भोजन (bhojan)

noun A somewhat formal word for 'food/meal' -- one core sense, but worth contrasting with the everyday खाना (khaanaa) which does the same job in daily speech.
Sense 1 : food, a meal
noun, masculine
Synonyms: खाना (khaanaa), आहार (aahaar, formal/dietary), खाद्य (khaady, formal, more 'foodstuff' than 'meal')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see भोजन (bhojan) on restaurant boards (भोजनालय, bhojnaalay, 'eating house'), wedding invitations, and in the phrase भोजन का प्रबंध (bhojan kaa prabandh, 'arrangement of food'), but at your Delhi relative's dinner table someone will simply say खाना खा लो (khaanaa khaa lo, 'go ahead and eat'), never भोजन खा लो (bhojan khaa lo). Think of भोजन (bhojan) as the word for 'meal' when Hindi wants to sound a notch more polished or ceremonial.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use भोजन (bhojan) and खाना (khaanaa) as if identical in every context -- they largely overlap, but भोजन (bhojan) leans formal/written (menus, invitations, health advice) while खाना (khaanaa) is what you say at home and in casual speech. 2) The common verb pairing is भोजन करना (bhojan karnaa, 'to dine/eat a meal') rather than भोजन खाना (bhojan khaanaa), which sounds redundant to native ears.
Sample Sentences:
कृपया भोजन ग्रहण करें। Please partake of the meal.
(kripyaa bhojan grahan karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
विवाह समारोह में भोजन का प्रबंध बहुत अच्छा था। The arrangement of food at the wedding ceremony was very good.
(vivaah samaaroh men bhojan kaa prabandh bahut achchhaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अतिथियों को समय पर भोजन परोसा गया। The meal was served to the guests on time.
(atithiyon ko samay par bhojan parosaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
इस भोजनालय में शुद्ध शाकाहारी भोजन मिलता है। Pure vegetarian food is available at this eating house.
(is bhojnaalay men shuddh shaakaahaarii bhojan miltaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यदि समय पर भोजन का प्रबंध न हो, तो अतिथि नाराज़ हो सकते हैं। If the arrangement of food is not made on time, the guests may become upset.
(yadi samay par bhojan kaa prabandh n ho, to atithi naaraaz ho sakte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समारोह से पहले भोजन तैयार हो चुका होगा। The meal will have been prepared before the ceremony.
(samaaroh se pahle bhojan taiyaar ho chukaa hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर समय होता, तो मैं भोजन स्वयं तैयार करता। If I had had the time, I would have prepared the meal myself.
(agar samay hotaa, to main bhojan svayan taiyaar kartaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
भोजन के बाद अतिथियों के लिए मिठाई भी रखी गई थी। After the meal, sweets had also been kept for the guests.
(bhojan ke baad atithiyon ke lie mithaaii bhii rakhii gaii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
भोजनालय के बाहर बड़ा-सा बोर्ड लगा था जिस पर लिखा था 'शुद्ध शाकाहारी भोजन'। Outside the eating house there was a large board on which was written 'pure vegetarian food'.
(bhojnaalay ke baahar badaa-saa bord lagaa thaa jis par likhaa thaa 'shuddh shaakaahaarii bhojan'।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सम्मेलन में भाग लेने वाले सभी सदस्यों के लिए भोजन की व्यवस्था की जाएगी। Arrangements for food will be made for all members participating in the conference.
(sammelan men bhaag lene vaale sabhii sadasyon ke lie bhojan kii vyavasthaa kii jaaegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): भोजन (bhojan)
(sg.m.oblique): भोजन (bhojan)
(pl.m.direct): भोजन (bhojan)
(pl.m.oblique): भोजनों (bhojnon)