सामना (saamnaa)

noun A noun meaning 'confrontation/encounter,' almost always met in the fixed expression सामना करना (saamnaa karnaa, to face/confront).
Sense 1 : confrontation, facing (an opponent, problem, or difficulty)
noun, masculine Almost always paired with से (se) marking what is being faced: किसी चीज़ का सामना (kisii chiiz kaa saamnaa, facing something), and used with करना (karnaa) as its default verb partner.
Synonyms: मुकाबला (mukaablaa), टक्कर (takkar, informal, esp. of matched opponents)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear सामना करना (saamnaa karnaa) constantly in the context of life's struggles -- मुश्किलों का सामना करना (mushkilon kaa saamnaa karnaa, to face hardships) is a phrase every Hindi speaker grows up with, often in advice from parents or teachers about facing problems bravely rather than avoiding them.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try को (ko) for the thing being faced; the correct pattern uses से (se) -- मुश्किलों का सामना करना (mushkilon kaa saamnaa karnaa, to face difficulties) but दुश्मन से सामना (dushman se saamnaa, encounter with the enemy). 2) सामना (saamnaa) itself is rarely used alone as a standalone noun in casual speech -- it almost always appears bolted to करना (karnaa) or होना (honaa), so learners overuse it in isolation where a simpler word would sound more natural.
Sample Sentences:
जीवन में हर किसी को मुश्किलों का सामना करना पड़ता है। In life, everyone has to face hardships.
(jiivan men har kisii ko mushkilon kaa saamnaa karnaa padtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमें डर के बिना समस्याओं का सामना करना चाहिए। We should face problems without fear.
(hamen dar ke binaa samasyaaon kaa saamnaa karnaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
उसने बड़ी हिम्मत से अपनी बीमारी का सामना किया। He faced his illness with great courage.
(usne badii himmat se apnii biimaarii kaa saamnaa kiyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कल टीम को एक मजबूत विरोधी का सामना करना होगा। Tomorrow the team will have to face a strong opponent.
(kal tiim ko ek majboot virodhii kaa saamnaa karnaa hogaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम सच्चाई का सामना नहीं करोगे तो कभी आगे नहीं बढ़ोगे। If you don't face the truth, you'll never move forward.
(agar tum sachchaaii kaa saamnaa nahiin karoge to kabhii aage nahiin badhoge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
डटकर मुसीबतों का सामना करो, भागो मत। Face your troubles head-on, don't run away.
(datkar musiibton kaa saamnaa karo, bhaago mat।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
काश मैं भी अपने डर का सामना कर पाता। I wish I too could have faced my fear.
(kaash main bhii apne dar kaa saamnaa kar paataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वह पहले ही तैयारी करता तो उसे इस मुश्किल का सामना नहीं करना पड़ता। If he had prepared earlier, he wouldn't have had to face this difficulty.
(agar vah pahle hii taiyaarii kartaa to use is mushkil kaa saamnaa nahiin karnaa padtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अदालत में उसका सामना उन गवाहों से हुआ जिन्होंने उसके खिलाफ बयान दिया था। In court, he was confronted by the witnesses who had testified against him.
(adaalat men uskaa saamnaa un gavaahon se huaa jinhonne uske khilaaph bayaan diyaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
देश को आर्थिक संकट का सामना उस समय करना पड़ा था जब निर्यात अचानक गिर गया। The country had to face an economic crisis at that time when exports suddenly fell.
(desh ko aarthik sankat kaa saamnaa us samay karnaa padaa thaa jab niryaat achaanak gir gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस चुनौती का सामना अकेले नहीं किया जा सकता। This challenge cannot be faced alone.
(is chunautii kaa saamnaa akele nahiin kiyaa jaa saktaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): सामना (saamnaa)
(sg.m.oblique): सामने (saamne)
(pl.m.direct): सामने (saamne)
(pl.m.oblique): सामनों (saamnon)