यथार्थ (yathaarth)
noun/adjective
A somewhat formal/literary word covering 'reality, truth' as a noun and 'real, actual' as an adjective; you will meet it more in essays, news commentary, and thoughtful conversation than in casual chat.
Sense
1
:
reality, actuality
noun, masculine
Synonyms: सच्चाई (sachchaaii), वास्तविकता (vaastviktaa), हकीकत (hakiikat)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word is a favorite in Hindi literary criticism -- you will hear terms like यथार्थवाद (yathaarthvaad, 'realism') when discussing novels or films that depict life 'as it really is,' contrasted with आदर्शवाद (aadarshvaad, 'idealism'). It carries an intellectual, slightly bookish weight that हकीकत (hakiikat) does not.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for यथार्थ (yathaarth) in everyday talk where वास्तविकता (vaastviktaa) or हकीकत (hakiikat) would sound far more natural; यथार्थ (yathaarth) tends to show up in writing, philosophy, or literary criticism rather than casual speech. 2) It is masculine, so pair it with masculine agreement, e.g. यथार्थ यही है (yathaarth yahii hai, 'this is the reality') -- not feminine agreement, which is a common slip since सच्चाई (sachchaaii) and हकीकत (hakiikat) are both feminine.
Sample Sentences:
कहानीकार ने समाज के यथार्थ को बड़ी बारीकी से चित्रित किया है।
The storyteller has depicted the reality of society with great subtlety.
(kahaaniikaar ne samaaj ke yathaarth ko badii baariikii se chitrit kiyaa hai।)
इस उपन्यास का यथार्थ पाठकों को झकझोर देता है।
The reality depicted in this novel shakes its readers.
(is upanyaas kaa yathaarth paathkon ko jhakjhor detaa hai।)
आलोचकों ने फिल्म के यथार्थ की खूब सराहना की।
The critics greatly praised the film's realism.
(aalochkon ne philm ke yathaarth kii khoob saraahnaa kii।)
क्या साहित्य को यथार्थ से मुँह मोड़ लेना चाहिए?
Should literature turn its face away from reality?
(kyaa saahity ko yathaarth se munh mod lenaa chaahie?)
अगर वह कहानी यथार्थ के करीब होती, तो और प्रभावशाली लगती।
If that story had been closer to reality, it would have seemed more impactful.
(agar vah kahaanii yathaarth ke kariib hotii, to aur prabhaavshaalii lagtii।)
प्रोफेसर साहब कक्षा में यथार्थ और कल्पना के अंतर पर बल देते हैं।
The professor emphasizes the distinction between reality and imagination in class.
(prophesar saahab kakshaa men yathaarth aur kalpnaa ke antar par bal dete hain।)
इस लेख में यथार्थ को जिस तरह उकेरा गया है, वह अद्भुत है।
The way reality has been portrayed in this essay is remarkable.
(is lekh men yathaarth ko jis tarah ukeraa gayaa hai, vah adbhut hai।)
यथार्थ को स्वीकार करना हमेशा आसान नहीं होता।
Accepting reality is not always easy.
(yathaarth ko sviikaar karnaa hameshaa aasaan nahiin hotaa।)
यथार्थवाद और आदर्शवाद के बीच का द्वंद्व भारतीय साहित्य में सदियों से चला आ रहा है।
The conflict between realism and idealism has been continuing in Indian literature for centuries.
(yathaarthvaad aur aadarshvaad ke biich kaa dvandv bhaartiiy saahity men sadiyon se chalaa aa rahaa hai।)
Sense
2
:
real, actual, true to life
adjective
Synonyms: वास्तविक (vaastvik), असली (aslii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet this adjective most often in phrases like यथार्थ चित्रण (yathaarth chitran, 'realistic depiction') when someone praises a book or film for showing life honestly, without sugar-coating -- a common compliment in Hindi film and literature reviews.
Common Mistakes: 1) As an adjective it is invariant -- it does not change form for gender or number the way असली (aslii) does not either, but learners sometimes mistakenly try to inflect it like a regular -आ adjective (e.g. treating it like कड़ा kadaa).
Sample Sentences:
इस उपन्यास में गाँव के जीवन का यथार्थ चित्रण किया गया है।
In this novel, a realistic depiction of village life has been done.
(is upanyaas men gaanv ke jiivan kaa yathaarth chitran kiyaa gayaa hai।)
यह फ़िल्म समाज की यथार्थ तस्वीर पेश करती है।
This film presents a real picture of society.
(yah film samaaj kii yathaarth tasviir pesh kartii hai।)
लेखक ने कहानी में यथार्थ घटनाओं का ज़िक्र किया।
The author mentioned actual events in the story.
(lekhak ne kahaanii men yathaarth ghatnaaon kaa zikr kiyaa।)
समीक्षक ने इस उपन्यास के यथार्थ चित्रण की खूब सराहना की।
The critic greatly praised the realistic depiction in this novel.
(samiikshak ne is upanyaas ke yathaarth chitran kii khoob saraahnaa kii।)
काश यह कहानी यथार्थ होती, इतनी सुंदर लगती है।
If only this story were real, it seems so beautiful.
(kaash yah kahaanii yathaarth hotii, itnii sundar lagtii hai।)
निर्देशक ने फ़िल्म में यथार्थ दृश्य दिखाने की कोशिश की है।
The director has tried to show realistic scenes in the film.
(nirdeshak ne film men yathaarth drishy dikhaane kii koshish kii hai।)
क्या यह घटना यथार्थ है या केवल कल्पना?
Is this event real, or just imagination?
(kyaa yah ghatnaa yathaarth hai yaa keval kalpnaa?)
इस नाटक का यथार्थ चित्रण दर्शकों को भीतर तक छू गया।
The realistic depiction in this play touched the audience deeply.
(is naatak kaa yathaarth chitran darshkon ko bhiitar tak chhoo gayaa।)
अपनी कहानियों में यथार्थ स्थितियाँ दिखाओ, केवल सपने मत दिखाओ।
Show real situations in your stories, don't just show dreams.
(apnii kahaaniyon men yathaarth sthitiyaan dikhaao, keval sapne mat dikhaao।)
आलोचकों का मानना है कि यथार्थ चित्रण के बिना साहित्य अधूरा है।
Critics believe that literature is incomplete without realistic depiction.
(aalochkon kaa maannaa hai ki yathaarth chitran ke binaa saahity adhooraa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
यथार्थ
(yathaarth)
(sg.m.oblique):
यथार्थ
(yathaarth)
(pl.m.direct):
यथार्थ
(yathaarth)
(pl.m.oblique):
यथार्थों
(yathaarthon)
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
यथार्थ
(yathaarth)