मजबूरी (majboorii)
noun
A noun meaning 'helplessness' or 'compulsion' -- the state of being forced into something by circumstance, with no real choice left. Related to मजबूर (majboor, 'helpless, compelled'), the adjective it derives from.
Sense
1
:
compulsion, helplessness, constraint of circumstance
noun, feminine
Synonyms: लाचारी (laachaarii), विवशता (vivashtaa, formal), बेबसी (bebsii)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word carries a particular emotional weight in Hindi -- it's less about external necessity and more about the feeling of being cornered by life. You'll hear it constantly in everyday excuses and in filmi dialogue alike: मेरी मजबूरी समझो (merii majboorii samjho, 'understand my helplessness') is a classic line of appeal, said when someone wants sympathy for a choice they didn't really want to make. It pairs naturally with मजबूर होना (majboor honaa, 'to be forced/compelled'), the verbal phrase built on the same root.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for 'majboori' as a direct stand-in for English 'necessity,' but it carries a note of reluctance or being trapped -- ज़रूरत (zaroorat) is the neutral word for a plain 'need' or 'requirement'. 2) मजबूरी है (majboorii hai, 'it's a compulsion/there's no choice') is the idiomatic way to say you have no option -- learners sometimes try to build this meaning with पड़ना (padnaa) constructions instead, which sound clunky here.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी मजबूरी समझो, मैं क्या करता।
Understand my helplessness, what could I have done.
(merii majboorii samjho, main kyaa kartaa।)
यह उसकी मजबूरी थी, शौक नहीं।
This was his compulsion, not his choice.
(yah uskii majboorii thii, shauk nahiin।)
पैसों की तंगी की वजह से यह उसकी मजबूरी बन गई।
Because of the money shortage, this became his compulsion.
(paison kii tangii kii vajah se yah uskii majboorii ban gaii।)
मजबूरी में इंसान वो भी कर जाता है जो वह कभी नहीं करना चाहता।
Under compulsion, a person even does what he never wants to do.
(majboorii men insaan vo bhii kar jaataa hai jo vah kabhii nahiin karnaa chaahtaa।)
काश मेरी कोई मजबूरी न होती, तो मैं यह नौकरी कभी न करता।
If only I had no compulsion, I would never have taken this job.
(kaash merii koii majboorii n hotii, to main yah naukrii kabhii n kartaa।)
क्या मजबूरी है कि तुम्हें यह सब सहना पड़ रहा है?
What compulsion is there that you have to bear all this?
(kyaa majboorii hai ki tumhen yah sab sahnaa pad rahaa hai?)
साहब, आपकी मजबूरी का मुझे पूरा अंदाज़ा है।
Sir, I fully understand your compulsion.
(saahab, aapkii majboorii kaa mujhe pooraa andaazaa hai।)
वह मजबूर होकर अपने गाँव को छोड़ गया।
Compelled by circumstance, he left his village.
(vah majboor hokar apne gaanv ko chhod gayaa।)
अगर मजबूरी न होती तो कोई अपना घर क्यों छोड़ता।
If there were no compulsion, why would anyone leave their own home.
(agar majboorii n hotii to koii apnaa ghar kyon chhodtaa।)
उसकी आँखों में मजबूरी साफ़ झलक रही थी।
Helplessness was clearly showing in his eyes.
(uskii aankhon men majboorii saaf jhalak rahii thii।)
मजबूरी हो तो झूठ भी बोलना पड़ता है।
When there is compulsion, one has to lie too.
(majboorii ho to jhooth bhii bolnaa padtaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
मजबूरी
(majboorii)
(sg.f.oblique):
मजबूरी
(majboorii)
(pl.f.direct):
मजबूरियाँ
(majbooriyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
मजबूरियों
(majbooriyon)