समाज (samaaj)

noun A single core sense: 'society' as a social collective; also extends naturally to 'community' in some contexts.

Sense 1 : society, the collective social order

noun, masculine

Synonyms: समुदाय (samudaay, community, narrower scope)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: समाज (samaaj) carries a moral weight in everyday Hindi that 'society' doesn't quite have in English -- when someone says समाज क्या कहेगा (samaaj kyaa kahegaa, 'what will society say'), they're invoking collective judgment, especially around marriage, reputation, and family honor. You'll hear it constantly in conversations about social change: समाज बदल रहा है (samaaj badal rahaa hai, 'society is changing'), often said with a mix of hope and resignation.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use समाज (samaaj) where परिवार (parivaar, family) or समुदाय (samudaay, community) is meant -- समाज (samaaj) is broad, referring to society at large or a whole community, not a small group of relatives or friends. 2) Phrases like समाज में (samaaj men, 'in society') and समाज के लिए (samaaj ke lie, 'for society') are common collocations; learners often default to लोगों में (logon men, 'among people') where a native speaker would reach for समाज (samaaj men).

Sample Sentences:

समाज क्या कहेगा? What will society say?

(samaaj kyaa kahegaa?)

हमारा समाज बहुत तेज़ी से बदल रहा है। Our society is changing very quickly.

(hamaaraa samaaj bahut tezii se badal rahaa hai।)

समाज में महिलाओं की भूमिका पहले से बहुत बदल गई है। Women's role in society has changed a lot compared to before.

(samaaj men mahilaaon kii bhoomikaa pahle se bahut badal gaii hai।)

अगर हम मिलकर कोशिश करें, तो समाज में सुधार लाया जा सकता है। If we try together, improvement can be brought about in society.

(agar ham milkar koshish karen, to samaaj men sudhaar laayaa jaa saktaa hai।)

पहले समाज इन बातों को इतनी आसानी से स्वीकार नहीं करता था। Earlier, society didn't accept these things so easily.

(pahle samaaj in baaton ko itnii aasaanii se sviikaar nahiin kartaa thaa।)

समाज को बदलने के लिए हमें खुद से शुरुआत करनी होगी। To change society, we will have to start with ourselves.

(samaaj ko badalne ke lie hamen khud se shuruaat karnii hogii।)

अगर समाज इतना दकियानूसी न होता, तो लोग खुलकर अपनी बात कहते। If society weren't so old-fashioned, people would speak their minds openly.

(agar samaaj itnaa dakiyaanoosii n hotaa, to log khulkar apnii baat kahte।)

समाज के हर वर्ग को साथ लेकर चलना ज़रूरी है। It is necessary to carry every section of society along.

(samaaj ke har varg ko saath lekar chalnaa zaroorii hai।)

देखो, समाज की परवाह छोड़ो और अपने दिल की सुनो। Look, stop worrying about society and listen to your heart.

(dekho, samaaj kii parvaah chhodo aur apne dil kii suno।)

समाज द्वारा तय किए गए नियम हमेशा सही नहीं होते। The rules decided by society aren't always right.

(samaaj dvaaraa tay kie gae niyam hameshaa sahii nahiin hote।)

समाज एक जटिल व्यवस्था है, जिसमें अनेक परंपराएँ आपस में गुँथी होती हैं। Society is a complex system, in which many traditions are interwoven with one another.

(samaaj ek jatil vyavasthaa hai, jismen anek parampraaen aapas men gunthii hotii hain।)

काश समाज इतनी जल्दी किसी को जज न करता। If only society didn't judge people so quickly.

(kaash samaaj itnii jaldii kisii ko jaj n kartaa।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): समाज (samaaj)

(sg.m.oblique): समाज (samaaj)

(pl.m.direct): समाज (samaaj)

(pl.m.oblique): समाजों (samaajon)