परिश्रम (parishram)

noun A formal, somewhat literary noun meaning 'hard work, labor, diligent effort' -- one sense only, used mostly in writing, school contexts, and moral/motivational speech rather than casual conversation.
Sense 1 : hard work, diligent effort, labor
noun, masculine
Synonyms: मेहनत (mehnat), कोशिश (koshish, effort, meaning scope is narrower), श्रम (shram, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you'll see stamped on school walls and in moral science textbooks: परिश्रम का फल मीठा होता है (parishram kaa phal miithaa hotaa hai, 'the fruit of hard work is sweet') is a classic proverb every Hindi-medium student has copied out in a notebook at some point. In daily conversation about actually working hard, though, Delhi-NCR speakers overwhelmingly reach for मेहनत (mehnat) instead -- परिश्रम (parishram) carries a slightly formal, virtuous, almost old-school-teacher tone.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for परिश्रम (parishram) in everyday speech where a native speaker would say मेहनत (mehnat) instead -- परिश्रम (parishram) sounds bookish or like something a teacher or motivational poster would say. 2) It combines with करना (karnaa) just like मेहनत (mehnat) does -- परिश्रम करना (parishram karnaa, 'to work hard') -- not with a verb like होना (honaa).
Sample Sentences:
परिश्रम का फल मीठा होता है। The fruit of hard work is sweet.
(parishram kaa phal miithaa hotaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सफलता के लिए निरंतर परिश्रम आवश्यक है। Continuous hard work is necessary for success.
(saphaltaa ke lie nirantar parishram aavashyak hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यापक ने कहा कि परिश्रम ही सफलता की कुंजी है। The teacher said that hard work alone is the key to success.
(adhyaapak ne kahaa ki parishram hii saphaltaa kii kunjii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बच्चों, जीवन में परिश्रम करना कभी मत छोड़ो। Children, never give up doing hard work in life.
(bachchon, jiivan men parishram karnaa kabhii mat chhodo।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि वह परिश्रम करता तो अवश्य सफल होता। If he had worked hard, he would certainly have succeeded.
(yadi vah parishram kartaa to avashy saphal hotaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उसका परिश्रम अंततः रंग लाया। His hard work finally paid off.
(uskaa parishram anttah rang laayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह पुरस्कार तुम्हारे वर्षों के परिश्रम का प्रतिफल है। This award is the result of your years of hard work.
(yah puraskaar tumhaare varshon ke parishram kaa pratiphal hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद उसका परिश्रम अभी पूरी तरह फलीभूत न हुआ हो। Perhaps his hard work has not yet fully borne fruit.
(shaayad uskaa parishram abhii poorii tarah phaliibhoot n huaa ho।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गुरुजी सदैव परिश्रम के महत्व पर बल देते थे। The teacher always emphasized the importance of hard work.
(gurujii sadaiv parishram ke mahatv par bal dete the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): परिश्रम (parishram)
(sg.m.oblique): परिश्रम (parishram)
(pl.m.direct): परिश्रम (parishram)
(pl.m.oblique): परिश्रमों (parishrmon)