जीवन (jiivan)
noun
A single core meaning -- 'life' -- used both literally (a person's lifespan/existence) and in the broader philosophical/reflective sense of 'life' as a concept. No split by grammar here; the richness is in register and collocation, covered below.
Sense
1
:
life (existence, lifespan, the course of a person's life)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: ज़िंदगी (zindgii), हयात (hayaat, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: जीवन (jiivan) and ज़िंदगी (zindgii) are near-synonyms but have a slightly different feel: ज़िंदगी (zindgii) is the word for the lived, day-to-day, emotional texture of life (song lyrics, casual chat), while जीवन (jiivan) leans toward life as a subject of reflection, discussed in school, in advice from elders, or in spiritual and philosophical contexts. You will hear it constantly in phrases about how to live well -- जीवन जीना (jiivan jiinaa, 'to live life'), जीवन का उद्देश्य (jiivan kaa uddeshy, 'the purpose of life').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach only for ज़िंदगी (zindgii) since it comes up more in casual speech; जीवन (jiivan) is just as common but leans slightly more reflective/written, so it shows up heavily in advice, philosophy, school essays, and formal speech -- worth building active use of both rather than defaulting to one. 2) जीवन (jiivan) is grammatically masculine, so possessives and adjectives agree accordingly: मेरा जीवन (meraa jiivan, my life), not मेरी.
Sample Sentences:
इंसान को अपना जीवन ईमानदारी से जीना चाहिए।
A person should live their life with honesty.
(insaan ko apnaa jiivan iimaandaarii se jiinaa chaahie।)
जीवन का उद्देश्य क्या है, यह सवाल हर धर्म में पूछा गया है।
What is the purpose of life -- this question has been asked in every religion.
(jiivan kaa uddeshy kyaa hai, yah savaal har dharm men poochhaa gayaa hai।)
गुरुजी ने कहा कि जीवन एक यात्रा है, मंज़िल नहीं।
The teacher said that life is a journey, not a destination.
(gurujii ne kahaa ki jiivan ek yaatraa hai, manzil nahiin।)
अगर वह मेहनत करता तो उसका जीवन कुछ और होता।
If he had worked hard, his life would have been something else.
(agar vah mehnat kartaa to uskaa jiivan kuchh aur hotaa।)
अपना जीवन इस तरह बर्बाद मत करो।
Don't waste your life like this.
(apnaa jiivan is tarah barbaad mat karo।)
वे अपना पूरा जीवन गाँव में ही बिताते रहे।
They kept spending their entire life in the village itself.
(ve apnaa pooraa jiivan gaanv men hii bitaate rahe।)
काश मुझे भी ऐसा शांत जीवन मिलता।
I wish I too could have such a peaceful life.
(kaash mujhe bhii aisaa shaant jiivan miltaa।)
स्कूल में हमें जीवन मूल्यों के बारे में पढ़ाया जाता है।
In school we are taught about the values of life.
(skool men hamen jiivan moolyon ke baare men padhaayaa jaataa hai।)
जीवन में बहुत उतार-चढ़ाव आते हैं, हिम्मत मत हारो।
Life has many ups and downs, don't lose courage.
(jiivan men bahut utaar-chadhaav aate hain, himmat mat haaro।)
उसने अपना पूरा जीवन देश की सेवा में लगा दिया।
He devoted his entire life to the service of the nation.
(usne apnaa pooraa jiivan desh kii sevaa men lagaa diyaa।)
यह जीवन क्षणभंगुर है, इसे व्यर्थ मत गँवाइए।
This life is fleeting; do not waste it in vain.
(yah jiivan kshanbhangur hai, ise vyarth mat ganvaaie।)
जब तक जीवन है, तब तक आशा भी है।
As long as there is life, there is hope too.
(jab tak jiivan hai, tab tak aashaa bhii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
जीवन
(jiivan)
(sg.m.oblique):
जीवन
(jiivan)
(pl.m.direct):
जीवन
(jiivan)
(pl.m.oblique):
जीवनों
(jiivnon)