बलिदान (balidaan)
noun
A weighty noun meaning 'sacrifice' -- giving up something precious, often life itself, for a higher cause. One core sense, but it carries strong emotional and civic resonance.
Sense
1
:
sacrifice (especially of one's life) for a cause, nation, or higher purpose
noun, masculine Most often used with the verb देना (denaa) -- बलिदान देना (balidaan denaa, 'to give one's sacrifice/life') -- rather than as a subject doing something on its own.
Synonyms: त्याग (tyaag, broader: renunciation/giving up), कुर्बानी (kurbaanii, everyday and widely used, especially in speech), न्योछावर (nyochhaavar, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries deep patriotic and often martial weight in Hindi -- it is the word used for soldiers who die for the nation (शहीदों का बलिदान (shahiidon kaa balidaan, 'the sacrifice of martyrs')), and you will hear it constantly around Republic Day and Independence Day speeches. कुर्बानी (kurbaanii) is the word you will hear far more in daily conversation and Bollywood dialogue, while बलिदान sits a notch higher in register, closer to what gets etched on memorials.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for त्याग (tyaag) or कुर्बानी (kurbaanii) interchangeably with बलिदान (balidaan), but बलिदान specifically implies giving up something supreme, usually life, whereas त्याग can mean simply renouncing comforts or habits (like त्याग करना (tyaag karnaa) for giving up sugar). 2) It is a noun and needs करना (karnaa) or देना (denaa) to function as a verb phrase -- there is no standalone verb form.
Sample Sentences:
देश की रक्षा में सैनिकों का बलिदान कभी नहीं भुलाया जा सकता।
The sacrifice of soldiers in defense of the nation can never be forgotten.
(desh kii rakshaa men sainikon kaa balidaan kabhii nahiin bhulaayaa jaa saktaa।)
शहीदों का बलिदान हमें आज़ादी की याद दिलाता है।
The martyrs' sacrifice reminds us of our freedom.
(shahiidon kaa balidaan hamen aazaadii kii yaad dilaataa hai।)
उस सिपाही ने देश के लिए अपना बलिदान दे दिया।
That soldier gave his sacrifice for the country.
(us sipaahii ne desh ke lie apnaa balidaan de diyaa।)
यदि ज़रूरत पड़े तो मैं भी राष्ट्र के लिए बलिदान देने को तैयार हूँ।
If the need arises, I too am ready to give my sacrifice for the nation.
(yadi zaroorat pade to main bhii raashtr ke lie balidaan dene ko taiyaar hoon।)
स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों के बलिदान को स्मरण करते हुए राष्ट्र आज श्रद्धांजलि दे रहा है।
Remembering the sacrifice of the freedom fighters, the nation is paying tribute today.
(svatantrtaa senaaniyon ke balidaan ko smaran karte hue raashtr aaj shraddhaanjli de rahaa hai।)
अगर वह डर जाता तो उसका बलिदान अधूरा रह जाता।
If he had gotten scared, his sacrifice would have remained incomplete.
(agar vah dar jaataa to uskaa balidaan adhooraa rah jaataa।)
स्वतंत्रता दिवस के भाषण में नेता ने वीरों के बलिदान की गाथा सुनाई।
In the Independence Day speech, the leader narrated the tale of the heroes' sacrifice.
(svatantrtaa divas ke bhaashan men netaa ne viiron ke balidaan kii gaathaa sunaaii।)
इस स्मारक पर उन सभी वीरों के बलिदान की गाथाएँ लिखी गई हैं जिन्होंने देश के लिए प्राण दिए।
On this memorial are inscribed the tales of sacrifice of all those heroes who gave their lives for the country.
(is smaarak par un sabhii viiron ke balidaan kii gaathaaen likhii gaii hain jinhonne desh ke lie praan die।)
हे वीर सैनिकों, तुम्हारा बलिदान अमर रहेगा।
O brave soldiers, your sacrifice will remain immortal.
(he viir sainikon, tumhaaraa balidaan amar rahegaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
बलिदान
(balidaan)
(sg.m.oblique):
बलिदान
(balidaan)
(pl.m.direct):
बलिदान
(balidaan)
(pl.m.oblique):
बलिदानों
(balidaanon)