छप्पन (chhappan)

numeral The number fifty-six (chhappan) -- a straightforward cardinal numeral with one core sense.
Sense 1 : the number 56
numeral
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: If you have spent time in Bombay or watched a Hindi film set there, you may already know this number from छप्पन भोग (chhappan bhog, 'fifty-six food offerings') or the famous छप्पन दुकान (chhappan dukaan, 'fifty-six shops') food market in Indore -- both use the number as a stock phrase for 'a huge spread of variety,' much like English 'the whole shebang.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to build this compositionally from पचास (pachaas, 'fifty') plus छह (chhah, 'six'), but like most Hindi numerals from 1-99, छप्पन (chhappan) is a single memorized word, not a predictable sum.
Sample Sentences:
इस डिब्बे में छप्पन पेंसिलें हैं। There are fifty-six pencils in this box.
(is dibbe men chhappan pensilen hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मंदिर में भगवान को छप्पन भोग चढ़ाया गया। Fifty-six food offerings were presented to God in the temple.
(mandir men bhagvaan ko chhappan bhog chadhaayaa gayaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
इंदौर की छप्पन दुकान में हर तरह का खाना मिलता है। You can get every kind of food at Indore's Chhappan Dukaan market.
(indaur kii chhappan dukaan men har tarah kaa khaanaa miltaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी उम्र छप्पन साल है। His age is fifty-six years.
(uskii umr chhappan saal hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले साल हमारी टीम ने छप्पन मैच खेले थे। Last year our team had played fifty-six matches.
(pichhle saal hamaarii tiim ne chhappan maich khele the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या इस इमारत में छप्पन कमरे होंगे? Could this building have fifty-six rooms?
(kyaa is imaarat men chhappan kamre honge?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर टिकट छप्पन रुपये का होता, तो मैं भी चलता। If the ticket had cost fifty-six rupees, I would have come along too.
(agar tikat chhappan rupye kaa hotaa, to main bhii chaltaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया छप्पन नंबर की सीट पर बैठिए। Please sit in seat number fifty-six.
(kripyaa chhappan nambar kii siit par baithie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उस बुज़ुर्ग ने छप्पन बरस पुलिस में नौकरी की थी। That elderly man had served fifty-six years in the police.
(us buzurg ne chhappan baras pulis men naukrii kii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शायद अगली गिनती में छप्पन लोग ही बचेंगे। Perhaps only fifty-six people will remain in the next count.
(shaayad aglii gintii men chhappan log hii bachenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active