सबसे बढ़कर (sabse badhkar)

adverb A fixed adverbial expression meaning 'above all, most importantly' -- built from सबसे (sabse, 'than all') plus बढ़कर (badhkar, the perfective conjunctive participle of बढ़ना (badhnaa, 'to exceed, surpass'), so literally 'surpassing all.'

Sense 1 : above all, most importantly

adverb Typically opens or interjects into a sentence to single out the most important item in a list of qualities or reasons, e.g. before naming the biggest of several good points.

Synonyms: सबसे ज़्यादा (sabse zyaadaa, 'most of all'), खास तौर पर (khaas taur par, 'especially'), मुख्य रूप से (mukhy roop se, formal)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this a lot when someone is praising a person's qualities -- a parent listing what makes their child special might say ..., और सबसे बढ़कर, वह ईमानदार है (aur sabse badhkar, vah iimaandaar hai, 'and above all, he is honest'), saving the weightiest point for last. It shares its root with बढ़ना (badhnaa, 'to increase/advance'), so the imagery is of one quality literally rising above the rest.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes translate this word-for-word as 'from all increased,' missing that बढ़कर (badhkar) here functions idiomatically as 'surpassing,' not as a literal verb of growth. 2) It is not interchangeable with सबसे अच्छा (sabse achchhaa, 'the best') -- सबसे बढ़कर (sabse badhkar) introduces a point or quality, it does not itself mean 'best.'

Sample Sentences:

वह मेहनती है, ईमानदार है, और सबसे बढ़कर, वह सबकी मदद करता है। He is hardworking, he is honest, and above all, he helps everyone.

(vah mehantii hai, iimaandaar hai, aur sabse badhkar, vah sabkii madad kartaa hai।)

सबसे बढ़कर, हमें अपने माता-पिता का सम्मान करना चाहिए। Above all, we should respect our parents.

(sabse badhkar, hamen apne maataa-pitaa kaa sammaan karnaa chaahie।)

उस मुश्किल वक्त में सबसे बढ़कर मुझे अपने भाई की याद आई। In that difficult time, I missed my brother most of all.

(us mushkil vakt men sabse badhkar mujhe apne bhaaii kii yaad aaii।)

अगर सबसे बढ़कर सेहत का ख़याल रखा जाए, तो बाकी सब ठीक हो जाएगा। If above all one takes care of one's health, everything else will fall into place.

(agar sabse badhkar sehat kaa khayaal rakhaa jaae, to baakii sab thiik ho jaaegaa।)

सबसे बढ़कर याद रखना कि तुम्हें अपने ऊपर भरोसा करना है। Above all, remember that you must trust yourself.

(sabse badhkar yaad rakhnaa ki tumhen apne oopar bharosaa karnaa hai।)

टीचर ने कहा कि लगन ज़रूरी है, पर सबसे बढ़कर अनुशासन ज़रूरी है। The teacher said that dedication is important, but above all, discipline is important.

(tiichar ne kahaa ki lagan zaroorii hai, par sabse badhkar anushaasan zaroorii hai।)

अगर वह सबसे बढ़कर अपने परिवार को समझता, तो यह झगड़ा न होता। If he had understood his family above all, this quarrel would not have happened.

(agar vah sabse badhkar apne parivaar ko samajhtaa, to yah jhagdaa n hotaa।)

इस कहानी में सबसे बढ़कर एक बात दिखाई गई है -- सच्चाई की जीत। In this story, above all, one thing has been shown -- the victory of truth.

(is kahaanii men sabse badhkar ek baat dikhaaii gaii hai -- sachchaaii kii jiit।)

गुरु ने सिखाया कि ज्ञान से सबसे बढ़कर विनम्रता का महत्व है। The guru taught that above knowledge, the importance of humility rises highest.

(guru ne sikhaayaa ki gyaan se sabse badhkar vinamrtaa kaa mahatv hai।)

वह हर काम में सबसे बढ़कर रहने की कोशिश करता रहता है। He keeps trying to be above everyone in every task.

(vah har kaam men sabse badhkar rahne kii koshish kartaa rahtaa hai।)