चाँद (chaand)
noun
The moon, both as the everyday sky object and as a common term of endearment in Hindi poetry and speech.
Sense
1
:
the moon (celestial body)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: चंद्रमा (chandrmaa, formal), चंद्र (chandr, literary), माह (maah, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: चाँद (chaand) is the word you will hear in everyday conversation and in film songs alike, whereas चंद्रमा (chandrmaa) sounds a bit more bookish or ceremonial, the kind of word used in a school essay about the solar system. Watching the moon together, especially on festivals like करवा चौथ (karvaa chauth), is a genuine cultural touchpoint in North Indian households.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes write चाँद (chaand) without the chandrabindu as चांद (chaand) with just an anusvara -- both are seen in print and both are read the same way, so this is not a serious error, but the nasalized vowel is the correct underlying sound. 2) Do not confuse with चाँदी (chaandii, 'silver'), which is a completely different word despite the visual and aural similarity.
Sample Sentences:
आज रात चाँद बहुत सुंदर लग रहा है।
Tonight the moon looks very beautiful.
(aaj raat chaand bahut sundar lag rahaa hai।)
करवा चौथ पर सब औरतें चाँद निकलने का इंतज़ार करती हैं।
On Karva Chauth, all the women wait for the moon to rise.
(karvaa chauth par sab aurten chaand nikalne kaa intzaar kartii hain।)
पूर्णिमा की रात चाँद पूरा गोल दिखाई देता है।
On the night of the full moon, the moon appears completely round.
(poornimaa kii raat chaand pooraa gol dikhaaii detaa hai।)
बादलों के पीछे से चाँद छिप गया।
The moon hid behind the clouds.
(baadlon ke piichhe se chaand chhip gayaa।)
छत पर बैठकर चाँद देखो, कितना अच्छा लगेगा।
Sit on the roof and look at the moon, it will feel so nice.
(chhat par baithkar chaand dekho, kitnaa achchhaa lagegaa।)
अगर आसमान साफ़ होता तो हमें चाँद साफ़ दिखता।
If the sky were clear, we would see the moon clearly.
(agar aasmaan saaf hotaa to hamen chaand saaf dikhtaa।)
वैज्ञानिकों ने चाँद पर पानी की खोज की थी।
Scientists had discovered water on the moon.
(vaigyaanikon ne chaand par paanii kii khoj kii thii।)
क्या तुमने कभी चाँद पर जाने का सपना देखा है?
Have you ever dreamed of going to the moon?
(kyaa tumne kabhii chaand par jaane kaa sapnaa dekhaa hai?)
चाँद धरती का एकमात्र प्राकृतिक उपग्रह है।
The moon is Earth's only natural satellite.
(chaand dhartii kaa ekmaatr praakritik upagrah hai।)
चंद्रयान द्वारा चाँद की सतह का अध्ययन किया गया।
The moon's surface was studied by Chandrayaan.
(chandryaan dvaaraa chaand kii satah kaa adhyyan kiyaa gayaa।)
शायद आज बादलों की वजह से चाँद न दिखे।
Maybe the moon won't be visible today because of the clouds.
(shaayad aaj baadlon kii vajah se chaand n dikhe।)
Sense
2
:
a beautiful or beloved face/person (term of endearment)
noun, masculine Used metaphorically, often in phrases comparing a beloved's face to the moon, e.g. चाँद सा चेहरा (chaand saa chehraa, 'a moon-like face').
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the moon of Bollywood lyrics and Urdu-Hindi poetry -- calling someone's face चाँद (chaand) or saying चाँद का टुकड़ा (chaand kaa tukdaa, 'a piece of the moon') is a classic, almost old-fashioned compliment, the kind an admirer might say with a hand over the heart. It is affectionate and a little theatrical, not something you would say in a plain, everyday context.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी जान, तुम तो सच में चाँद हो।
My love, you are truly a moon-faced beauty.
(merii jaan, tum to sach men chaand ho।)
यह बच्ची तो चाँद का टुकड़ा है।
This little girl is an absolute darling, a piece of the moon.
(yah bachchii to chaand kaa tukdaa hai।)
शायर ने अपनी महबूबा को चाँद कहकर पुकारा।
The poet called his beloved 'moon' as he addressed her.
(shaayar ne apnii mahboobaa ko chaand kahkar pukaaraa।)
काश मैं भी उसे अपना चाँद कह पाता।
If only I too could call her my moon.
(kaash main bhii use apnaa chaand kah paataa।)
उसकी दुल्हन को देखकर सब कह उठे, 'वाह, क्या चाँद का टुकड़ा है!'
Seeing his bride, everyone exclaimed, 'Wow, what a piece of the moon!'
(uskii dulhan ko dekhkar sab kah uthe, 'vaah, kyaa chaand kaa tukdaa hai!')
ऐ चाँद, तेरी एक झलक के लिए मैं रातों को जागता रहा।
O my moon-faced love, I stayed awake nights just for a glimpse of you.
(ai chaand, terii ek jhalak ke lie main raaton ko jaagtaa rahaa।)
गाने में गायक बार-बार कहता है कि उसकी महबूबा चाँद जैसी है।
In the song, the singer keeps saying that his beloved is like the moon.
(gaane men gaayak baar-baar kahtaa hai ki uskii mahboobaa chaand jaisii hai।)
मेरे चाँद, मुझे छोड़कर मत जाना।
My darling, don't leave me and go.
(mere chaand, mujhe chhodkar mat jaanaa।)
अगर वह मुझसे मिलने आती, तो मैं उसे अपना चाँद बुलाता।
If she had come to meet me, I would have called her my moon.
(agar vah mujhse milne aatii, to main use apnaa chaand bulaataa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
चाँद
(chaand)
(sg.m.oblique):
चाँद
(chaand)
(pl.m.direct):
चाँद
(chaand)
(pl.m.oblique):
चाँदों
(chaandon)