सच्चा (sachchaa)

adjective An adjective meaning 'true, genuine, honest' -- used for people, feelings, and things alike. Related to सच (sach, 'truth'), the noun at its root.
Sense 1 : truthful, honest (of a person)
adjective
Synonyms: ईमानदार (iimaandaar), खरा (kharaa, of a person's character)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: A सच्चा दोस्त (sachchaa dost, 'a true friend') is high praise in Hindi -- it is less about never lying and more about loyalty and reliability, someone who stands by you.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for ईमानदार (iimaandaar) by default for 'honest' -- सच्चा (sachchaa) is just as common and often sounds warmer and more personal, especially describing a friend's character rather than a professional's integrity.
Sample Sentences:
वह बहुत सच्चा इंसान है। He is a very truthful/honest person.
(vah bahut sachchaa insaan hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे एक सच्चा दोस्त चाहिए, जो हर हाल में साथ दे। I need a true friend, one who stands by me in every situation.
(mujhe ek sachchaa dost chaahie, jo har haal men saath de।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सच्चा आदमी कभी अपने वादे से नहीं मुकरता। An honest man never goes back on his promise.
(sachchaa aadmii kabhii apne vaade se nahiin mukartaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम सच में इतने सच्चे हो कि कभी झूठ नहीं बोलते? Are you really so honest that you never tell a lie?
(kyaa tum sach men itne sachche ho ki kabhii jhooth nahiin bolte?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सच्चा बन, चाहे दुनिया कुछ भी कहे। Be honest, no matter what the world says.
(sachchaa ban, chaahe duniyaa kuchh bhii kahe।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वह सच्चा होता, तो अपनी गलती मान लेता। If he were honest, he would have admitted his mistake.
(agar vah sachchaa hotaa, to apnii galtii maan letaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि वह लड़का सच्चा निकलेगा। I hope that boy turns out to be honest.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki vah ladkaa sachchaa niklegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उसने अपनी जिंदगी में हमेशा सच्चा रहने की कोशिश की। He always tried to remain honest throughout his life.
(usne apnii jindgii men hameshaa sachchaa rahne kii koshish kii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
एक सच्चे दोस्त की पहचान बुरे वक्त में होती है। A true friend is recognized in bad times.
(ek sachche dost kii pahchaan bure vakt men hotii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गांधी जी को उनकी सच्चाई और सच्चे स्वभाव के लिए याद किया जाता है। Gandhi is remembered for his truthfulness and honest nature.
(gaandhii jii ko unkii sachchaaii aur sachche svabhaav ke lie yaad kiyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
सच्चे इंसान की बात पर लोग आँख मूंदकर भरोसा करते हैं। People trust an honest person's word blindly.
(sachche insaan kii baat par log aankh moondkar bharosaa karte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : genuine, real, true (of things, feelings, or claims)
adjective
Synonyms: असली (aslii), वास्तविक (vaastvik, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear सच्चा प्यार (sachchaa pyaar) constantly in Bollywood dialogue and songs -- it carries a slightly idealistic, storybook flavor, the kind of love that is tested and proven real, not just infatuation.
Common Mistakes: 1) For objects like currency or brands, असली (aslii) is the more natural default ('genuine leather', 'real gold'); सच्चा (sachchaa) leans toward abstract things like feelings, love, or a story, e.g. सच्चा प्यार (sachchaa pyaar, 'true love').
Sample Sentences:
यह सच्चा प्यार है, दिखावा नहीं। This is genuine love, not a show.
(yah sachchaa pyaar hai, dikhaavaa nahiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी आँखों में सच्चा दर्द था। There was genuine pain in her eyes.
(uskii aankhon men sachchaa dard thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह हीरा सच्चा है या नकली, कोई जौहरी ही बता सकता है। Whether this diamond is genuine or fake, only a jeweler can tell.
(yah hiiraa sachchaa hai yaa naklii, koii jauhrii hii bataa saktaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश उसका प्यार सच्चा होता। If only his love had been genuine.
(kaash uskaa pyaar sachchaa hotaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम्हारी दोस्ती सच्ची होती, तो तुम मेरे लिए यह न करते। If your friendship were genuine, you wouldn't have done this to me.
(agar tumhaarii dostii sachchii hotii, to tum mere lie yah n karte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Voice: Active
फिल्मों में सच्चे प्यार की कहानियाँ हमेशा दिखाई जाती हैं। Stories of true love are always shown in movies.
(philmon men sachche pyaar kii kahaaniyaan hameshaa dikhaaii jaatii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
क्या यह सच्ची खुशी है या बस एक पल की खुशी? Is this genuine happiness, or just a moment's joy?
(kyaa yah sachchii khushii hai yaa bas ek pal kii khushii?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे विश्वास है कि उनकी दोस्ती सच्ची निकलेगी। I believe their friendship will turn out to be genuine.
(mujhe vishvaas hai ki unkii dostii sachchii niklegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
सच्चा प्यार तो कभी मरता नहीं, यह गाना यही कहता है। True love never dies, that's what this song says.
(sachchaa pyaar to kabhii martaa nahiin, yah gaanaa yahii kahtaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उस बुजुर्ग महिला की सच्ची कहानी सुनकर सब रो पड़े। Hearing the old woman's true story, everyone burst into tears.
(us bujurg mahilaa kii sachchii kahaanii sunkar sab ro pade।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह हो सकता है कि उसकी सहानुभूति सच्ची हो। It's possible that his sympathy is genuine.
(yah ho saktaa hai ki uskii sahaanubhooti sachchii ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): सच्चा (sachchaa)
(pl.m): सच्चे (sachche)
(sg.f): सच्ची (sachchii)
(pl.f): सच्ची (sachchii)