बहस (bahas)
noun/verb
A feminine noun meaning an argument, debate, or dispute; it also appears heavily in a compound-verb pairing (बहस करना (bahas karnaa)) which carries the main verbal sense. Nearly all everyday use revolves around this one core idea, split here between the noun and its most common verbal use.
Sense
1
:
argument, debate, dispute (verbal conflict or discussion)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: तकरार (takraar, quarrel/squabble), विवाद (vivaad, more formal, dispute), झगड़ा (jhagdaa, fight/quarrel, stronger)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear बहस (bahas) constantly in the context of Indian news debates and political shows -- टीवी बहस (tiivii bahas, 'TV debate') is practically a genre of its own, often loud and combative. In a family setting, elders might gently scold with बहस मत करो (bahas mat karo, 'don't argue') when a child talks back.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for झगड़ा (jhagdaa) when they mean a heated verbal exchange, but बहस (bahas) is specifically about arguing points or positions (spoken debate), while झगड़ा (jhagdaa) implies a more personal fight or falling-out. 2) बहस (bahas) does not by itself imply anger or hostility -- a parliamentary or classroom बहस (bahas) can be perfectly civil, unlike झगड़ा (jhagdaa).
Sample Sentences:
कल रात दोनों भाइयों के बीच जमकर बहस हुई।
Last night there was a heated argument between the two brothers.
(kal raat donon bhaaiyon ke biich jamkar bahas huii।)
बहस मत करो, जो कहा जा रहा है वो सुनो।
Don't argue, just listen to what's being said.
(bahas mat karo, jo kahaa jaa rahaa hai vo suno।)
आजकल हर चैनल पर टीवी बहस देखकर दिमाग खराब हो जाता है।
These days watching TV debates on every channel just fries your brain.
(aajkal har chainal par tiivii bahas dekhkar dimaag kharaab ho jaataa hai।)
संसद में आज नए कानून पर तीखी बहस हो रही है।
There is a sharp debate happening in Parliament today on the new law.
(sansad men aaj nae kaanoon par tiikhii bahas ho rahii hai।)
अगर तुम शांति से बात करते तो शायद इतनी बड़ी बहस नहीं होती।
If you had spoken calmly, maybe there wouldn't have been such a big argument.
(agar tum shaanti se baat karte to shaayad itnii badii bahas nahiin hotii।)
काश यह बहस कभी शुरू ही न होती।
I wish this argument had never even started.
(kaash yah bahas kabhii shuroo hii n hotii।)
बैठक के बाद यह बहस सुलझाई जाएगी।
This dispute will be resolved after the meeting.
(baithak ke baad yah bahas suljhaaii jaaegii।)
बहस के बीच में उसने अपना आपा खो दिया।
In the middle of the argument, he lost his temper.
(bahas ke biich men usne apnaa aapaa kho diyaa।)
शायद इस मुद्दे पर बहस की कोई जरूरत ही न हो।
Perhaps there is no need for a debate on this issue at all.
(shaayad is mudde par bahas kii koii jaroorat hii n ho।)
इस विषय पर सालों से विद्वानों के बीच बहस चलती आ रही है।
A debate has been going on among scholars over this subject for years.
(is vishay par saalon se vidvaanon ke biich bahas chaltii aa rahii hai।)
पैसों को लेकर घर में रोज़ बहस होती है।
There's a daily argument at home over money.
(paison ko lekar ghar men roz bahas hotii hai।)
Sense
2
:
to argue, to debate (with someone)
verb, transitive Formed as a compound verb with करना (karnaa): बहस करना (bahas karnaa). The person argued with takes से (se): उससे बहस करना (usse bahas karnaa, 'to argue with him/her').
Synonyms: झगड़ना (jhagadnaa, to quarrel/fight, stronger), तर्क करना (tark karnaa, to reason/argue logically, more formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: बहस करना (bahas karnaa) is what elders often warn against with the phrase बड़ों से बहस मत करो (badon se bahas mat karo, 'don't argue with your elders') -- a very familiar refrain in Indian households, tied to the cultural value placed on respecting elders.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes mark the person argued with using के साथ (ke saath) by analogy with English 'argue with,' but से (se) is the natural choice here: मुझसे बहस मत करो (mujhse bahas mat karo, 'don't argue with me').
Sample Sentences:
बड़ों से बहस मत करो।
Don't argue with your elders.
(badon se bahas mat karo।)
वे दोनों भाई हर बात पर बहस करते हैं।
Those two brothers argue about everything.
(ve donon bhaaii har baat par bahas karte hain।)
कल रात हम इस मुद्दे पर घंटों बहस करते रहे।
Last night we kept arguing about this issue for hours.
(kal raat ham is mudde par ghanton bahas karte rahe।)
उसने अपने बॉस से बहस कर दी, जो ठीक नहीं था।
He argued with his boss, which wasn't right.
(usne apne bos se bahas kar dii, jo thiik nahiin thaa।)
अगर वह इतनी बहस न करता, तो नौकरी नहीं जाती।
If he hadn't argued so much, he wouldn't have lost his job.
(agar vah itnii bahas n kartaa, to naukrii nahiin jaatii।)
कृपया इस पर अभी बहस मत कीजिए, बाद में बात करेंगे।
Please don't argue about this right now, we'll talk later.
(kripyaa is par abhii bahas mat kiijie, baad men baat karenge।)
मुझे नहीं लगता कि वह इस बात पर बहस करेगा।
I don't think he will argue about this.
(mujhe nahiin lagtaa ki vah is baat par bahas karegaa।)
शायद वह अपने पिता से इस बारे में बहस करे।
Perhaps he might argue with his father about this.
(shaayad vah apne pitaa se is baare men bahas kare।)
सभा में इस प्रस्ताव पर जमकर बहस की गई।
This proposal was vigorously debated at the meeting.
(sabhaa men is prastaav par jamkar bahas kii gaii।)
वह बेवजह हर किसी से बहस करने लगता है।
He starts arguing with everyone for no reason.
(vah bevjah har kisii se bahas karne lagtaa hai।)
टीचर ने कहा कि क्लास में बहस करना मना है।
The teacher said that arguing in class is not allowed.
(tiichar ne kahaa ki klaas men bahas karnaa manaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
बहस
(bahas)
(sg.f.oblique):
बहस
(bahas)
(pl.f.direct):
बहसें
(bahsen)
(pl.f.oblique):
बहसों
(bahson)
Verb
infinitive:
बहस
(bahas)
infinitive oblique:
बहने
(bahne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
बहता
(bahtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
बहते
(bahte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
बहती
(bahtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
बहतीं
(bahtiin)
continuous (sg.m):
बह रहा
(bah rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
बह रहे
(bah rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
बह रही
(bah rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
बह रहीं
(bah rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
बहा
(bahaa)
perfective (pl.m):
बहे
(bahe)
perfective (sg.f):
बही
(bahii)
perfective (pl.f):
बहीं
(bahiin)
imperative (informal):
बह
(bah)
imperative (neutral):
बहो
(baho)
imperative (formal):
बहिए
(bahie)
future (1sg.m):
बहूँगा
(bahoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
बहूँगी
(bahoongii)
future (1pl.m):
बहेंगे
(bahenge)
future (1pl.f):
बहेंगी
(bahengii)
future (2sg.m):
बहेगा
(bahegaa)
future (2sg.f):
बहेगी
(bahegii)
future (2pl.m):
बहोगे
(bahoge)
future (2pl.f):
बहोगी
(bahogii)
future (3sg.m):
बहेगा
(bahegaa)
future (3sg.f):
बहेगी
(bahegii)
future (3pl.m):
बहेंगे
(bahenge)
future (3pl.f):
बहेंगी
(bahengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
बहूँ
(bahoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
बहें
(bahen)
subjunctive (2sg):
बहे
(bahe)
subjunctive (2pl):
बहो
(baho)
subjunctive (3sg):
बहे
(bahe)
subjunctive (3pl):
बहें
(bahen)