डंक (dank)
noun
Primarily the physical sting or stinger of an insect/scorpion (dank); also used figuratively for a sharp, hurtful remark or the 'sting' of an accusation.
Sense
1
:
sting/stinger (insect, scorpion)
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Bichhoo ka dank (bichchhoo kaa dank, 'scorpion's sting') is a common phrase invoked whenever someone describes a sudden, sharp pain -- monsoon season in Delhi brings out plenty of scorpion and wasp stories from grandmothers warning kids to check their shoes.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse डंक (dank) with काटना (kaatnaa, 'to bite'); a bee or scorpion is usually said to 'strike' its sting -- डंक मारना (dank maarnaa) -- rather than 'bite,' even though English speakers default to 'sting/bite' interchangeably.
Sample Sentences:
बिच्छू का डंक बहुत दर्दनाक होता है।
A scorpion's sting is very painful.
(bichchhoo kaa dank bahut dardnaak hotaa hai।)
मुझे मधुमक्खी ने डंक मार दिया।
A bee stung me.
(mujhe madhumakkhii ne dank maar diyaa।)
बारिश के मौसम में जूतों के अंदर बिच्छू का डंक लगने का खतरा रहता है।
During the monsoon, there's a risk of a scorpion's sting inside your shoes.
(baarish ke mausam men jooton ke andar bichchhoo kaa dank lagne kaa khatraa rahtaa hai।)
दादी हमेशा कहती थीं कि जूते झाड़कर पहनो, वरना बिच्छू का डंक लग जाएगा।
Grandma always used to say to shake out your shoes before wearing them, or else you'd get a scorpion's sting.
(daadii hameshaa kahtii thiin ki joote jhaadkar pahno, varnaa bichchhoo kaa dank lag jaaegaa।)
अगर उस ततैये का डंक लग जाता, तो हाथ सूज जाता।
If that wasp's sting had hit him, his hand would have swollen up.
(agar us tataiye kaa dank lag jaataa, to haath sooj jaataa।)
डॉक्टर ने कहा कि डंक की जगह पर बर्फ लगाओ।
The doctor said to apply ice on the sting mark.
(doktar ne kahaa ki dank kii jagah par barph lagaao।)
क्या तुम्हें कभी बिच्छू का डंक लगा है?
Have you ever been stung by a scorpion?
(kyaa tumhen kabhii bichchhoo kaa dank lagaa hai?)
डंक लगते ही वह दर्द से चिल्ला उठी।
As soon as the sting hit her, she cried out in pain.
(dank lagte hii vah dard se chillaa uthii।)
अगर बिच्छू का डंक न लगे, तो अच्छा है, फिर भी सावधान रहना चाहिए।
It's good if you don't get stung by a scorpion, but one should still be careful.
(agar bichchhoo kaa dank n lage, to achchhaa hai, phir bhii saavdhaan rahnaa chaahie।)
बिच्छू के डंक से निकला ज़हर कभी-कभी जानलेवा भी हो सकता है।
The venom released by a scorpion's sting can sometimes even be fatal.
(bichchhoo ke dank se niklaa zahar kabhii-kabhii jaanlevaa bhii ho saktaa hai।)
Sense
2
:
figurative sting (of words, criticism, betrayal)
noun, masculine Almost always appears with मारना (maarnaa) or लगना (lagnaa) in this figurative sense, e.g. उसकी बात का डंक (uskii baat kaa dank, 'the sting of his remark').
Synonyms: चोट (chot, 'hurt/wound', broader sense), कटाक्ष (kataaksh, 'sarcastic barb')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This figurative extension is very much alive in everyday speech -- a sharp taunt from a relative at a family gathering might be described as उसकी बात का डंक अभी तक चुभ रहा है (uskii baat kaa dank abhii tak chubh rahaa hai, 'the sting of his words is still smarting'), linking the emotional pain directly back to the physical image of an insect's sting.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often translate 'that comment stung me' too literally with काटना (kaatnaa) instead of reaching for the idiomatic डंक मारना (dank maarnaa) or डंक लगना (dank lagnaa), which is what a native speaker would actually say.
Sample Sentences:
उसकी बात का डंक अभी तक चुभ रहा है।
The sting of his words is still smarting.
(uskii baat kaa dank abhii tak chubh rahaa hai।)
उसके ताने में डंक था।
There was a sting in his taunt.
(uske taane men dank thaa।)
आलोचना का डंक अक्सर तारीफ से ज़्यादा याद रहता है।
The sting of criticism is often remembered more than praise.
(aalochnaa kaa dank aksar taariiph se zyaadaa yaad rahtaa hai।)
उसकी बेवफाई का डंक मेरे दिल में हमेशा रहेगा।
The sting of her betrayal will always remain in my heart.
(uskii bevphaaii kaa dank mere dil men hameshaa rahegaa।)
काश उसके शब्दों में इतना डंक न होता।
If only his words hadn't had so much sting in them.
(kaash uske shabdon men itnaa dank n hotaa।)
मत भूलो, उसकी हर बात में डंक होता है।
Don't forget, there's always a sting in everything he says.
(mat bhoolo, uskii har baat men dank hotaa hai।)
समालोचक की टिप्पणी का डंक निर्देशक को कई दिनों तक सताता रहा।
The sting of the critic's remark kept tormenting the director for many days.
(samaalochak kii tippnii kaa dank nirdeshak ko kaii dinon tak sataataa rahaa।)
क्या उसकी बात का डंक इतना गहरा था कि तुम आज भी नाराज़ हो?
Was the sting of his remark so deep that you're still upset even today?
(kyaa uskii baat kaa dank itnaa gahraa thaa ki tum aaj bhii naaraaz ho?)
शायद उसकी बात में डंक हो, पर सच्चाई भी थी।
Maybe there was a sting in what he said, but there was truth in it too.
(shaayad uskii baat men dank ho, par sachchaaii bhii thii।)
उसकी व्यंग्यात्मक मुस्कान में एक डंक छिपा था।
A sting lay hidden in her sarcastic smile.
(uskii vyangyaatmak muskaan men ek dank chhipaa thaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
डंक
(dank)
(sg.m.oblique):
डंक
(dank)
(pl.m.direct):
डंक
(dank)
(pl.m.oblique):
डंकों
(dankon)