सुझाव (sujhaav)

noun A single, straightforward noun meaning 'suggestion' or 'proposal' -- the thing you offer, not the act of suggesting itself.
Sense 1 : suggestion, proposal, recommendation
noun, masculine Commonly used with देना (denaa, to give) or करना (karnaa, to make) -- सुझाव देना (sujhaav denaa, 'to give a suggestion') is the standard collocation, more so than सुझाव करना (sujhaav karnaa).
Synonyms: सलाह (salaah, often interchangeable in speech), राय (raay, leans toward 'opinion' rather than 'suggestion'), प्रस्ताव (prastaav, more formal, leans toward 'proposal')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear सुझाव (sujhaav) constantly in Indian offices, classrooms, and even on customer-service forms -- a 'सुझाव पेटी' (sujhaav petii, 'suggestion box') is a familiar fixture in schools and government offices. It carries a mild, non-confrontational tone, which is why committees and teachers use it rather than the heavier सलाह (salaah) when inviting input.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सलाह (salaah) and सुझाव (sujhaav) as if they were fully identical; सलाह (salaah) leans toward 'advice' (often solicited, sometimes weightier -- like advice from an elder or doctor), while सुझाव (sujhaav) leans toward a lighter, more optional 'idea' or 'suggestion' offered in a meeting or casual context. 2) The verb pairing matters: say सुझाव देना (sujhaav denaa), not सुझाव बताना (sujhaav bataanaa), for 'to give a suggestion' in natural speech.
Sample Sentences:
क्या मैं एक सुझाव दे सकता हूँ? May I offer a suggestion?
(kyaa main ek sujhaav de saktaa hoon?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने मुझे एक अच्छा सुझाव दिया। He gave me a good suggestion.
(usne mujhe ek achchhaa sujhaav diyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
स्कूल के गेट के पास एक सुझाव पेटी लगी हुई है। There's a suggestion box near the school gate.
(skool ke get ke paas ek sujhaav petii lagii huii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर आपके पास कोई सुझाव हो, तो कृपया साझा करें। If you have any suggestion, please share it.
(agar aapke paas koii sujhaav ho, to kripyaa saajhaa karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
समिति ने कर्मचारियों के सुझावों पर विचार किया। The committee considered the employees' suggestions.
(samiti ne karmchaariyon ke sujhaavon par vichaar kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह सुझाव प्रबंधन द्वारा स्वीकार कर लिया गया। This suggestion was accepted by the management.
(yah sujhaav prabandhan dvaaraa sviikaar kar liyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अपना सुझाव इस फॉर्म में लिख दें। Write your suggestion on this form.
(apnaa sujhaav is phorm men likh den।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
काश उसने मेरा सुझाव माना होता। If only he had accepted my suggestion.
(kaash usne meraa sujhaav maanaa hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
टीचर हमेशा हमारे सुझावों को ध्यान से सुनती हैं। The teacher always listens to our suggestions carefully.
(tiichar hameshaa hamaare sujhaavon ko dhyaan se suntii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मैं चाहता हूँ कि आप मुझे कुछ सुझाव दें। I want you to give me some suggestions.
(main chaahtaa hoon ki aap mujhe kuchh sujhaav den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
ग्राहकों से सुझाव माँगने के लिए एक नया फॉर्म बनाया जा रहा है। A new form is being made to ask customers for suggestions.
(graahkon se sujhaav maangne ke lie ek nayaa phorm banaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगली बैठक में हम आपके सुझावों पर चर्चा करेंगे। We will discuss your suggestions in the next meeting.
(aglii baithak men ham aapke sujhaavon par charchaa karenge।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): सुझाव (sujhaav)
(sg.m.oblique): सुझाव (sujhaav)
(pl.m.direct): सुझाव (sujhaav)
(pl.m.oblique): सुझावों (sujhaavon)