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डूबना

A2 verb #7,500 most common 8 min read

डूबना

doobna Top 7,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips डूबना in 30 Seconds

Explanation डूबना in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'डूबना' (doobna) is taught as a basic verb for physical actions. You learn it primarily in two contexts: the sun setting and objects sinking in water. For a beginner, the most important thing is to remember that the sun 'drowns' in Hindi. You will use simple sentences like 'Suraj doob raha hai' (The sun is setting). You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on the basic meaning of something moving downwards into water or below the horizon. It is an intransitive verb, so the thing that is sinking is the subject of the sentence.

At the A2 level, you start to see 'डूबना' used in more daily scenarios. You might talk about a boat sinking in a story or someone drowning in a swimming pool (though we hope not!). You also begin to learn the past tense forms: 'dooba' (masculine), 'doobi' (feminine), and 'doobe' (plural). This level also introduces the first metaphorical use: being lost in work or a book. 'Main kaam mein dooba hoon' (I am immersed in work). You should also start distinguishing it from 'dubana' (to sink something), which is the transitive version.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with 'डूबना' across all tenses and in various common idioms. You will encounter it in news reports about floods ('gaon pani mein doob gaye') and in financial discussions ('mera paisa doob gaya'). You will also learn the famous proverb 'Doobte ko tinke ka sahara' and understand its cultural significance. Your vocabulary should now include related words like 'dubki' (a dip/dive). You are expected to use the verb correctly in compound verb structures like 'doob jana' to show completion.

At the B2 level, you explore the emotional and poetic depths of 'डूबना'. You will read it in Hindi literature and hear it in songs where it describes being 'drowned' in love, sorrow, or music. You should be able to explain the difference between 'doobna' and more formal synonyms like 'ast hona' or 'gharq hona'. You'll also encounter it in political or social commentary, such as a country 'sinking' into debt or a culture 'sinking' into decline. Your usage should reflect an understanding of how the verb changes the tone of a sentence from literal to figurative.

At the C1 level, you use 'डूबना' with nuance and precision. You understand its role in creating imagery in high-level Hindi prose. You can discuss the etymological roots and how it relates to Sanskrit concepts of immersion. You are proficient in using it in complex grammatical constructions, such as using the participial form 'dooba hua' as an adjective ('doobi hui kishthi' - a sunken boat). You can also use it in abstract philosophical discussions about the 'sinking' of the ego or the 'immersion' of the soul in the divine, a common theme in Indian philosophy.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of 'डूबना'. You can identify subtle differences in meaning based on regional dialects or historical usage in literature. You can use the word to create sophisticated puns or double meanings in your own writing. You are familiar with obscure idioms and can use the verb in legal or highly technical contexts (e.g., 'submerged land' in property law). You understand the rhythmic and phonetic value of the word in poetry and can critique its use in contemporary media versus classical literature.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

डूबना in 30 Seconds

Literal meaning: To sink in liquid or for the sun to set.
Grammar: Intransitive verb; changes with gender and number.
Metaphorical: Being lost in thought, love, or losing money.
Common phrase: 'Doobte ko tinke ka sahara' (A drowning man catches at a straw).

The Hindi verb डूबना (Dūbnā) is a multifaceted term primarily used to describe the act of going beneath the surface of a liquid, most commonly water. At its simplest A1 and A2 levels, it refers to physical sinking—like a stone dropped into a lake or a boat taking on water. However, as one progresses into intermediate and advanced Hindi, the word expands into a vast metaphorical landscape. It is used to describe the setting of the sun (ast hona), the act of drowning (a tragic physical event), and the state of being completely absorbed or lost in an abstract concept like thought, work, or love. Understanding डूबना requires recognizing whether the context is physical, celestial, or emotional.

Physical Sinking: This is the literal movement of an object or person moving from the surface to the bottom of a liquid. For example, 'पत्थर पानी में डूब गया' (The stone sank in the water). It is an intransitive verb, meaning the subject itself is performing the action of sinking.
Celestial Setting: In Hindi, the sun does not just 'set'; it 'drowns' or 'sinks' into the horizon. 'सूरज डूब रहा है' is the standard way to say the sun is setting. This imagery suggests the sun dipping into the sea or behind the earth.
Metaphorical Immersion: When a person is deeply involved in something, they are said to be 'drowned' in it. This can be 'पढ़ाई में डूबना' (immersed in studies) or 'ग़म में डूबना' (drowned in sorrow). It implies a total loss of surrounding awareness.

वह अपनी किताबों में इतना डूब गया कि उसे खाने का होश भी नहीं रहा।
— Meaning: He became so immersed in his books that he forgot to eat.

In financial contexts, डूबना is also used to describe losing money or a business failing. If someone says 'मेरा पैसा डूब गया', they mean their money is 'sunk' or lost forever, usually due to a bad investment or a loan that won't be repaid. This aligns closely with the English idiom 'sunk costs'. Furthermore, the word appears in famous Hindi idioms regarding shame, such as 'चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मरना' (to die of shame in a handful of water), which emphasizes the intensity of the emotion. Whether you are watching a sunset in Jaipur or discussing a failed startup in Bangalore, 'डूबना' is an essential verb for expressing depth and finality.

Using डूबना correctly involves mastering its various tenses and understanding its subject-verb agreement. Since it is an intransitive verb (अकर्मक क्रिया), the focus is always on the subject that is undergoing the process of sinking or immersing. In the past tense, it follows the standard pattern for intransitive verbs, where the verb agrees with the subject in gender and number without the use of the particle 'ने'. For instance, 'लड़का डूबा' (The boy sank) versus 'लड़की डूबी' (The girl sank).

Present Continuous (Ongoing Action): 'जहाज़ धीरे-धीरे पानी में डूब रहा है।' (The ship is slowly sinking in the water). Use this for immediate visual descriptions of objects losing buoyancy.
Past Perfect (Completed Action): 'कल शाम को सूरज बहुत जल्दी डूब गया।' (Yesterday evening the sun set very quickly). Note the use of 'गया' as an auxiliary verb to indicate a completed state.
Future Tense (Intent or Prediction): 'अगर तुम सावधानी नहीं बरतोगे, तो तुम क़र्ज़ में डूब जाओगे।' (If you aren't careful, you will drown in debt). This uses the figurative sense of financial ruin.

वह संगीत की मधुर धुन में पूरी तरह डूब चुकी थी।
— Meaning: She had completely lost herself (sunk) in the sweet melody of the music.

When constructing sentences, pay attention to the prepositions. Usually, the location of sinking is followed by 'में' (in). 'नदी में डूबना' (to sink in the river), 'सोच में डूबना' (to be lost in thought). If the subject is an abstract noun like 'आवाज़' (voice), 'उसकी आवाज़ शोर में डूब गई' means 'His voice was drowned out by the noise.' This versatility makes 'डूबना' a powerful tool for both descriptive and emotional storytelling in Hindi.

The frequency of डूबना in daily life is high, appearing in various registers from local news to Bollywood lyrics. In a coastal city like Mumbai or during the monsoon season in North India, you will frequently hear this word in weather reports and news bulletins. Reporters might say, 'भारी बारिश के कारण कई निचले इलाके पानी में डूब गए हैं' (Due to heavy rain, many low-lying areas have been submerged). Here, the word conveys the severity of flooding.

In News and Media: You will encounter headlines about 'डूबते हुए बैंक' (sinking banks) or 'डूबता हुआ सूरज' (the setting sun). It is used to describe economic crises where businesses are 'sinking' under the weight of losses.
In Literature and Poetry: Hindi and Urdu poetry (Shayari) frequently use 'डूबना' to describe the intensity of love. A lover might say they want to 'डूबना' in the depths of their beloved's eyes (तेरी आँखों में डूब जाने को जी चाहता है).

'डूबते को तिनके का सहारा।'
— Proverb: A drowning man catches at a straw (Even a small help is great for someone in deep trouble).

In casual conversation, you'll hear it when someone is distracted. If a friend isn't listening to you, you might ask, 'तुम किन ख्यालों में डूबे हुए हो?' (In what thoughts are you immersed?). It’s also common in financial discussions. If a loan isn't repaid, people say 'मेरा पैसा डूब गया' (My money is lost). This wide range of usage—from the tragic to the romantic, the physical to the financial—makes it a cornerstone of Hindi expression.

For English speakers, the most frequent error when using डूबना is confusing it with its transitive counterpart डुबाना (Dubānā). Hindi verbs often come in pairs: one where the subject does the action to itself (intransitive) and one where the subject does the action to something else (transitive/causative). Using 'डूबना' when you mean 'to sink something' is a common A2-B1 level mistake.

Confusing Intransitive vs. Transitive: Mistake: 'मैंने पत्थर को डुबाया' (Correct) vs. 'मैंने पत्थर को डूबा' (Incorrect). You cannot 'doobna' an object; the object 'doobna's on its own.
Misusing with the Sun: Learners often try to use 'set' (सेट होना) for the sun because of English influence. While 'अस्त होना' (ast hona) is the formal term, 'डूबना' is the natural, everyday verb. Saying 'सूरज नीचे गया' (The sun went down) is grammatically okay but sounds non-native.

Incorrect: 'बाढ़ ने शहर को डूब दिया।'
Correct: 'बाढ़ ने शहर को डुबा दिया।'
— The flood sank the city. Use 'Dubānā' because the flood is the agent.

Another mistake involves the figurative use for 'losing money'. While you can say 'मेरा पैसा डूब गया' (My money was lost), you shouldn't use it for small losses like losing a wallet on the street. It implies the money 'sank' into a venture or a person's pocket and cannot be retrieved. Using it for a misplaced five-rupee note would sound overly dramatic and slightly incorrect.

While डूबना is the most common verb for sinking, Hindi offers several alternatives depending on the formality and the specific context. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to navigate different social settings, from casual street talk to formal academic writing.

अस्त होना (Ast Honā) vs. डूबना: 'अस्त होना' is the formal/Sanskritized term specifically for the setting of celestial bodies. You will hear this on the news or in literature ('सूर्यास्त' - sunset). 'डूबना' is more colloquial and can be used for anything.
ग़र्क होना (Gharq Honā) vs. डूबना: This is an Urdu-origin word meaning 'to be submerged' or 'to be drowned'. It is often used in poetic or highly dramatic contexts. 'वह नशे में ग़र्क है' (He is drowned/completely lost in intoxication).
निमग्न होना (Nimagn Honā) vs. डूबना: This is a very formal Sanskrit term used for being 'absorbed' or 'immersed' in study or meditation. You might find this in a textbook, whereas 'डूबा हुआ' would be used in a conversation.

Comparison:
1. पत्थर डूब गया (Common)
2. शहर जलमग्न हो गया (Formal - The city became submerged/flooded).

In some contexts, 'बैठना' (to sit) is used for a ship or structure that has settled at the bottom (जहाज़ नीचे बैठ गया). For being lost in thought, you could also use 'खो जाना' (to get lost). 'वह ख्यालों में खो गया' is very similar to 'वह ख्यालों में डूब गया', but 'डूबना' implies a deeper, more overwhelming immersion than just being 'lost'.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'डूबना' is so central to the Indian psyche that it is used for the sun's setting, reflecting a worldview where the sun enters the cosmic waters every night.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɖuːb.nɑː/

US /dub.nɑ/

Stress is on the first syllable 'Doob'.

Rhymes With

ऊबना (ūbnā - to get bored) चूबना (chūbnā - variant of piercing) डूबना (itself) सूखना (approximate) घूमना (approximate) चूमना (approximate) झूमना (approximate) लूबना (rare)

Common Errors

Using a dental 'd' (like 'the') instead of retroflex 'D'.
Shortening the 'oo' sound to 'u' as in 'put'.
Pronouncing it as 'dub-na' instead of 'doob-na'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts, though figurative meanings require context.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct gender/number agreement and knowledge of the intransitive/transitive distinction.

Speaking 3/5

The retroflex 'D' can be tricky for English speakers.

Listening 2/5

Commonly used and usually clear in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

पानी सूरज जाना होना नीचे

Learn Next

डुबाना तैरना उगना बाढ़ गहरा

Advanced

अस्त निमग्न ग़र्क सराबोर तल्लीन

Grammar to Know

Intransitive Verb Agreement

नाव (fem) डूबी, जहाज़ (masc) डूबा।

Compound Verbs with 'Jana'

डूब जाना (To sink completely/suddenly).

Causative Formation

डूबना (to sink) -> डुबाना (to sink something).

Present Participle as Adjective

डूबता हुआ सूरज (The setting sun).

Past Participle as Adjective

डूबा हुआ खज़ाना (Sunken treasure).

Examples by Level

सूरज डूब रहा है।

The sun is setting.

Present continuous tense for a singular masculine subject (Suraj).

पत्थर पानी में डूब गया।

The stone sank in the water.

Past tense with auxiliary verb 'gaya' to show completion.

क्या वह डूब रहा है?

Is he drowning?

Interrogative sentence structure.

नाव डूब गई।

The boat sank.

Feminine past tense (Naav is feminine).

गेंद नहीं डूबी।

The ball did not sink.

Negative sentence in past tense.

चाँद डूब गया।

The moon set.

Literal use for celestial setting.

खिलौना बाल्टी में डूब गया।

The toy sank in the bucket.

Simple subject-object-verb structure.

वह पानी में डूबती है।

She sinks in the water.

Present indefinite feminine form.

वह अपनी किताब में डूबा हुआ है।

He is immersed in his book.

Adjectival use of the past participle 'dooba hua'.

भारी बारिश में कार डूब गई।

The car sank/was submerged in heavy rain.

Using 'mein' to indicate the medium.

बच्चा स्विमिंग पूल में डूबने लगा।

The child started to drown in the swimming pool.

Use of 'lagne laga' to show the start of an action.

सूरज डूबने के बाद हम घर जाएंगे।

We will go home after the sun sets.

Oblique infinitive 'doobne' before a postposition 'ke baad'.

मेरी अँगूठी बेसिन में डूब गई।

My ring sank in the basin.

Feminine subject 'angoothee' agreement.

क्या तुम तैर सकते हो या डूब जाओगे?

Can you swim or will you sink?

Future tense 'doob jaoge'.

जहाज़ समुद्र में डूब गया।

The ship sank in the sea.

Standard past tense.

वह हमेशा सपनों में डूबी रहती है।

She is always lost (immersed) in dreams.

Habitual state using 'rehti hai'.

व्यापार में उसका सारा पैसा डूब गया।

All his money was lost in the business.

Figurative use for financial loss.

पूरा गाँव बाढ़ के पानी में डूब गया है।

The entire village is submerged in floodwater.

Present perfect tense.

वह गहरे विचारों में डूबा हुआ था।

He was lost in deep thoughts.

Past continuous state.

डूबते को तिनके का सहारा काफी होता है।

A straw is enough support for a drowning person.

Proverbial usage.

अगर तुम मेहनत नहीं करोगे, तो तुम्हारी नाव डूब जाएगी।

If you don't work hard, your boat will sink (you will fail).

Idiomatic use for failure.

उसकी आवाज़ भीड़ के शोर में डूब गई।

His voice was drowned out by the noise of the crowd.

Passive-like meaning in an intransitive structure.

वह नशे में डूबा रहता है।

He remains immersed in intoxication.

Negative figurative immersion.

डूबते सूरज की रोशनी बहुत सुंदर थी।

The light of the setting sun was very beautiful.

Using the present participle 'doobte' as an adjective.

वह अपनी माँ की यादों में पूरी तरह डूब गई।

She completely immersed herself in memories of her mother.

Emotional immersion.

कंपनी क़र्ज़ में इतनी डूब गई कि उसे बंद करना पड़ा।

The company sank so deep in debt that it had to be closed.

Using 'itni... ki' (so... that) construction.

उसकी आँखों में एक अजीब सी उदासी डूबी हुई थी।

A strange sadness was steeped in his eyes.

Poetic adjectival use.

संगीतकार अपनी ही धुन में डूबकर बजा रहा था।

The musician was playing, having immersed himself in his own tune.

Use of 'doobkar' (conjunctive participle).

सत्य के खोजी अक्सर ध्यान में डूब जाते हैं।

Seekers of truth often immerse themselves in meditation.

Habitual present plural.

टाइटैनिक जहाज़ अपनी पहली ही यात्रा में डूब गया।

The Titanic ship sank on its very first voyage.

Historical factual usage.

शहर की पुरानी सभ्यता अब इतिहास में डूब चुकी है।

The city's old civilization has now sunk into history.

Metaphorical use for time passing.

वह अपनी गलती के अहसास में डूब रहा था।

He was sinking in the realization of his mistake.

Abstract emotional state.

उसका अस्तित्व धीरे-धीरे गुमनामी में डूबता चला गया।

His existence slowly sank into anonymity.

Compound verb 'doobta chala gaya' showing progressive state.

कवि की कल्पनाओं में पूरा संसार डूब जाता है।

The whole world gets immersed in the poet's imagination.

Literary/Abstract usage.

शेयर बाज़ार के गिरने से कई निवेशकों की पूँजी डूब गई।

With the fall of the stock market, the capital of many investors was lost.

Formal financial terminology.

वह भक्ति के रस में ऐसा डूबा कि उसे संसार की सुध न रही।

He was so immersed in the essence of devotion that he lost awareness of the world.

Classical spiritual context.

अन्याय के विरुद्ध उठने वाली आवाज़ें अक्सर दबा दी जाती हैं या शोर में डूब जाती हैं।

Voices rising against injustice are often suppressed or drowned in the noise.

Social/Political commentary.

नदी की गहराई में कई रहस्य डूबे हुए हैं।

Many secrets are buried (sunk) in the depths of the river.

Metaphorical use of physical depth.

उसका चेहरा अँधेरे में डूब गया था।

His face was engulfed (sunk) in darkness.

Visual/Artistic description.

विदेशी ऋण के बोझ तले यह छोटा देश डूबता जा रहा है।

Under the burden of foreign debt, this small country is sinking.

Geopolitical usage.

अद्वैत दर्शन में आत्मा का परमात्मा में डूब जाना ही मोक्ष है।

In Advaita philosophy, the sinking (merging) of the soul into the Divine is liberation.

Philosophical/Technical terminology.

उसकी कृतियाँ काल के प्रवाह में डूबने से बच गईं।

His works were saved from sinking into the flow of time.

Highly literary metaphor.

सत्ता के मद में डूबा हुआ राजा प्रजा की पुकार नहीं सुनता।

A king immersed in the intoxication of power does not hear the cry of the subjects.

Classical political critique.

यह शोध पत्र डूबते हुए तर्कों को पुनः जीवित करने का प्रयास है।

This research paper is an attempt to revive sinking arguments.

Academic metaphorical use.

उसकी आँखों की अथाह गहराई में डूबना नामुमकिन था।

It was impossible to sink into the bottomless depth of her eyes.

Hyperbolic poetic expression.

नैतिकता के गिरते स्तर में समाज डूबता जा रहा है।

Society is sinking in the falling standards of morality.

Sociological commentary.

शब्दों के जाल में डूबकर सत्य कहीं ओझल हो गया।

Getting lost (sinking) in the web of words, the truth vanished somewhere.

Epistemological metaphor.

वह अपनी कला की साधना में इस कदर डूबा कि वह स्वयं ही कला बन गया।

He was so immersed in the practice of his art that he himself became the art.

Peak creative immersion.

Common Collocations

सूरज डूबना

क़र्ज़ में डूबना

सोच में डूबना

पानी में डूबना

प्यार में डूबना

काम में डूबना

नशे में डूबना

यादों में डूबना

पैसे डूबना

आवाज़ डूबना

Common Phrases

डूब मरना

— To die by drowning; often used as an idiom for being extremely ashamed.

तुम्हें तो डूब मरना चाहिए!

डूबते को तिनके का सहारा

— A drowning person will clutch at a straw; a tiny bit of help is vital in a crisis.

मुसीबत में यह छोटी सी मदद डूबते को तिनके का सहारा है।

पैसे डूब जाना

— To lose invested or loaned money completely.

शेयर बाज़ार में उसके पैसे डूब गए।

ख्यालों में डूबना

— To be lost in one's own thoughts or daydreams.

वह अक्सर ख्यालों में डूबा रहता है।

भक्ति में डूबना

— To be completely absorbed in religious devotion.

मीरा कृष्ण की भक्ति में डूबी रहती थी।

ग़म में डूबना

— To be overwhelmed by sadness or grief.

वह अपने दोस्त की मौत के ग़म में डूब गया।

अँधेरे में डूबना

— To be engulfed by darkness.

बिजली कटते ही पूरा शहर अँधेरे में डूब गया।

कर्ज़ में डूबना

— To be heavily burdened by debt.

जुआ खेलने के कारण वह कर्ज़ में डूब गया।

मस्ती में डूबना

— To be completely engrossed in fun or enjoyment.

बच्चे खेल की मस्ती में डूबे हुए थे।

इतिहास में डूबना

— To be forgotten or lost to history.

कई महान राजा इतिहास के पन्नों में डूब गए।

Often Confused With

डूबना vs डुबाना

This is the transitive form. Use it when you are the one sinking something else.

डूबना vs नहाना

To bathe. Sometimes learners confuse 'dipping' (dubki) with bathing.

डूबना vs गिरना

To fall. While sinking involves falling, 'डूबना' specifically implies falling into a liquid or below a surface.

Idioms & Expressions

"चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मरना"

— To be so ashamed that one wishes to die; used to rebuke someone for shameful behavior.

इतनी बड़ी चोरी करते हुए तुम्हें चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मरना चाहिए।

Informal/Reprimand

"डूबते को तिनके का सहारा"

— A small help to a person in great difficulty is very significant.

बेरोज़गारी में उसे यह छोटी नौकरी मिलना डूबते को तिनके का सहारा जैसा था।

Neutral/Proverb

"नाव डूबना"

— To fail completely in an enterprise or life situation.

अगर इस बार भी फ़सल खराब हुई तो किसान की नाव डूब जाएगी।

Metaphorical

"लुटिया डूबना"

— To be completely ruined; to lose one's reputation or business.

उसकी गलत आदतों की वजह से पूरे खानदान की लुटिया डूब गई।

Colloquial/Idiomatic

"ग़र्क होना"

— To be destroyed or ruined (often used as a curse).

तेरा सत्यानाश हो, तू ग़र्क हो जाए!

Informal/Slang

"अँधेरे में डूबना"

— To have no hope or to be in a state of total ignorance.

बिना शिक्षा के मनुष्य का जीवन अँधेरे में डूब जाता है।

Literary

"आवाज़ डूब जाना"

— To be unable to speak due to emotion or to be ignored in a loud environment.

डर के मारे उसकी आवाज़ गले में ही डूब गई।

Descriptive

"नशे में डूबना"

— To be a chronic addict or completely under the influence.

वह दिन-रात शराब के नशे में डूबा रहता है।

Negative

"सोच के सागर में डूबना"

— To think very deeply about something complicated.

समस्या का हल ढूँढने के लिए वह सोच के सागर में डूब गया।

Poetic

"किश्ती डूबना"

— Similar to boat sinking; failure of a relationship or plan.

भरोसा टूटा तो प्यार की किश्ती डूब गई।

Poetic

Easily Confused

डूबना vs डुबाना

Sounds similar and shares the root.

डूबना is intransitive (something sinks itself), डुबाना is transitive (someone sinks something).

नाव डूबी (The boat sank) vs उसने नाव डुबाई (He sank the boat).

डूबना vs गोता

Both involve water.

डूबना is often involuntary or permanent; गोता is a voluntary dive.

उसने नदी में गोता लगाया।

डूबना vs बैठना

Both can mean 'to go down'.

बैठना means to sit or settle; डूबना implies being covered by the medium.

धूल नीचे बैठ गई।

डूबना vs मिटना

Both can mean to vanish.

मिटना is to be erased; डूबना is to be submerged.

नाम मिट गया।

डूबना vs अस्त

Both mean 'to set'.

अस्त is a formal noun/adjective used with 'hona'; डूबना is a common verb.

सूर्यास्त हो गया।

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] [Location] में डूब रहा है।

पत्थर पानी में डूब रहा है।

[Subject] डूबने लगा।

जहाज़ डूबने लगा।

[Subject] [Abstract Noun] में डूब गया।

वह सोच में डूब गया।

[Subject] [Noun] में डूबा हुआ है।

वह क़र्ज़ में डूबा हुआ है।

[Subject] [Noun] में डूबता चला गया।

सूरज अँधेरे में डूबता चला गया।

डूबते हुए [Noun] को [Noun] का सहारा।

डूबते हुए आदमी को तिनके का सहारा।

[Abstract Noun] में डूबना ही [Noun] है।

भक्ति में डूबना ही आनंद है।

[Noun] के प्रवाह में डूबना।

समय के प्रवाह में सब डूब जाता है।

Word Family

Nouns

डूब (Dūb - the act of sinking/dip)

डुबकी (Dubkī - a dive/plunge)

डूबन (Dūban - sinking/depth)

Verbs

डुबाना (Dubānā - to sink something/transitive)

डुबवाना (Dubvānā - to cause someone to sink something/causative)

Adjectives

डूबा हुआ (Dūbā huā - sunken/immersed)

डूबता (Dūbtā - sinking/setting)

पानी

नदी

समुद्र

सूरज

बाढ़

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in news and romantic literature.

Common Mistakes

मैंने नाव को डूबा। → मैंने नाव को डुबाया।
You cannot use the intransitive 'doobna' with an object. Use 'dubaya'.
सूरज सेट हो गया। → सूरज डूब गया।
While 'set' is understood, 'doob gaya' is the native expression.
वह पानी में डूब गया। (meaning 'he bathed') → उसने पानी में डुबकी लगाई।
'Doob gaya' implies drowning or sinking, not a quick dip.
पैसे डूब गए। (for a lost wallet) → पैसे खो गए।
'Doobna' implies the money is gone into a bad venture, not physically misplaced.
जहाज़ डूबी। → जहाज़ डूबा।
'Jahaaz' is masculine, so the verb must be 'dooba'.

Tips

Check the Agent

If there is someone doing the sinking (like a pirate sinking a ship), use 'डुबाना'. If the ship sinks on its own, use 'डूबना'.

Poetic Flair

Use 'डूबना' when describing someone's eyes or voice to add a poetic touch to your Hindi.

The Sun's Journey

Remember that in Hindi, the sun doesn't just go down; it immerses itself in the horizon.

Retroflex D

Ensure your tongue is curled back for the 'D' sound to avoid sounding like you are saying 'doob' (which isn't a word) with a soft 'd'.

Straw of Hope

Memorize 'Doobte ko tinke ka sahara'—it's a very common way to describe small help in a big crisis.

Financial Ruin

If you lose money in a scam, 'paisa doob gaya' is the most natural way to express it.

Compound Verbs

Use 'डूब गया' instead of just 'डूबा' for a more natural, completed sense in stories.

Sensitivity

Be careful when discussing 'drowning' in real life as it is a sensitive topic; ensure the context is clear if you mean 'immersed'.

Suffixes

Listen for '...ne laga' or '...ne wala' with 'doob' to understand the timing of the sinking.

Visual Cues

Associate the word with the image of a 'submarine' (pandubbi) which literally means 'water-sinker'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'DOOB' (tube) that has a hole in it. What happens? It will 'DOOBna' (sink) in the water.

Visual Association

Visualize a bright orange sun 'drowning' into the dark blue ocean at the beach.

Word Web

Water Sun Debt Thought Drown Submerge Setting Lost

Challenge

Try to use 'डूबना' in three different ways today: once for the weather, once for your work, and once for a physical object.

Word Origin

Derived from the Sanskrit root 'द्रु' (dru) or more directly from the Middle Indo-Aryan/Prakrit 'डुब्ब' (dubba).

Original meaning: To move downward into water; to plunge.

Indo-Aryan

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'डूबना' in the context of people. If used literally, it refers to a tragic death. Use it figuratively for 'immersion' carefully to ensure the context is clear.

In English, we say the sun 'sets', but in Hindi, it 'sinks'. This can be a poetic shift for English speakers.

Proverb: Doobte ko tinke ka sahara. Song: 'Dooba Dooba Rehta Hoon' by Silk Route. Idiom: Chullu bhar pani mein doob marna.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weather/Nature

सूरज डूबना
बादलों में डूबना
क्षितिज पर डूबना
शाम को डूबना

Disaster/Accident

नाव डूबना
बाढ़ में डूबना
गहरे पानी में डूबना
डूबने से मौत

Financial

पैसा डूबना
क़र्ज़ में डूबना
बैंक डूबना
निवेश डूबना

Emotional/Mental

सोच में डूबना
ग़म में डूबना
प्यार में डूबना
यादों में डूबना

Social/Idiomatic

चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मरना
डूबते को तिनके का सहारा
लुटिया डूबना
आवाज़ डूबना

Conversation Starters

"क्या आपने कभी समुद्र में सूरज को डूबते देखा है?"

"अगर आपकी नाव डूबने लगे, तो आप सबसे पहले क्या करेंगे?"

"क्या आप कभी किसी किताब में इतना डूबे हैं कि खाना भूल गए?"

"क्या आपको लगता है कि आजकल लोग सोशल मीडिया में बहुत ज़्यादा डूब गए हैं?"

"आपके देश में जब सूरज डूबता है, तो आसमान का रंग कैसा होता है?"

Journal Prompts

ऐसी किसी घटना के बारे में लिखें जब आप किसी काम में पूरी तरह डूबे हुए थे।

सूरज डूबने के दृश्य का वर्णन करें।

क्या आपका कभी कोई पैसा डूबा है? उस अनुभव के बारे में लिखें।

हिंदी मुहावरा 'डूबते को तिनके का सहारा' पर एक छोटी कहानी लिखें।

आप किन चीज़ों (संगीत, कला, खेल) में डूबना पसंद करते हैं और क्यों?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it is the standard word for a ship sinking. Example: 'जहाज़ समुद्र में डूब गया।'

'डूब जाना' is a compound verb that emphasizes the completion or suddenness of the action. It is very common in spoken Hindi.

You can say 'सूरज डूब रहा है' (common) or 'सूर्य अस्त हो रहा है' (formal).

No. While it can mean drowning or losing money, it is also used positively for being 'immersed' in music, love, or meditation.

Yes. 'वह काम में डूबा हुआ है' means 'He is buried/immersed in work.'

It's an idiom meaning to be extremely ashamed. It literally means 'to drown in a handful of water'.

Use 'डूबी'. Example: 'किश्ती डूबी' (The boat sank).

The opposite is 'उगना' (to rise) or 'निकलना' (to come out).

Yes, 'पत्थर डूब गया' is perfectly correct.

It is intransitive. The transitive form is 'डुबाना'.