कठोर (kathor)

adjective An adjective covering both physical hardness and, more commonly in everyday talk, hardness of character or manner -- strict, harsh, or unyielding.

Sense 1 : harsh, strict, unyielding (of a person, tone, or rule)

adjective

Synonyms: सख्त (sakht), कड़ा (kadaa), निर्दयी (nirdyii, focuses on cruelty rather than strictness)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: Indian parents and teachers are often described (affectionately or not) as कठोर (kathor) when strict about discipline -- 'कठोर अनुशासन' (kathor anushaasan, 'strict discipline') is a very common phrase in the context of schooling and upbringing. Note the near-homophone कठिन (kathin, 'difficult') -- the two are unrelated in meaning despite the similar sound and spelling, and learners frequently confuse them.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सख्त (sakht) by default since it is more common in casual speech -- कठोर (kathor) sounds slightly more formal or literary and is common in writing, lectures, and serious scoldings. 2) कठोर (kathor) describes a person's nature, words, or discipline (कठोर स्वभाव (kathor svabhaav, 'harsh temperament'), कठोर शब्द (kathor shabd, 'harsh words')) -- it is not used for physical difficulty of a task, where you would say कठिन (kathin) instead.

Sample Sentences:

मेरे पिताजी बहुत कठोर आदमी हैं। My father is a very strict man.

(mere pitaajii bahut kathor aadmii hain।)

स्कूल में कठोर अनुशासन था, इसलिए बच्चे डरते थे। There was strict discipline in the school, so the children were afraid.

(skool men kathor anushaasan thaa, islie bachche darte the।)

इतना कठोर मत बनो, उसे भी समझने का मौका दो। Don't be so harsh, give him a chance to explain too.

(itnaa kathor mat bano, use bhii samajhne kaa maukaa do।)

अगर वह इतना कठोर न होता, तो सब उससे खुलकर बात करते। If he weren't so strict, everyone would speak to him openly.

(agar vah itnaa kathor n hotaa, to sab usse khulkar baat karte।)

अदालत ने अपराधी के प्रति कठोर रुख अपनाया। The court adopted a harsh stance towards the criminal.

(adaalat ne apraadhii ke prati kathor rukh apnaayaa।)

उसकी माँ कठोर स्वभाव की होते हुए भी दिल से बहुत नरम है। His mother, despite having a strict nature, is very soft-hearted.

(uskii maan kathor svabhaav kii hote hue bhii dil se bahut naram hai।)

शायद नियम इतने कठोर न हों कि हर कोई परेशान हो जाए। Perhaps the rules shouldn't be so strict that everyone gets troubled.

(shaayad niyam itne kathor n hon ki har koii pareshaan ho jaae।)

उसे कठोर सज़ा दी जाएगी अगर वह फिर से देर से आया। He will be given a harsh punishment if he comes late again.

(use kathor sazaa dii jaaegii agar vah phir se der se aayaa।)

गुरुजी अपने शिष्यों के प्रति कठोर वचन बोलते हुए भी उनका भला ही चाहते थे। Even while speaking harsh words to his disciples, the guru only wished them well.

(gurujii apne shishyon ke prati kathor vachan bolte hue bhii unkaa bhalaa hii chaahte the।)

बॉस का कठोर लहजा सुनकर सब चुप हो गए। Hearing the boss's harsh tone, everyone fell silent.

(bos kaa kathor lahjaa sunkar sab chup ho gae।)

क्या तुम्हें नहीं लगता कि यह सज़ा बहुत कठोर है? Don't you think this punishment is too harsh?

(kyaa tumhen nahiin lagtaa ki yah sazaa bahut kathor hai?)

Sense 2 : physically hard, tough, rigid (of a material or surface)

adjective

Synonyms: सख्त (sakht), कड़ा (kadaa)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This sense shares its root with the personality sense (rank 1) -- Hindi, like English, extends 'hardness' from physical objects to character, so a कठोर व्यक्ति (kathor vyakti, 'hard/harsh person') is imagined as someone with an unyielding, rock-like nature.

Common Mistakes: 1) For everyday hard objects (hard bread, a hard mattress, hard water), native speakers overwhelmingly prefer सख्त (sakht) or कड़ा (kadaa) -- कठोर (kathor) in this physical sense leans literary/technical (e.g. कठोर चट्टान (kathor chattaan, 'hard rock') in geography) and can sound a bit bookish in casual conversation.

Sample Sentences:

यह पत्थर बहुत कठोर है। This stone is very hard.

(yah patthar bahut kathor hai।)

सर्दियों में मिट्टी कठोर हो जाती है। In winter, the soil becomes hard.

(sardiyon men mittii kathor ho jaatii hai।)

यह लकड़ी इतनी कठोर थी कि आरी भी नहीं चली। This wood was so hard that even the saw did not cut it.

(yah lakdii itnii kathor thii ki aarii bhii nahiin chalii।)

हीरा दुनिया के सबसे कठोर पदार्थों में से एक माना जाता है। Diamond is considered one of the hardest substances in the world.

(hiiraa duniyaa ke sabse kathor padaarthon men se ek maanaa jaataa hai।)

अगर धातु ज़्यादा कठोर होती तो इसे मोड़ना असंभव होता। If the metal were harder, bending it would be impossible.

(agar dhaatu zyaadaa kathor hotii to ise modnaa asambhav hotaa।)

जब तक चट्टान कठोर न हो, इमारत की नींव मत रखो। Don't lay the building's foundation unless the rock is hard.

(jab tak chattaan kathor n ho, imaarat kii niinv mat rakho।)

यह प्लास्टिक धूप में पड़े-पड़े कठोर हो गया है। This plastic has become hard from lying in the sun.

(yah plaastik dhoop men pade-pade kathor ho gayaa hai।)

शायद यह धातु तापमान गिरने से कठोर हो जाए। Perhaps this metal will harden as the temperature drops.

(shaayad yah dhaatu taapmaan girne se kathor ho jaae।)

भवन की कठोर संरचना भूकंप के झटकों को सहन नहीं कर सकी। The building's rigid structure could not withstand the earthquake tremors.

(bhavan kii kathor sanrachnaa bhookamp ke jhatkon ko sahan nahiin kar sakii।)

Morphology

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: कठोर (kathor)