व्यवहार (vyavahaar)
noun
Covers behavior/conduct toward others, and by extension practical/routine use or dealing (business or otherwise). Both senses share the idea of 'how something is handled in practice.'
Sense
1
:
behavior, conduct, manner of treating people
noun, masculine Often paired with अच्छा (achchhaa) or बुरा (buraa) to describe how someone treats others, and takes के साथ (ke saath) to mark the person on the receiving end, e.g. 'X के साथ व्यवहार' (X ke saath vyavahaar, 'behavior toward X').
Synonyms: बर्ताव (bartaav), रवैया (ravaiyaa), आचरण (aachran, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi households and schools alike, अच्छा व्यवहार (achchhaa vyavahaar, 'good behavior/manners') is a phrase you will hear constantly -- elders praising or scolding children with it. It carries a slightly more formal, character-judging weight than the everyday बर्ताव (bartaav), which describes the same thing but sounds more casual, more 'in the moment.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for बात (baat) or बातचीत (baatchiit) when they mean 'how someone treats you' -- व्यवहार (vyavahaar) is the right word for conduct/treatment, not for the content of speech. 2) The person toward whom the behavior is directed is marked with के साथ (ke saath), not को (ko) -- 'उसके साथ अच्छा व्यवहार करो' (uske saath achchhaa vyavahaar karo, 'behave well toward him'), not उसको (usko).
Sample Sentences:
उसका व्यवहार बहुत अच्छा है।
His behavior is very good.
(uskaa vyavahaar bahut achchhaa hai।)
बच्चों के साथ अच्छा व्यवहार करना चाहिए।
One should behave well with children.
(bachchon ke saath achchhaa vyavahaar karnaa chaahie।)
उसने कल पार्टी में बहुत अजीब व्यवहार किया।
He behaved very strangely at the party yesterday.
(usne kal paartii men bahut ajiib vyavahaar kiyaa।)
टीचर हमेशा सबके साथ एक जैसा व्यवहार करती हैं।
The teacher always treats everyone the same way.
(tiichar hameshaa sabke saath ek jaisaa vyavahaar kartii hain।)
कृपया मेहमानों के साथ अच्छा व्यवहार करें।
Please behave well with the guests.
(kripyaa mehmaanon ke saath achchhaa vyavahaar karen।)
अगर उसका व्यवहार अच्छा होता, तो सब उससे प्यार करते।
If his behavior were good, everyone would love him.
(agar uskaa vyavahaar achchhaa hotaa, to sab usse pyaar karte।)
उस अफसर का व्यवहार जनता के प्रति बहुत रूखा था।
That officer's behavior toward the public was very harsh.
(us aphsar kaa vyavahaar jantaa ke prati bahut rookhaa thaa।)
स्कूल में बुरा व्यवहार करने पर सजा दी जाती है।
Punishment is given for misbehaving at school.
(skool men buraa vyavahaar karne par sajaa dii jaatii hai।)
मुझे यकीन नहीं होता कि वह ऐसा व्यवहार करेगा।
I can't believe he would behave like that.
(mujhe yakiin nahiin hotaa ki vah aisaa vyavahaar karegaa।)
अगर तुम्हारा व्यवहार नहीं बदला, तो लोग तुमसे दूर हो जाएँगे।
If your behavior doesn't change, people will drift away from you.
(agar tumhaaraa vyavahaar nahiin badlaa, to log tumse door ho jaaenge।)
समाज में सबके साथ न्यायपूर्ण व्यवहार होना चाहिए।
There should be fair treatment for everyone in society.
(samaaj men sabke saath nyaaypoorn vyavahaar honaa chaahie।)
माँ ने कहा, "अपने बड़ों के साथ हमेशा अच्छा व्यवहार करो।"
Mother said, "Always behave well with your elders."
(maan ne kahaa, "apne badon ke saath hameshaa achchhaa vyavahaar karo।")
Sense
2
:
practical use, dealing, or transaction (including business/financial dealings)
noun, masculine Common in the fixed pattern व्यवहार में लाना (vyavahaar men laanaa, 'to put into practice/use') and व्यवहार में होना (vyavahaar men honaa, 'to be in use'). Also used for financial or commercial dealings between people or firms.
Synonyms: इस्तेमाल (istemaal, for practical use), लेन-देन (len-den, for transactions/dealings)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet this sense in slightly more formal or written contexts -- a shopkeeper describing his लेन-देन (len-den) with a supplier might just as easily say व्यवहार (vyavahaar), especially in more traditional or Hindi-medium business circles.
Common Mistakes: 1) In the 'business dealing' sense, learners often default to बिज़नेस (biznes) or काम (kaam) -- व्यवहार (vyavahaar) specifically implies an ongoing relationship of dealing/exchange with someone, not just 'work.' 2) Don't confuse this sense with the 'behavior' sense just because the word is identical -- context (money/practice vs. people/manners) tells you which is meant.
Sample Sentences:
हमारा उनसे पुराना व्यवहार है।
We have an old business relationship with them.
(hamaaraa unse puraanaa vyavahaar hai।)
इस दुकान का व्यवहार नकद में ही होता है।
This shop's dealings are conducted only in cash.
(is dukaan kaa vyavahaar nakad men hii hotaa hai।)
उन्होंने कई सालों तक इस कंपनी के साथ व्यवहार किया।
He conducted business with this company for many years.
(unhonne kaii saalon tak is kampnii ke saath vyavahaar kiyaa।)
कृपया सभी व्यवहार लिखित रूप में किए जाएँ।
Please let all transactions be conducted in writing.
(kripyaa sabhii vyavahaar likhit roop men kie jaaen।)
अगर व्यवहार में पारदर्शिता होती, तो विवाद न होता।
If there were transparency in the dealings, there wouldn't have been a dispute.
(agar vyavahaar men paardarshitaa hotii, to vivaad n hotaa।)
साहूकार और किसान के बीच का व्यवहार पीढ़ियों से चला आ रहा है।
The dealings between the moneylender and the farmer have continued for generations.
(saahookaar aur kisaan ke biich kaa vyavahaar piidhiyon se chalaa aa rahaa hai।)
व्यापारी अपने व्यवहार का हिसाब बही में रखता था।
The merchant used to keep an account of his transactions in a ledger.
(vyaapaarii apne vyavahaar kaa hisaab bahii men rakhtaa thaa।)
क्या आपका इस फर्म से कोई व्यवहार रहा है?
Have you had any dealings with this firm?
(kyaa aapkaa is pharm se koii vyavahaar rahaa hai?)
दोनों पक्षों के बीच व्यवहार अनुबंध के अनुसार होगा।
The dealings between the two parties will be according to the contract.
(donon pakshon ke biich vyavahaar anubandh ke anusaar hogaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
व्यवहार
(vyavahaar)
(sg.m.oblique):
व्यवहार
(vyavahaar)
(pl.m.direct):
व्यवहार
(vyavahaar)
(pl.m.oblique):
व्यवहारों
(vyavahaaron)