लड़कपन (ladakpan)
noun
A single-sense abstract noun meaning 'boyhood/childishness' -- built from लड़का (ladkaa, 'boy') plus the abstract-noun suffix -पन (pan).
Sense
1
:
boyhood / boyish immaturity
noun, masculine
Synonyms: बचपना (bachapnaa, childish behavior), नादानी (naadaanii, naivete/foolishness), बचपन (bachpan, meaning-scope: refers to childhood generally, not boyish immaturity specifically)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear elders say something like यह लड़कपन छोड़ो (yah ladakpan chhodo, 'drop this childish behavior') to a young man who is being impulsive or silly, gently urging him toward maturity. It carries a mix of affection and mild reproach -- unlike बचपन (bachpan), which is nostalgic and neutral, लड़कपन (ladakpan) is often a light scolding.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often confuse this with बचपन (bachpan) -- बचपन (bachpan) is the neutral word for 'childhood' as a life-stage, while लड़कपन (ladakpan) leans toward 'boyish/immature behavior,' often used about someone (even an adult) acting childishly. 2) Despite deriving from लड़का (ladkaa, 'boy'), it is grammatically masculine as an abstract noun and is not used to mean 'the state of literally being a boy' in a formal biological sense -- it is about temperament and conduct.
Sample Sentences:
यह लड़कपन छोड़ो और थोड़ी जिम्मेदारी लो।
Drop this childish behavior and take on some responsibility.
(yah ladakpan chhodo aur thodii jimmedaarii lo।)
उसके लड़कपन की वजह से घर वाले उससे परेशान रहते हैं।
Because of his boyish immaturity, the family stays annoyed with him.
(uske ladakpan kii vajah se ghar vaale usse pareshaan rahte hain।)
इतनी उम्र हो गई, फिर भी उसका लड़कपन नहीं गया।
He's gotten this old, yet his boyish immaturity hasn't gone away.
(itnii umr ho gaii, phir bhii uskaa ladakpan nahiin gayaa।)
अगर वह अपना लड़कपन छोड़ देता तो अब तक कहीं का कहीं पहुँच गया होता।
If he had dropped his boyish immaturity, he would have gone far by now.
(agar vah apnaa ladakpan chhod detaa to ab tak kahiin kaa kahiin pahunch gayaa hotaa।)
दफ्तर में यह लड़कपन नहीं चलेगा, यहाँ सबको गंभीरता से काम करना पड़ता है।
This childishness won't work in the office; everyone here has to work seriously.
(daphtar men yah ladakpan nahiin chalegaa, yahaan sabko gambhiirtaa se kaam karnaa padtaa hai।)
माँ ने डाँटते हुए कहा, अब शादी होने वाली है, यह लड़कपन बंद करो।
Scolding him, mother said, your wedding is coming up now, stop this childishness.
(maan ne daantte hue kahaa, ab shaadii hone vaalii hai, yah ladakpan band karo।)
क्या उसका लड़कपन कभी खत्म होगा?
Will his boyish immaturity ever end?
(kyaa uskaa ladakpan kabhii khatm hogaa?)
काश उसका लड़कपन कुछ कम हो जाए, तो लोग उसे गंभीरता से लें।
If only his boyish immaturity would lessen a bit, so people would take him seriously.
(kaash uskaa ladakpan kuchh kam ho jaae, to log use gambhiirtaa se len।)
लड़कपन के कारण उससे कई बार बड़ी गलतियाँ हो जाती थीं।
Because of his boyish immaturity, he often ended up making big mistakes.
(ladakpan ke kaaran usse kaii baar badii galtiyaan ho jaatii thiin।)
उसका लड़कपन देखकर सब हँस पड़े, मगर पापा को गुस्सा आ गया।
Seeing his childish behavior everyone burst out laughing, but father got angry.
(uskaa ladakpan dekhkar sab hans pade, magar paapaa ko gussaa aa gayaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
लड़कपन
(ladakpan)
(sg.m.oblique):
लड़कपन
(ladakpan)
(pl.m.direct):
लड़कपन
(ladakpan)
(pl.m.oblique):
लड़कपनों
(ladkapnon)