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गुजर जाना

B1 verb 8 min read

गुजर जाना

guzar jana

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips गुजर जाना in 30 Seconds

Explanation गुजर जाना in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are just beginning to understand basic verbs. 'Guzar jana' might be too complex as a compound verb, but students should recognize 'marna' (to die). However, even at this stage, a teacher might introduce 'guzar jana' as a 'polite way' to say someone is no longer here. At this level, you only need to know that 'guzar gaye' means 'died' but is nicer. You don't need to worry about the grammar of compound verbs yet. Just remember the phrase 'Voh guzar gaye' for 'He passed away.' Focus on recognizing the word in simple stories or news headlines. You might confuse it with 'guzarna' (to pass by), so look at the context—if a person is the subject and they are gone, it means death.

At the A2 level, you start learning about compound verbs. You know that 'jana' can be added to other verbs to show completion. In 'guzar jana,' the 'jana' part tells us the 'passing' is a complete, irreversible event. You should practice using this verb in the past tense: 'guzar gaya' (masculine), 'guzar gayi' (feminine), and 'guzar gaye' (plural). You should also learn that when talking about adults or elders, we always use the plural 'guzar gaye' out of respect. This is a great time to start substituting 'marna' with 'guzar jana' in your speaking exercises to sound more natural and polite to native speakers.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'guzar jana' correctly in most situations. You should understand the nuance between this word and more formal ones like 'nidhan hona.' You can now use it in different tenses, such as the future ('sabko guzar jana hai') or with 'chuka' ('voh guzar chuke hain'). You should also be able to distinguish between the two meanings of 'guzarna'—passing time versus passing away. In a sentence like 'do saal guzar gaye' (two years passed), you know it's about time. In 'mere dada guzar gaye,' you know it's about a person. This level requires you to handle sensitive topics with the appropriate vocabulary.

At the B2 level, you understand the cultural and emotional weight of the word. You can use it in complex sentences and understand it in literature or news reports. You are aware that 'guzar jana' is a euphemism and you can explain why it is used instead of 'marna.' You can also use related phrases like 'hamein chhodkar guzar jana' (to leave us and pass away). Your conjugation is perfect, including the honorific plural for women ('guzar gayeein'). You are also beginning to see the Persian roots of the word 'guzar' and how it fits into the broader vocabulary of Hindi-Urdu.

At the C1 level, you use 'guzar jana' with native-like precision. You can appreciate the poetic use of the word in Ghazals or Hindi poetry where 'guzar jana' might refer to the passing of an era, a feeling, or a life. You can discuss the social implications of death and the various euphemisms used across different Indian communities. You can switch between 'guzar jana,' 'inteqal hona,' and 'nidhan hona' depending on the person you are talking to and the person you are talking about. You understand the subtle difference in 'surkhuru hokar guzar jana' (to pass away with honor).

At the C2 level, you have a philosophical and linguistic mastery of the term. You can write obituaries or eulogies using the word and its variants with perfect emotional tone. You understand the historical evolution of the word from Persian into the Hindi-Urdu vernacular. You can analyze how 'guzar jana' functions as a 'light verb' construction in Hindi linguistics. You are comfortable using the word in any context, from a casual conversation about a neighbor to a high-level academic discussion on South Asian funerary customs and linguistic taboos.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

गुजर जाना in 30 Seconds

A polite and respectful Hindi verb meaning 'to pass away.'
Used instead of 'marna' (to die) to show empathy and respect.
Always conjugated in the honorific plural for elders or respected people.
Commonly heard in news, formal letters, and sensitive conversations.

The Hindi verb गुजर जाना (guzar jānā) is a deeply respectful and sensitive compound verb used primarily to convey the passing of a human life. In English, the closest equivalent is 'to pass away.' While the root verb मरना (marnā) simply means 'to die,' it is often considered too blunt, harsh, or even disrespectful when discussing the death of family members, elders, or respected public figures. Therefore, गुजर जाना serves as a crucial linguistic cushion, allowing speakers to discuss mortality with dignity and grace. It is composed of two parts: 'guzar' (from the Persian 'guzar' meaning passage or passing) and 'jānā' (the Hindi verb 'to go,' which acts here as a vector verb to indicate the completion of an action).

Register and Tone: This term is inherently formal and polite. You will encounter it in news broadcasts, obituaries, and formal conversations where a level of emotional distance and respect is required. It is the standard way to inform someone about a tragedy without using the jarring impact of direct words.
Cultural Nuance: In South Asian culture, death is a sensitive topic often shrouded in euphemisms. Using गुजर जाना reflects the speaker's upbringing (tehzeeb) and empathy. It suggests that the soul has 'passed through' this world into the next, rather than simply ceasing to exist.

कल रात उनके दादाजी गुजर गए। (His grandfather passed away last night.)

Beyond the context of death, the simple verb guzarnā can mean 'to pass through a place' or 'for time to pass.' However, once the auxiliary verb jānā is attached to form the compound गुजर जाना, the meaning almost exclusively shifts to the finality of passing away. For example, 'waqt guzar gayā' means 'time passed,' but 'voh guzar gaye' means 'he passed away.' This distinction is vital for B1 level learners to master to avoid grave misunderstandings.

वह लंबी बीमारी के बाद गुजर गए। (He passed away after a long illness.)

Usage in Media: When a famous actor or politician dies, the headlines will invariably say 'निधन हो गया' (nidhan ho gaya) or 'गुजर गए' (guzar gaye). The former is more Sanskritized/formal, while the latter is widely used in both Hindi and Urdu-influenced spoken Hindi.

मशहूर लेखक आज सुबह गुजर गए। (The famous writer passed away this morning.)

Using गुजर जाना requires an understanding of Hindi's compound verb structures and the honorific system. Because the subject of this verb is usually someone respected, the verb is almost always conjugated in the plural form, even if the person is singular. This is known as the 'honorific plural.' In the past tense, which is the most common tense for this verb, guzar jānā becomes guzar gayā (masculine singular), guzar gaī (feminine singular), or guzar gaye (masculine plural/honorific).

मेरे चाचाजी पिछले साल गुजर गए। (My uncle passed away last year.)

Notice in the example above, 'chāchājī' is singular, but 'guzar gaye' is plural to show respect. If you were to say 'guzar gayā,' it might sound disrespectful or overly casual, which is inappropriate for the topic of death. When using this verb in the feminine form for a respected woman, you would use guzar gaīṃ (with a nasalized 'n' at the end for honorific plural).

Common Tense: Past Perfect: Since death is a completed event, the past perfect is frequent: 'Voh guzar chuke haiṃ' (He has already passed away). This adds a layer of finality and is common when informing someone who was unaware of the news.

जब तक एम्बुलेंस आई, वह गुजर चुके थे। (By the time the ambulance arrived, he had already passed away.)

The verb can also be used in the future tense when discussing the inevitability of life or in a hypothetical sense, though this is less common. For instance, 'Sabko ek din guzar jānā hai' (Everyone has to pass away one day). Here, it takes a philosophical tone, reflecting the transient nature of existence.

Intransitive Nature: Unlike 'mārnā' (to kill), गुजर जाना is strictly intransitive. It happens to the subject; the subject does not perform it on an object. Therefore, it never takes the 'ne' particle in the past tense.

उनकी माताजी कल गुजर गईं। (His mother passed away yesterday.)

In the real world, you will hear गुजर जाना in a variety of settings ranging from the somber to the informative. One of the most common places is within the family circle. If a neighbor or a distant relative dies, someone might come to your house and say, 'Aapne sunā? Voh guzar gaye' (Did you hear? He passed away). It is the standard polite way to break bad news without being blunt.

News and Media: Radio and Television news anchors use this term constantly. When reporting the death of a celebrity or a martyr, the script will almost always use 'guzar gaye' or 'shaheed ho gaye' (if they died for the country). It maintains the professional decorum required for broadcast journalism.

आज शाम एक बड़े नेता गुजर गए। (A great leader passed away this evening.)

In Hindi cinema (Bollywood), this phrase is a staple in emotional scenes. When a character returns home to find a loved one is no more, the doctor or a family member will often lower their head and say, 'Voh hamein chhodkar guzar gaye' (He has left us and passed away). The addition of 'hamein chhodkar' (leaving us) adds an extra layer of emotional weight and poetic sadness to the phrase.

Religious and Spiritual Contexts: In satsangs (spiritual gatherings) or religious discourses, speakers use गुजर जाना to talk about the ephemeral nature of life. They might say that many have passed before us and we too shall pass, using the word to emphasize the transition rather than the end.

इतने साल गुजर गए, पर उनकी यादें नहीं गईं। (So many years passed, but his memories didn't fade.)

Lastly, in formal writing, such as letters of condolence, this verb is the gold standard. Writing 'Unke marne par dukh hua' (Sad about his dying) would be considered very poor form, whereas 'Unke guzar jaane ki khabar sunkar dukh hua' (Was saddened to hear the news of his passing) shows high linguistic and social competence.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using the word मरना (marnā) in sensitive situations. While 'marnā' is grammatically correct for 'to die,' it lacks the empathy of गुजर जाना. Using 'marnā' for a loved one can sound like you are talking about an animal or an object, which can cause offense or make you seem cold.

Confusion with 'Guzarnā' (Simple Verb): Learners often forget the 'jānā' part. While 'voh guzre' (he passed) is sometimes used in poetic Urdu, in standard Hindi, omitting 'jānā' can make the sentence feel incomplete or change the meaning to 'he passed by' (physically walked past).

❌ वह कल मरा। (He died yesterday - too blunt)
✅ वह कल गुजर गए। (He passed away yesterday - correct/polite)

Another mistake is failing to use the honorific plural. In Hindi, respect is encoded in the verb. If you say 'Mere pitājī guzar gayā,' you are using the singular 'gayā' for your father, which sounds very disrespectful. Even if you are talking about one person, always use 'guye' (plural) for elders or anyone you respect.

The 'Ne' Particle Mistake: Some learners try to apply the transitive rule and say 'Unhone guzar gaya.' This is incorrect. Because 'guzar jānā' is an intransitive verb (and compound verbs with 'jānā' are almost always intransitive), the subject never takes 'ne'. It is simply 'Voh guzar gaye.'

❌ उन्होंने गुजर गया। (Incorrect use of 'ne')
✅ वह गुजर गए। (Correct)

Finally, don't confuse गुजर जाना with गुजरना (to pass time). While they share a root, the addition of 'jānā' is a strong signal for the euphemism of death. If you say 'Waqt guzar gayā,' it's fine for 'Time passed,' but if you say 'Insaan guzar gayā,' it specifically means the person died.

Hindi has a rich vocabulary for 'death,' each with a specific register and context. Understanding these alternatives will help you choose the right word for the right situation. While गुजर जाना is the most common polite term, others exist for more formal or religious contexts.

निधन होना (Nidhan Honā): This is a highly formal, Sanskrit-derived term. You will see it in newspapers and official announcements. It is even more formal than 'guzar jānā' and is rarely used in casual conversation. Example: 'Pradhan Mantri ne unke nidhan par dukh vyakt kiya' (The PM expressed grief over his passing).
इंतकाल होना (Inteqal Honā): This is the Urdu equivalent, derived from Arabic. It is very common among Muslim communities and in poetic or high-register Urdu-Hindi. It literally means 'transfer' (from one world to another). Example: 'Unka inteqal pichle hafte hua' (His passing occurred last week).

उनका स्वर्गवास हो गया। (He passed away to heaven - Hindu context.)

Another religious alternative is स्वर्गवास होना (Swargvas Honā), which literally means 'to take residence in heaven.' This is specifically used in Hindu contexts. Similarly, परलोक सिधारना (Parlok Sidhārnā) means 'to depart for the other world,' which is quite poetic and slightly old-fashioned.

Comparison Table

Word	Register	Best For
मरना	Casual/Blunt	Animals, general facts
गुजर जाना	Polite/Neutral	Family, friends, elders
निधन होना	Very Formal	News, official notices
इंतकाल होना	Formal/Urdu	Urdu speakers, literature

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root 'guzar' is also found in the word 'Bazaar' (originally 'vazar'), relating to a place people pass through to trade.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɡʊ.zəɾ d͡ʒɑː.nɑː/

US /ɡʊ.zɑːr d͡ʒɑː.nɑː/

Primary stress is on the first syllable of 'guzar' and 'jana'.

Rhymes With

Sudhar jana Bikhar jana Nikhar jana Utar jana Sanwar jana Bhar jana Mar jana Dar jana

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'z' as 'j' (Gujar instead of Guzar).
Shortening the 'aa' sound in 'jana'.
Failing to aspirate the 'gh' if they confuse it with other words.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to read but requires context to distinguish from 'passing time'.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of compound verb conjugation and honorifics.

Speaking 4/5

Must be used with the correct tone and respect level.

Listening 3/5

Commonly heard in media; context usually makes it clear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

जाना (To go) मरना (To die) वक्त (Time) होना (To be) गया (Went)

Learn Next

निधन (Passing) श्रद्धांजलि (Tribute) शोक (Grief) अंतिम संस्कार (Funeral) आत्मा (Soul)

Advanced

परलोक (Other world) नश्वर (Mortal) शाश्वत (Eternal) मोक्ष (Liberation) इंतकाल (Passing)

Grammar to Know

Compound Verbs with 'Jana'

Guzar jana, kho jana, so jana.

Honorific Plural

Pitaji aa gaye (instead of aa gaya).

Intransitive Past Tense

Voh gaya (No 'ne' used).

Euphemisms in Hindi

Using 'shant hona' for death.

Gender Agreement in Compounds

Dadi guzar gayeen (Feminine agreement).

Examples by Level

वह गुजर गए।

He passed away.

Honorific plural 'gaye' used for respect.

मेरी दादी गुजर गईं।

My grandmother passed away.

Feminine plural 'gayeein' for a respected woman.

क्या वह गुजर गए?

Did he pass away?

Question form.

वह कल गुजर गए।

He passed away yesterday.

Past tense.

मेरे दोस्त के पिता गुजर गए।

My friend's father passed away.

Possessive 'ke' used with father.

वह अस्पताल में गुजर गए।

He passed away in the hospital.

Locative 'mein' (in).

वह बहुत साल पहले गुजर गए।

He passed away many years ago.

Adverbial phrase of time.

दुख है कि वह गुजर गए।

Sad that he passed away.

Simple emotional expression.

उनके दादाजी अचानक गुजर गए।

His grandfather passed away suddenly.

Adverb 'achanak' (suddenly).

वह शांति से गुजर गए।

He passed away peacefully.

Adverbial phrase 'shanti se'.

बीमारी की वजह से वह गुजर गए।

He passed away because of illness.

Reasoning 'ki vajah se'.

वह 90 साल की उम्र में गुजर गए।

He passed away at the age of 90.

Age expression.

जब मैं बच्चा था, वह गुजर गए।

When I was a child, he passed away.

Subordinate clause 'Jab...'.

उनकी पत्नी भी गुजर गईं।

His wife also passed away.

Use of 'bhi' (also).

वह अपने घर में गुजर गए।

He passed away in his own home.

Reflexive pronoun 'apne'.

क्या वे आज गुजर गए?

Did they pass away today?

Interrogative.

वह लंबी बीमारी से लड़ते हुए गुजर गए।

He passed away while fighting a long illness.

Present participle 'ladte hue'.

मुझे पता नहीं था कि वह गुजर गए हैं।

I didn't know that he has passed away.

Present perfect in a subordinate clause.

वह नींद में ही गुजर गए।

He passed away in his sleep itself.

Emphatic particle 'hi'.

उनके गुजर जाने के बाद सब बदल गया।

Everything changed after his passing.

Gerund 'guzar jaane' with 'ke baad'.

वह देश की सेवा करते हुए गुजर गए।

He passed away while serving the country.

Participle 'seva karte hue'.

बुढ़ापे के कारण वह गुजर गए।

He passed away due to old age.

'Ke kaaran' (due to).

वह अपनी वसीयत लिखने से पहले ही गुजर गए।

He passed away even before writing his will.

'Se pehle hi' (even before).

वे महान कलाकार आज हमारे बीच से गुजर गए।

That great artist passed away from among us today.

Metaphorical 'hamare beech se'.

उनके अचानक गुजर जाने से पूरा परिवार सदमे में है।

The whole family is in shock due to his sudden passing.

Causal 'se' with the gerund.

वह एक सफल जीवन जीने के बाद गुजर गए।

He passed away after living a successful life.

Complex sentence structure.

हैरानी की बात है कि वह इतनी कम उम्र में गुजर गए।

It is surprising that he passed away at such a young age.

Abstract noun phrase 'hairani ki baat'.

वह अपनी सभी जिम्मेदारियां पूरी करके गुजर गए।

He passed away after completing all his responsibilities.

Conjunctive participle 'poori karke'.

उनके गुजर जाने की खबर आग की तरह फैल गई।

The news of his passing spread like fire.

Idiomatic 'aag ki tarah'.

वह बिना किसी को बताए खामोशी से गुजर गए।

He passed away silently without telling anyone.

Negative participle 'bina bataye'.

वे यादें ही रह गईं, इंसान तो गुजर गया।

Only memories remained; the person passed away.

Contrastive sentence.

वह अपनी मातृभूमि की रक्षा करते हुए गुजर गए।

He passed away while protecting his motherland.

Formal register.

उनका इस तरह गुजर जाना साहित्य जगत के लिए एक बड़ी क्षति है।

His passing away in this manner is a great loss for the literary world.

Abstract subject 'unka... guzar jana'.

मृत्यु सत्य है, हर किसी को एक दिन गुजर जाना है।

Death is truth; everyone has to pass away one day.

Philosophical 'hai' to show necessity.

वह अपने पीछे एक महान विरासत छोड़कर गुजर गए।

He passed away leaving behind a great legacy.

Advanced phrase 'apne peeche... chhodkar'.

उनके गुजर जाने पर पूरा शहर शोक में डूब गया।

The whole city was drowned in grief upon his passing.

Metaphorical 'shok mein doob gaya'.

वे अपनी अंतिम सांस तक संघर्ष करते हुए गुजर गए।

He passed away struggling until his last breath.

Intensive phrase 'antim saans tak'.

शायद उन्हें आभास था कि वह जल्द ही गुजर जाएंगे।

Perhaps he had an inkling that he would pass away soon.

Future tense in a speculative clause.

एक युग का अंत हो गया जब वे गुजर गए।

An era came to an end when he passed away.

Historical/Poetic tone.

बिना किसी पछतावे के वह इस दुनिया से गुजर गए।

Without any regret, he passed away from this world.

Prepositional phrase 'is duniya se'.

उनका गुजर जाना मात्र एक व्यक्ति का जाना नहीं, बल्कि एक विचारधारा का अंत है।

His passing is not merely the departure of an individual, but the end of an ideology.

Complex contrastive structure.

जीवन की इस नश्वरता में सबको एक न एक दिन गुजर जाना ही पड़ता है।

In this mortality of life, everyone must pass away one day or another.

High-register vocabulary 'nashvarta'.

इतिहास गवाह है कि कई महान सम्राट भी समय की धूल में गुजर गए।

History is witness that many great emperors also passed away into the dust of time.

Metaphorical usage.

वे अपनी कृतियों के माध्यम से अमर रहेंगे, भले ही वे शरीर से गुजर गए हों।

He will remain immortal through his works, even though he may have passed away in body.

Subjunctive 'guzar gaye hon'.

उनके गुजर जाने के बाद की रिक्तता को भर पाना असंभव है।

Filling the void after his passing is impossible.

Abstract noun 'riktata' (void).

वह अपनी गरिमा बनाए रखते हुए इस नश्वर संसार से गुजर गए।

Maintaining his dignity, he passed away from this mortal world.

C2 level formal expression.

कवि ने मृत्यु को 'गुजर जाना' कहकर उसे एक यात्रा का रूप दे दिया है।

By calling death 'passing away,' the poet has framed it as a journey.

Meta-linguistic analysis.

जब वे गुजरे, तो पीछे केवल उनके सिद्धांतों की गूंज रह गई।

When he passed, only the echo of his principles remained behind.

Poetic imagery.

Synonyms

निधन होना इंतकाल होना स्वर्गवास होना परलोक सिधारना देहांत होना चल बसना शान्त होना दम तोड़ना

Antonyms

जन्म लेना पैदा होना जीवित रहना बच जाना

Common Collocations

अचानक गुजर जाना

शांति से गुजर जाना

लंबी बीमारी के बाद गुजर जाना

नींद में गुजर जाना

अस्पताल में गुजर जाना

जल्द गुजर जाना

हमे छोड़कर गुजर जाना

बुढ़ापे में गुजर जाना

इलाज के दौरान गुजर जाना

समय से पहले गुजर जाना

Common Phrases

वह गुजर गए

— The standard polite way to say 'He passed away.'

क्या आप जानते हैं कि वह गुजर गए?

आज सुबह गुजर गए

— Specifying the time of passing.

वह आज सुबह गुजर गए।

शांतिपूर्वक गुजर गए

— Passed away peacefully.

वह बहुत शांतिपूर्वक गुजर गए।

वह अब नहीं रहे

— A related euphemism: 'He is no more.'

दुख के साथ कहना पड़ रहा है कि वह अब नहीं रहे।

उनका साया उठ गया

— A poetic way to say a protector/elder passed away.

पिता के गुजर जाने से घर से साया उठ गया।

ईश्वर को प्यारे हो गए

— Became dear to God (passed away).

वह कल ईश्वर को प्यारे हो गए।

दुनिया छोड़ गए

— Left the world.

वह हम सबको इस दुनिया में अकेला छोड़ गए।

अंतिम सांस ली

— Took the last breath.

उन्होंने आज सुबह अंतिम सांस ली।

विलीन हो गए

— Merged (with the divine/nature). Very formal.

उनकी आत्मा परमात्मा में विलीन हो गई।

पंचतत्व में विलीन

— Merged into the five elements (cremated).

उनका पार्थिव शरीर पंचतत्व में विलीन हो गया।

Often Confused With

गुजर जाना vs Guzarna

Means 'to pass by' or 'to pass through'. Without 'jana', it usually refers to time or physical movement.

गुजर जाना vs Guzara karna

Means 'to manage' or 'to make ends meet' (livelihood). Completely different meaning.

गुजर जाना vs Guzarish

Means 'a request'. Sounds similar but unrelated.

Idioms & Expressions

"आँखें मूँद लेना"

— To close one's eyes forever (to die).

उन्होंने हमेशा के लिए आँखें मूँद लीं।

Literary

"ठंडा हो जाना"

— To become cold (to die).

जब तक डॉक्टर आए, शरीर ठंडा हो चुका था।

Informal/Crude

"पर निकल जाना"

— To fly away (the soul leaving the body).

पंछी के पर निकल गए।

Poetic

"मिट्टी में मिलना"

— To return to dust.

अंत में सबको मिट्टी में ही मिलना है।

Philosophical

"सांसों का रुक जाना"

— Breaths stopping.

अचानक उनकी सांसें रुक गईं।

Descriptive

"राम नाम सत्य होना"

— The chant used during Hindu funerals, implying death.

मोहल्ले में शोर था कि राम नाम सत्य हो गया।

Cultural

"कब्र में पैर होना"

— To have one foot in the grave (near death).

उनके तो कब से कब्र में पैर हैं।

Informal

"कूच कर जाना"

— To march away (to depart/die).

वह इस दुनिया से कूच कर गए।

Formal/Urdu

"अंतिम यात्रा पर निकलना"

— To set out on the final journey.

आज उनकी अंतिम यात्रा निकलेगी।

Formal

"स्वर्ग सिधारना"

— To depart for heaven.

दादी जी स्वर्ग सिधार गईं।

Religious

Easily Confused

गुजर जाना vs मरना (Marna)

Both mean to die.

Marna is blunt/casual; Guzar jana is polite/respectful.

Chuha mar gaya (The rat died) vs Dada guzar gaye (Grandpa passed away).

गुजर जाना vs गुजरना (Guzarna)

Same root.

Guzarna is for time/places; Guzar jana is specifically for death.

Waqt guzarna (Passing time) vs Insaan ka guzar jana (Passing of a human).

गुजर जाना vs गुजारना (Gujarna)

Transitive version.

Gujarna means to 'spend' (like spending time); Guzar jana is 'to pass away'.

Maine chuttiyan guzarin (I spent holidays).

गुजर जाना vs निकल जाना (Nikal jana)

Both imply leaving.

Nikal jana means to leave a place or slip away; Guzar jana is death.

Bus nikal gayi (The bus left).

गुजर जाना vs खो जाना (Kho jana)

Both imply being gone.

Kho jana is to get lost; Guzar jana is to die.

Bachha kho gaya (The child got lost).

Sentence Patterns

[Person] guzar gaye.

Dada guzar gaye.

[Person] [Time] guzar gaye.

Voh kal guzar gaye.

[Person] [Reason] guzar gaye.

Voh bimari se guzar gaye.

[Person] [Gerund] guzar gaye.

Voh sote hue guzar gaye.

[Person] ke guzar jane se [Result].

Unke guzar jane se dukh hua.

[Abstract Subject] guzar jana [Predicate].

Unka guzar jana ek kshati hai.

[Person] [Phrase] guzar gaye.

Voh desh ke liye ladte hue guzar gaye.

Bhale hi [Person] guzar gaye hon, [Contrast].

Bhale hi voh guzar gaye hon, unki yadein amar hain.

Word Family

Nouns

गुजर (Passing/Passage)

गुजर-बसर (Livelihood/Survival)

Verbs

गुजरना (To pass/elapse)

गुजारना (To spend time/cause to pass)

Adjectives

गुजरा हुआ (Past/Gone)

मौत (Death)

निधन (Passing)

इंतकाल (Transfer/Death)

वक्त (Time)

रास्ता (Path)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily polite conversation and news.

Common Mistakes

Using 'marna' for elders. → Guzar jana
Using 'marna' for a respected person sounds very rude and uncultured in Hindi.
Using 'ne' with guzar jana. → Voh guzar gaye (without ne)
Guzar jana is an intransitive verb and does not take the 'ne' particle in the past tense.
Saying 'guzar gaya' for a respected male. → Guzar gaye
The singular 'gaya' is disrespectful for elders. Use the honorific plural 'gaye'.
Pronouncing it as 'gujar jana'. → Guzar jana (with a 'z')
Mispronouncing the 'z' as 'j' can sometimes make the word harder to understand or sound like a regional dialect error.
Omitting 'jana'. → Guzar jana
Saying just 'voh guzre' is poetic/Urdu but in standard Hindi, 'guzar gaye' is the complete and natural phrase for death.

Tips

Always use plural

When talking about any adult, use the plural form 'guzar gaye' to show respect. This is a key part of Hindi etiquette.

No 'Ne' particle

Remember that this verb is intransitive. Even in the past tense, the subject does not take 'ne'. It's 'Voh guzar gaye,' not 'Unhone...'

Check the subject

If the subject is 'waqt' (time), it means 'passed.' If the subject is a person, it means 'died.' Always check the subject first.

Condolences

When someone dies, say 'Unke guzar jaane ka bahut dukh hai.' It is the most appropriate and natural-sounding condolence.

Persian Root

Knowing that 'guzar' means 'passage' helps you remember that 'guzar jana' is like 'passing through' to the other side.

News Headlines

Look for this word in Hindi news headlines. It will help you see how it is used for public figures and celebrities.

Soft Pronunciation

The 'z' in 'guzar' should be soft. Avoid a hard 'j' sound, which is a common mistake for beginners.

Obituaries

If you are reading an obituary, 'guzar jana' is often paired with the person's age and cause of death.

Religious Neutrality

This is a great 'safe' word because it is respectful in both Hindu and Muslim contexts, unlike 'swargvas' or 'inteqal'.

Compound Verb Mastery

Use this word to practice your compound verbs. The 'jana' part is what gives it the sense of 'completion'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Guzar' as 'Go-Sir'. When a respected 'Sir' has to 'Go' forever, he has 'Guzar Jana'.

Visual Association

Imagine a person walking through a gateway (Guzar) that leads to a beautiful light, indicating a journey rather than an end.

Word Web

Time Death Respect Euphemism Persian Compound Verb Honorific Politeness

Challenge

Try to use 'guzar jana' in three different sentences: one about a famous person, one about an elder, and one in a philosophical way.

Word Origin

The word 'guzar' comes from the Persian root 'guzashtan' which means 'to pass' or 'to cross over.' It entered Hindi through the long period of Persian influence on the Indian subcontinent.

Original meaning: A passage, a ferry, or the act of crossing a river or a boundary.

Indo-Iranian (Persian) merged with Indo-Aryan (Hindi).

Cultural Context

Extremely sensitive. Never use 'marna' when speaking to a grieving person about their loss.

Similar to how English speakers prefer 'passed away' over 'died' in polite company.

Used in countless Bollywood obituaries for legends like Dilip Kumar or Lata Mangeshkar. Commonly found in the poetry of Mirza Ghalib regarding the passing of time and life. Standard terminology in All India Radio (Akashvani) news bulletins.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Informing someone of a death

क्या आपको पता है...?
वह गुजर गए।
बहुत दुख की बात है।
आज सुबह की खबर है।

Writing a condolence note

उनके गुजर जाने का दुख है।
मेरी संवेदनाएं।
ईश्वर शांति दे।
वह महान इंसान थे।

Discussing family history

मेरे दादाजी तब गुजर गए थे।
वह काफी पहले गुजर गए।
विभाजन के समय वह गुजर गए।
घर के बड़े गुजर गए।

News reporting

आज एक युग का अंत हुआ।
मशहूर हस्ती गुजर गईं।
देश में शोक की लहर।
अंतिम दर्शन के लिए...

Philosophical talk

वक्त तो गुजर ही जाता है।
सबको गुजर जाना है।
इंसान चला जाता है, यादें रहती हैं।
दुनिया से गुजर जाना।

Conversation Starters

"क्या आपने सुना कि हमारे पुराने पड़ोसी गुजर गए?"

"उनके गुजर जाने के बाद उनके परिवार का क्या हुआ?"

"वह कितनी उम्र में गुजर गए थे?"

"क्या वह बीमारी की वजह से गुजर गए?"

"उनके गुजर जाने की खबर आपको कब मिली?"

Journal Prompts

किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति के बारे में लिखें जो गुजर गया और जिसकी आपको बहुत याद आती है।

जब कोई अपना गुजर जाता है, तो समाज कैसे साथ देता है?

हिंदी में 'मरना' और 'गुजर जाना' के बीच के अंतर पर अपने विचार लिखें।

क्या आपको लगता है कि 'गुजर जाना' कहना सच में दुख कम करता है?

एक प्रसिद्ध व्यक्ति के गुजर जाने पर एक शोक संदेश लिखें।

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Usually, people use 'mar gaya' for animals. However, if the pet was like a family member, a very emotional owner might use 'guzar gaya' to show deep affection.

It is used in both. 'Guzar' is Persian, which is common in Urdu, but the phrase is completely integrated into standard Hindi and is understood by everyone.

It is 'guzar gaīṃ' (pronounced with a nasal 'n'). For example: 'Mātājī guzar gaīṃ'.

In Hindi, 'jana' acts as an auxiliary verb to show that an action is complete or involves a change of state. Here, it marks the finality of passing.

Yes, 'waqt guzar gaya' is perfectly correct for 'time passed.' The meaning 'to die' only applies when the subject is a person.

Neither is 'better,' but 'nidhan hona' is much more formal. Use 'guzar jana' in conversation and 'nidhan hona' in formal writing or news.

No. 'Guzar jana' is intransitive. Never say 'unhone guzar gaya.' Always say 'voh guzar gaye'.

Yes, it is still polite. However, for a very young child, people might say 'voh shant ho gaya' or 'voh nahi raha' to be even softer.

It would be 'Main guzar jaoonga' (masculine) or 'Main guzar jaoongi' (feminine), though this is usually only said in a philosophical context.

'Guzar gaye' is simple past (passed away). 'Guzar chuke' is past perfect (had already passed away), emphasizing the completion before another event.