बाँसुरी (baansurii)

noun A single-sense word: the musical flute, especially the bamboo flute associated with Krishna.
Sense 1 : flute (musical instrument)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: मुरली (murlii, especially Krishna's flute), बंसी (bansii, variant/poetic form)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: बाँसुरी (baansurii) is inseparable from the image of Krishna standing under a tree, flute at his lips -- this is one of the most recognizable visual and devotional motifs in North Indian culture, seen in calendar art, temple idols, and bhajans alike. The word's root, बांस (baans, bamboo), reminds you it is literally a 'bamboo-thing' -- most Indian flutes are made of a single hollow bamboo stalk with finger-holes, unlike the metal Western flute.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes drop the chandrabindu and write बासुरी (baasurii); the nasalized आँ (aan) is part of correct spelling. 2) बाँसुरी (baansurii) is used only for the actual instrument; for the metaphorical charm of someone's speech or a captivating call, native speakers reach for other imagery (like मुरली (murlii) in the Krishna context) rather than stretching this word figuratively.
Sample Sentences:
कृष्ण की बाँसुरी की धुन बहुत मधुर होती है। The tune of Krishna's flute is very sweet.
(krishn kii baansurii kii dhun bahut madhur hotii hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह हर शाम पार्क में बैठकर बाँसुरी बजाता है। He sits in the park every evening and plays the flute.
(vah har shaam paark men baithkar baansurii bajaataa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेले में एक आदमी बाँस से बनी बाँसुरी बेच रहा था। At the fair, a man was selling flutes made of bamboo.
(mele men ek aadmii baans se banii baansurii bech rahaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बाँसुरी बजाओ, शायद उसका मन शांत हो जाए। Play the flute, maybe his mind will become calm.
(baansurii bajaao, shaayad uskaa man shaant ho jaae।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मंदिर में कृष्ण की मूर्ति के हाथ में बाँसुरी रखी हुई है। A flute is placed in the hands of Krishna's idol in the temple.
(mandir men krishn kii moorti ke haath men baansurii rakhii huii hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर मुझे संगीत सीखने का मौका मिलता, तो मैं बाँसुरी बजाना सीखता। If I had gotten the chance to learn music, I would have learned to play the flute.
(agar mujhe sangiit siikhne kaa maukaa miltaa, to main baansurii bajaanaa siikhtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
दूर कहीं से बाँसुरी की मीठी आवाज़ सुनाई दे रही थी। A sweet sound of a flute could be heard from somewhere far away.
(door kahiin se baansurii kii miithii aavaaz sunaaii de rahii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उस भजन में बाँसुरी की धुन के साथ कृष्ण की लीलाओं का वर्णन किया गया है। In that bhajan, Krishna's divine plays are described alongside the tune of the flute.
(us bhajan men baansurii kii dhun ke saath krishn kii liilaaon kaa varnan kiyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
काश मुझे भी बाँसुरी बजानी आती। I wish I too knew how to play the flute.
(kaash mujhe bhii baansurii bajaanii aatii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
संगीत की दुकान में बाँस की कई बाँसुरियाँ लटकी हुई थीं। Several bamboo flutes were hanging in the music shop.
(sangiit kii dukaan men baans kii kaii baansuriyaan latkii huii thiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बाँसुरी (baansurii)
(sg.f.oblique): बाँसुरी (baansurii)
(pl.f.direct): बाँसुरियाँ (baansuriyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): बाँसुरियों (baansuriyon)