देह (deh)
noun
A literary/formal word for the physical body, used mostly in writing, spiritual contexts, and set expressions rather than everyday chit-chat about one's body.
Sense
1
:
the physical body
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शरीर (shariir), तन (tan, literary), बदन (badan)
Frequency: literary
Cultural Note: You will meet देह (deh) far more in spiritual and philosophical talk -- discourses on the soul (आत्मा, aatmaa) versus the body -- than in a doctor's office, where शरीर (shariir) is the word people actually reach for. It also carries a slightly formal, almost reverent tone, which is why देहांत (dehaant) is the respectful word for death rather than something blunter.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners reach for देह (deh) in casual conversation where शरीर (shariir) is the natural everyday choice; देह (deh) sounds bookish or poetic in ordinary speech. 2) It shows up often in compound/set phrases like देहदान (dehdaan, 'body donation') and देहांत (dehaant, 'passing away, lit. departure of the body') -- learners sometimes miss that देहांत (dehaant) is the polite way to say someone died, not a literal 'body-related' statement.
Sample Sentences:
यह देह नाशवान है, आत्मा अमर है।
This body is perishable, the soul is immortal.
(yah deh naashvaan hai, aatmaa amar hai।)
देह तो एक दिन मिट्टी में मिल जाएगी।
The body will merge into the earth one day.
(deh to ek din mittii men mil jaaegii।)
साधु ने कहा कि देह केवल आत्मा का वस्त्र है।
The sage said that the body is merely the soul's garment.
(saadhu ne kahaa ki deh keval aatmaa kaa vastr hai।)
यदि देह न होती, तो आत्मा इस संसार में कर्म कैसे करती?
If the body did not exist, how would the soul act in this world?
(yadi deh n hotii, to aatmaa is sansaar men karm kaise kartii?)
देह को स्वस्थ रखना भी एक साधना है।
Keeping the body healthy is also a discipline.
(deh ko svasth rakhnaa bhii ek saadhnaa hai।)
उसकी देह थककर धरती पर गिर पड़ी।
His body, exhausted, collapsed onto the ground.
(uskii deh thakkar dhartii par gir padii।)
हे प्रभु, इस देह को अपने भक्ति-मार्ग में समर्पित कर दो।
O Lord, dedicate this body to your path of devotion.
(he prabhu, is deh ko apne bhakti-maarg men samarpit kar do।)
देह और आत्मा के भेद को समझना ही सच्चा ज्ञान है।
Understanding the distinction between body and soul is true knowledge.
(deh aur aatmaa ke bhed ko samajhnaa hii sachchaa gyaan hai।)
संत की देह वर्षों की तपस्या से क्षीण हो गई थी।
The saint's body had grown frail from years of penance.
(sant kii deh varshon kii tapasyaa se kshiin ho gaii thii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
देह
(deh)
(sg.f.oblique):
देह
(deh)
(pl.f.direct):
देहें
(dehen)
(pl.f.oblique):
देहों
(dehon)