छेद (chhed)

noun A concrete noun meaning a hole, puncture, or perforation, with a natural extension to a figurative 'flaw/loophole' sense -- both covered below.

Sense 1 : hole, puncture, perforation

noun, masculine

Synonyms: सुराख़ (suraakh), छिद्र (chhidr, formal/technical)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this word constantly around the house -- a mother checking a sweater for छेद (chhed) before winter, or a mechanic pointing out a टायर में छेद (taayar men chhed, 'a hole in the tire'). छिद्र (chhidr) is the more Sanskritized, textbook-y version of the same idea, common in biology class (pores, follicles) but less natural in everyday chatter.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse छेद (chhed) with गड्ढा (gaddhaa) -- छेद (chhed) is a hole that goes through something (like a puncture in cloth or a pierced ear), while गड्ढा (gaddhaa) is a pit or depression in the ground.

Sample Sentences:

इस मोज़े में एक बड़ा छेद है। There's a big hole in this sock.

(is moze men ek badaa chhed hai।)

मम्मी हर साल सर्दियों से पहले स्वेटर में छेद चेक करती हैं। Mom checks the sweater for holes every year before winter.

(mammii har saal sardiyon se pahle svetar men chhed chek kartii hain।)

मेकैनिक ने टायर में छेद ढूंढ लिया। The mechanic found a hole in the tire.

(mekainik ne taayar men chhed dhoondh liyaa।)

दीवार में एक छेद हो गया है, चूहा उसी से आता है। There's a hole in the wall now, the mouse comes in through that.

(diivaar men ek chhed ho gayaa hai, choohaa usii se aataa hai।)

इस बोरी में छेद करके अंदर हवा जाने दो। Make a hole in this sack and let some air in.

(is borii men chhed karke andar havaa jaane do।)

अगर पाइप में छेद न होता तो पानी नहीं टपकता। If there weren't a hole in the pipe, the water wouldn't be dripping.

(agar paaip men chhed n hotaa to paanii nahiin tapaktaa।)

कागज़ में सुई से छेद करके धागा डालो। Poke a hole in the paper with a needle and put the thread through.

(kaagaz men suii se chhed karke dhaagaa daalo।)

जहाज़ के तले में छेद होने से पानी भरने लगा। Because of a hole in the ship's hull, it started filling with water.

(jahaaz ke tale men chhed hone se paanii bharne lagaa।)

जूते में छेद हो जाए तो उसे फेंकने से पहले मरम्मत करा लेनी चाहिए। If a hole appears in the shoe, it should be repaired before throwing it away.

(joote men chhed ho jaae to use phenkne se pahle marammat karaa lenii chaahie।)

दीवार में ड्रिल से छेद किया गया ताकि तार निकाला जा सके। A hole was drilled in the wall so the wire could be passed through.

(diivaar men dril se chhed kiyaa gayaa taaki taar nikaalaa jaa sake।)

छत में छेद से बारिश का पानी अंदर आ रहा था। Rainwater was coming in through a hole in the roof.

(chhat men chhed se baarish kaa paanii andar aa rahaa thaa।)

Sense 2 : flaw, defect, loophole (figurative)

noun, masculine Common in the fixed phrase छेद निकालना (chhed nikaalnaa, 'to find fault/pick holes') and छेद ढूँढना (chhed dhoondhnaa, 'to look for a flaw').

Synonyms: कमी (kamii), ख़ामी (khaamii)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This is the same mental image as English 'picking holes in an argument' -- Hindi speakers use छेद निकालना (chhed nikaalnaa) exactly this way when someone nitpicks a plan or an excuse. You'll hear parents or bosses use it: उसमें बहुत छेद हैं (usmen bahut chhed hain, 'there are a lot of flaws in it').

Sample Sentences:

उसकी कहानी में बहुत छेद हैं। There are a lot of holes in his story.

(uskii kahaanii men bahut chhed hain।)

वकील ने बयान में छेद निकाल दिया। The lawyer picked a hole in the statement.

(vakiil ne bayaan men chhed nikaal diyaa।)

बॉस हर प्लान में छेद निकालता रहता है। The boss keeps picking holes in every plan.

(bos har plaan men chhed nikaaltaa rahtaa hai।)

अगर तुम ध्यान से पढ़ोगे तो इस अनुबंध में छेद मिल जाएगा। If you read carefully, you'll find a flaw in this contract.

(agar tum dhyaan se padhoge to is anubandh men chhed mil jaaegaa।)

इस योजना में कोई छेद नहीं होना चाहिए। There shouldn't be any flaw in this plan.

(is yojnaa men koii chhed nahiin honaa chaahie।)

अगर उसमें छेद न होता तो हम इसे मंज़ूर कर लेते। If there hadn't been a flaw in it, we would have approved it.

(agar usmen chhed n hotaa to ham ise manzoor kar lete।)

उसके बहाने में छेद ढूँढना ज़्यादा मुश्किल नहीं था। It wasn't very hard to find a hole in his excuse.

(uske bahaane men chhed dhoondhnaa zyaadaa mushkil nahiin thaa।)

इस तर्क में कहीं न कहीं छेद ज़रूर है। There is surely a flaw somewhere in this argument.

(is tark men kahiin n kahiin chhed zaroor hai।)

इस कानून में जो छेद पाया गया, उसे जल्द ही सुधारा जाएगा। The flaw that was found in this law will soon be fixed.

(is kaanoon men jo chhed paayaa gayaa, use jald hii sudhaaraa jaaegaa।)

अपनी दलील में छेद मत ढूँढो, पहले पूरी बात सुनो। Don't go picking holes in my argument, listen to the whole thing first.

(apnii daliil men chhed mat dhoondho, pahle poorii baat suno।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): छेद (chhed)

(sg.m.oblique): छेद (chhed)

(pl.m.direct): छेद (chhed)

(pl.m.oblique): छेदों (chhedon)