मजबूर (majboor)
adjective
An adjective meaning 'compelled' or 'helpless to do otherwise,' almost always used with होना (honaa) or करना (karnaa) to describe being forced into a situation. Also spelled मज़बूर (mazboor) with the nuqta.
Sense
1
:
compelled, forced, having no choice
adjective Typically appears in the frame X मजबूर है (X majboor hai) or with a following infinitive plus होना, as in ...करने के लिए मजबूर होना (...karne ke lie majboor honaa, 'to be compelled to do...').
Synonyms: विवश (vivash, more formal/literary), लाचार (laachaar)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word carries real emotional weight in Hindi -- it's the language of Bollywood ballads and heartfelt confessions, describing being trapped by circumstance rather than simply 'having to' do something. It pairs naturally with लाचार (laachaar), and together the two words paint a picture of helplessness that's a favorite theme in film dialogue and poetry.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say मजबूर करना (majboor karnaa) when they mean 'to force someone,' forgetting it needs the person as object plus a following infinitive with के लिए (ke lie): उसने मुझे जाने के लिए मजबूर किया (usne mujhe jaane ke lie majboor kiyaa, 'he forced me to go'). 2) Confusing मजबूर (majboor) with मशहूर (mashahoor, 'famous') due to similar sound.
Sample Sentences:
हालात ने मुझे यह फैसला लेने के लिए मजबूर किया।
Circumstances forced me to make this decision.
(haalaat ne mujhe yah phaislaa lene ke lie majboor kiyaa।)
वह मजबूर है, वरना वह कभी यह काम नहीं करता।
He is compelled -- otherwise he would never do this work.
(vah majboor hai, varnaa vah kabhii yah kaam nahiin kartaa।)
अगर पैसों की तंगी न होती, तो वह मजबूर न होता।
If there hadn't been a shortage of money, he wouldn't have been compelled.
(agar paison kii tangii n hotii, to vah majboor n hotaa।)
मैं लाचार और मजबूर था, कुछ नहीं कर सकता था।
I was helpless and compelled -- I could do nothing.
(main laachaar aur majboor thaa, kuchh nahiin kar saktaa thaa।)
मुझे यह शहर छोड़ने पर मजबूर होना पड़ेगा।
I will be compelled to leave this city.
(mujhe yah shahar chhodne par majboor honaa padegaa।)
गरीबी ने उसे भीख माँगने पर मजबूर कर दिया।
Poverty forced him to beg.
(gariibii ne use bhiikh maangne par majboor kar diyaa।)
कंपनी को अपने कई कर्मचारियों को निकालने पर मजबूर होना पड़ा।
The company was forced to lay off many of its employees.
(kampnii ko apne kaii karmchaariyon ko nikaalne par majboor honaa padaa।)
क्या तुम्हें किसी ने ऐसा करने पर मजबूर किया था?
Did someone force you to do that?
(kyaa tumhen kisii ne aisaa karne par majboor kiyaa thaa?)
जब सारे रास्ते बंद हो जाते हैं, तो इंसान मजबूर हो जाता है।
When all roads close, a person becomes compelled.
(jab saare raaste band ho jaate hain, to insaan majboor ho jaataa hai।)
हम मजबूर होकर उससे मदद माँगने गए।
Compelled by circumstances, we went to ask him for help.
(ham majboor hokar usse madad maangne gae।)
अदालत ने सरकार को कानून बदलने पर मजबूर कर दिया।
The court forced the government to change the law.
(adaalat ne sarkaar ko kaanoon badalne par majboor kar diyaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
मजबूर
(majboor)