कर्म (karm)

noun Primarily a noun meaning 'action, deed, work' -- both in a plain everyday sense and in the deeper philosophical/religious sense of karma, the moral law of action and consequence. The two senses are closely linked; the religious sense is an extension of the everyday one.

Sense 1 : action, deed, work (in the moral/religious sense of karma)

noun, masculine

Synonyms: कर्तव्य (kartavy, duty), कृत्य (krity, formal)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the Sanskrit-origin word behind the English loanword 'karma,' and it carries the same idea in Hindi: what you do comes back to you, in this life or beyond. You will hear it in phrases like अपना कर्म भोगना (apnaa karm bhognaa, 'to bear the fruits of one's own deeds') and करम का फल (karam kaa phal, 'the fruit of one's actions') -- both reflecting a deep-rooted belief that action and consequence are morally linked, not separate from fate.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use कर्म (karm) where काम (kaam, work/task) is meant in everyday contexts -- कर्म (karm) carries a moral or philosophical weight (as in fate, destiny, past deeds) that plain काम (kaam) does not. 2) अच्छे कर्म (achchhe karm, good deeds) and बुरे कर्म (bure karm, bad deeds) are the common everyday phrases -- learners often reach for a more literal or clinical translation instead of these set expressions.

Sample Sentences:

इंसान को अपने कर्मों का फल एक न एक दिन भुगतना ही पड़ता है। A person has to bear the fruits of their deeds sooner or later.

(insaan ko apne karmon kaa phal ek n ek din bhugatnaa hii padtaa hai।)

गीता में कहा गया है कि कर्म ही पूजा है। It is said in the Gita that action itself is worship.

(giitaa men kahaa gayaa hai ki karm hii poojaa hai।)

उसने बुरे कर्म किए, इसलिए अब पछता रहा है। He did bad deeds, so now he is regretting it.

(usne bure karm kie, islie ab pachhtaa rahaa hai।)

दादी कहती थीं कि अपना कर्म भोगना ही पड़ता है, कोई नहीं बच सकता। Grandmother used to say that one must bear the fruits of one's own deeds; no one can escape it.

(daadii kahtii thiin ki apnaa karm bhognaa hii padtaa hai, koii nahiin bach saktaa।)

अगर वह सच में अच्छे कर्म करता, तो आज उसकी जिंदगी इतनी मुश्किल न होती। If he had truly done good deeds, his life would not be so difficult today.

(agar vah sach men achchhe karm kartaa, to aaj uskii jindgii itnii mushkil n hotii।)

अच्छे कर्म करो, फल की चिंता मत करो। Do good deeds; don't worry about the fruit.

(achchhe karm karo, phal kii chintaa mat karo।)

क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि करम का फल इसी जन्म में मिलता है? Do you think the fruit of one's actions is received in this very lifetime?

(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki karam kaa phal isii janm men miltaa hai?)

शायद यह उसके पिछले जन्म के कर्मों का असर हो। Perhaps this is the effect of the deeds from his past life.

(shaayad yah uske pichhle janm ke karmon kaa asar ho।)

कर्म का सिद्धांत हिंदू धर्म का एक मूल आधार माना जाता है। The doctrine of karma is considered one of the fundamental bases of Hinduism.

(karm kaa siddhaant hindoo dharm kaa ek mool aadhaar maanaa jaataa hai।)

जैसे कर्म करोगे, वैसा ही फल पाओगे। As deeds you do, so shall the fruit you receive.

(jaise karm karoge, vaisaa hii phal paaoge।)

संत लोग कहते आए हैं कि कर्म से ही मनुष्य की पहचान बनती है, न कि जाति से। Saints have always said that a person's identity is formed by their deeds, not by their caste.

(sant log kahte aae hain ki karm se hii manushy kii pahchaan bantii hai, n ki jaati se।)

Sense 2 : work, occupation, one's proper duty or task

noun, masculine

Synonyms: काम (kaam), पेशा (peshaa, occupation), धर्म (dharm, one's duty, closely related concept)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This sense shows up in the famous Gita line कर्म करो, फल की चिंता मत करो (karm karo, phal kii chintaa mat karo, 'do your duty, do not worry about the result') -- here कर्म (karm) means one's proper work or role in life, not just any random task. It is a step up in register from काम (kaam), which is the word you would actually use to ask someone what they do for a living.

Sample Sentences:

हर इंसान को अपना कर्म ईमानदारी से करना चाहिए। Every person should do their own work honestly.

(har insaan ko apnaa karm iimaandaarii se karnaa chaahie।)

कर्म करो, फल की चिंता मत करो। Do your duty, do not worry about the result.

(karm karo, phal kii chintaa mat karo।)

शिक्षक का कर्म है कि वह बच्चों को सही राह दिखाए। It is a teacher's duty to show children the right path.

(shikshak kaa karm hai ki vah bachchon ko sahii raah dikhaae।)

उसने जीवन भर अपना कर्म निभाया। He fulfilled his duty his whole life.

(usne jiivan bhar apnaa karm nibhaayaa।)

एक सैनिक का कर्म देश की रक्षा करना है। A soldier's duty is to protect the country.

(ek sainik kaa karm desh kii rakshaa karnaa hai।)

यदि हर कोई अपना कर्म पूरी लगन से करे, तो समाज सुधर जाए। If everyone did their duty with full dedication, society would improve.

(yadi har koii apnaa karm poorii lagan se kare, to samaaj sudhar jaae।)

अगर वह अपना कर्म समय पर करता, तो यह समस्या न होती। If he had done his duty on time, this problem would not have arisen.

(agar vah apnaa karm samay par kartaa, to yah samasyaa n hotii।)

गुरुजी कहते थे कि अपने कर्म से कभी मुँह मत मोड़ो। The teacher used to say never turn away from your duty.

(gurujii kahte the ki apne karm se kabhii munh mat modo।)

राजा का कर्म प्रजा की भलाई सोचना था। A king's duty was to think of his subjects' welfare.

(raajaa kaa karm prajaa kii bhalaaii sochnaa thaa।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): कर्म (karm)

(sg.m.oblique): कर्म (karm)

(pl.m.direct): कर्म (karm)

(pl.m.oblique): कर्मों (karmon)