महीन (mahiin)

adjective Mainly describes something fine, thin, or delicate in texture -- as of fabric, powder, thread, or sound. A secondary figurative sense extends this to subtle, refined distinctions of meaning or perception.

Sense 1 : fine, thin (in texture)

adjective

Synonyms: पतला (patlaa, thin in shape rather than texture), बारीक (baariik)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly around food and cloth in Delhi markets -- a shopkeeper selling suji or besan will describe the grind as महीन (mahiin) versus मोटा (motaa, coarse), and a सारी (saarii) seller will praise महीन बुनाई (mahiin bunaaii, fine weave) as a mark of quality.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for पतला (patlaa) when describing powder, flour, or fabric weave -- पतला (patlaa) describes thinness of shape or diameter, while महीन (mahiin) describes fineness of grain or weave, so बारीक पीसा हुआ आटा (baariik piisaa huaa aataa, finely ground flour) or महीन आटा (mahiin aataa, fine flour) is natural, but पतला आटा (patlaa aataa) sounds odd.

Sample Sentences:

यह सूजी बहुत महीन है। This semolina is very fine.

(yah soojii bahut mahiin hai।)

इस साड़ी की बुनाई कितनी महीन है! How fine the weave of this sari is!

(is saadii kii bunaaii kitnii mahiin hai!)

दुकानदार ने बेसन को और महीन पिसवाया। The shopkeeper had the gram flour ground even finer.

(dukaandaar ne besan ko aur mahiin pisvaayaa।)

क्या आपके पास इससे महीन आटा है? Do you have flour finer than this?

(kyaa aapke paas isse mahiin aataa hai?)

मशीन में पिसते-पिसते मसाला बहुत महीन हो जाता है। By the time it's ground in the machine, the spice becomes very fine.

(mashiin men piste-piste masaalaa bahut mahiin ho jaataa hai।)

यह कपड़ा इतना महीन बुना गया है कि हाथ से बुना लगता ही नहीं। This cloth is woven so fine that it doesn't even seem handwoven.

(yah kapdaa itnaa mahiin bunaa gayaa hai ki haath se bunaa lagtaa hii nahiin।)

आटे को महीन पीस लीजिए, वरना हलवा दानेदार बन जाएगा। Grind the flour fine, otherwise the halwa will turn out grainy.

(aate ko mahiin piis liijie, varnaa halvaa daanedaar ban jaaegaa।)

यदि मिर्च इतनी महीन न पिसी होती तो चटनी इतनी स्वादिष्ट न बनती। If the chili hadn't been ground so fine, the chutney wouldn't have turned out this tasty.

(yadi mirch itnii mahiin n pisii hotii to chatnii itnii svaadisht n bantii।)

बेहतरीन सूती वस्त्रों में सबसे महीन धागे इस्तेमाल होते हैं। The finest cotton garments use the finest threads.

(behatriin sootii vastron men sabse mahiin dhaage istemaal hote hain।)

मुझे लगता है यह चीनी उतनी महीन नहीं है जितनी होनी चाहिए। I think this sugar isn't as fine as it should be.

(mujhe lagtaa hai yah chiinii utnii mahiin nahiin hai jitnii honii chaahie।)

पहले हाथ से पीसकर आटा महीन बनाया जाता था। Earlier, the flour used to be made fine by grinding it by hand.

(pahle haath se piiskar aataa mahiin banaayaa jaataa thaa।)

Sense 2 : subtle, delicate (of distinction, sound, or perception)

adjective

Synonyms: सूक्ष्म (sookshm, more formal/literary), नाज़ुक (naazuk, leans toward fragile rather than subtle)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This is the same word stretched from touch to thought -- a महीन फ़र्क़ (mahiin farq, a fine/subtle difference) or महीन आवाज़ (mahiin aavaaz, a thin, delicate voice) uses the fabric-and-powder sense metaphorically, much as English speakers say 'fine distinction.' Recognizing this link helps you feel why one word covers both a sieve and a nuance.

Sample Sentences:

इन दोनों रंगों में बहुत महीन फ़र्क़ है। There is a very subtle difference between these two colors.

(in donon rangon men bahut mahiin farq hai।)

उसकी आवाज़ बहुत महीन थी, मुझे ठीक से सुनाई नहीं दी। Her voice was very delicate, I couldn't hear it properly.

(uskii aavaaz bahut mahiin thii, mujhe thiik se sunaaii nahiin dii।)

वह हर बात में महीन फ़र्क़ पकड़ लेता है। He picks up on subtle differences in everything.

(vah har baat men mahiin farq pakad letaa hai।)

यह इतना महीन विषय है कि इसे समझने के लिए गहरी सोच चाहिए। This subject is so subtle that understanding it requires deep thought.

(yah itnaa mahiin vishay hai ki ise samajhne ke lie gahrii soch chaahie।)

काश तुम इस महीन इशारे को समझ पाते। If only you could have understood this subtle hint.

(kaash tum is mahiin ishaare ko samajh paate।)

अगर तुम ज़रा महीन नज़र से देखते, तो असली मतलब समझ जाते। If you had looked with a slightly more discerning eye, you would have understood the real meaning.

(agar tum zaraa mahiin nazar se dekhte, to aslii matlab samajh jaate।)

उस कविता में एक महीन दर्द छिपा हुआ है। A subtle pain lies hidden in that poem.

(us kavitaa men ek mahiin dard chhipaa huaa hai।)

कृपया इस मामले की महीन बारीकियों पर ध्यान दें। Please pay attention to the subtle nuances of this matter.

(kripyaa is maamle kii mahiin baariikiyon par dhyaan den।)

शायद उनके बीच कोई महीन सी नाराज़गी हो। Perhaps there is some subtle resentment between them.

(shaayad unke biich koii mahiin sii naaraazgii ho।)

संगीत की इस धुन में एक महीन उदासी घुली हुई है। A subtle sadness is mixed into this piece of music.

(sangiit kii is dhun men ek mahiin udaasii ghulii huii hai।)

Morphology

Adjective (variable)

(sg.m): महीन (mahiin)

(pl.m): महीने (mahiine)

(sg.f): महीनी (mahiinii)

(pl.f): महीनी (mahiinii)