असली (aslii)
adjective
A single core adjective meaning 'real, genuine, authentic' -- used both literally (real vs. fake objects) and figuratively (true vs. superficial qualities).
Sense
1
:
genuine, authentic (not fake or duplicate)
adjective
Synonyms: वास्तविक (vaastvik, formal), खरा (kharaa, of metals/goods; also figurative for honest)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Ask any shopkeeper in Chandni Chowk about gold or leather and you'll hear this word constantly: असली सोना (aslii sonaa, 'real gold') versus नकली (naklii, 'fake'). The असली-नकली (aslii-naklii) pairing is one of the most reflexive contrasts in everyday Hindi, used for everything from jewelry to friendships.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use वास्तविक (vaastvik) in casual speech where असली (aslii) sounds far more natural -- in the market or at home, असली (aslii) is the everyday word, वास्तविक (vaastvik) feels bookish. 2) Its opposite pair नकली (naklii, fake) is learned together with this word almost as a fixed unit -- असली या नकली (aslii yaa naklii, 'real or fake') is a very common phrase when checking goods.
Sample Sentences:
यह असली सोना है या नकली?
Is this real gold or fake?
(yah aslii sonaa hai yaa naklii?)
दुकानदार ने कसम खाई कि चेन असली सोने की है।
The shopkeeper swore that the chain was made of real gold.
(dukaandaar ne kasam khaaii ki chen aslii sone kii hai।)
पहले यह पता कर लो कि बैग असली चमड़े का है या नहीं।
First find out whether the bag is made of real leather or not.
(pahle yah pataa kar lo ki baig aslii chamde kaa hai yaa nahiin।)
अगर यह असली हीरा होता, तो इतना सस्ता कभी नहीं बिकता।
If this were a real diamond, it would never sell so cheap.
(agar yah aslii hiiraa hotaa, to itnaa sastaa kabhii nahiin biktaa।)
चांदनी चौक में असली और नकली सामान की पहचान करना एक कला है।
Identifying genuine and fake goods in Chandni Chowk is an art.
(chaandnii chauk men aslii aur naklii saamaan kii pahchaan karnaa ek kalaa hai।)
जौहरी हर गहने को जांचता है ताकि पता चले कि वह असली है या नहीं।
The jeweler checks every piece of jewelry to find out whether it is genuine.
(jauhrii har gahne ko jaanchtaa hai taaki pataa chale ki vah aslii hai yaa nahiin।)
इस दुकान की हर चीज़ की जांच करके असली होने का प्रमाण दिया जाता है।
Every item in this shop is checked and given a certificate proving it is genuine.
(is dukaan kii har chiiz kii jaanch karke aslii hone kaa pramaan diyaa jaataa hai।)
क्या तुम्हें यकीन है कि यह पेंटिंग असली है?
Are you sure this painting is genuine?
(kyaa tumhen yakiin hai ki yah penting aslii hai?)
सरकार ने घोषणा की है कि सभी नोट असली करेंसी की जांच से गुजरेंगे।
The government has announced that all notes will undergo a genuine currency check.
(sarkaar ne ghoshnaa kii hai ki sabhii not aslii karensii kii jaanch se gujrenge।)
अगर वह असली हीरा साबित होता, तो लाखों का होता।
If it had turned out to be a real diamond, it would have been worth lakhs.
(agar vah aslii hiiraa saabit hotaa, to laakhon kaa hotaa।)
बाज़ार में असली माल पहचानने के लिए ग्राहकों को सतर्क रहना चाहिए।
Customers should stay alert to recognize genuine goods in the market.
(baazaar men aslii maal pahchaanne ke lie graahkon ko satark rahnaa chaahie।)
Sense
2
:
true, real (essential nature, as opposed to apparent or superficial)
adjective
Synonyms: सच्चा (sachchaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the असली (aslii) of असली मुद्दा (aslii muddaa, 'the real issue') or असली दोस्त (aslii dost, 'a true friend') -- it points at what's essential beneath the surface, the same instinct as English 'the real deal.' It pairs naturally with सच्चा (sachchaa) but is used more broadly, including for objects and situations, not just people's sincerity.
Sample Sentences:
असली मुद्दा तो यह है कि हम पैसे कैसे कमाएँगे।
The real issue is how we will earn money.
(aslii muddaa to yah hai ki ham paise kaise kamaaenge।)
वह मेरी असली दोस्त है, हर मुश्किल में साथ खड़ी रहती है।
She is my true friend, she stands by me in every difficulty.
(vah merii aslii dost hai, har mushkil men saath khadii rahtii hai।)
उसकी असली समस्या पैसों की नहीं, आत्मविश्वास की कमी है।
His real problem is not money, it's a lack of confidence.
(uskii aslii samasyaa paison kii nahiin, aatmvishvaas kii kamii hai।)
असली सवाल यह नहीं है कि उसने क्या कहा, बल्कि यह कि उसने क्या किया।
The real question is not what he said, but what he did.
(aslii savaal yah nahiin hai ki usne kyaa kahaa, balki yah ki usne kyaa kiyaa।)
जब तूफान आया, तब पता चला कि कौन असली दोस्त था।
When the storm came, it became clear who the true friend was.
(jab toophaan aayaa, tab pataa chalaa ki kaun aslii dost thaa।)
काश तुम असली बात समझ पाते, इतना गुस्सा नहीं करते।
If only you had understood the real point, you wouldn't have been so angry.
(kaash tum aslii baat samajh paate, itnaa gussaa nahiin karte।)
असली खुशी बाहर की चीज़ों में नहीं, भीतर मिलती है।
True happiness is not found in outer things, it is found within.
(aslii khushii baahar kii chiizon men nahiin, bhiitar miltii hai।)
कृपया असली मुद्दे पर आइए, इधर-उधर की बातें मत कीजिए।
Please come to the real issue, don't talk about irrelevant things.
(kripyaa aslii mudde par aaie, idhar-udhar kii baaten mat kiijie।)
शायद उसकी असली मंशा कुछ और ही हो।
Perhaps his real intention is something else entirely.
(shaayad uskii aslii manshaa kuchh aur hii ho।)
फिल्म देखने के बाद ही उसकी असली कहानी सामने आई।
It was only after watching the film that its true story came out.
(philm dekhne ke baad hii uskii aslii kahaanii saamne aaii।)
उसकी असली ताकत उसकी विनम्रता में छिपी है।
His real strength is hidden in his humility.
(uskii aslii taakat uskii vinamrtaa men chhipii hai।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
असली
(aslii)