नैतिक (naitik)

adjective A single-sense adjective meaning 'moral' or 'ethical', used to describe values, duties, or conduct as being right or wrong by a standard of good behavior.
Sense 1 : moral, ethical
adjective
Synonyms: अख़लाकी (akhlaakii, less common), धार्मिक (dhaarmik, meaning scope: overlaps in 'righteous' sense but leans religious)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear नैतिक (naitik) constantly in phrases like नैतिक जिम्मेदारी (naitik jimmedaarii, 'moral responsibility') and नैतिक शिक्षा (naitik shikshaa, 'moral education') -- the latter used to be (and often still is) an actual school subject in Indian curricula, teaching values through stories, so the word carries a slightly schoolroom, character-building flavor alongside its everyday ethical sense.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse नैतिक (naitik) with धार्मिक (dhaarmik) -- नैतिक (naitik) is about right and wrong conduct in a secular, human sense (ethics), while धार्मिक (dhaarmik) is specifically about religion. A person can be नैतिक (naitik) without being religious at all. 2) The negated form अनैतिक (anaitik, 'immoral') is very common in speech and writing -- learners often reach instead for नैतिक नहीं (naitik nahiin), which is understood but less natural than the single compact word.
Sample Sentences:
यह हमारी नैतिक जिम्मेदारी है कि हम बूढ़े माँ-बाप की देखभाल करें। It is our moral responsibility to take care of our elderly parents.
(yah hamaarii naitik jimmedaarii hai ki ham boodhe maan-baap kii dekhbhaal karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्कूल में हमें हफ्ते में एक बार नैतिक शिक्षा की क्लास लेनी पड़ती थी। In school we had to take a moral education class once a week.
(skool men hamen haphte men ek baar naitik shikshaa kii klaas lenii padtii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उसने कहा कि झूठ बोलना नैतिक रूप से गलत है। He said that lying is morally wrong.
(usne kahaa ki jhooth bolnaa naitik roop se galat hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुममें थोड़ी भी नैतिक समझ होती, तो तुम ऐसा नहीं करते। If you had even a little moral sense, you wouldn't do such a thing.
(agar tummen thodii bhii naitik samajh hotii, to tum aisaa nahiin karte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कंपनी पर ग्राहकों के प्रति नैतिक कर्तव्य निभाने का दबाव बढ़ रहा है। The pressure on the company to fulfill its moral duty toward customers is increasing.
(kampnii par graahkon ke prati naitik kartavy nibhaane kaa dabaav badh rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चों को कहानियों के ज़रिए नैतिक मूल्य सिखाए जाते हैं। Children are taught moral values through stories.
(bachchon ko kahaaniyon ke zarie naitik mooly sikhaae jaate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
नेता जी हमेशा नैतिक आदर्शों की बात करते हैं, पर करते कुछ नहीं। The leader always talks about moral ideals, but does nothing.
(netaa jii hameshaa naitik aadarshon kii baat karte hain, par karte kuchh nahiin।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समाज को नैतिक पतन से बचाने के लिए हर किसी को अपनी भूमिका निभानी चाहिए। To save society from moral decline, everyone should play their part.
(samaaj ko naitik patan se bachaane ke lie har kisii ko apnii bhoomikaa nibhaanii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यार, मुझे नैतिक लेक्चर मत दो, मुझे पता है क्या सही है। Dude, don't give me a moral lecture, I know what's right.
(yaar, mujhe naitik lekchar mat do, mujhe pataa hai kyaa sahii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
प्राचीन ग्रंथों में नैतिक आचरण को धर्म से भी ऊँचा स्थान दिया गया है। In ancient texts, moral conduct has been given an even higher place than religion.
(praachiin granthon men naitik aachran ko dharm se bhii oonchaa sthaan diyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
डॉक्टर की नैतिक ज़िम्मेदारी थी कि वह मरीज़ को सच बताए। It was the doctor's moral responsibility to tell the patient the truth.
(doktar kii naitik zimmedaarii thii ki vah mariiz ko sach bataae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: नैतिक (naitik)