भलाई (bhalaaii)
noun
A noun meaning 'goodness/welfare' (the abstract quality of being good) or 'benefit/well-being' (something that is good for someone); the two senses overlap closely and are related to भला (bhalaa, 'good, kind').
Sense
1
:
welfare, well-being, benefit (what is good for someone)
noun, feminine Commonly used with इस में (is men) or तुम्हारी/आपकी (tumhaarii/aapkii) to mean 'this is for your own good' -- इस में तुम्हारी भलाई है (is men tumhaarii bhalaaii hai, 'this is for your good').
Synonyms: भला (bhalaa, used as noun 'good/benefit'), हित (hit, formal), फ़ायदा (faaydaa, practical benefit)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the sense behind that classic parental/elderly line, यह तुम्हारी ही भलाई के लिए है (yah tumhaarii hii bhalaaii ke lie hai, 'this is only for your own good') -- said while dispensing unsolicited advice, a very familiar rhythm in Indian family life.
Common Mistakes: 1) This sense is often used with a possessive (मेरी भलाई (merii bhalaaii, 'my well-being/good'), तुम्हारी भलाई (tumhaarii bhalaaii, 'your good')) rather than as an abstract standalone noun -- learners sometimes use it too abstractly, missing this personalized, advice-giving flavor.
Sample Sentences:
यह तुम्हारी ही भलाई के लिए है।
This is only for your own good.
(yah tumhaarii hii bhalaaii ke lie hai।)
माँ-बाप हमेशा बच्चों की भलाई सोचते हैं।
Parents always think about their children's welfare.
(maan-baap hameshaa bachchon kii bhalaaii sochte hain।)
सरकार को गरीबों की भलाई के लिए कदम उठाने चाहिए।
The government should take steps for the welfare of the poor.
(sarkaar ko gariibon kii bhalaaii ke lie kadam uthaane chaahie।)
अगर तुम मेरी भलाई चाहते तो यह बात मुझे पहले बताते।
If you really wanted my well-being, you would have told me this earlier.
(agar tum merii bhalaaii chaahte to yah baat mujhe pahle bataate।)
इस योजना को समाज की भलाई के लिए बनाया गया है।
This scheme has been designed for the welfare of society.
(is yojnaa ko samaaj kii bhalaaii ke lie banaayaa gayaa hai।)
अपनी भलाई के लिए अभी डॉक्टर को दिखा लो।
For your own good, go see a doctor now.
(apnii bhalaaii ke lie abhii doktar ko dikhaa lo।)
मुझे नहीं पता था कि वह मेरी भलाई के लिए इतना परेशान होगा।
I did not know that he would worry so much for my welfare.
(mujhe nahiin pataa thaa ki vah merii bhalaaii ke lie itnaa pareshaan hogaa।)
कंपनी अपने कर्मचारियों की भलाई का ध्यान रखती है।
The company takes care of its employees' welfare.
(kampnii apne karmchaariyon kii bhalaaii kaa dhyaan rakhtii hai।)
काश तुम अपनी भलाई खुद समझ पाते।
I wish you could understand what is good for yourself.
(kaash tum apnii bhalaaii khud samajh paate।)
क्या यह फैसला सचमुच जनता की भलाई के लिए है?
Is this decision really for the welfare of the people?
(kyaa yah phaislaa sachmuch jantaa kii bhalaaii ke lie hai?)
बड़ों की बातें अक्सर हमारी भलाई के लिए ही होती हैं, चाहे वे कड़वी लगें।
Elders' words are often only for our own good, even if they seem bitter.
(badon kii baaten aksar hamaarii bhalaaii ke lie hii hotii hain, chaahe ve kadvii lagen।)
Sense
2
:
goodness, virtue, kindness (moral quality)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: नेकी (nekii), अच्छाई (achchhaaii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries a warm, almost moralistic weight in Hindi -- you'll hear elders say भलाई का ज़माना नहीं है (bhalaaii kaa zamaanaa nahiin hai, 'it is not an age of goodness') when lamenting declining values, a classic bit of Delhi-uncle wisdom.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse भलाई (bhalaaii) with अच्छाई (achchhaaii); both mean 'goodness' but भलाई (bhalaaii) leans toward kindness/moral virtue in action, while अच्छाई (achchhaaii) is more general 'goodness/quality of being good' (including of objects, not just people).
Sample Sentences:
इंसान में भलाई होनी चाहिए।
A person should have goodness in them.
(insaan men bhalaaii honii chaahie।)
आज भलाई का ज़माना नहीं है।
These days it is not an age of goodness.
(aaj bhalaaii kaa zamaanaa nahiin hai।)
उसकी भलाई उसके चेहरे से झलकती है।
Her goodness shines through on her face.
(uskii bhalaaii uske chehre se jhalaktii hai।)
दादी हमेशा कहती थीं कि भलाई कभी बेकार नहीं जाती।
Grandmother always used to say that goodness never goes to waste.
(daadii hameshaa kahtii thiin ki bhalaaii kabhii bekaar nahiin jaatii।)
अगर उसमें थोड़ी भी भलाई होती, तो वह ऐसा न करता।
If he had even a little goodness in him, he wouldn't do such a thing.
(agar usmen thodii bhii bhalaaii hotii, to vah aisaa n kartaa।)
समाज में भलाई बनाए रखने के लिए हर किसी को कोशिश करनी चाहिए।
Everyone should try to preserve goodness in society.
(samaaj men bhalaaii banaae rakhne ke lie har kisii ko koshish karnii chaahie।)
उसकी भलाई की वजह से पूरा मोहल्ला उसे इज़्ज़त देता है।
Because of his goodness, the whole neighborhood respects him.
(uskii bhalaaii kii vajah se pooraa mohallaa use izzat detaa hai।)
संत लोग हमेशा भलाई का उपदेश देते हैं।
Saints always preach goodness.
(sant log hameshaa bhalaaii kaa updesh dete hain।)
उसमें ऐसी भलाई है जो कम ही लोगों में देखी जाती है।
There is such goodness in him that is rarely seen in people.
(usmen aisii bhalaaii hai jo kam hii logon men dekhii jaatii hai।)
भलाई ही धर्म का असली रूप मानी जाती है।
Goodness itself is considered the true form of dharma.
(bhalaaii hii dharm kaa aslii roop maanii jaatii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
भलाई
(bhalaaii)
(sg.f.oblique):
भलाई
(bhalaaii)
(pl.f.direct):
भलाईएँ
(bhalaaiien)
(pl.f.oblique):
भलाईओं
(bhalaaiion)