सीमा शुल्क (siimaa shulk)

noun A compound noun meaning 'customs duty' -- literally 'border tax' (सीमा siimaa, 'border/limit' + शुल्क shulk, 'fee/tax'). It has one main sense used in official, travel, and trade contexts.
Sense 1 : customs duty / customs tax levied on goods crossing a border
noun, masculine
Synonyms: आयात शुल्क (aayaat shulk, specifically import duty), कस्टम ड्यूटी (kastam dyootii, common at airports/spoken)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see सीमा शुल्क (siimaa shulk) prominently at airport customs counters and on government notices -- it is the formal register word, much like 'customs duty' versus casually saying 'customs' in English. This is a classic Hindi compound built the Sanskritic way: two nouns stacked to form a precise official term, which is why it sounds bureaucratic rather than conversational.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use शुल्क (shulk) alone to mean 'customs' -- but शुल्क (shulk) by itself just means 'fee/charge' generically (like a fee for a form or service), so सीमा (siimaa) is needed to specify the border/customs sense. 2) At the airport, most people actually say कस्टम (kastam) or कस्टम ड्यूटी (kastam dyootii) in casual speech; सीमा शुल्क (siimaa shulk) is the formal/written term you will see on signs and government forms rather than hear in everyday chatter.
Sample Sentences:
इस सामान पर सीमा शुल्क लगता है। Customs duty applies to these goods.
(is saamaan par siimaa shulk lagtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
एयरपोर्ट पर मुझे सीमा शुल्क देना पड़ा। I had to pay customs duty at the airport.
(eyarport par mujhe siimaa shulk denaa padaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सरकार ने इलेक्ट्रॉनिक वस्तुओं पर सीमा शुल्क बढ़ा दिया है। The government has increased the customs duty on electronic goods.
(sarkaar ne ilektronik vastuon par siimaa shulk badhaa diyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर सीमा शुल्क न चुकाया जाए, तो सामान जब्त कर लिया जाता है। If the customs duty is not paid, the goods are seized.
(agar siimaa shulk n chukaayaa jaae, to saamaan jabt kar liyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यह वस्तु सीमा शुल्क से मुक्त है। This item is exempt from customs duty.
(yah vastu siimaa shulk se mukt hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया घोषणा फॉर्म में सीमा शुल्क की जानकारी भरें। Please fill in the customs duty information on the declaration form.
(kripyaa ghoshnaa phorm men siimaa shulk kii jaankaarii bharen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
आयातित वाहनों पर सीमा शुल्क बहुत अधिक लगाया जाता है। Customs duty is levied very heavily on imported vehicles.
(aayaatit vaahnon par siimaa shulk bahut adhik lagaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर सीमा शुल्क इतना ऊँचा न होता, तो यह फोन सस्ता मिलता। If customs duty weren't so high, this phone would be cheaper.
(agar siimaa shulk itnaa oonchaa n hotaa, to yah phon sastaa miltaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अधिकारी ने पूछा कि क्या मुझे कोई सीमा शुल्क चुकाना होगा। The officer asked whether I would have to pay any customs duty.
(adhikaarii ne poochhaa ki kyaa mujhe koii siimaa shulk chukaanaa hogaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगली नई नीति के तहत सीमा शुल्क में कमी की जाएगी। Under the upcoming new policy, the customs duty will be reduced.
(aglii naii niiti ke tahat siimaa shulk men kamii kii jaaegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): सीमा शुल्क (siimaa shulk)
(sg.m.oblique): सीमा शुल्क (siimaa shulk)
(pl.m.direct): सीमा शुल्क (siimaa shulk)
(pl.m.oblique): सीमा शुल्कों (siimaa shulkon)