धीमा (dhiimaa)
adjective
A variable adjective meaning 'slow' (of speed, pace, sound, or flame), with an extended sense describing something 'faint' or 'low' in intensity, such as light or sound.
Sense
1
:
slow (in speed or pace)
adjective
Synonyms: मंद (mand, literary), सुस्त (sust, sluggish/lazy connotation)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly on Delhi roads: धीमी गाड़ी चलाओ (dhiimii gaadii chalaao, 'drive slowly') is standard advice given to new drivers, and school zones often have signs reading धीमी गति से चलें (dhiimii gati se chalen, 'proceed at slow speed'). Note the feminine agreement in गाड़ी (gaadii) and गति (gati) -- both are feminine nouns.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सुस्त (sust) to mean 'slow,' but सुस्त (sust) usually implies laziness or sluggishness in a person, while धीमा (dhiimaa) is the neutral word for slow speed, motion, or pace -- use धीमा (dhiimaa) for a slow car, slow walk, or slow train.
Sample Sentences:
बारिश में गाड़ी धीमी चलानी चाहिए।
One should drive the car slowly in the rain.
(baarish men gaadii dhiimii chalaanii chaahie।)
स्कूल के पास धीमी गति से चलें।
Proceed at slow speed near the school.
(skool ke paas dhiimii gati se chalen।)
यह ट्रेन बहुत धीमी है, हम लेट हो जाएंगे।
This train is very slow, we'll end up late.
(yah tren bahut dhiimii hai, ham let ho jaaenge।)
पापा हमेशा कहते हैं, धीमी गाड़ी चलाओ।
Dad always says, drive slowly.
(paapaa hameshaa kahte hain, dhiimii gaadii chalaao।)
अगर वह धीमा चलता तो टक्कर नहीं होती।
If he had driven slowly, there would not have been an accident.
(agar vah dhiimaa chaltaa to takkar nahiin hotii।)
इंटरनेट की स्पीड आज बहुत धीमी है।
The internet speed is very slow today.
(intarnet kii spiid aaj bahut dhiimii hai।)
कछुआ धीमा चलता है, पर आखिर में जीत जाता है।
The tortoise moves slowly, but it wins in the end.
(kachhuaa dhiimaa chaltaa hai, par aakhir men jiit jaataa hai।)
कृपया धीमी गति से गाड़ी चलाई जाए, आगे मोड़ है।
Please have the vehicle driven at a slow speed, there's a bend ahead.
(kripyaa dhiimii gati se gaadii chalaaii jaae, aage mod hai।)
जब तक भीड़ थी, गाड़ी धीमी चल रही थी।
As long as there was traffic, the car was moving slowly.
(jab tak bhiid thii, gaadii dhiimii chal rahii thii।)
काश ट्रैफिक इतना धीमा न होता।
I wish the traffic wasn't so slow.
(kaash traiphik itnaa dhiimaa n hotaa।)
धीमी गति से चलने वाले वाहनों को बाईं ओर रहना चाहिए।
Vehicles moving at a slow speed should keep to the left.
(dhiimii gati se chalne vaale vaahnon ko baaiin or rahnaa chaahie।)
Sense
2
:
faint, low, dim (of sound, light, or flame)
adjective
Synonyms: मंद (mand, literary), हल्का (halkaa, light/mild, partial overlap)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This sense shows up in everyday household requests: आवाज़ धीमी करो (aavaaz dhiimii karo, 'turn the volume down/lower your voice') is something every parent says at least once a day. It also applies to a stove flame -- गैस धीमी करो (gais dhiimii karo, 'lower the gas flame') is a classic kitchen instruction while simmering dal or curry.
Common Mistakes: 1) In this sense धीमा (dhiimaa) describes intensity, not speed -- धीमी आवाज़ (dhiimii aavaaz) means 'a quiet/low voice,' not 'a slow voice,' which can confuse learners used to the pace sense.
Sample Sentences:
आवाज़ थोड़ी धीमी करो, बच्चा सो रहा है।
Turn the volume down a bit, the baby is sleeping.
(aavaaz thodii dhiimii karo, bachchaa so rahaa hai।)
गैस धीमी कर दो, दाल उबल रही है।
Turn the gas flame down, the dal is boiling.
(gais dhiimii kar do, daal ubal rahii hai।)
कमरे में एक धीमी सी रोशनी जल रही थी।
A faint light was burning in the room.
(kamre men ek dhiimii sii roshnii jal rahii thii।)
उसकी आवाज़ इतनी धीमी थी कि मुझे कुछ सुनाई ही नहीं दिया।
His voice was so faint that I couldn't hear anything at all.
(uskii aavaaz itnii dhiimii thii ki mujhe kuchh sunaaii hii nahiin diyaa।)
टीवी की आवाज़ धीमी रखो, पड़ोसियों को परेशानी होगी।
Keep the TV volume low, or the neighbors will be disturbed.
(tiivii kii aavaaz dhiimii rakho, padosiyon ko pareshaanii hogii।)
अगर लौ धीमी होती तो खीर जलने से बच जाती।
If the flame had been low, the kheer would have been saved from burning.
(agar lau dhiimii hotii to khiir jalne se bach jaatii।)
मंदिर से एक धीमी घंटी की आवाज़ आ रही थी।
A faint sound of a temple bell was coming from the temple.
(mandir se ek dhiimii ghantii kii aavaaz aa rahii thii।)
क्या आप अपनी आवाज़ थोड़ी धीमी कर सकते हैं? यह एक शांत जगह है।
Could you please lower your voice a little? This is a quiet place.
(kyaa aap apnii aavaaz thodii dhiimii kar sakte hain? yah ek shaant jagah hai।)
दीये की धीमी रोशनी में उसका चेहरा साफ़ नहीं दिख रहा था।
In the dim light of the lamp, his face wasn't clearly visible.
(diiye kii dhiimii roshnii men uskaa chehraa saaf nahiin dikh rahaa thaa।)
पहले गैस धीमी करेंगे, फिर ढककर पकाएंगे।
First we'll turn the gas flame down low, then cook it covered.
(pahle gais dhiimii karenge, phir dhakkar pakaaenge।)
स्पीकर की आवाज़ धीमी रखी जाए तो सबको बेहतर लगेगा।
If the speaker's volume is kept low, everyone will like it better.
(spiikar kii aavaaz dhiimii rakhii jaae to sabko behtar lagegaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
धीमा
(dhiimaa)
(pl.m):
धीमे
(dhiime)
(sg.f):
धीमी
(dhiimii)
(pl.f):
धीमी
(dhiimii)