माचिस (maachis)

noun A simple, single-sense everyday noun: the matchbox / matchstick used to light stoves, cigarettes, or lamps.
Sense 1 : matchbox / matchstick
noun, feminine
Synonyms: दियासलाई (diyaaslaaii, old-fashioned)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Every Indian kitchen has a माचिस (maachis) tucked near the stove for lighting the gas burner, and older households still keep a box or two of the famous local brands around for candles and incense too. Asking a shopkeeper for एक माचिस (ek maachis, 'one matchbox') is a completely normal, everyday transaction at any corner store.
Common Mistakes: 1) माचिस (maachis) usually refers to the whole box, while a single stick inside it is called तीली (tiilii) -- so 'light a matchstick' is often माचिस की तीली जलाना (maachis kii tiilii jalaanaa, 'to light a matchstick') rather than just माचिस जलाना (maachis jalaanaa).
Sample Sentences:
रसोई में माचिस कहाँ रखी है? Where is the matchbox kept in the kitchen?
(rasoii men maachis kahaan rakhii hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
भाई साहब, एक माचिस दे दीजिए। Brother, please give me a matchbox.
(bhaaii saahab, ek maachis de diijie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
गैस जलाने के लिए वह हमेशा माचिस ढूँढता रहता है। He is always searching for the matchbox to light the gas.
(gais jalaane ke lie vah hameshaa maachis dhoondhtaa rahtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दुकान में माचिस खत्म हो गई थी। The matchboxes had run out at the shop.
(dukaan men maachis khatm ho gaii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर मेरे पास माचिस होती, तो मैं मोमबत्ती जला लेता। If I had a matchbox, I would have lit the candle.
(agar mere paas maachis hotii, to main mombattii jalaa letaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हारे पास माचिस है? Do you have a matchbox?
(kyaa tumhaare paas maachis hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बिजली चली गई तो उसने जल्दी से माचिस जलाई। When the power went out, he quickly lit a matchstick.
(bijlii chalii gaii to usne jaldii se maachis jalaaii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
पूजा के लिए दीये जलाने हैं, माचिस ले आना। We need to light diyas for the puja, bring the matchbox.
(poojaa ke lie diiye jalaane hain, maachis le aanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
बच्चों को माचिस से खेलने नहीं देना चाहिए। Children should not be allowed to play with matches.
(bachchon ko maachis se khelne nahiin denaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्टोर में हर तरह की माचिस मिलती है, सस्ती से लेकर महँगी तक। The store has every kind of matchbox available, from cheap to expensive.
(stor men har tarah kii maachis miltii hai, sastii se lekar mahangii tak।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
पुराने ज़माने में हर घर में माचिस की डिब्बी रखी जाती थी। In the old days, a matchbox used to be kept in every household.
(puraane zamaane men har ghar men maachis kii dibbii rakhii jaatii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): माचिस (maachis)
(sg.f.oblique): माचिस (maachis)
(pl.f.direct): माचिसें (maachisen)
(pl.f.oblique): माचिसों (maachison)