सावधानी (saavdhaanii)
noun
A single-sense noun meaning 'caution, care, alertness' -- the quality of being careful. Related to the adjective सावधान (saavdhaan, 'careful, alert'), from which it is derived with the abstract-noun suffix -ई (ii).
Sense
1
:
caution, carefulness, alertness
noun, feminine
Synonyms: एहतियात (ehtiyaat), चौकसी (chauksii, vigilance/watchfulness), होशियारी (hoshiyaarii, leans toward cleverness/alertness rather than pure caution)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear सावधानी से (saavdhaanii se) constantly in everyday warnings -- from a mother telling a child crossing the road, to announcements at railway stations reminding passengers to mind the gap. It carries the same brisk, practical tone as English 'carefully' or 'mind yourself,' without being alarmist.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say सावधानी करना (saavdhaanii karnaa) when the natural phrasing is सावधानी रखना (saavdhaanii rakhnaa, 'to maintain caution') or सावधानी बरतना (saavdhaanii baratnaa, 'to exercise caution') -- बरतना (baratnaa) is the verb native speakers reach for here and is worth learning alongside this noun. 2) The adverbial form सावधानी से (saavdhaanii se, 'carefully') is extremely common and often gets skipped in favor of the clunkier धीरे धीरे (dhiire dhiire) when 'carefully' rather than 'slowly' is meant.
Sample Sentences:
सड़क पार करते समय सावधानी बरतें।
Exercise caution while crossing the road.
(sadak paar karte samay saavdhaanii barten।)
कृपया सावधानी से चलें, फर्श गीला है।
Please walk carefully, the floor is wet.
(kripyaa saavdhaanii se chalen, pharsh giilaa hai।)
माँ ने बच्चे से कहा कि सड़क पार करते वक्त सावधानी रखे।
The mother told the child to exercise caution while crossing the road.
(maan ne bachche se kahaa ki sadak paar karte vakt saavdhaanii rakhe।)
यात्रियों से अनुरोध है कि प्लेटफ़ॉर्म और ट्रेन के बीच की खाली जगह से सावधानी बरतें।
Passengers are requested to exercise caution regarding the gap between the platform and the train.
(yaatriyon se anurodh hai ki pletform aur tren ke biich kii khaalii jagah se saavdhaanii barten।)
अगर उसने थोड़ी सावधानी बरती होती तो यह हादसा न होता।
If he had exercised a little caution, this accident wouldn't have happened.
(agar usne thodii saavdhaanii bartii hotii to yah haadsaa n hotaa।)
बिजली के तारों के पास हमेशा सावधानी बरती जाती है।
Caution is always exercised near electric wires.
(bijlii ke taaron ke paas hameshaa saavdhaanii bartii jaatii hai।)
वह हर काम बड़ी सावधानी से करता है।
He does every task with great care.
(vah har kaam badii saavdhaanii se kartaa hai।)
डॉक्टर ने चोट की पट्टी बहुत सावधानी से बाँधी।
The doctor bandaged the wound very carefully.
(doktar ne chot kii pattii bahut saavdhaanii se baandhii।)
इस मशीन को चलाते वक्त पूरी सावधानी रखनी होगी।
Complete caution will have to be maintained while operating this machine.
(is mashiin ko chalaate vakt poorii saavdhaanii rakhnii hogii।)
पहाड़ी रास्तों पर गाड़ी चलाते हुए सावधानी बरतना ज़रूरी है।
It is necessary to exercise caution while driving on mountain roads.
(pahaadii raaston par gaadii chalaate hue saavdhaanii baratnaa zaroorii hai।)
काश वह थोड़ी और सावधानी बरतता, तो पैसा नहीं डूबता।
If only he had exercised a bit more caution, the money wouldn't have been lost.
(kaash vah thodii aur saavdhaanii barattaa, to paisaa nahiin doobtaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
सावधानी
(saavdhaanii)
(sg.f.oblique):
सावधानी
(saavdhaanii)
(pl.f.direct):
सावधानियाँ
(saavdhaaniyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
सावधानियों
(saavdhaaniyon)