चौबीस (chaubiis)

numeral The number twenty-four (chaubiis) -- a straightforward cardinal numeral with one core sense.
Sense 1 : the number twenty-four
numeral
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear चौबीस (chaubiis) constantly in the phrase चौबीस घंटे (chaubiis ghante, '24 hours'), which is the everyday Hindi way to say 'round the clock' -- shopkeepers and dhaba owners love painting चौबीस घंटे खुला (chaubiis ghante khulaa, 'open 24 hours') on their signboards.
Common Mistakes: 1) Like other Hindi numerals, चौबीस (chaubiis) sits before the noun and the noun does not take a plural marker of its own: चौबीस किताबें (chaubiis kitaaben, 'twenty-four books'), not a form with an extra plural suffix. 2) Learners sometimes confuse चौबीस (chaubiis, 24) with चालीस (chaaliis, 40) or चौदह (chaudah, 14) because the initial syllables sound similar -- worth drilling aloud.
Sample Sentences:
यह दुकान चौबीस घंटे खुली रहती है। This shop stays open twenty-four hours.
(yah dukaan chaubiis ghante khulii rahtii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस महीने की चौबीस तारीख को मेरा जन्मदिन है। The twenty-fourth of this month is my birthday.
(is mahiine kii chaubiis taariikh ko meraa janmdin hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
ढाबे के बोर्ड पर लिखा था 'चौबीस घंटे खुला'। The board on the roadside diner said 'open 24 hours'.
(dhaabe ke bord par likhaa thaa 'chaubiis ghante khulaa'।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
क्लास में चौबीस बच्चे हैं। There are twenty-four children in the class.
(klaas men chaubiis bachche hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अस्पताल में चौबीस घंटे डॉक्टर उपलब्ध रहते हैं। Doctors remain available round the clock at the hospital.
(asptaal men chaubiis ghante doktar uplabdh rahte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर यह दुकान चौबीस घंटे खुली होती, तो कितना अच्छा होता। If this shop stayed open twenty-four hours, how great that would be.
(agar yah dukaan chaubiis ghante khulii hotii, to kitnaa achchhaa hotaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया चौबीस घंटे के अंदर जवाब दें। Please reply within twenty-four hours.
(kripyaa chaubiis ghante ke andar javaab den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मुझे लगता है कि हमें चौबीस घंटे इंतज़ार करना चाहिए। I think we should wait twenty-four hours.
(mujhe lagtaa hai ki hamen chaubiis ghante intzaar karnaa chaahie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले चौबीस घंटों में शहर में बहुत बारिश हुई। It rained heavily in the city over the last twenty-four hours.
(pichhle chaubiis ghanton men shahar men bahut baarish huii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह न्यूज़ चैनल चौबीस घंटे प्रसारित होता है। This news channel broadcasts round the clock.
(yah nyooz chainal chaubiis ghante prasaarit hotaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
फैक्ट्री में चौबीस घंटे काम चलता रहेगा। Work will keep going round the clock at the factory.
(phaiktrii men chaubiis ghante kaam chaltaa rahegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active