रत्न (ratn)
noun
Means 'jewel' or 'gem' in a literal sense, and by extension a 'gem of a person' -- someone outstanding in their field. Also appears as the second element in honorific titles.
Sense
1
:
jewel, precious stone
noun, masculine
Synonyms: जवाहर (javaahar), मणि (mani, literary), नगीना (nagiinaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of a jeweler's shop window in Chandni Chowk: the loose, uncut or polished stones on display are रत्न (ratn), while the finished necklaces and earrings are गहने (gahne). This word also shows up in the Navratna (navratn, 'nine gems') tradition, a set of nine gemstones linked to the nine planets in Vedic astrology, still worn as rings by many people today.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use this interchangeably with गहना (gahnaa), but गहना (gahnaa) means a piece of jewelry (a finished ornament like a necklace or bangle), while रत्न (ratn) is the raw precious stone itself, often set into such jewelry.
Sample Sentences:
इस अंगूठी में एक बहुत कीमती रत्न लगा है।
This ring has a very precious gem set in it.
(is angoothii men ek bahut kiimtii ratn lagaa hai।)
जौहरी ने तिजोरी से कई रत्न निकाले।
The jeweler took out several gems from the safe.
(jauhrii ne tijorii se kaii ratn nikaale।)
ज्योतिषी ने उसे नवरत्न की अंगूठी पहनने की सलाह दी।
The astrologer advised him to wear a navratna ring.
(jyotishii ne use navratn kii angoothii pahanne kii salaah dii।)
चांदनी चौक की दुकानों में तरह-तरह के रत्न बिकते हैं।
All kinds of gems are sold in the shops of Chandni Chowk.
(chaandnii chauk kii dukaanon men tarah-tarah ke ratn bikte hain।)
इस मूर्ति की आँखें दो लाल रत्नों से बनाई गई थीं।
This idol's eyes were made from two red gems.
(is moorti kii aankhen do laal ratnon se banaaii gaii thiin।)
काश मेरे पास भी असली रत्न होते।
If only I too had real gems.
(kaash mere paas bhii aslii ratn hote।)
यह हार असली रत्नों से जड़ा हुआ है।
This necklace is studded with real gems.
(yah haar aslii ratnon se jadaa huaa hai।)
रत्नों को अच्छी तरह जाँच लीजिए, नकली भी बहुत मिलते हैं।
Please check the gems carefully, plenty of fake ones are also found.
(ratnon ko achchhii tarah jaanch liijie, naklii bhii bahut milte hain।)
प्राचीन काल में राजा अपने खजाने में दुर्लभ रत्न इकट्ठा करते थे।
In ancient times, kings used to collect rare gems in their treasury.
(praachiin kaal men raajaa apne khajaane men durlabh ratn ikatthaa karte the।)
हो सकता है कि इस पहाड़ी क्षेत्र में दुर्लभ रत्न मिलें।
It's possible that rare gems might be found in this hilly region.
(ho saktaa hai ki is pahaadii kshetr men durlabh ratn milen।)
Sense
2
:
an outstanding or exceptional person, a 'gem' of a person
noun, masculine Used appositively after a field or category noun to praise someone as its finest example, e.g. कला-रत्न (kalaa-ratn, 'gem of the arts'). Very common as the final element of honorific titles.
Synonyms: हीरा (hiiraa, 'diamond', used the same figurative way)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense is most alive in national honors: भारत रत्न (bhaarat ratn, 'Jewel of India') is India's highest civilian award, given to people considered the 'gems' of the nation in their field. You'll also hear it in phrases like कुल का रत्न (kul kaa ratn, 'the pride/gem of the family'), praising a child who brings honor to their household.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense rarely stands alone in casual speech the way हीरा (hiiraa) does (as in वह तो हीरा है (vah to hiiraa hai, 'he's a real gem')); रत्न (ratn) in this sense is mostly seen in compounds and titles rather than as a loose predicate.
Sample Sentences:
उन्हें भारत रत्न से सम्मानित किया गया।
He was honored with the Bharat Ratna.
(unhen bhaarat ratn se sammaanit kiyaa gayaa।)
वह तो अपने कुल का रत्न है।
He is truly the gem of his family.
(vah to apne kul kaa ratn hai।)
यह लड़की हमारे स्कूल का रत्न है।
This girl is the pride of our school.
(yah ladkii hamaare skool kaa ratn hai।)
हर क्षेत्र में देश के रत्नों को पहचानना चाहिए।
The nation's gems in every field should be recognized.
(har kshetr men desh ke ratnon ko pahchaannaa chaahie।)
काश हमारी टीम में भी ऐसा कोई रत्न होता।
If only our team also had a gem like him.
(kaash hamaarii tiim men bhii aisaa koii ratn hotaa।)
सरकार हर साल कुछ रत्नों को भारत रत्न देती है।
The government gives the Bharat Ratna to a few gems of the nation every year.
(sarkaar har saal kuchh ratnon ko bhaarat ratn detii hai।)
उस गुरु ने कई रत्न तैयार किए हैं।
That teacher has produced many gems (of students).
(us guru ne kaii ratn taiyaar kie hain।)
अपने बच्चों को इस तरह पालो कि वे कुल के रत्न बनें।
Raise your children in such a way that they become gems of the family.
(apne bachchon ko is tarah paalo ki ve kul ke ratn banen।)
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि उसे भारत रत्न मिलने वाला है?
Do you know that he is about to receive the Bharat Ratna?
(kyaa tumhen pataa hai ki use bhaarat ratn milne vaalaa hai?)
इतिहास में ऐसे रत्न बार-बार नहीं जन्म लेते।
Such gems are not born again and again in history.
(itihaas men aise ratn baar-baar nahiin janm lete।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
रत्न
(ratn)
(sg.m.oblique):
रत्न
(ratn)
(pl.m.direct):
रत्न
(ratn)
(pl.m.oblique):
रत्नों
(ratnon)