कर्तव्य (kartavy)

noun A formal, somewhat elevated noun meaning 'duty' or 'obligation' -- the thing one ought to do because of one's role, not because of a rule imposed from outside.
Sense 1 : duty, obligation (moral/role-based)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: फ़र्ज़ (farz), ज़िम्मेदारी (zimmedaarii, responsibility, broader in scope), उत्तरदायित्व (uttardaayitv, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries a certain moral weight in Hindi -- it is the word used in phrases like नागरिक कर्तव्य (naagrik kartavy, 'civic duty') and माता-पिता का कर्तव्य (maataa-pitaa kaa kartavy, 'a parent's duty'), and shows up constantly in school essays and civics lessons in India. It pairs conceptually with अधिकार (adhikaar, 'right') -- Indian schoolchildren grow up hearing अधिकार और कर्तव्य (adhikaar aur kartavy, 'rights and duties') as a set phrase, much like 'rights and responsibilities' in English civics.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for ज़िम्मेदारी (zimmedaarii) as a direct substitute, but कर्तव्य (kartavy) is specifically the *moral or role-based* obligation -- what a good son, citizen, or teacher 'ought' to do -- while ज़िम्मेदारी (zimmedaarii) is broader and covers practical/administrative responsibility too. 2) The common verb pairing is कर्तव्य निभाना (kartavy nibhaanaa, 'to fulfill one's duty') or कर्तव्य पूरा करना (kartavy pooraa karnaa), not a literal 'do' verb like करना (karnaa) alone.
Sample Sentences:
यह हर नागरिक का कर्तव्य है कि वह वोट डाले। It is the duty of every citizen to cast their vote.
(yah har naagrik kaa kartavy hai ki vah vot daale।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चों की देखभाल करना माता-पिता का कर्तव्य है। Taking care of children is a parent's duty.
(bachchon kii dekhbhaal karnaa maataa-pitaa kaa kartavy hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्कूल में हमें अधिकार और कर्तव्य दोनों के बारे में सिखाया जाता है। In school we are taught about both rights and duties.
(skool men hamen adhikaar aur kartavy donon ke baare men sikhaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उसने हमेशा अपना कर्तव्य निभाया, चाहे कुछ भी हो। He always fulfilled his duty, no matter what.
(usne hameshaa apnaa kartavy nibhaayaa, chaahe kuchh bhii ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अपने कर्तव्य से भागना ठीक नहीं है। It's not right to run away from one's duty.
(apne kartavy se bhaagnaa thiik nahiin hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर सब लोग अपना कर्तव्य समझते, तो देश की हालत कुछ और होती। If everyone understood their duty, the country's condition would be different.
(agar sab log apnaa kartavy samajhte, to desh kii haalat kuchh aur hotii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अपना कर्तव्य पूरा करो, बाकी चिंता मत करो। Do your duty, don't worry about the rest.
(apnaa kartavy pooraa karo, baakii chintaa mat karo।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
एक अच्छे शिक्षक का कर्तव्य सिर्फ पढ़ाना नहीं, बल्कि प्रेरित करना भी है। A good teacher's duty is not just to teach but also to inspire.
(ek achchhe shikshak kaa kartavy sirph padhaanaa nahiin, balki prerit karnaa bhii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या यह मेरा कर्तव्य नहीं है कि मैं अपने बुजुर्गों की सेवा करूँ? Isn't it my duty to look after my elders?
(kyaa yah meraa kartavy nahiin hai ki main apne bujurgon kii sevaa karoon?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
नागरिक कर्तव्य को नज़रअंदाज़ करना समाज के लिए नुकसानदेह होगा। Ignoring civic duty will be harmful for society.
(naagrik kartavy ko nazraandaaz karnaa samaaj ke lie nuksaandeh hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): कर्तव्य (kartavy)
(sg.m.oblique): कर्तव्य (kartavy)
(pl.m.direct): कर्तव्य (kartavy)
(pl.m.oblique): कर्तव्यों (kartavyon)