उपयोग (upyog)
noun
A formal, Sanskritic word for 'use/usage,' functioning both as a noun and, with करना (karnaa), as a compound-verb phrase meaning 'to use.'
Sense
1
:
use, usage, application
noun, masculine
Synonyms: इस्तेमाल (istemaal), प्रयोग (prayog)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet this word constantly on medicine strips, product packaging, and government forms -- 'उपयोग विधि' (upyog vidhi, 'method of use') is a standard label heading. In casual conversation, though, most Delhi speakers will say इस्तेमाल (istemaal) instead, so उपयोग (upyog) has a slightly bookish, official flavor.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for this word by default because it looks close to English 'use,' but in everyday speech इस्तेमाल (istemaal) is far more common; उपयोग (upyog) tends to surface in writing, instructions, or formal contexts (e.g. product labels, official notices). 2) The verb phrase is उपयोग करना (upyog karnaa, to use), not a standalone verb -- do not try to conjugate उपयोग (upyog) itself.
Sample Sentences:
इस दवा का उपयोग कैसे करें?
How should this medicine be used?
(is davaa kaa upyog kaise karen?)
पैकेट पर उपयोग विधि लिखी है।
The method of use is written on the packet.
(paiket par upyog vidhi likhii hai।)
इस उपकरण का उपयोग सावधानी से करें।
Use this equipment carefully.
(is upakran kaa upyog saavdhaanii se karen।)
इस फॉर्म का उपयोग केवल सरकारी कार्यालयों में किया जाता है।
This form is used only in government offices.
(is phorm kaa upyog keval sarkaarii kaaryaalyon men kiyaa jaataa hai।)
पिछले साल इस भूमि का उपयोग खेती के लिए किया गया था।
Last year this land was used for farming.
(pichhle saal is bhoomi kaa upyog khetii ke lie kiyaa gayaa thaa।)
अगर हम संसाधनों का सही उपयोग करते तो कम बर्बादी होती।
If we had made proper use of resources, there would have been less waste.
(agar ham sansaadhnon kaa sahii upyog karte to kam barbaadii hotii।)
कंपनी नई तकनीक का उपयोग करेगी।
The company will make use of the new technology.
(kampnii naii takniik kaa upyog karegii।)
सरकार चाहती है कि नागरिक इस सुविधा का उपयोग करें।
The government wants citizens to make use of this facility.
(sarkaar chaahtii hai ki naagrik is suvidhaa kaa upyog karen।)
इस डेटा का उपयोग शोध के लिए किया जा रहा है।
This data is being used for research.
(is detaa kaa upyog shodh ke lie kiyaa jaa rahaa hai।)
अनुबंध में स्पष्ट किया गया है कि व्यक्तिगत जानकारी का उपयोग किन उद्देश्यों के लिए किया जाएगा।
The contract clarifies for what purposes personal information will be used.
(anubandh men spasht kiyaa gayaa hai ki vyaktigat jaankaarii kaa upyog kin uddeshyon ke lie kiyaa jaaegaa।)
Sense
2
:
usefulness, purpose (as in 'being of use')
noun, masculine Common in the frame X के उपयोग का (X ke upyog kaa) or उपयोग में आना (upyog men aanaa, to come into use / prove useful), where उपयोग (upyog) shifts from the act of using to the quality of being useful.
Synonyms: फ़ायदा (faaydaa), लाभ (laabh, more formal)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This sense pairs with आना (aanaa) to build a mild impersonal construction -- यह चीज़ उपयोग में आती है (yah chiiz upyog men aatii hai, 'this thing comes in useful') -- which sidesteps naming who is doing the using, a pattern Hindi favors more than English does.
Common Mistakes: 1) उपयोग में आना (upyog men aanaa) is a fixed phrase meaning 'to come in handy / be put to use' -- learners sometimes translate it too literally as 'to come into usage,' missing that it is the natural way to say something 'gets used' or 'proves useful' without naming an agent.
Sample Sentences:
यह पुरानी अलमारी अभी भी उपयोग में आती है।
This old cupboard still comes in useful.
(yah puraanii almaarii abhii bhii upyog men aatii hai।)
यह किताब मेरे किसी काम की नहीं है।
This book is of no use to me.
(yah kitaab mere kisii kaam kii nahiin hai।)
टूटी हुई छतरी भी बारिश में उपयोग में आ गई।
Even the broken umbrella turned out to be useful in the rain.
(tootii huii chhatrii bhii baarish men upyog men aa gaii।)
क्या यह पुराना नक्शा किसी उपयोग का है?
Is this old map of any use?
(kyaa yah puraanaa nakshaa kisii upyog kaa hai?)
अगर यह मशीन उपयोग में न आती, तो हम इसे कब का फेंक चुके होते।
If this machine weren't of any use, we would have thrown it away long ago.
(agar yah mashiin upyog men n aatii, to ham ise kab kaa phenk chuke hote।)
काश यह सलाह किसी उपयोग की होती।
If only this advice were of some use.
(kaash yah salaah kisii upyog kii hotii।)
शायद यह जानकारी आगे चलकर उपयोग में आए।
Perhaps this information will prove useful later on.
(shaayad yah jaankaarii aage chalkar upyog men aae।)
बुज़ुर्गों का अनुभव हमेशा उपयोग में आता है।
The experience of elders is always of use.
(buzurgon kaa anubhav hameshaa upyog men aataa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
उपयोग
(upyog)
(sg.m.oblique):
उपयोग
(upyog)
(pl.m.direct):
उपयोग
(upyog)
(pl.m.oblique):
उपयोगों
(upyogon)