आदर्श (aadarsh)

noun/adjective A word borrowed straight from formal/moral vocabulary: as a noun it means 'an ideal' (a model or standard of excellence), and as an adjective it means 'ideal, model' (describing something that exemplifies excellence).

Sense 1 : an ideal, a model of excellence

noun, masculine

Synonyms: मानक (maanak, standard), प्रतिमान (pratimaan, literary)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: Indian schools, essays, and civics textbooks lean heavily on this word -- students are constantly asked to write about their 'आदर्श व्यक्तित्व' (aadarsh vyaktitv, 'ideal personality'), often Gandhi or a parent. It carries a slightly earnest, moralizing flavor, the kind of word a teacher or a political speech uses more than casual chat.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat आदर्श (aadarsh) as interchangeable with सपना (sapnaa, 'dream'), but आदर्श (aadarsh) is a standard or principle to live up to, not a wish or aspiration. 2) It is often used with रखना (rakhnaa, 'to hold/keep') or सामने रखना (saamne rakhnaa, 'to hold up as an example'), e.g. किसी को आदर्श मानना (kisii ko aadarsh maannaa, 'to regard someone as a role model').

Sample Sentences:

महात्मा गांधी मेरे आदर्श हैं। Mahatma Gandhi is my ideal.

(mahaatmaa gaandhii mere aadarsh hain।)

मुझे अपने आदर्श व्यक्तित्व पर एक निबंध लिखना है। I have to write an essay on my ideal personality.

(mujhe apne aadarsh vyaktitv par ek nibandh likhnaa hai।)

बचपन में मेरे आदर्श मेरे पिता थे। In my childhood, my ideal was my father.

(bachpan men mere aadarsh mere pitaa the।)

अगर हर नेता अपने आदर्शों पर चलता, तो देश की तस्वीर कुछ और होती। If every leader had followed his ideals, the country's picture would have been different.

(agar har netaa apne aadarshon par chaltaa, to desh kii tasviir kuchh aur hotii।)

जीवन में कोई न कोई आदर्श होना चाहिए। One should have some ideal or the other in life.

(jiivan men koii n koii aadarsh honaa chaahie।)

शिक्षक ने कहा कि हमें ऊँचे आदर्शों की ओर बढ़ना चाहिए। The teacher said that we should move toward high ideals.

(shikshak ne kahaa ki hamen oonche aadarshon kii or badhnaa chaahie।)

यह संस्था सेवा और त्याग के आदर्शों पर स्थापित की गई थी। This institution was established on the ideals of service and sacrifice.

(yah sansthaa sevaa aur tyaag ke aadarshon par sthaapit kii gaii thii।)

नेताजी के भाषण में देश-सेवा के आदर्श की झलक मिलती है। A glimpse of the ideal of nation-service can be found in the leader's speech.

(netaajii ke bhaashan men desh-sevaa ke aadarsh kii jhalak miltii hai।)

अपने आदर्शों को कभी मत छोड़ो, चाहे कितनी भी मुश्किलें आएँ। Never abandon your ideals, no matter how many difficulties come.

(apne aadarshon ko kabhii mat chhodo, chaahe kitnii bhii mushkilen aaen।)

क्या सादगी अब भी हमारे समाज का आदर्श है, या यह सिर्फ किताबों में रह गया है? Is simplicity still our society's ideal, or has it remained only in books?

(kyaa saadgii ab bhii hamaare samaaj kaa aadarsh hai, yaa yah sirph kitaabon men rah gayaa hai?)

Sense 2 : ideal, model, exemplary

adjective

Synonyms: उत्तम (uttam, excellent), अनुकरणीय (anukarniiy, literary, 'worthy of emulation')

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You will meet this constantly in compound phrases like आदर्श पत्नी (aadarsh patnii, 'ideal wife') or आदर्श गाँव (aadarsh gaanv, 'model village') -- the latter tied to real government schemes for village development, which gives the word a civic, almost bureaucratic ring alongside its moral one.

Common Mistakes: 1) Because it looks and sounds the same as the noun, learners sometimes struggle to tell from context whether आदर्श (aadarsh) is describing a noun ('an ideal teacher') or standing alone as 'an ideal' -- word order and the presence of a following noun (e.g. आदर्श शिक्षक (aadarsh shikshak, 'ideal teacher')) is the clue.

Sample Sentences:

हर बच्चे को एक आदर्श शिक्षक की ज़रूरत होती है। Every child needs an ideal teacher.

(har bachche ko ek aadarsh shikshak kii zaroorat hotii hai।)

सरकार ने इस इलाके को आदर्श गाँव घोषित किया है। The government has declared this area a model village.

(sarkaar ne is ilaake ko aadarsh gaanv ghoshit kiyaa hai।)

लोग उसे आदर्श पत्नी मानते थे। People used to consider her an ideal wife.

(log use aadarsh patnii maante the।)

काश मैं भी एक आदर्श नागरिक होता। I wish I too were an ideal citizen.

(kaash main bhii ek aadarsh naagrik hotaa।)

इस स्कूल को आदर्श विद्यालय का दर्जा दिया जाएगा। This school will be given the status of a model institution.

(is skool ko aadarsh vidyaalay kaa darjaa diyaa jaaegaa।)

एक आदर्श नेता बनो, सिर्फ़ भाषण मत दो। Be an ideal leader, don't just give speeches.

(ek aadarsh netaa bano, sirf bhaashan mat do।)

अगर तुम आदर्श बेटा बनना चाहते हो, तो माँ-बाप का सम्मान करो। If you want to become an ideal son, respect your parents.

(agar tum aadarsh betaa bannaa chaahte ho, to maan-baap kaa sammaan karo।)

क्या सच में कोई आदर्श समाज बन सकता है? Can an ideal society really be built?

(kyaa sach men koii aadarsh samaaj ban saktaa hai?)

इस योजना के अंतर्गत हर राज्य में एक आदर्श गाँव चुना जाता है। Under this scheme, a model village is chosen in every state.

(is yojnaa ke antargat har raajy men ek aadarsh gaanv chunaa jaataa hai।)

गांधीजी के जीवन को आदर्श जीवन कहा जाता है। Gandhiji's life is called an ideal life.

(gaandhiijii ke jiivan ko aadarsh jiivan kahaa jaataa hai।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): आदर्श (aadarsh)

(sg.m.oblique): आदर्श (aadarsh)

(pl.m.direct): आदर्श (aadarsh)

(pl.m.oblique): आदर्शों (aadarshon)

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: आदर्श (aadarsh)