action,' which is why मारना (maarnaa) (literally 'to strike') pairs with it so naturally -- the raid 'lands' on its target like a blow.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to use छापना (chhaapnaa, 'to print/stamp') here, but the raid sense only exists in the fixed phrase छापा मारना (chhaapaa maarnaa) -- छापना (chhaapnaa) alone means 'to print.' 2) The subject who raids takes ने (ne) marking in the past, since मारना (maarnaa) is transitive here: पुलिस ने छापा मारा (pulis ne chhaapaa maaraa, 'the police raided').
Sample Sentences:
पुलिस ने रात को उस मकान पर छापा मारा। The police raided that house at night.
(pulis ne raat ko us makaan par chhaapaa maaraa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
आयकर विभाग ने आज सुबह कई दफ्तरों पर छापा मारा। The income tax department raided several offices this morning.
(aaykar vibhaag ne aaj subah kaii daphtron par chhaapaa maaraa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अफवाह है कि कल यहाँ छापा मारा जाएगा। There is a rumor that a raid will be conducted here tomorrow.
(aphvaah hai ki kal yahaan chhaapaa maaraa jaaegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
अक्सर त्योहारों के मौके पर शराब की दुकानों पर छापा मारा जाता है। Liquor shops are often raided around festival time.
(aksar tyohaaron ke mauke par sharaab kii dukaanon par chhaapaa maaraa jaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर सबूत मिले तो फौरन छापा मारो। If you find evidence, raid the place immediately.
(agar saboot mile to phauran chhaapaa maaro।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
टीम इस समय उस गोदाम पर छापा मार रही है। The team is raiding that warehouse right now.
(tiim is samay us godaam par chhaapaa maar rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर उसके पास पावर होती तो वह इस फैक्ट्री पर कब का छापा मार चुका होता। If he had the authority, he would have raided this factory long ago.
(agar uske paas paavar hotii to vah is phaiktrii par kab kaa chhaapaa maar chukaa hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
क्या कस्टम विभाग ने पिछले महीने बंदरगाह पर छापा मारा था? Did the customs department raid the port last month?
(kyaa kastam vibhaag ne pichhle mahiine bandargaah par chhaapaa maaraa thaa?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सरकार चाहती है कि नकली दवाओं की फैक्ट्रियों पर छापा मारा जाए। The government wants the factories making fake medicines to be raided.
(sarkaar chaahtii hai ki naklii davaaon kii phaiktriyon par chhaapaa maaraa jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Verb
infinitive: छापा मारना (chhaapaa maarnaa)
infinitive oblique: छापा मारने (chhaapaa maarne)
habitual/simple (sg.m): छापा मारता (chhaapaa maartaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m): छापा मारते (chhaapaa maarte)
habitual/simple (sg.f): छापा मारती (chhaapaa maartii)
habitual/simple (pl.f): छापा मारतीं (chhaapaa maartiin)
continuous (sg.m): छापा मार रहा (chhaapaa maar rahaa)
continuous (pl.m): छापा मार रहे (chhaapaa maar rahe)
continuous (sg.f): छापा मार रही (chhaapaa maar rahii)
continuous (pl.f): छापा मार रहीं (chhaapaa maar rahiin)
perfective (sg.m): छापा मारा (chhaapaa maaraa)
perfective (pl.m): छापा मारे (chhaapaa maare)
perfective (sg.f): छापा मारी (chhaapaa maarii)
perfective (pl.f): छापा मारीं (chhaapaa maariin)
imperative (informal): छापा मार (chhaapaa maar)
imperative (neutral): छापा मारो (chhaapaa maaro)
imperative (formal): छापा मारिए (chhaapaa maarie)
future (1sg.m): छापा मारूँगा (chhaapaa maaroongaa)
future (1sg.f): छापा मारूँगी (chhaapaa maaroongii)
future (1pl.m): छापा मारेंगे (chhaapaa maarenge)
future (1pl.f): छापा मारेंगी (chhaapaa maarengii)
future (2sg.m): छापा मारेगा (chhaapaa maaregaa)
future (2sg.f): छापा मारेगी (chhaapaa maaregii)
future (2pl.m): छापा मारोगे (chhaapaa maaroge)
future (2pl.f): छापा मारोगी (chhaapaa maarogii)
future (3sg.m): छापा मारेगा (chhaapaa maaregaa)
future (3sg.f): छापा मारेगी (chhaapaa maaregii)
future (3pl.m): छापा मारेंगे (chhaapaa maarenge)
future (3pl.f): छापा मारेंगी (chhaapaa maarengii)
subjunctive (1sg): छापा मारूँ (chhaapaa maaroon)
subjunctive (1pl): छापा मारें (chhaapaa maaren)
subjunctive (2sg): छापा मारे (chhaapaa maare)
subjunctive (2pl): छापा मारो (chhaapaa maaro)
subjunctive (3sg): छापा मारे (chhaapaa maare)
subjunctive (3pl): छापा मारें (chhaapaa maaren)