समर्थन (samarthan)

noun A single core sense: 'support' or 'backing', used mainly for political, ideological, or opinion-based support rather than physical support. Related to the verb समर्थन करना (samarthan karnaa, 'to support').
Sense 1 : support, backing (of a cause, person, or opinion)
noun, masculine Most commonly used with करना (karnaa) as समर्थन करना (samarthan karnaa, 'to support') or पाना/मिलना (paanaa/milnaa, 'to get support').
Synonyms: समर्थन (samarthan), पक्ष (paksh, meaning scope: also means 'side/stance'), हिमायत (himaayat)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this word constantly in Indian news and politics -- चुनाव में समर्थन (chunaav men samarthan, 'support in the election'), जनता का समर्थन (jantaa kaa samarthan, 'public support'). It carries a slightly formal, public-discourse flavor rather than the warmth of personal, everyday backing.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use समर्थन (samarthan) for physical support (like a wall holding something up) -- that sense belongs to words like सहारा (sahaaraa), not समर्थन (samarthan), which is reserved for opinions, causes, and people. 2) The verb pairing is समर्थन करना (samarthan karnaa), not समर्थना (samarthnaa) -- there is no simple verb form; करना (karnaa) must be added.
Sample Sentences:
इस विधेयक को कई पार्टियों का समर्थन मिला। The bill got the support of several parties.
(is vidheyak ko kaii paartiyon kaa samarthan milaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जनता का समर्थन किसी भी सरकार के लिए ज़रूरी होता है। Public support is necessary for any government.
(jantaa kaa samarthan kisii bhii sarkaar ke lie zaroorii hotaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि हमें अपने सहयोगियों का समर्थन मिलेगा। I hope that we will get the support of our colleagues.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki hamen apne sahyogiyon kaa samarthan milegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर पार्टी का समर्थन होता, तो वे चुनाव जीत जाते। If they had had the party's support, they would have won the election.
(agar paartii kaa samarthan hotaa, to ve chunaav jiit jaate।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया इस अभियान को अपना समर्थन दें। Please give your support to this campaign.
(kripyaa is abhiyaan ko apnaa samarthan den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इस प्रस्ताव का समर्थन कई सांसदों द्वारा किया गया। This proposal was supported by several members of parliament.
(is prastaav kaa samarthan kaii saansdon dvaaraa kiyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
क्या तुम्हें अपने माता-पिता का समर्थन मिला? Did you get your parents' support?
(kyaa tumhen apne maataa-pitaa kaa samarthan milaa?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह हमेशा कमज़ोर तबकों के हक़ में समर्थन जुटाता रहता है। He always keeps gathering support in favor of the weaker sections.
(vah hameshaa kamzor tabkon ke haq men samarthan jutaataa rahtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद उसे विपक्ष का भी समर्थन मिल जाए। Perhaps he might even get the opposition's support.
(shaayad use vipaksh kaa bhii samarthan mil jaae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
चुनाव में समर्थन जुटाना आसान काम नहीं है। Gathering support in an election is not an easy task.
(chunaav men samarthan jutaanaa aasaan kaam nahiin hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
देशभर से लोग इस आंदोलन को समर्थन दे रहे हैं। People from all over the country are giving support to this movement.
(deshbhar se log is aandolan ko samarthan de rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): समर्थन (samarthan)
(sg.m.oblique): समर्थन (samarthan)
(pl.m.direct): समर्थन (samarthan)
(pl.m.oblique): समर्थनों (samarthnon)