जप (jap)

noun A devotional/religious term meaning the repeated recitation of a name, mantra, or prayer -- most familiar to learners through the phrase जाप (jaap) or जप करना (jap karnaa).
Sense 1 : repeated recitation of a mantra, name of god, or prayer
noun, masculine Almost always paired with करना (karnaa) as जप करना (jap karnaa, 'to chant/recite'), and the object recited (a name or mantra) is marked with का (kaa) -- e.g., राम-नाम का जप (raam-naam kaa jap, 'chanting of Ram's name').
Synonyms: जाप (jaap, more common variant), भजन (bhajan, meaning shifts toward devotional singing)
Frequency: devotional
Cultural Note: जप (jap) is closely tied to the practice of counting repetitions on a माला (maalaa, prayer beads), often 108 times, while quietly repeating a mantra like ओम् (om) or a deity's name. You will see elderly people doing this on a morning walk or during a पूजा (poojaa, worship ritual), lips moving softly with beads passing through their fingers.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often only know जाप (jaap) and may not recognize जप (jap) as the same word -- जाप (jaap) is by far the more common spoken form, while जप (jap) appears more in religious/written contexts. 2) जप (jap) refers to silent or murmured repetition of a mantra, not singing aloud -- for devotional singing, भजन (bhajan) or कीर्तन (kiirtan) is used instead.
Sample Sentences:
दादी हर सुबह माला लेकर जप करती हैं। Grandmother does chanting every morning with a mala.
(daadii har subah maalaa lekar jap kartii hain।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वे राम नाम का जप कर रहे हैं। He is chanting the name of Ram.
(ve raam naam kaa jap kar rahe hain।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने एक सौ आठ बार जप पूरा किया। He completed the chanting one hundred and eight times.
(usne ek sau aath baar jap pooraa kiyaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
रोज़ सुबह ओम् का जप किया करो, मन शांत रहेगा। Chant Om every morning, your mind will stay calm.
(roz subah om kaa jap kiyaa karo, man shaant rahegaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि तुम रोज़ जप करते, तो तुम्हें इतनी बेचैनी न होती। If you chanted daily, you would not have felt this restless.
(yadi tum roz jap karte, to tumhen itnii bechainii n hotii।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
गुरुजी ने कहा कि जप से मन एकाग्र होता है। The teacher said that chanting concentrates the mind.
(gurujii ne kahaa ki jap se man ekaagr hotaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद निरंतर जप से ही उसे यह शांति मिली हो। Perhaps it is through constant chanting alone that she found this peace.
(shaayad nirantar jap se hii use yah shaanti milii ho।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
मंदिर में जप के समय पूरा वातावरण पवित्र हो जाता है। During chanting in the temple, the whole atmosphere becomes sacred.
(mandir men jap ke samay pooraa vaataavran pavitr ho jaataa hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
साधु का जप इतना गहरा था कि आसपास सन्नाटा छा गया। The sage's chanting was so deep that a silence spread all around.
(saadhu kaa jap itnaa gahraa thaa ki aaspaas sannaataa chhaa gayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
भक्तों द्वारा सामूहिक जप किया जाएगा। Collective chanting will be performed by the devotees.
(bhakton dvaaraa saamoohik jap kiyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): जप (jap)
(sg.m.oblique): जप (jap)
(pl.m.direct): जप (jap)
(pl.m.oblique): जपों (japon)