धैर्य (dhairy)

noun A formal/literary noun meaning patience or composure -- the quality of staying calm and steady under stress, closer in tone to 'fortitude' than the everyday word सब्र (sabr).
Sense 1 : patience, composure, fortitude
noun, masculine
Synonyms: सब्र (sabr), संतोष (santosh, not exact, more 'contentment'), धीरज (dhiiraj, everyday variant)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: धैर्य (dhairy) is the word you'll hear in a teacher's advice, a motivational speech, or a self-help book -- 'धैर्य रखें' (dhairy rakhen, 'keep your patience/composure') is a common register-elevated way of telling someone to stay calm. In daily kitchen-and-market chatter, most Delhi speakers reach for the warmer, more colloquial धीरज (dhiiraj) or सब्र (sabr) instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for this word in casual speech where धीरज (dhiiraj) or सब्र (sabr) would sound more natural -- धैर्य (dhairy) tends to show up in writing, speeches, or advice-giving rather than in an ordinary chat with a friend. 2) It's commonly paired with रखना (rakhnaa) or धारण करना (dhaaran karnaa) -- 'to hold/keep patience' -- rather than a verb meaning 'to have.'
Sample Sentences:
इस मुश्किल समय में धैर्य रखना बहुत ज़रूरी है। It is very important to keep your patience in this difficult time.
(is mushkil samay men dhairy rakhnaa bahut zaroorii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गुरुजी ने कहा, "धैर्य रखें, सफलता ज़रूर मिलेगी।" The teacher said, "Keep your composure, success will surely come."
(gurujii ne kahaa, "dhairy rakhen, saphaltaa zaroor milegii।")
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
धैर्य रखो, सब ठीक हो जाएगा। Keep your patience, everything will be fine.
(dhairy rakho, sab thiik ho jaaegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि उसमें थोड़ा और धैर्य होता, तो वह यह परीक्षा पास कर लेता। If he had had a little more patience, he would have passed this exam.
(yadi usmen thodaa aur dhairy hotaa, to vah yah pariikshaa paas kar letaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
संकट के समय उसका धैर्य ही उसे आगे ले गया। In times of crisis, it was his fortitude alone that carried him forward.
(sankat ke samay uskaa dhairy hii use aage le gayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि वह इस स्थिति में धैर्य बनाए रखेगी। I hope that she will maintain her composure in this situation.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki vah is sthiti men dhairy banaae rakhegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश मुझमें उतना धैर्य होता जितना मेरी माँ में है। I wish I had as much patience as my mother has.
(kaash mujhmen utnaa dhairy hotaa jitnaa merii maan men hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस स्वयं-सहायता पुस्तक में लेखक बार-बार धैर्य के महत्व पर ज़ोर देता है। In this self-help book, the author repeatedly emphasizes the importance of patience.
(is svayan-sahaaytaa pustak men lekhak baar-baar dhairy ke mahatv par zor detaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
साक्षात्कार के दौरान उम्मीदवार से धैर्य बनाए रखने की अपेक्षा की जाती है। During an interview, the candidate is expected to maintain composure.
(saakshaatkaar ke dauraan ummiidvaar se dhairy banaae rakhne kii apekshaa kii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
क्या तुम्हारे भीतर इतना धैर्य है कि तुम बिना शिकायत किए इंतज़ार कर सको? Do you have enough patience within you to wait without complaining?
(kyaa tumhaare bhiitar itnaa dhairy hai ki tum binaa shikaayat kie intzaar kar sako?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): धैर्य (dhairy)
(sg.m.oblique): धैर्य (dhairy)
(pl.m.direct): धैर्य (dhairy)
(pl.m.oblique): धैर्यों (dhairyon)