अनुभव (anubhav)

noun/verb A common noun meaning 'experience' -- both the general life-experience sense and the more concrete sense of a specific felt/sensed experience. Also occurs in the verb phrase अनुभव करना (anubhav karnaa, 'to experience/feel'), listed here as its own sense.
Sense 1 : experience (accumulated knowledge/skill from living or doing something)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: तजुर्बा (tajurbaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly in job interviews and résumés -- 'आपको इस काम का कितना अनुभव है?' (aapko is kaam kaa kitnaa anubhav hai, 'How much experience do you have with this work?') is a near-universal interview opener in India.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for अनुभव (anubhav) when तजुर्बा (tajurbaa) is what a Delhi speaker would actually say in casual conversation -- अनुभव (anubhav) leans slightly more formal/written, though both are perfectly common. 2) The verb of possession is usually होना (honaa) with के पास (ke paas) or a dative construction (मुझे अनुभव है, mujhe anubhav hai, 'I have experience'), not a direct 'have' verb.
Sample Sentences:
आपको इस काम का कितना अनुभव है? How much experience do you have with this work?
(aapko is kaam kaa kitnaa anubhav hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे पढ़ाने का दस साल का अनुभव है। I have ten years of experience in teaching.
(mujhe padhaane kaa das saal kaa anubhav hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसे इस क्षेत्र में कोई अनुभव नहीं था, फिर भी उसने नौकरी पा ली। He had no experience in this field, yet he still got the job.
(use is kshetr men koii anubhav nahiin thaa, phir bhii usne naukrii paa lii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर मुझे थोड़ा और अनुभव होता, तो मैं यह प्रोजेक्ट संभाल सकता था। If I had had a bit more experience, I could have handled this project.
(agar mujhe thodaa aur anubhav hotaa, to main yah projekt sambhaal saktaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अनुभव के साथ काम करना आसान हो जाता है। Work becomes easier with experience.
(anubhav ke saath kaam karnaa aasaan ho jaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस पद के लिए कम से कम पाँच साल का अनुभव अनिवार्य है। At least five years of experience is mandatory for this position.
(is pad ke lie kam se kam paanch saal kaa anubhav anivaary hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अपना अनुभव बढ़ाने के लिए उसने कई अलग-अलग कंपनियों में काम किया। To increase his experience, he worked at several different companies.
(apnaa anubhav badhaane ke lie usne kaii alag-alag kampniyon men kaam kiyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया अपने बायोडाटा में अपना पूरा कार्य-अनुभव लिखें। Please write your complete work experience in your resume.
(kripyaa apne baayodaataa men apnaa pooraa kaary-anubhav likhen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उम्मीदवारों का अनुभव इंटरव्यू में बारीकी से जाँचा जाता है। Candidates' experience is closely examined in the interview.
(ummiidvaaron kaa anubhav intravyoo men baariikii se jaanchaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद उसका अनुभव इतना काम आए कि हमें बाहर से कोई और न रखना पड़े। Perhaps his experience will prove so useful that we won't have to hire anyone else from outside.
(shaayad uskaa anubhav itnaa kaam aae ki hamen baahar se koii aur n rakhnaa pade।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
जीवन का अनुभव किताबों से कहीं ज़्यादा सिखाता है। Life's experience teaches far more than books do.
(jiivan kaa anubhav kitaabon se kahiin zyaadaa sikhaataa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : a felt experience, sensation, or realization
noun, masculine
Synonyms: अनुभूति (anubhooti, more inward/emotional feeling)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the sense used when someone describes a specific memorable event -- a trip, a spiritual moment, a strange encounter -- as 'एक अनोखा अनुभव' (ek anokhaa anubhav, 'a unique experience'). It shifts from 'accumulated know-how' to 'a thing that happened to me and left an impression.'
Sample Sentences:
यह मेरे लिए एक अनोखा अनुभव था। This was a unique experience for me.
(yah mere lie ek anokhaa anubhav thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
पहाड़ों की उस यात्रा का अनुभव मैं कभी नहीं भूल सकता। I can never forget the experience of that trip to the mountains.
(pahaadon kii us yaatraa kaa anubhav main kabhii nahiin bhool saktaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम अपना वह अनुभव सबके साथ साझा करोगे? Will you share that experience of yours with everyone?
(kyaa tum apnaa vah anubhav sabke saath saajhaa karoge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
मंदिर में ध्यान करते हुए उसे एक अद्भुत अनुभव हुआ। While meditating in the temple, she had a wondrous experience.
(mandir men dhyaan karte hue use ek adbhut anubhav huaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मुझे भी ऐसा अनुभव मिलता। I wish I too had had such an experience.
(kaash mujhe bhii aisaa anubhav miltaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अपना यह अनुभव विस्तार से बताइए। Please describe this experience of yours in detail.
(apnaa yah anubhav vistaar se bataaie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उस हादसे का अनुभव इतना डरावना था कि वह आज भी काँप उठता है। The experience of that accident was so terrifying that he still shudders today.
(us haadse kaa anubhav itnaa daraavnaa thaa ki vah aaj bhii kaamp uthtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह अनुभव उसे हमेशा याद रहेगा। This experience will always stay in his memory.
(yah anubhav use hameshaa yaad rahegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उस अनुभव के बारे में सुनकर मुझे यकीन नहीं हुआ। Hearing about that experience, I could not believe it.
(us anubhav ke baare men sunkar mujhe yakiin nahiin huaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह अनुभव उसने अपनी डायरी में दर्ज किया था। This experience had been recorded by him in his diary.
(yah anubhav usne apnii daayrii men darj kiyaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
शायद यह अनुभव उसके जीवन की दिशा बदल दे। Perhaps this experience will change the direction of his life.
(shaayad yah anubhav uske jiivan kii dishaa badal de।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Sense 3 : to experience, to feel (something)
verb, transitive Compound of the noun अनुभव (anubhav) with करना (karnaa); takes a direct object naming the thing felt or undergone, e.g. दर्द अनुभव करना (dard anubhav karnaa, 'to experience pain').
Synonyms: महसूस करना (mahsoos karnaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll meet this phrasing more in writing, speeches, or introspective conversation than in daily chatter -- for the everyday equivalent, reach for महसूस करना (mahsoos karnaa) instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) In everyday speech महसूस करना (mahsoos karnaa) is far more common for physical/emotional feelings; अनुभव करना (anubhav karnaa) tends to sound a bit more literary or reflective, so overusing it in casual talk can sound stiff.
Sample Sentences:
उसने जीवन में बहुत दुख अनुभव किया। He experienced a lot of sorrow in life.
(usne jiivan men bahut dukh anubhav kiyaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मैं इस पल को गहराई से अनुभव करता हूँ। I experience this moment deeply.
(main is pal ko gahraaii se anubhav kartaa hoon।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह अपने भीतर एक अजीब सी शांति अनुभव कर रही थी। She was experiencing a strange kind of peace within herself.
(vah apne bhiitar ek ajiib sii shaanti anubhav kar rahii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि तुम सच्चा प्रेम अनुभव करो, तो जीवन का अर्थ समझ आएगा। If you experience true love, you will understand the meaning of life.
(yadi tum sachchaa prem anubhav karo, to jiivan kaa arth samajh aaegaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
काश मैं भी वह आनंद अनुभव कर पाता जो तुमने किया। I wish I too could have experienced that joy you did.
(kaash main bhii vah aanand anubhav kar paataa jo tumne kiyaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस कविता को पढ़कर पाठक एक गहरी वेदना अनुभव करते हैं। Reading this poem, readers experience a deep anguish.
(is kavitaa ko padhkar paathak ek gahrii vednaa anubhav karte hain।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
साधक ने ध्यान की अवस्था में परमानंद अनुभव किया। The seeker experienced supreme bliss in the state of meditation.
(saadhak ne dhyaan kii avasthaa men parmaanand anubhav kiyaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह अनुभव करो कि हर सांस में जीवन का चमत्कार छिपा है। Experience the fact that a miracle of life is hidden in every breath.
(yah anubhav karo ki har saans men jiivan kaa chamatkaar chhipaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
समाज में फैली इस असमानता को स्वयं अनुभव किए बिना कोई इसे पूरी तरह नहीं समझ सकता। Without personally experiencing this inequality spread through society, no one can fully understand it.
(samaaj men phailii is asmaantaa ko svayan anubhav kie binaa koii ise poorii tarah nahiin samajh saktaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उस दुर्घटना का भय आज भी अनुभव किया जाता है। The fear of that accident is still experienced even today.
(us durghatnaa kaa bhay aaj bhii anubhav kiyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): अनुभव (anubhav)
(sg.m.oblique): अनुभव (anubhav)
(pl.m.direct): अनुभव (anubhav)
(pl.m.oblique): अनुभवों (anubhvon)
Verb
infinitive: अनुभव (anubhav)
infinitive oblique: अनुभने (anubhne)
habitual/simple (sg.m): अनुभता (anubhtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m): अनुभते (anubhte)
habitual/simple (sg.f): अनुभती (anubhtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f): अनुभतीं (anubhtiin)
continuous (sg.m): अनुभ रहा (anubh rahaa)
continuous (pl.m): अनुभ रहे (anubh rahe)
continuous (sg.f): अनुभ रही (anubh rahii)
continuous (pl.f): अनुभ रहीं (anubh rahiin)
perfective (sg.m): अनुभा (anubhaa)
perfective (pl.m): अनुभे (anubhe)
perfective (sg.f): अनुभी (anubhii)
perfective (pl.f): अनुभीं (anubhiin)
imperative (informal): अनुभ (anubh)
imperative (neutral): अनुभो (anubho)
imperative (formal): अनुभिए (anubhie)
future (1sg.m): अनुभूँगा (anubhoongaa)
future (1sg.f): अनुभूँगी (anubhoongii)
future (1pl.m): अनुभेंगे (anubhenge)
future (1pl.f): अनुभेंगी (anubhengii)
future (2sg.m): अनुभेगा (anubhegaa)
future (2sg.f): अनुभेगी (anubhegii)
future (2pl.m): अनुभोगे (anubhoge)
future (2pl.f): अनुभोगी (anubhogii)
future (3sg.m): अनुभेगा (anubhegaa)
future (3sg.f): अनुभेगी (anubhegii)
future (3pl.m): अनुभेंगे (anubhenge)
future (3pl.f): अनुभेंगी (anubhengii)
subjunctive (1sg): अनुभूँ (anubhoon)
subjunctive (1pl): अनुभें (anubhen)
subjunctive (2sg): अनुभे (anubhe)
subjunctive (2pl): अनुभो (anubho)
subjunctive (3sg): अनुभे (anubhe)
subjunctive (3pl): अनुभें (anubhen)