Meaning
To express a strong feeling of sorrow or unhappiness.
Cultural Background
In many North Indian communities, expressing sorrow is often followed by offering 'himmat' (courage). You might say 'Mujhe bahut dukh hai, himmat rakhiye' (I am very sad, keep courage). The phrase is a staple in tragic Bollywood scenes. It is often delivered with a hand over the heart to emphasize the 'Mujhe' (to me) aspect of the feeling. In Indian business culture, showing a bit of personal emotion like 'dukh' for a client's problem is seen as building a 'rishta' (relationship) rather than being unprofessional. The concept of 'Dukh' is central to Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism). It is often discussed as something to be transcended, but in social life, it is to be shared.
The 'Hua' Trick
Use 'Mujhe dukh HUA' (I felt sad) for the moment you heard news, and 'Mujhe dukh HAI' (I am sad) for your ongoing state.
Don't be too dramatic
Using this for a lost pen makes you sound like a drama queen/king. Stick to 'Bura laga'.
Meaning
To express a strong feeling of sorrow or unhappiness.
The 'Hua' Trick
Use 'Mujhe dukh HUA' (I felt sad) for the moment you heard news, and 'Mujhe dukh HAI' (I am sad) for your ongoing state.
Don't be too dramatic
Using this for a lost pen makes you sound like a drama queen/king. Stick to 'Bura laga'.
Add a Blessing
When using this for death, always follow with 'Bhagwan unki aatma ko shanti de'.
Dative Subject
Remember: Emotions in Hindi are like guests. They come *to* you (Mujhe), you don't *become* them.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct way to say 'I am very sad' in Hindi.
How do you express deep sorrow?
The dative subject 'Mujhe' must be used with the noun 'dukh' and the auxiliary 'hai'.
Fill in the blank to complete the condolence message.
यह खबर सुनकर मुझे बहुत ____ हुआ।
In the context of hearing bad news (khabar), 'dukh' is the appropriate emotion.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate response.
A: मेरी बिल्ली खो गई है। (My cat is lost.) B: ________________
When someone loses a pet, you express empathy with 'Mujhe bahut dukh hai'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Match 'Mujhe bahut dukh hai' with the right context:
This phrase is for serious misfortunes, not minor delays or happy events.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Dukh vs. Maaf Kijiye
Practice Bank
4 exercisesHow do you express deep sorrow?
The dative subject 'Mujhe' must be used with the noun 'dukh' and the auxiliary 'hai'.
यह खबर सुनकर मुझे बहुत ____ हुआ।
In the context of hearing bad news (khabar), 'dukh' is the appropriate emotion.
A: मेरी बिल्ली खो गई है। (My cat is lost.) B: ________________
When someone loses a pet, you express empathy with 'Mujhe bahut dukh hai'.
Match 'Mujhe bahut dukh hai' with the right context:
This phrase is for serious misfortunes, not minor delays or happy events.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, that means 'I am much sorrow'. You must say 'मुझे बहुत दुख है' (To me there is much sorrow).
Yes, it is very appropriate for formal emails expressing sympathy or regret.
'Dukh' is emotional sorrow; 'Dard' is usually physical pain (though it can be emotional in poetry).
Use 'Maaf kijiye, mujhe deri ho gayi'. Don't use 'dukh' here.
It's fine for serious things. For small things, use 'Bura lag raha hai'.
No, use 'dard' (pain) for physical injuries.
It means 'to cause sorrow' or 'to hurt someone's feelings'.
In texting, people just write 'Very sad' or 'Bura laga'.
You say 'Mujhe tumhare liye bahut dukh hai'.
It is masculine. That's why we say 'bahut dukh' and not 'bahut dukhi'.
Yes, 'Is hadse ka mujhe bahut dukh hai' (I am very sad about this accident) is common.
मुझे बहुत खुशी है (Mujhe bahut khushi hai) - I am very happy.
Related Phrases
बुरा लगना
similarTo feel bad
खेद होना
specialized formTo have regret
शोक मनाना
builds onTo mourn
दिल टूटना
similarTo have a broken heart
पछतावा होना
contrastTo have remorse
