सरकारी (sarkaarii)
adjective
An adjective meaning 'governmental, government-run, official,' derived from सरकार (sarkaar, 'government'). Almost always used to describe institutions, jobs, or documents rather than people directly.
Sense
1
:
government-run, official, state-owned
adjective
Synonyms: राजकीय (raajkiiy, formal), शासकीय (shaaskiiy, formal, rare in speech)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In India, सरकारी नौकरी (sarkaarii naukrii, 'government job') carries huge cultural weight -- it means job security, a pension, and social respectability, which is why families push hard for it over private-sector work. You will also hear सरकारी काम (sarkaarii kaam, 'government business/bureaucratic work') used with a sigh, evoking slow-moving red tape and long queues at a सरकारी दफ़्तर (sarkaarii daftar, 'government office').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to inflect सरकारी (sarkaarii) like a variable adjective (expecting a masculine form ending in -आ). It never changes -- सरकारी स्कूल (sarkaarii skool, 'government school'), सरकारी नौकरी (sarkaarii naukrii, 'government job'), सरकारी दफ़्तर (sarkaarii daftar, 'government office') all keep the same ending regardless of the noun's gender or number. 2) सरकारी नौकरी (sarkaarii naukrii) is the single most common phrase this word appears in -- learners often reach for 'government job' via a literal translation instead of this fixed collocation.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे पापा चाहते हैं कि मैं सरकारी नौकरी करूँ।
My dad wants me to get a government job.
(mere paapaa chaahte hain ki main sarkaarii naukrii karoon।)
यह स्कूल सरकारी है, इसलिए फ़ीस बहुत कम है।
This school is government-run, so the fees are very low.
(yah skool sarkaarii hai, islie fiis bahut kam hai।)
उसने सरकारी दफ़्तर में सारा दिन लाइन में लगकर बिता दिया।
He spent the whole day standing in line at the government office.
(usne sarkaarii daftar men saaraa din laain men lagkar bitaa diyaa।)
सरकारी काम है, समझ लो कि महीनों लगेंगे।
It's government business -- just assume it'll take months.
(sarkaarii kaam hai, samajh lo ki mahiinon lagenge।)
अगर उसकी सरकारी नौकरी लग जाती, तो पूरा परिवार खुश होता।
If he had landed a government job, the whole family would have been happy.
(agar uskii sarkaarii naukrii lag jaatii, to pooraa parivaar khush hotaa।)
यह ज़मीन सरकारी है, इस पर कोई निर्माण नहीं हो सकता।
This land is government-owned; no construction is allowed on it.
(yah zamiin sarkaarii hai, is par koii nirmaan nahiin ho saktaa।)
सरकारी बसें अक्सर देर से आती हैं।
Government buses often arrive late.
(sarkaarii basen aksar der se aatii hain।)
सरकारी अस्पतालों में इलाज मुफ़्त या बहुत सस्ता होता है।
Treatment at government hospitals is free or very cheap.
(sarkaarii asptaalon men ilaaj muft yaa bahut sastaa hotaa hai।)
काश मुझे भी कोई सरकारी नौकरी मिल जाती।
I wish I could get a government job too.
(kaash mujhe bhii koii sarkaarii naukrii mil jaatii।)
बिजली और पानी की सप्लाई अभी भी सरकारी कंपनियाँ ही संभालती हैं।
Electricity and water supply are still handled only by government companies.
(bijlii aur paanii kii saplaaii abhii bhii sarkaarii kampniyaan hii sambhaaltii hain।)
अगली बार सरकारी नौकरी के लिए ज़रूर आवेदन करना।
Make sure you apply for a government job next time.
(aglii baar sarkaarii naukrii ke lie zaroor aavedan karnaa।)
Sense
2
:
official, formal (of documents, procedures)
adjective
Synonyms: औपचारिक (aupchaarik, formal/procedural sense), आधिकारिक (aadhikaarik)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Beyond literally 'belonging to the government,' सरकारी (sarkaarii) extends to anything that feels bureaucratic or by-the-book -- सरकारी भाषा (sarkaarii bhaashaa, 'officialese/bureaucratic language') is a common gentle jab at stiff, jargon-heavy writing, much like calling something 'red tape' in English.
Sample Sentences:
यह सरकारी भाषा किसी को समझ नहीं आती।
Nobody understands this bureaucratic language.
(yah sarkaarii bhaashaa kisii ko samajh nahiin aatii।)
फॉर्म भरते समय सरकारी शब्दजाल से मत डरो, बस ध्यान से पढ़ो।
Don't be scared of the officialese while filling the form, just read carefully.
(phorm bharte samay sarkaarii shabdjaal se mat daro, bas dhyaan se padho।)
यह पत्र पूरी तरह सरकारी लहजे में लिखा गया है।
This letter has been written entirely in an official tone.
(yah patr poorii tarah sarkaarii lahje men likhaa gayaa hai।)
सारे सरकारी दस्तावेज़ों में यही रुखी शैली दिखती है।
The same dry style shows up in all official documents.
(saare sarkaarii dastaavezon men yahii rukhii shailii dikhtii hai।)
अगर वह चिट्ठी सरकारी ढंग से लिखी जाती, तो शायद ज़्यादा गंभीरता से ली जाती।
If that letter had been written in an official manner, it would probably have been taken more seriously.
(agar vah chitthii sarkaarii dhang se likhii jaatii, to shaayad zyaadaa gambhiirtaa se lii jaatii।)
मैं चाहता हूँ कि यह प्रक्रिया अधिक सरकारी और औपचारिक हो।
I want this procedure to be more official and formal.
(main chaahtaa hoon ki yah prakriyaa adhik sarkaarii aur aupchaarik ho।)
उसकी ईमेल इतनी सरकारी लग रही थी कि दोस्त भी घबरा गया।
His email sounded so official that even his friend got nervous.
(uskii iimel itnii sarkaarii lag rahii thii ki dost bhii ghabraa gayaa।)
आवेदन में सरकारी प्रारूप का पालन करना अनिवार्य है।
Following the official format in the application is mandatory.
(aavedan men sarkaarii praaroop kaa paalan karnaa anivaary hai।)
बॉस ने कहा कि रिपोर्ट को थोड़ा सरकारी टोन दे दो।
The boss said to give the report a bit of an official tone.
(bos ne kahaa ki riport ko thodaa sarkaarii ton de do।)
समिति की सिफारिशें सरकारी अंदाज़ में प्रस्तुत की जाएँगी।
The committee's recommendations will be presented in an official manner.
(samiti kii siphaarishen sarkaarii andaaz men prastut kii jaaengii।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
सरकारी
(sarkaarii)