सिलाई करना
सिलाई करना در ۳۰ ثانیه
- A versatile Hindi verb meaning 'to sew' or 'to stitch'.
- Commonly used in household, tailoring, and industrial contexts.
- A compound verb where 'karna' changes with tense and gender.
- Essential for discussing clothes, fashion, and repairs in India.
The Hindi verb सिलाई करना (silāī karnā) is a foundational term in the Hindi language, primarily used to describe the act of sewing, stitching, or joining fabrics together using a needle and thread. At its core, it is a compound verb consisting of the noun 'सिलाई' (silāī), which means 'sewing' or 'stitching', and the auxiliary verb 'करना' (karnā), meaning 'to do'. This term is ubiquitous in Indian households and the vast textile industry of the subcontinent. Whether you are talking about a professional tailor (darzī) crafting a bespoke Sherwani or a grandmother mending a torn sleeve, 'सिलाई करना' is the go-to expression. In a broader sense, it encompasses everything from basic repairs to high-fashion garment construction. The word carries a sense of craftsmanship, patience, and domestic utility. In urban India, while ready-made garments are popular, the culture of buying unstitched fabric (thān) and taking it to a tailor for 'सिलाई' remains a significant part of the shopping experience, especially during the wedding season or festivals like Diwali and Eid.
- Literal Meaning
- To perform the act of stitching or sewing.
- Common Context
- Used in tailoring shops, fashion design, home economics, and medical contexts (metaphorically for stitches).
मेरी माँ पुराने कपड़ों की सिलाई करना अच्छी तरह जानती हैं। (My mother knows how to sew old clothes very well.)
Historically, 'सिलाई' has been more than just a chore; it was a necessary life skill. In traditional Indian education for women, 'सिलाई-कढ़ाई' (sewing and embroidery) were often taught together as essential domestic arts. Even today, in many vocational training centers across rural India, 'सिलाई करना' is taught as a means of financial independence and empowerment. When you use this word, you are tapping into a rich history of Indian textiles that dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, where needles made of bone and ivory were used. The word is versatile; you can 'सिलाई करना' by hand (hath se) or by machine (machine se). In modern urban slang, though less common, it can sometimes be used metaphorically to mean 'fixing' a situation, though this is rare compared to its literal usage.
क्या आप इस फटी हुई शर्ट की सिलाई कर सकते हैं? (Can you sew this torn shirt?)
Furthermore, 'सिलाई करना' is often contrasted with 'बुनाई करना' (knitting) and 'कढ़ाई करना' (embroidery). While knitting involves interlacing loops of yarn and embroidery involves decorating fabric with patterns, 'सिलाई' is specifically about the structural joining of pieces. If you go to a 'Darzi' (tailor), you don't just ask them to make a dress; you ask them for the 'silai' cost. The 'silai' charge is a standard part of Indian consumer vocabulary. Understanding this word is essential for anyone living in or visiting India, as you will inevitably need to visit a tailor for alterations or custom-made ethnic wear.
दर्जी ने बहुत बारीकी से सूट की सिलाई की है। (The tailor has sewn the suit very meticulously.)
Using सिलाई करना (silāī karnā) correctly requires an understanding of Hindi's transitive verb structure. Since it is a compound verb, the 'करना' part changes according to the tense, aspect, and mood, while 'सिलाई' remains constant as the object-noun within the verb phrase. In the present continuous tense, for example, you would say 'कर रहा हूँ' (am doing) or 'कर रही हूँ' (am doing - feminine). Because 'सिलाई' is feminine, it sometimes influences the possessive markers (like 'की' in 'कपड़ों की सिलाई'), but the verb 'करना' in its compound form usually agrees with the subject in non-perfective tenses and with the object in perfective tenses (using the 'ne' construction).
- Present Tense
- मैं रोज़ सिलाई करता हूँ। (I sew every day.)
- Past Tense (Perfective)
- उसने अपनी फटी हुई पैंट की सिलाई की। (He/She sewed his/her torn pants.) Note: 'ki' is used because 'silai' is feminine.
वह मशीन से सिलाई करना सीख रही है। (She is learning to sew with a machine.)
When you want to specify *what* is being sewn, you often use the 'ki' (of) postposition. For instance, 'कपड़ों की सिलाई करना' (to sew clothes). If you are talking about the skill itself, you might say 'मुझे सिलाई करना आता है' (I know how to sew). This structure 'Verb-na + aata hai' is the standard way to express proficiency in a skill. In more formal or professional settings, you might encounter the passive voice or more complex constructions like 'सिलाई करवाई गई' (sewing was gotten done), which is used when you hire someone else to do the work. This is a very common scenario in India where you go to a tailor shop.
क्या आपने इस पर्दे की सिलाई कर दी? (Did you finish sewing this curtain?)
In addition to literal sewing, the term can be used in medical contexts. A surgeon might 'सिलाई करना' (stitch up) a wound, although the more technical term is 'टाँके लगाना' (tāṅke lagānā - to apply stitches). However, in common parlance, 'सिलाई' is sometimes used for the same. Another nuance involves the difference between 'silai' (the process) and 'silvānā' (the causative form - to get something sewn). If you are the customer, you say 'मैं कुर्ता सिलवा रहा हूँ' (I am getting a kurta sewn), but the tailor says 'मैं कुर्ता सिलाई कर रहा हूँ'. Mastering these distinctions will make your Hindi sound much more natural and precise.
अच्छी सिलाई करना एक कला है। (Doing good sewing is an art.)
You will hear सिलाई करना (silāī karnā) in a variety of real-world settings in India. The most prominent place is the 'Darzi ki Dukaan' (Tailor's Shop). These shops are tucked into every corner of Indian markets, from the high-end boutiques in South Delhi to the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk. You'll hear customers asking, 'Bhaiya, iski silai kab tak ho jayegi?' (Brother, by when will the sewing of this be done?) or complaining, 'Aapne silai thik se nahi ki' (You didn't do the sewing properly). The sound of the 'silai machine' (sewing machine) is a characteristic background noise in many Indian residential areas during the day.
- Tailor Shop
- 'इसकी सिलाई मज़बूत करना।' (Make the stitching of this strong.)
- Household
- 'दादी सिलाई कर रही हैं।' (Grandmother is sewing.)
गाँव की महिलाएं अक्सर दोपहर में मिलकर सिलाई करती हैं। (Village women often sew together in the afternoon.)
Another common place is in TV serials and Bollywood movies, which often depict the 'struggling tailor' or the 'skilled mother' who sews to support her family. This word often carries a connotation of hard work and craftsmanship. In the news, you might hear it in the context of the 'textile industry' (kapda udyog), specifically regarding labor rights or export quality. For instance, 'सिलाई की गुणवत्ता' (quality of sewing) is a key metric for garment exports from India to the rest of the world. In fashion schools like NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology), the term is used in a more technical sense, often discussed alongside 'pattern making' and 'draping'.
इस फैक्ट्री में हज़ारों लोग दिन-रात सिलाई करते हैं। (In this factory, thousands of people sew day and night.)
You might also hear this word in instructional videos. YouTube is full of Hindi-language channels dedicated to 'Silai Seekho' (Learn Sewing), where instructors explain how to cut and sew 'Salwar Kameez', 'Blouse', or 'Kurti'. In these videos, you'll hear phrases like 'yahan se silai karna shuru karein' (start sewing from here) or 'double silai karein' (do double stitching). The word is also used in the context of traditional crafts like 'Kantha' or 'Phulkari', though these are more specifically 'kadai' (embroidery), they are often grouped under the umbrella of needlework skills where 'silai' is the foundation.
क्या आप मुझे सिलाई करना सिखा सकते हैं? (Can you teach me how to sew?)
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with सिलाई करना (silāī karnā) is confusing it with other fabric-related verbs. The most common mix-up is with 'बुनाई करना' (bunāī karnā - to knit) and 'कढ़ाई करना' (kaṛhāī karnā - to embroider). Remember: 'Silai' is for joining fabric (sewing), 'Bunai' is for wool and needles (knitting), and 'Kadhai' is for decorative patterns (embroidery). Using 'silai' when you mean 'knitting a sweater' will sound very strange to a native speaker. Another error is the incorrect use of gender in the past tense. Because 'silai' is feminine, if you say 'मैंने सिलाई किया' (I did sewing - masculine ending), it is grammatically incorrect; it must be 'मैंने सिलाई की'.
- Incorrect
- मैं स्वेटर की सिलाई कर रहा हूँ। (I am sewing a sweater - unless you are joining pieces, usually you 'knit' a sweater.)
- Correct
- मैं स्वेटर की बुनाई कर रहा हूँ। (I am knitting a sweater.)
लोग अक्सर 'सिलाई' और 'कढ़ाई' के बीच भ्रमित हो जाते हैं। (People often get confused between 'sewing' and 'embroidery'.)
Another mistake involves the 'active' vs 'causative' forms. If you want a tailor to sew your clothes, you shouldn't say 'मैं सिलाई कर रहा हूँ' (I am sewing) because that implies you are doing the physical work. You should use the causative form 'सिलवाना' (silvānā). Say 'मैं कपड़े सिलवा रहा हूँ' (I am getting clothes sewn). This is a very common B2-level nuance. Additionally, learners sometimes forget to use the possessive 'ki' when specifying the object. Instead of 'शर्ट सिलाई करना', it's more idiomatic to say 'शर्ट की सिलाई करना'. It's a small detail, but it makes a big difference in sounding fluent.
उसने गलत धागे से सिलाई कर दी। (He/She sewed with the wrong thread.)
Finally, don't overuse 'सिलाई करना' for repairs that have specific names. For example, 'रफ़ू करना' (rafū karnā) is used specifically for darning or mending a hole so that the repair is nearly invisible. While 'silai karna' is technically correct, 'rafu karna' shows a higher level of vocabulary. Similarly, 'टाँका मारना' (tāṅkā mārnā) is a more informal way to say 'put a quick stitch in'. Understanding these subtle differences will help you avoid the 'one-size-fits-all' trap that many intermediate learners fall into when using basic verbs.
बिना नाप लिए सिलाई करना बड़ी गलती है। (Sewing without taking measurements is a big mistake.)
While सिलाई करना (silāī karnā) is the general term for sewing, Hindi offers several alternatives depending on the specific nature of the work. For instance, टाँका लगाना (tāṅkā lagānā) or टाँका मारना (tāṅkā mārnā) refers specifically to making a stitch. This is often used for quick fixes or in medical contexts. Then there is रफ़ू करना (rafū karnā), which is the art of darning—fixing a hole by weaving thread across it to match the fabric. This is a specialized skill often performed on expensive woolens or silk saris.
- सिलाई करना vs. कढ़ाई करना
- Silai is structural (joining pieces); Kadhai is decorative (patterns/art).
- सिलाई करना vs. बुनाई करना
- Silai uses fabric and thread; Bunai uses yarn/wool and knitting needles.
उसने फटे हुए कोट की रफ़ू करवाई। (He got the torn coat darned.)
Another related term is तुरपाई करना (turpāī karnā), which refers to hemming or blind-stitching by hand, usually at the edges of a garment like a blouse or the bottom of trousers. This is a specific type of 'silai'. If you are talking about tailoring as a profession, you might use the word दर्जीगिरी (darzīgirī), though this is less common than simply saying 'silai ka kaam' (sewing work). In a more modern or industrial context, you might hear परिधान निर्माण (paridhān nirmāṇ), which means 'garment manufacturing', where 'silai' is just one part of the process.
ब्लाउज़ के गले पर तुरपाई करना बाकी है। (Hemming on the neckline of the blouse is still left.)
For learners, it's also useful to know the word मरम्मत करना (marammat karnā), which means 'to repair' in general. If you don't remember the word for sewing, you can say 'kapde ki marammat karna' (to repair the cloth), and people will understand you, though it's less specific. Conversely, if you are talking about large-scale sewing in a factory, you might use स्टिचिंग (stitching), as English loanwords are very common in the Indian fashion industry. However, 'सिलाई करना' remains the most authentic and widely understood term across all social strata.
मशीन से सिलाई करना हाथ से करने से तेज़ है। (Sewing by machine is faster than doing it by hand.)
مثالها بر اساس سطح
मैं सिलाई करता हूँ।
I sew.
Simple present tense with 'Main' (I).
क्या आप सिलाई करते हैं?
Do you sew?
Interrogative sentence in simple present.
मेरी माँ सिलाई कर रही हैं।
My mother is sewing.
Present continuous tense with respect (Hain).
वह सिलाई करना चाहती है।
She wants to sew.
Use of 'want' (chahti hai) with infinitive.
यह सिलाई अच्छी है।
This sewing is good.
Using 'silai' as a noun here.
मुझे सिलाई करना पसंद है।
I like to sew.
Expression of liking with 'pasand hai'.
वह आज सिलाई नहीं करेगा।
He will not sew today.
Negative sentence in future tense.
सिलाई करना सीखो।
Learn to sew.
Imperative sentence (command/advice).
वह मशीन से सिलाई कर रही है।
She is sewing with a machine.
Using 'se' to indicate the instrument.
मैंने कल अपनी कमीज़ की सिलाई की।
I sewed my shirt yesterday.
Past tense 'ne' construction; verb 'ki' agrees with feminine 'silai'.
क्या तुम हाथ से सिलाई कर सकते हो?
Can you sew by hand?
Use of 'sakna' for ability.
दादी रोज़ दो घंटे सिलाई करती थीं।
Grandmother used to sew for two hours every day.
Past habitual tense.
वह फटे हुए कपड़ों की सिलाई कर रहा है।
He is sewing torn clothes.
Present continuous with a plural object.
मुझे सिलाई करना बहुत मुश्किल लगता है।
I find sewing very difficult.
Expressing opinion with 'lagta hai'.
हम सब मिलकर सिलाई करेंगे।
We will all sew together.
Future tense plural.
उसने नीले धागे से सिलाई की।
He/She sewed with blue thread.
Specifying material with 'se'.
अगर आप ध्यान से सिलाई करेंगे, तो कपड़ा नहीं फटेगा।
If you sew carefully, the cloth won't tear.
Conditional sentence (If...then).
उसे सिलाई करना बहुत अच्छी तरह आता है।
He/She knows how to sew very well.
Using 'aata hai' to express a skill.
सिलाई करने के लिए आपको एक अच्छी सुई चाहिए।
To sew, you need a good needle.
Infinitive + 'ke liye' to express purpose.
मैंने दर्जी से अपनी ड्रेस की सिलाई करवाई।
I got my dress sewn by the tailor.
Causative verb 'karvayi'.
वह बचपन से ही सिलाई कर रही है।
Present perfect continuous equivalent in Hindi.
बिना नाप के सिलाई करना बेकार है।
Sewing without measurement is useless.
Gerundial use of 'silai karna'.
क्या आपने कभी मशीन से सिलाई की है?
Have you ever sewed with a machine?
Present perfect tense question.
वह सिलाई करने के बजाय किताबें पढ़ना पसंद करती है।
She prefers reading books instead of sewing.
Use of 'ke bajay' (instead of).
इस कुर्ते की सिलाई इतनी बारीक है कि टाँके दिखते ही नहीं।
The stitching of this kurta is so fine that the stitches are not even visible.
Result clause with 'itni...ki'.
व्यावसायिक रूप से सिलाई करना एक चुनौतीपूर्ण काम हो सकता है।
Sewing professionally can be a challenging job.
Adverbial use 'vyavsayik roop se'.
उसने फटी हुई चादर की सिलाई इतनी सफाई से की कि वह नई जैसी लगने लगी।
She sewed the torn sheet so neatly that it started looking like new.
Comparison 'nai jaisi'.
सिलाई करते समय धागे के रंग का ध्यान रखना बहुत ज़रूरी है।
While sewing, it is very important to keep the color of the thread in mind.
Using 'v-te samay' (while doing).
आजकल लोग हाथ से सिलाई करने के बजाय रेडीमेड कपड़े खरीदना पसंद करते हैं।
Nowadays, people prefer buying readymade clothes instead of sewing by hand.
Contrast between traditional and modern habits.
अगर धागा बार-बार टूट रहा है, तो शायद मशीन सिलाई करने के लिए तैयार नहीं है।
If the thread is breaking repeatedly, maybe the machine is not ready for sewing.
Complex conditional with 'shayad'.
दर्जी ने वादा किया था कि वह शाम तक सिलाई पूरी कर देगा।
The tailor had promised that he would finish the sewing by evening.
Indirect speech with 'ki'.
सिलाई करना केवल एक ज़रूरत नहीं, बल्कि एक कला भी है।
Sewing is not just a necessity, but also an art.
Correlative conjunction 'na keval...balki'.
लेखक ने अपनी कहानी के विभिन्न पात्रों को बड़ी कुशलता से एक सूत्र में सिलाई की है।
The author has skillfully sewn/woven the different characters of his story into a single thread.
Metaphorical use of 'silai karna'.
भारतीय ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था में सिलाई करने का हुनर महिलाओं के सशक्तिकरण का एक मुख्य साधन रहा है।
The skill of sewing has been a primary means of empowerment for women in the Indian rural economy.
Formal/Academic register.
इस पुराने दस्तावेज़ के पन्नों की सिलाई करना अत्यंत सावधानी का काम था।
Sewing the pages of this old document was a task of extreme caution.
Noun phrase as subject.
कपड़े की सिलाई करते वक्त जो एकाग्रता चाहिए, वह ध्यान (meditation) के समान है।
The concentration required while sewing fabric is similar to meditation.
Philosophical comparison.
आधुनिक युग में मशीनीकरण ने सिलाई करने की पारंपरिक विधियों को लगभग समाप्त कर दिया है।
In the modern era, mechanization has almost eliminated traditional methods of sewing.
Sociological context.
उसकी बातों में सच्चाई की सिलाई कहीं नज़र नहीं आ रही थी।
The 'stitching' of truth was nowhere to be seen in his words (his words lacked coherence/truth).
Highly idiomatic/metaphorical.
बुनकर और दर्जी दोनों ही समाज के ताने-बाने की सिलाई करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हैं।
Both weavers and tailors play an important role in sewing/weaving the fabric of society.
Use of 'tane-bane' (fabric/texture) metaphor.
सिलाई करने की यह तकनीक पीढ़ियों से उनके परिवार में चली आ रही है।
This technique of sewing has been passed down in their family for generations.
Continuity expression 'chali aa rahi hai'.
इतिहास के फटे हुए पन्नों की सिलाई करना किसी भी इतिहासकार के लिए एक दुष्कर कार्य है।
Sewing together the torn pages of history is a daunting task for any historian.
Highly abstract and literary.
कविता के शब्दों की सिलाई इतनी प्रगाढ़ होनी चाहिए कि भाव स्वतः ही स्पष्ट हो जाएँ।
The stitching of a poem's words should be so profound that the emotions become clear on their own.
Poetic theory application.
वैश्वीकरण ने सिलाई करने की प्रक्रिया को एक वैश्विक आपूर्ति श्रृंखला में बदल दिया है।
Globalization has transformed the process of sewing into a global supply chain.
Economic/Political register.
क्या हम वास्तव में तकनीकी प्रगति और मानवीय संवेदनाओं के बीच सिलाई कर सकते हैं?
Can we truly sew a bridge between technological progress and human sensibilities?
Philosophical inquiry.
उसकी आँखों में उम्मीद की एक बारीक सिलाई अभी भी बाकी थी।
A fine stitch of hope was still left in her eyes.
Sublime metaphorical usage.
संस्कृति की सिलाई समय की सुई से होती है, जो निरंतर चलती रहती है।
The sewing of culture happens with the needle of time, which moves constantly.
Metaphysical metaphor.
किसी भी राष्ट्र के संविधान की सिलाई उसके नागरिकों के अधिकारों और कर्तव्यों से होती है।
The stitching of any nation's constitution is done with the rights and duties of its citizens.
Political/Legal metaphor.
विद्वानों का मानना है कि प्राचीन ग्रंथों की सिलाई में कई प्रक्षेप (interpolations) जोड़ दिए गए हैं।
Scholars believe that many interpolations have been added to the 'stitching' (compilation) of ancient texts.
Academic/Philological context.
مترادفها
متضادها
ترکیبهای رایج
Summary
The verb 'सिलाई करना' is the most standard way to express sewing in Hindi. Remember that 'silai' is a feminine noun, so in past tense 'ne' constructions, the verb becomes 'ki'. Example: 'मैंने कमीज़ की सिलाई की' (I sewed the shirt).
- A versatile Hindi verb meaning 'to sew' or 'to stitch'.
- Commonly used in household, tailoring, and industrial contexts.
- A compound verb where 'karna' changes with tense and gender.
- Essential for discussing clothes, fashion, and repairs in India.
محتوای مرتبط
عبارات مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر home
आंगनवाड़ी
B2A type of rural mother and child care center in India.
आईना
A1آینه سطحی بازتابنده است که اغلب قاب دارد. برای دیدن خود استفاده می شود. (کلمه 'آینه' است.)
आइना
A1آینه سطحی است که تصویر را منعکس می کند.
आलीशान
B2Luxurious, magnificent; extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable.
आमतौर से
B2Generally; in most cases; usually.
आओ भगत करना
B2To host or entertain guests with hospitality.
आपका/आपकी/आपके
B2مال شما (محترمانه). بسته به جنسیت شیء تغییر میکند: 'aapka' برای مذکر، 'aapki' برای مؤنث، و 'aapke' برای جمع یا احترام. 'نام شما چیست؟' میشود 'Aapka naam kya hai?'.
आरी
B2A saw, a tool with a toothed blade for cutting wood or other materials.
आराम से रहना
B1To reside in a state of ease and comfort (to live comfortably).
आरामगाह
B2مکانی برای استراحت یا آرامش.