प्रतिबिंब (pratibimb)
noun
A literary/formal noun meaning 'reflection' or 'image', used both for a physical reflection (in water, a mirror) and figuratively for an impression or echo of something in another form.
Sense
1
:
reflection (physical image, e.g. in water or a mirror)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: परछाई (parchhaaii), छाया (chhaayaa, literary), प्रतिच्छाया (pratichchhaayaa, rare)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word shows up often in poetry and school-level Hindi essays describing moonlight on water (चांद का प्रतिबिंब, chaand kaa pratibimb, 'reflection of the moon') -- it carries a slightly literary shimmer that परछाई (parchhaaii) or छाया (chhaayaa) don't quite have in daily speech.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for परछाई (parchhaaii) in casual speech instead, since प्रतिबिंब (pratibimb) leans formal/written and can sound stiff in an everyday conversation about, say, a mirror or a puddle. 2) Don't confuse with प्रतिबंध (pratibandh, 'restriction') -- the words look and sound similar but are unrelated in meaning.
Sample Sentences:
झील के पानी में चांद का प्रतिबिंब बहुत सुंदर लग रहा था।
The reflection of the moon in the lake's water looked very beautiful.
(jhiil ke paanii men chaand kaa pratibimb bahut sundar lag rahaa thaa।)
शीशे में अपना प्रतिबिंब देखकर वह मुस्कुरा उठी।
Seeing her reflection in the mirror, she suddenly smiled.
(shiishe men apnaa pratibimb dekhkar vah muskuraa uthii।)
तालाब की सतह पर पहाड़ों का प्रतिबिंब बनता है।
The reflection of the mountains forms on the surface of the pond.
(taalaab kii satah par pahaadon kaa pratibimb bantaa hai।)
अगर पानी शांत होता, तो प्रतिबिंब और स्पष्ट दिखता।
If the water were calm, the reflection would appear clearer.
(agar paanii shaant hotaa, to pratibimb aur spasht dikhtaa।)
खिड़की के शीशे पर पेड़ों का प्रतिबिंब पड़ रहा है।
The reflection of the trees is falling on the window glass.
(khidkii ke shiishe par pedon kaa pratibimb pad rahaa hai।)
नदी में सूरज का प्रतिबिंब सुबह-सुबह बहुत मनमोहक होता है।
The reflection of the sun in the river is very captivating early in the morning.
(nadii men sooraj kaa pratibimb subah-subah bahut manmohak hotaa hai।)
क्या तुमने कभी पानी में अपना प्रतिबिंब इतनी देर तक देखा है?
Have you ever looked at your reflection in water for so long?
(kyaa tumne kabhii paanii men apnaa pratibimb itnii der tak dekhaa hai?)
दर्पण में अपना प्रतिबिंब देखो और खुद पर विश्वास रखो।
Look at your reflection in the mirror and have faith in yourself.
(darpan men apnaa pratibimb dekho aur khud par vishvaas rakho।)
बादलों के हट जाने से प्रतिबिंब और भी साफ़ दिखाई देने लगा।
With the clouds having moved away, the reflection started appearing even clearer.
(baadlon ke hat jaane se pratibimb aur bhii saaf dikhaaii dene lagaa।)
पानी में प्रतिबिंब लहरों के साथ लगातार बदलता जा रहा था।
The reflection in the water was continuously changing along with the waves.
(paanii men pratibimb lahron ke saath lagaataar badaltaa jaa rahaa thaa।)
Sense
2
:
figurative reflection or impression (of an idea, era, mood, etc. in something else)
noun, masculine Common in phrases like समाज का प्रतिबिंब (samaaj kaa pratibimb, 'a reflection of society'), where an abstract quality is said to be 'mirrored' in a person, work, or event.
Synonyms: झलक (jhalak, glimpse/partial sense), छवि (chhavi, image/likeness)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet this sense constantly in Hindi literary criticism and journalism -- a novel or film is called समाज का प्रतिबिंब (samaaj kaa pratibimb, 'a reflection of society'), much like English critics say a work 'mirrors' its era.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense is common in essays, news commentary, and book reviews (e.g. a novel being called 'a reflection of its times') but sounds overly bookish if used for small everyday comparisons -- झलक (jhalak) is the more natural everyday choice there.
Sample Sentences:
यह उपन्यास आज के समाज का प्रतिबिंब है।
This novel is a reflection of today's society.
(yah upanyaas aaj ke samaaj kaa pratibimb hai।)
उनकी कविताओं में उस दौर की पीड़ा का प्रतिबिंब मिलता है।
In his poems one finds a reflection of the anguish of that era.
(unkii kavitaaon men us daur kii piidaa kaa pratibimb miltaa hai।)
फिल्म में गाँव के जीवन का जो प्रतिबिंब दिखाया गया है, वह बहुत सजीव है।
The reflection of village life shown in the film is very vivid.
(philm men gaanv ke jiivan kaa jo pratibimb dikhaayaa gayaa hai, vah bahut sajiiv hai।)
क्या इस नाटक में सचमुच युग की सच्चाई का प्रतिबिंब है?
Does this play truly contain a reflection of the era's reality?
(kyaa is naatak men sachmuch yug kii sachchaaii kaa pratibimb hai?)
आलोचक अक्सर कहते हैं कि हर बड़ी रचना अपने समय का प्रतिबिंब होती है।
Critics often say that every great work is a reflection of its own time.
(aalochak aksar kahte hain ki har badii rachnaa apne samay kaa pratibimb hotii hai।)
अगर यह कहानी सिर्फ मनोरंजन के लिए लिखी जाती, तो इसमें समाज का ऐसा गहरा प्रतिबिंब न होता।
If this story had been written purely for entertainment, it would not have had such a deep reflection of society in it.
(agar yah kahaanii sirph manoranjan ke lie likhii jaatii, to ismen samaaj kaa aisaa gahraa pratibimb n hotaa।)
इस पेंटिंग को देखकर लगता है कि कलाकार ने अपने अकेलेपन का प्रतिबिंब रंगों में उतार दिया है।
Looking at this painting, it seems the artist has poured a reflection of his own loneliness into the colors.
(is penting ko dekhkar lagtaa hai ki kalaakaar ne apne akelepan kaa pratibimb rangon men utaar diyaa hai।)
समीक्षक ने लिखा कि यह फ़िल्म बदलते भारत का जीता-जागता प्रतिबिंब है।
The reviewer wrote that this film is a living, breathing reflection of a changing India.
(samiikshak ne likhaa ki yah film badalte bhaarat kaa jiitaa-jaagtaa pratibimb hai।)
इतिहासकारों का मानना है कि लोकगीत जनजीवन का सच्चा प्रतिबिंब होते हैं।
Historians believe that folk songs are a true reflection of people's everyday lives.
(itihaaskaaron kaa maannaa hai ki lokgiit janjiivan kaa sachchaa pratibimb hote hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
प्रतिबिंब
(pratibimb)
(sg.m.oblique):
प्रतिबिंब
(pratibimb)
(pl.m.direct):
प्रतिबिंब
(pratibimb)
(pl.m.oblique):
प्रतिबिंबों
(pratibimbon)