सज्जन (sajjan)
noun/adjective
A respectful noun meaning 'gentleman, good/decent person'; it also works as an adjective meaning 'virtuous, well-mannered.'
Sense
1
:
a gentleman, a good/decent person
noun, masculine
Synonyms: भला आदमी (bhalaa aadmii), शरीफ़ आदमी (shariif aadmii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this in slightly formal contexts -- introducing an elder, describing a stranger who helped you, or in a speech: 'वे एक सज्जन व्यक्ति हैं' (ve ek sajjan vyakti hain, 'he is a gentleman/decent person'). It has a old-world courtesy to it, the kind of word your grandfather might use approvingly about a neighbor.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use it casually like अंग्रेज़ी (angrezii) 'gentleman,' but सज्जन (sajjan) carries a moral tone (good character), not just polish or manners -- calling someone सज्जन (sajjan) is a compliment about their nature, not their dress sense.
Sample Sentences:
वे एक सज्जन व्यक्ति हैं।
He is a gentleman.
(ve ek sajjan vyakti hain।)
पड़ोस में एक सज्जन रहते हैं जो सबकी मदद करते हैं।
There's a gentleman living in the neighborhood who helps everyone.
(pados men ek sajjan rahte hain jo sabkii madad karte hain।)
एक सज्जन ने मुझे रास्ता बताया।
A gentleman showed me the way.
(ek sajjan ne mujhe raastaa bataayaa।)
मेरे दादा जी हमेशा कहते थे कि वे बहुत बड़े सज्जन थे।
My grandfather always used to say that he was a great gentleman.
(mere daadaa jii hameshaa kahte the ki ve bahut bade sajjan the।)
अगर वे सज्जन न होते, तो शायद हमारी मदद न करते।
If he weren't a gentleman, he probably wouldn't have helped us.
(agar ve sajjan n hote, to shaayad hamaarii madad n karte।)
कृपया उन सज्जन को मंच पर आमंत्रित करें।
Please invite that gentleman to the stage.
(kripyaa un sajjan ko manch par aamantrit karen।)
मुझे लगता है वे सज्जन ही होंगे, वरना इतनी विनम्रता से बात नहीं करते।
I think he must be a gentleman, otherwise he wouldn't speak so politely.
(mujhe lagtaa hai ve sajjan hii honge, varnaa itnii vinamrtaa se baat nahiin karte।)
उस सज्जन का नाम शायद शर्मा जी है।
That gentleman's name is probably Mr. Sharma.
(us sajjan kaa naam shaayad sharmaa jii hai।)
समारोह में उपस्थित सभी सज्जनों का स्वागत किया गया।
All the gentlemen present at the ceremony were welcomed.
(samaaroh men upasthit sabhii sajjnon kaa svaagat kiyaa gayaa।)
देवियों और सज्जनों, आप सबका हार्दिक स्वागत है।
Ladies and gentlemen, a warm welcome to all of you.
(deviyon aur sajjnon, aap sabkaa haardik svaagat hai।)
Sense
2
:
virtuous, well-mannered, decent
adjective Commonly used to modify person-nouns, as in सज्जन व्यक्ति (sajjan vyakti, 'decent person') or सज्जन पुरुष (sajjan purush, 'gentleman/virtuous man').
Synonyms: भला (bhalaa), शरीफ़ (shariif), नेक (nek)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: As an adjective it pairs naturally with व्यक्ति (vyakti) or पुरुष (purush) to describe someone's inner character rather than outward behavior -- it's the word you'd use to praise someone's सज्जनता (sajjantaa, the related noun 'gentlemanliness/decency').
Sample Sentences:
वह बहुत सज्जन व्यक्ति है।
He is a very decent person.
(vah bahut sajjan vyakti hai।)
मेरे पड़ोसी बहुत सज्जन पुरुष हैं।
My neighbor is a very gentlemanly man.
(mere padosii bahut sajjan purush hain।)
उनके पिताजी सज्जन और शांत स्वभाव के थे।
His father was decent and calm by nature.
(unke pitaajii sajjan aur shaant svabhaav ke the।)
काश वह उतना ही सज्जन होता जितना दिखता है।
If only he were as decent as he appears.
(kaash vah utnaa hii sajjan hotaa jitnaa dikhtaa hai।)
आप जैसे सज्जन व्यक्ति से मिलकर अच्छा लगा।
It was nice to meet a gentlemanly person like you.
(aap jaise sajjan vyakti se milkar achchhaa lagaa।)
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि वह इतना सज्जन आदमी है?
Do you think he is that decent a man?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki vah itnaa sajjan aadmii hai?)
बेटा, हमेशा सज्जन बनकर रहना।
Son, always remain decent and well-mannered.
(betaa, hameshaa sajjan bankar rahnaa।)
समाज में ऐसे सज्जन लोगों की बहुत आवश्यकता है।
Society needs such decent people very much.
(samaaj men aise sajjan logon kii bahut aavashyaktaa hai।)
यह देखकर सबको आश्चर्य हुआ कि वह इतना सज्जन निकला।
Everyone was surprised to see that he turned out to be so decent.
(yah dekhkar sabko aashchary huaa ki vah itnaa sajjan niklaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
सज्जन
(sajjan)
(sg.m.oblique):
सज्जन
(sajjan)
(pl.m.direct):
सज्जन
(sajjan)
(pl.m.oblique):
सज्जनों
(sajjnon)
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
सज्जन
(sajjan)