निश्चय (nishchay)
noun/adverb
Primarily a noun meaning 'decision' or 'resolve'; also works as an adverb meaning 'certainly, definitely.' Related to निश्चित (nishchit, 'certain, fixed'), which shares the same root.
Sense
1
:
decision, resolve, determination
noun, masculine Commonly used with करना (karnaa) in the phrase निश्चय करना (nishchay karnaa, 'to make a decision/resolve').
Synonyms: फ़ैसला (faislaa), निर्णय (nirnay), इरादा (iraadaa, intention/will), संकल्प (sankalp, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this in slightly earnest, self-improvement contexts, like a New Year's resolution: मैंने निश्चय किया है (mainne nishchay kiyaa hai, 'I have resolved...'). It has a touch of moral seriousness that फ़ैसला (faislaa) lacks, which tends to be used for everyday practical choices.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for फ़ैसला (faislaa) by default; निश्चय (nishchay) carries a slightly more formal, deliberate tone, as in resolving to do something after inner reflection, rather than settling an external matter or dispute. 2) It pairs almost always with करना (karnaa), not लेना (lenaa), unlike some near-synonyms.
Sample Sentences:
मैंने निश्चय किया है कि अब रोज़ सुबह योग करूँगा।
I have resolved that from now on I will do yoga every morning.
(mainne nishchay kiyaa hai ki ab roz subah yog karoongaa।)
उसने पढ़ाई पूरी करने का दृढ़ निश्चय कर लिया।
He made a firm resolve to complete his studies.
(usne padhaaii poorii karne kaa dridh nishchay kar liyaa।)
मेरा निश्चय अटल है, मैं इस बुरी आदत को छोड़ूँगा।
My resolve is unshakeable -- I will give up this bad habit.
(meraa nishchay atal hai, main is burii aadat ko chhodoongaa।)
काश मैं भी उसकी तरह अपने निश्चय पर टिका रह पाता।
If only I too could stick to my resolve like he does.
(kaash main bhii uskii tarah apne nishchay par tikaa rah paataa।)
अपने निश्चय पर दृढ़ रहो, चाहे कितनी भी मुश्किलें आएँ।
Stay firm on your resolve, no matter how many difficulties come.
(apne nishchay par dridh raho, chaahe kitnii bhii mushkilen aaen।)
क्या तुम्हारा निश्चय अब भी वैसा ही है, या बदल गया?
Is your resolve still the same, or has it changed?
(kyaa tumhaaraa nishchay ab bhii vaisaa hii hai, yaa badal gayaa?)
शायद वह अपना निश्चय बदल दे अगर हम उसे समझाएँ।
Maybe he will change his resolve if we explain it to him.
(shaayad vah apnaa nishchay badal de agar ham use samjhaaen।)
इस साल मैंने कई निश्चय किए थे, पर सब टूट गए।
I made many resolutions this year, but all of them broke.
(is saal mainne kaii nishchay kie the, par sab toot gae।)
उसका निश्चय इतना मज़बूत था कि किसी की बात उसे डिगा न सकी।
His resolve was so strong that no one's words could shake him.
(uskaa nishchay itnaa mazboot thaa ki kisii kii baat use digaa n sakii।)
यह निश्चय किया गया कि सभी विद्यार्थी सत्य के मार्ग पर चलेंगे।
It was resolved that all the students would walk the path of truth.
(yah nishchay kiyaa gayaa ki sabhii vidyaarthii saty ke maarg par chalenge।)
Sense
2
:
certainly, definitely, surely
adverb Functions as a sentence-level intensifier of certainty, often placed near the verb it modifies: वह निश्चय आएगा (vah nishchay aaegaa, 'he will certainly come').
Synonyms: ज़रूर (zaroor), अवश्य (avashy, formal/literary), निश्चित रूप से (nishchit roop se)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This sense leans toward formal or written registers -- a teacher or elder might use it in a serious pronouncement, but friends chatting over chai would almost always say ज़रूर (zaroor) instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) This adverbial use is less common in casual speech than ज़रूर (zaroor); learners who overuse निश्चय (nishchay) here can sound slightly bookish or old-fashioned.
Sample Sentences:
वह निश्चय ही सफल होगा।
He will certainly succeed.
(vah nishchay hii saphal hogaa।)
यह बात निश्चय ही सत्य है।
This matter is certainly true.
(yah baat nishchay hii saty hai।)
यदि तुम मन लगाकर पढ़ोगे तो निश्चय ही परीक्षा में उत्तीर्ण होगे।
If you study attentively, you will certainly pass the examination.
(yadi tum man lagaakar padhoge to nishchay hii pariikshaa men uttiirn hoge।)
गुरुजी ने कहा कि सत्य की निश्चय ही विजय होती है।
The teacher said that truth certainly triumphs.
(gurujii ne kahaa ki saty kii nishchay hii vijay hotii hai।)
यह निश्चय ही एक बड़ी भूल थी।
This was certainly a great mistake.
(yah nishchay hii ek badii bhool thii।)
यदि उसने समय पर प्रयास किया होता, तो वह निश्चय ही सफल होता।
If he had made an effort in time, he would certainly have succeeded.
(yadi usne samay par prayaas kiyaa hotaa, to vah nishchay hii saphal hotaa।)
जो व्यक्ति निरंतर प्रयास करता है, उसे निश्चय ही सफलता मिलती है।
The person who makes continuous effort certainly attains success.
(jo vyakti nirantar prayaas kartaa hai, use nishchay hii saphaltaa miltii hai।)
इस निर्णय का निश्चय ही प्रभाव पड़ेगा।
This decision will certainly have an effect.
(is nirnay kaa nishchay hii prabhaav padegaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
निश्चय
(nishchay)
(sg.m.oblique):
निश्चय
(nishchay)
(pl.m.direct):
निश्चय
(nishchay)
(pl.m.oblique):
निश्चयों
(nishchyon)