साधन (saadhan)
noun
A word for the tools, means, or resources by which something is accomplished; it also extends to 'means of transport' and, in a plural/collective sense, to 'resources' or 'wealth.'
Sense
1
:
means, method, instrument for achieving something
noun, masculine Often used with के (ke) + साधन (saadhan) to mean 'means of ___,' e.g. संचार के साधन (sanchaar ke saadhan, 'means of communication').
Synonyms: उपाय (upaay), तरीका (tariikaa), ज़रिया (zariyaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will see this word everywhere in formal and journalistic Hindi: यातायात के साधन (yaataayaat ke saadhan, 'means of transportation'), मनोरंजन के साधन (manoranjan ke saadhan, 'means of entertainment'), संचार के साधन (sanchaar ke saadhan, 'means of communication'). It has a slightly bureaucratic/formal flavor compared to everyday words like तरीका (tariikaa).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for तरीका (tariikaa) when साधन (saadhan) is meant -- तरीका (tariikaa) is more about the 'method/way' of doing something, while साधन (saadhan) is the actual instrument or resource that makes it possible. 2) साधन (saadhan) is often used in the plural (साधन (saadhan) is invariant in its plural form) to mean 'means/resources' collectively, which can confuse learners expecting a distinct plural marker.
Sample Sentences:
आज के समय में संचार के साधन बहुत बढ़ गए हैं।
In today's times, the means of communication have increased a lot.
(aaj ke samay men sanchaar ke saadhan bahut badh gae hain।)
गाँव में यातायात के साधन बहुत कम हैं।
There are very few means of transportation in the village.
(gaanv men yaataayaat ke saadhan bahut kam hain।)
सरकार को शिक्षा के नए साधन उपलब्ध कराने चाहिए।
The government should provide new means for education.
(sarkaar ko shikshaa ke nae saadhan uplabdh karaane chaahie।)
उस समय मनोरंजन के साधन बहुत सीमित थे।
At that time, the means of entertainment were very limited.
(us samay manoranjan ke saadhan bahut siimit the।)
इस समस्या को सुलझाने का कोई साधन खोजो।
Find some means to solve this problem.
(is samasyaa ko suljhaane kaa koii saadhan khojo।)
अगर बेहतर साधन होते, तो काम जल्दी हो जाता।
If there had been better means, the work would have been done quickly.
(agar behtar saadhan hote, to kaam jaldii ho jaataa।)
नए साधनों का इस्तेमाल करके उत्पादन बढ़ाया जा सकता है।
By using new means, production can be increased.
(nae saadhnon kaa istemaal karke utpaadan badhaayaa jaa saktaa hai।)
क्या तुम्हें कोई ऐसा साधन पता है जिससे यह काम आसान हो जाए?
Do you know of any means by which this work could become easier?
(kyaa tumhen koii aisaa saadhan pataa hai jisse yah kaam aasaan ho jaae?)
प्रशासन ने आपदा से निपटने के लिए सभी साधन जुटा लिए हैं।
The administration has gathered all means to deal with the disaster.
(prashaasan ne aapdaa se nipatne ke lie sabhii saadhan jutaa lie hain।)
भविष्य में परिवहन के साधन और भी उन्नत हो जाएंगे।
In the future, the means of transport will become even more advanced.
(bhavishy men parivahan ke saadhan aur bhii unnat ho jaaenge।)
टेलीविज़न सूचना और शिक्षा दोनों का साधन है।
Television is a means of both information and education.
(teliivizan soochnaa aur shikshaa donon kaa saadhan hai।)
Sense
2
:
resources, wealth, means (financial capacity)
noun, masculine Typically appears in the plural साधन (saadhan) to mean the financial or material resources a person or family has, e.g. सीमित साधन (siimit saadhan, 'limited resources').
Synonyms: संसाधन (sansaadhan), पूँजी (poonjii, scope: financial resources specifically)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear parents and elders in Delhi-NCR say things like हमारे पास ज़्यादा साधन नहीं हैं (hamaare paas zyaadaa saadhan nahiin hain, 'we don't have many resources') -- it's a common, slightly formal way to talk about limited means without directly saying 'poor' or 'no money,' which softens the statement.
Sample Sentences:
हमारे पास ज़्यादा साधन नहीं हैं।
We don't have many resources.
(hamaare paas zyaadaa saadhan nahiin hain।)
उनके परिवार के पास बहुत साधन हैं, फिर भी वे सादगी से रहते हैं।
Their family has a lot of resources, yet they live simply.
(unke parivaar ke paas bahut saadhan hain, phir bhii ve saadgii se rahte hain।)
अगर हमारे पास पर्याप्त साधन होते, तो हम बच्चों को बेहतर स्कूल में भेजते।
If we had had sufficient resources, we would have sent the children to a better school.
(agar hamaare paas paryaapt saadhan hote, to ham bachchon ko behtar skool men bhejte।)
सरकार को गरीब परिवारों को साधन उपलब्ध कराने चाहिए।
The government should make resources available to poor families.
(sarkaar ko gariib parivaaron ko saadhan uplabdh karaane chaahie।)
उसके पास इतने साधन नहीं थे कि वह अपना इलाज करा सके।
He didn't have enough resources to get his treatment done.
(uske paas itne saadhan nahiin the ki vah apnaa ilaaj karaa sake।)
जिनके पास साधन सीमित हैं, उन्हें भी शिक्षा का अधिकार मिलना चाहिए।
Those whose resources are limited should also get the right to education.
(jinke paas saadhan siimit hain, unhen bhii shikshaa kaa adhikaar milnaa chaahie।)
कंपनी के साधन इतने बढ़ गए हैं कि वह अब विदेश में निवेश कर रही है।
The company's resources have grown so much that it is now investing abroad.
(kampnii ke saadhan itne badh gae hain ki vah ab videsh men nivesh kar rahii hai।)
साधनों की कमी के कारण वह प्रोजेक्ट रुक गया।
Due to a lack of resources, that project came to a halt.
(saadhnon kii kamii ke kaaran vah projekt ruk gayaa।)
अपने सीमित साधनों में भी उन्होंने बेटी की शादी शान से की।
Even with their limited resources, they held their daughter's wedding grandly.
(apne siimit saadhnon men bhii unhonne betii kii shaadii shaan se kii।)
काश हमारे पास और साधन होते।
If only we had more resources.
(kaash hamaare paas aur saadhan hote।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
साधन
(saadhan)
(sg.m.oblique):
साधन
(saadhan)
(pl.m.direct):
साधन
(saadhan)
(pl.m.oblique):
साधनों
(saadhnon)