सावधान (saavdhaan)
adjective/interjection
A single core sense meaning 'careful/alert', used both as a descriptive adjective and as a sharp one-word warning or command.
Sense
1
:
careful, alert, cautious
adjective Commonly used with रहना (rahnaa) or होना (honaa): सावधान रहना (saavdhaan rahnaa, 'to stay careful/alert') is the standard everyday frame, more so than pairing it with होना (honaa) alone.
Synonyms: सतर्क (satark), चौकस (chaukas), होशियार (hoshiyaar)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will see सावधान (saavdhaan) painted on railway crossing signs and warning boards all over India, often paired with a Hindi-English combo like danger ka nishaan; it carries a slightly formal, public-notice flavor compared to the more casual होशियार (hoshiyaar).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for होशियार (hoshiyaar) as a blanket substitute, but सावधान (saavdhaan) leans toward 'being careful/on guard about something specific,' while होशियार (hoshiyaar) leans toward general cleverness or street-smarts -- they overlap but are not always interchangeable. 2) The thing one must be careful of is usually marked with से (se): सांप से सावधान (saamp se saavdhaan, 'careful of the snake'), not किसी को (kisii ko) or a direct object.
Sample Sentences:
वह हमेशा सड़क पार करते समय सावधान रहता है।
He always stays careful while crossing the road.
(vah hameshaa sadak paar karte samay saavdhaan rahtaa hai।)
कृपया इस मशीन को चलाते समय सावधान रहें।
Please remain careful while operating this machine.
(kripyaa is mashiin ko chalaate samay saavdhaan rahen।)
रेलवे क्रॉसिंग पर बोर्ड लगा था, जिस पर लिखा था कि वाहन चालक सावधान रहें।
There was a board at the railway crossing that said drivers should remain careful.
(relve krosing par bord lagaa thaa, jis par likhaa thaa ki vaahan chaalak saavdhaan rahen।)
अगर वह थोड़ा सावधान होता, तो उसका पैसा नहीं चोरी होता।
If he had been a bit more careful, his money wouldn't have been stolen.
(agar vah thodaa saavdhaan hotaa, to uskaa paisaa nahiin chorii hotaa।)
डॉक्टर ने सलाह दी कि मरीज को अपने खान-पान को लेकर सावधान रहना चाहिए।
The doctor advised that the patient should stay careful about his diet.
(doktar ne salaah dii ki mariij ko apne khaan-paan ko lekar saavdhaan rahnaa chaahie।)
बच्चों को अजनबियों से बात करते समय सावधान रहना सिखाया जाता है।
Children are taught to be careful while talking to strangers.
(bachchon ko ajanbiyon se baat karte samay saavdhaan rahnaa sikhaayaa jaataa hai।)
यात्रीगण कृपया ध्यान दें, प्लेटफॉर्म पर सावधान रहें, ट्रेन आ रही है।
Passengers, please pay attention, remain careful on the platform, the train is arriving.
(yaatriigan kripyaa dhyaan den, pletphorm par saavdhaan rahen, tren aa rahii hai।)
पहाड़ी रास्तों पर गाड़ी चलाते समय हमें बहुत सावधान रहना पड़ता है।
We have to remain very careful while driving on mountain roads.
(pahaadii raaston par gaadii chalaate samay hamen bahut saavdhaan rahnaa padtaa hai।)
वह इतना सावधान इंसान है कि कभी अपने कागज़ात इधर-उधर नहीं छोड़ता।
He is such a careful person that he never leaves his documents lying around.
(vah itnaa saavdhaan insaan hai ki kabhii apne kaagzaat idhar-udhar nahiin chhodtaa।)
निवेश करने से पहले सावधान रहना ज़रूरी है, वरना नुकसान हो सकता है।
It is necessary to be careful before investing, otherwise you could suffer a loss.
(nivesh karne se pahle saavdhaan rahnaa zaroorii hai, varnaa nuksaan ho saktaa hai।)
उस रात कोहरे में गाड़ी चलाते हुए वह पहले से कहीं ज़्यादा सावधान था।
That night, driving in the fog, he was far more careful than before.
(us raat kohre men gaadii chalaate hue vah pahle se kahiin zyaadaa saavdhaan thaa।)
Sense
2
:
attention! / beware! (as a command)
interjection Used as a standalone barked command, most iconically in the drill-ground pairing सावधान (saavdhaan, 'attention!') versus विश्राम (vishraam, 'at ease!') given by an army or parade instructor.
Synonyms: खबरदार (khabardaar, sharper warning), होशियार (hoshiyaar)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word every school student in India has shouted or heard shouted during morning assembly or NCC/parade drills -- सावधान (saavdhaan) and विश्राम (vishraam) are a fixed pair every Indian schoolchild recognizes instantly.
Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes soften this into a polite request in translation ('please be careful'), but as a standalone interjection it functions as a blunt command or alert cry, closer in force to 'Attention!' or 'Watch out!' than to a gentle suggestion.
Sample Sentences:
सावधान!
Attention!
(saavdhaan!)
सावधान! पीछे से ट्रक आ रहा है!
Watch out! A truck is coming from behind!
(saavdhaan! piichhe se trak aa rahaa hai!)
हवलदार ने चिल्लाकर कहा, "सावधान!" और सारे कैडेट सीधे खड़े हो गए।
The sergeant shouted, "Attention!" and all the cadets stood up straight.
(havaldaar ne chillaakar kahaa, "saavdhaan!" aur saare kaidet siidhe khade ho gae।)
जब भी परेड कमांडर "सावधान" बोलता है, सब एक साथ अकड़ जाते हैं।
Whenever the parade commander says "attention," everyone stiffens up together.
(jab bhii pared kamaandar "saavdhaan" boltaa hai, sab ek saath akad jaate hain।)
स्कूल की सुबह की सभा में रोज़ "सावधान" और "विश्राम" के आदेश दिए जाते हैं।
Every day at school morning assembly, the commands "attention" and "at ease" are given.
(skool kii subah kii sabhaa men roz "saavdhaan" aur "vishraam" ke aadesh die jaate hain।)
सावधान! सामने गड्ढा है!
Careful! There's a pothole ahead!
(saavdhaan! saamne gaddhaa hai!)
एनसीसी की परेड में जब तक कमांडर "सावधान" न बोले, कोई हिल नहीं सकता।
In an NCC parade, until the commander says "attention," no one can move.
(ensiisii kii pared men jab tak kamaandar "saavdhaan" n bole, koii hil nahiin saktaa।)
अगर टीचर "सावधान" न कहतीं, तो बच्चे बातें करते ही रहते।
If the teacher hadn't said "attention," the children would have kept on talking.
(agar tiichar "saavdhaan" n kahtiin, to bachche baaten karte hii rahte।)
सिपाही ने "सावधान" की मुद्रा में खड़े होकर सलामी दी।
Standing at attention, the soldier saluted.
(sipaahii ne "saavdhaan" kii mudraa men khade hokar salaamii dii।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
सावधान
(saavdhaan)