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पसंद करना

A1 verb #1,000 most common 20 min read

पसंद करना

To like; to find agreeable or enjoyable.

Top 1,000

At the A1 level, 'पसंद करना' (pasand karnā) is introduced as an essential survival word. Beginners learn it primarily to express basic likes and dislikes regarding food, colors, and simple objects. The focus is on the present tense and the active voice structure: 'मैं [Object] पसंद करता/करती हूँ' (I like [Object]). For example, a student learns to say 'मैं सेब पसंद करता हूँ' (I like apples) or 'मैं चाय पसंद करती हूँ' (I like tea). At this stage, teachers also introduce the negative form by simply adding 'नहीं' (nahin): 'मैं कॉफी पसंद नहीं करता' (I do not like coffee). The concept of gender agreement in the verb 'karna' (karta for males, karti for females) is a primary learning objective. Students practice pointing at objects and stating their preferences. They also learn basic question forms to ask others what they like, such as 'क्या तुम यह पसंद करते हो?' (Do you like this?). The vocabulary paired with 'pasand karna' at this level is highly concrete, focusing on tangible, everyday items. The dative alternative 'मुझे पसंद है' (mujhe pasand hai) is often introduced simultaneously as a set phrase because it is so common in spoken Hindi, even though the underlying grammar of the dative case might be fully explained slightly later. The goal at A1 is simply to enable the learner to navigate basic social situations, like accepting or refusing food, and expressing simple personal tastes.

At the A2 level, the usage of 'पसंद करना' expands significantly to include activities, hobbies, and routines. Learners move beyond simple nouns and start using infinitive verbs as objects. They learn to construct sentences like 'मैं किताबें पढ़ना पसंद करता हूँ' (I like to read books) or 'हम क्रिकेट खेलना पसंद करते हैं' (We like to play cricket). This allows for much richer conversations about daily life and leisure time. The past and future tenses are also introduced. The future tense ('मैं पसंद करूँगा' - I will like/choose) is practiced in the context of making plans or ordering in a restaurant. The past tense introduces the critical concept of ergativity. A2 learners must grapple with the rule that in the past tense, the subject takes 'ने' (ne) and the verb agrees with the object: 'मैंने वह फिल्म पसंद की' (I liked that film). This is a major grammatical hurdle, and 'pasand karna' serves as an excellent practice verb for this rule. Furthermore, learners start using 'pasand karna' to express preferences between two things, often using 'से ज़्यादा' (se zyada - more than). For example, 'मैं चाय से ज़्यादा कॉफी पसंद करता हूँ' (I like coffee more than tea). The vocabulary becomes more abstract, and learners can discuss their preferences regarding weather, types of music, and travel destinations.

At the B1 level, learners use 'पसंद करना' with greater fluency and in more complex, abstract contexts. They are expected to justify their preferences, explaining *why* they like something using conjunctions like 'क्योंकि' (kyonki - because). For instance, 'मैं यह शहर पसंद करता हूँ क्योंकि यहाँ के लोग बहुत अच्छे हैं' (I like this city because the people here are very nice). The distinction between the active 'पसंद करना' and the dative 'पसंद होना/आना' becomes clearer, and learners can choose the appropriate structure based on subtle nuances of meaning. They also learn the variation 'पसंद आना' (pasand aana - to become pleasing/to strike one's fancy), which is often used when seeing something for the first time, like shopping: 'मुझे यह कमीज़ पसंद आ गई है' (I have come to like this shirt / This shirt caught my eye). At this intermediate level, the verb is used to discuss professional preferences, cultural tastes, and interpersonal relationships. Learners can comfortably navigate scenarios like job interviews ('मैं टीम में काम करना पसंद करता हूँ' - I like working in a team) or discussing the plot of a movie. They also understand the cultural weight of the word in romantic contexts, knowing that 'मैं तुम्हें पसंद करता हूँ' implies a significant level of romantic interest.

At the B2 level, 'पसंद करना' is utilized with a high degree of naturalness and cultural awareness. Learners understand the subtle registers of the word and can seamlessly switch between alternatives like 'अच्छा लगना', 'भाना', and 'चाहना' depending on the exact emotional tone they wish to convey. They can use 'pasand karna' in complex conditional sentences, such as 'अगर मुझे यह नौकरी मिल गई, तो मैं इसे बहुत पसंद करूँगा' (If I get this job, I will like it very much). They are adept at using it in passive constructions or impersonal statements. At this stage, learners are also comfortable with idiomatic expressions that incorporate the concept of 'pasand'. They can engage in debates and discussions, expressing strong opinions and preferences regarding politics, art, and societal issues. They understand how the word is used in media, such as the concept of 'liking' on social media platforms, and can discuss digital trends. The focus is on precision; a B2 speaker knows exactly when to use the active voice to emphasize a deliberate choice versus the dative voice to express a natural inclination. They rarely make errors with the ergative 'ne' in the past tense, demonstrating a solid internalization of Hindi's complex grammatical structures.

At the C1 level, the learner's command of 'पसंद करना' is near-native. They can appreciate its usage in literature, poetry, and formal rhetoric. They understand the Persian etymology of the word ('pasand') and how it functions as a noun or adjective independently of the verb 'karna'. For example, they can understand phrases like 'अपनी पसंद का काम करो' (Do the work of your choice), where 'pasand' is used as a noun. They can easily comprehend and produce complex sentences involving relative clauses, such as 'वह किताब जो तुमने मुझे दी थी, मैंने उसे बहुत पसंद किया' (The book that you gave me, I liked it very much). C1 learners can navigate highly nuanced social situations, using the verb to express diplomatic preferences or polite refusals in formal business settings. They are aware of regional variations in how preferences are expressed across the Hindi-speaking diaspora. They can analyze the psychological and cultural implications of 'pasand' in the context of Indian societal norms, such as arranged marriages, where 'pasand' carries the weight of familial approval and lifelong commitment. Their vocabulary is expansive enough that 'pasand karna' is just one tool among many for expressing affinity, allowing for highly articulate and sophisticated communication.

At the C2 level, the mastery of 'पसंद करना' involves a deep, academic, and historical understanding of the word and its place within the broader Indo-Aryan and Indo-Iranian linguistic landscape. A C2 speaker can discuss the historical shift of Persian vocabulary into Hindustani during the Mughal era and how words like 'pasand' became fully integrated into the daily lexicon, replacing or coexisting with Sanskrit-derived terms like 'ruchi' or 'priya'. They can effortlessly employ the word in creative writing, manipulating its syntax for poetic effect. They understand the absolute subtlest shades of meaning, recognizing when 'pasand karna' is used ironically or sarcastically. They can deconstruct complex literary texts where the concept of 'choice' (pasand) is a central theme. At this level of bilingual proficiency, the speaker does not merely translate 'to like' into 'pasand karna'; they think directly in Hindi, utilizing the word with the exact cultural resonance, rhythmic cadence, and emotional depth of a highly educated native speaker. They can lecture, debate, and write extensively on topics related to aesthetics, personal philosophy, and cultural preferences, using 'pasand' as a foundational concept to explore the human condition within a South Asian context.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

पसंद करना in 30 Seconds

The most common Hindi verb for 'to like'.
Combines Persian 'pasand' with Hindi 'karna'.
Used for food, people, hobbies, and choices.
Requires 'ne' in the past tense.

The Hindi verb पसंद करना (pasand karnā) is one of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs in the Hindi language. For English speakers learning Hindi, mastering this verb is an absolute necessity because it translates directly to the English verb 'to like' or 'to find agreeable'. However, its usage, etymology, and grammatical structure offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich linguistic history of the Indian subcontinent. The word 'pasand' actually originates from the Persian language, where it means 'pleasing', 'approved', or 'acceptable'. When combined with the Hindi auxiliary verb 'karna' (to do), it forms a conjunct verb that literally translates to 'to do pleasing' or 'to make a choice'. This construction is extremely common in Hindi, where nouns or adjectives borrowed from Persian, Arabic, or Sanskrit are paired with 'karna' or 'hona' to create verbs.

In everyday conversation, you will hear 'pasand karna' used in a wide variety of contexts. It is used to express preferences for food, clothing, movies, hobbies, and even people. When an Indian host asks you what you would like to drink, they are inquiring about your 'pasand'. When you are shopping in a bustling market in Delhi or Mumbai, the shopkeeper will show you different items and ask which one you 'pasand' do. In the modern digital age, the English concept of 'liking' a post on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram has been seamlessly translated into Hindi using this exact verb. You will often see buttons or prompts asking users to 'pasand karein' (please like) a video or a picture.

Literal Meaning: To do approval or to make a choice.
Common Translation: To like, to prefer, to appreciate.
Root Origin: Persian 'pasand' combined with Hindi 'karna'.

One of the most interesting aspects of expressing likes in Hindi is that there are two distinct grammatical ways to do it, and understanding the difference is crucial for sounding like a native speaker. The first method uses 'pasand karna' as an active, transitive verb. In this structure, the person who likes something is the subject, and they actively 'do the liking'. For example, 'Main chai pasand karta hoon' means 'I like tea'. This form is often used when emphasizing a conscious choice, a habit, or a strong preference. It is frequently used in formal contexts, in writing, or when making a definitive statement about one's tastes.

मैं भारतीय खाना पसंद करता हूँ। (I like Indian food.)

क्या तुम यह किताब पसंद करते हो? (Do you like this book?)

However, the second method is actually much more common in everyday, colloquial spoken Hindi. This method uses the dative case, where the subject takes the postposition 'ko' (to), and the verb used is 'hona' (to be) instead of 'karna' (to do). The structure becomes 'Mujhe X pasand hai', which literally translates to 'To me, X is pleasing'. While this article focuses primarily on the active verb 'pasand karna', it is impossible to teach it effectively without contrasting it with the dative 'pasand hai' structure. Native speakers switch between these two forms fluidly depending on the context, the level of formality, and regional dialects. Generally, 'mujhe pasand hai' is the default for simple, everyday likes, while 'main pasand karta hoon' carries a slightly more deliberate or formal tone.

Active Form: Subject + Object + pasand karta/karti + hoon/hai.
Dative Form: Subject-ko + Object + pasand + hai.

Beyond simple preferences for objects or food, 'pasand karna' is also heavily used in the context of interpersonal relationships. In Indian culture, particularly in the context of arranged marriages, the process of families meeting and individuals deciding if they want to marry is often described using this verb. If a man and a woman meet and find each other agreeable, they will say 'Maine use pasand kar liya hai' (I have liked/approved of him/her). It is a crucial step before formalizing an engagement. In modern dating, it simply means to have a crush on someone or to be romantically interested in them. 'Main tumhe bahut pasand karta hoon' is a common way to confess feelings, sitting somewhere between a casual 'I like you' and a deep 'I love you' (main tumse pyar karta hoon).

वह उस लड़के को पसंद करती है। (She likes that boy.)

हम साथ काम करना पसंद करते हैं। (We like working together.)

Furthermore, 'pasand karna' can take another verb as its object, allowing you to express that you like doing a particular activity. In this case, the activity verb is placed in its infinitive form (ending in -na) right before 'pasand karna'. For instance, 'khelna' means 'to play'. To say 'I like to play', you would say 'Main khelna pasand karta hoon'. This makes it an incredibly versatile building block for constructing complex sentences about hobbies, routines, and lifestyle choices. Whether you are talking about reading books (kitabein padhna), traveling (ghoomna), or listening to music (sangeet sunna), you simply place the infinitive verb phrase before 'pasand karna'.

मुझे किताबें पढ़ना पसंद है। (I like to read books.)

With Verbs: Use the infinitive form of the action verb before pasand karna.

In summary, 'pasand karna' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a cultural and grammatical cornerstone of the Hindi language. It bridges the gap between Persian heritage and modern Indian daily life. It facilitates conversations about food, art, relationships, and digital interactions. By understanding both its active conjugation and its dative alternative, learners unlock the ability to express their identity, their tastes, and their desires clearly and naturally in Hindi. Mastery of this single verb opens up countless conversational pathways, allowing you to connect with native speakers on a personal level by sharing what brings you joy and what you value in life.

Understanding how to construct sentences with पसंद करना (pasand karnā) requires a solid grasp of Hindi verb conjugation and sentence structure. Hindi follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order, which is different from the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order used in English. Therefore, the verb 'pasand karna' will almost always appear at the very end of the sentence. Because it is a conjunct verb made of the noun/adjective 'pasand' and the verb 'karna', all the grammatical changes—such as tense, gender, and number—are applied exclusively to the 'karna' part. The word 'pasand' remains completely unchanged regardless of who is speaking or what tense is being used. This simplifies things slightly, as you only need to know the standard conjugations for the verb 'karna' (to do).

Let us break down the present tense first, as it is the most common way to express general likes and habits. In the present simple tense, a male speaker saying 'I like' will say 'Main ... pasand karta hoon'. A female speaker will say 'Main ... pasand karti hoon'. Notice how 'karta' changes to 'karti' to reflect the feminine gender of the subject. If the subject is plural, such as 'we' (hum) or 'they' (ve), the verb becomes 'karte hain'. For example, 'Hum kriket pasand karte hain' means 'We like cricket'. When speaking formally to someone using the pronoun 'aap' (you, formal), you also use the plural masculine form 'karte hain' or feminine 'karti hain' out of respect. 'Aap kya pasand karte hain?' translates to 'What do you like?'.

Masculine Singular: मैं पसंद करता हूँ (Main pasand karta hoon)
Feminine Singular: मैं पसंद करती हूँ (Main pasand karti hoon)
Plural / Formal: हम/आप पसंद करते हैं (Hum/Aap pasand karte hain)

मेरा भाई मीठा पसंद करता है। (My brother likes sweets.)

मेरी बहन तीखा पसंद करती है। (My sister likes spicy food.)

Moving to the past tense, the rules change significantly due to a unique feature of Hindi grammar called ergativity. Because 'pasand karna' is a transitive verb (it takes a direct object), when it is used in the simple past tense (perfective aspect), the subject must take the postposition 'ne'. When 'ne' is attached to the subject, the verb no longer agrees with the subject; instead, it agrees with the gender and number of the object. If the object is masculine singular, the verb becomes 'pasand kiya'. If the object is feminine singular, it becomes 'pasand ki'. For example, if a man or a woman says 'I liked the apple' (seb is masculine), they both say 'Maine seb pasand kiya'. If they say 'I liked the tea' (chai is feminine), they both say 'Maine chai pasand ki'. This ergative rule is often challenging for beginners but is essential for correct past tense usage.

Past Tense Rule: Subject + ne + Object + pasand kiya/ki/kiye/kin.
Masculine Object: मैंने वह घर पसंद किया। (I liked that house.)
Feminine Object: उसने यह गाड़ी पसंद की। (He/She liked this car.)

अध्यापक ने मेरा काम पसंद किया। (The teacher liked my work.)

In the future tense, the verb 'karna' conjugates to show future intention. A male speaker will say 'Main pasand karoonga' (I will like/choose), and a female speaker will say 'Main pasand karoongi'. The plural/formal form is 'pasand karenge'. The future tense is often used when making decisions, such as looking at a menu in a restaurant or shopping for clothes. You might say, 'Main yeh wala pasand karoonga' meaning 'I will choose/like this one'. It implies a decision being made in the moment that will affect the immediate future.

हम कल फिल्म देखना पसंद करेंगे। (We would like to watch a movie tomorrow.)

क्या आप कॉफी पीना पसंद करेंगे? (Would you like to drink coffee?)

It is also vital to understand negative sentences. To say 'do not like', you simply place the negative particle 'nahi' (no/not) immediately before the verb 'pasand'. So, 'Main pasand nahi karta hoon' means 'I do not like'. In spoken Hindi, the auxiliary verb 'hoon/hai/hain' is sometimes dropped in negative sentences, making it simply 'Main pasand nahi karta'. Another way to express dislike is to use the antonym 'napasand karna' (to dislike), though using 'pasand nahi karna' is generally more common and sounds slightly softer. By mastering these conjugations across present, past, and future tenses, and understanding how to form negatives, learners can express a vast array of preferences, opinions, and choices accurately in Hindi.

The word पसंद करना (pasand karnā) is ubiquitous in Hindi-speaking environments. You will encounter it in almost every facet of daily life, from casual street conversations to formal business meetings, and from classic Bollywood cinema to modern digital interfaces. One of the most common places you will hear this word is in the context of food and hospitality. Indian culture places a massive emphasis on hosting guests (mehman-nawazi), and a core part of this is ensuring the guest is served food and drinks that they enjoy. When you visit an Indian home, the host will almost certainly ask, 'Aap kya khana pasand karenge?' (What would you like to eat?). In restaurants, waiters use formal variations of this verb to take orders, asking about your preferences for spice levels, vegetarian or non-vegetarian options, and desserts. Food is a universal language, and 'pasand karna' is the key to navigating it in India.

Shopping is another domain where this verb reigns supreme. Whether you are bargaining for textiles in the colorful bazaars of Jaipur, buying jewelry in Hyderabad, or browsing a modern shopping mall in Delhi, expressing your choices relies heavily on 'pasand karna'. Shopkeepers will present various items and ask, 'Kya aapne kuch pasand kiya?' (Have you liked/chosen anything?). If you want to reject an item politely, you can say, 'Mujhe yeh pasand nahi aaya' (I didn't like this) or 'Main kuch aur pasand karunga' (I will choose something else). The verb is deeply tied to the act of selection and consumer preference. It empowers the buyer to navigate endless options and communicate exactly what suits their taste.

Hospitality: Used to ask guests about their food and drink preferences.
Retail: Used by shopkeepers to help customers select items.
Entertainment: Used to discuss favorite movies, songs, and actors.

मैं यह लाल कमीज़ पसंद करता हूँ। (I like this red shirt.)

क्या आप चाय पसंद करेंगे या कॉफी? (Would you like tea or coffee?)

Bollywood, the massive Hindi film industry, is perhaps the greatest global exporter of the Hindi language, and 'pasand karna' features prominently in its scripts and songs. Romantic storylines often revolve around characters realizing who they truly 'pasand' do. You will hear dramatic dialogues where a protagonist confesses, 'Main sirf tumhe pasand karta hoon' (I only like you). In the context of arranged marriages, which is a frequent theme in Indian cinema and television dramas, the phrase 'Ladke ne ladki ko pasand kar liya' (The boy has approved of/liked the girl) is a pivotal plot point. The verb captures the tension, the romance, and the societal expectations surrounding relationships and marriage in South Asian culture.

मैं तुम्हारी सादगी पसंद करता हूँ। (I like your simplicity.)

दर्शक इस फिल्म को बहुत पसंद कर रहे हैं। (The audience is liking this film very much.)

In the modern era, the internet and social media have given 'pasand karna' a massive new domain of usage. Every time a Hindi speaker uses Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram with the language set to Hindi, the 'Like' button is translated as 'Pasand karein'. Content creators and YouTubers constantly end their videos by saying, 'Agar aapko video pasand aayi, toh like aur share karein' (If you liked the video, please like and share). The digital metric of 'likes' is referred to as 'pasand'. This digital integration shows how a traditional verb with Persian roots has seamlessly adapted to 21st-century technology. It proves that 'pasand karna' is not just a static vocabulary word, but a living, breathing part of the evolving Hindi language.

Social Media: The direct translation for the 'Like' button on platforms.
Arranged Marriages: Used to indicate approval of a prospective bride or groom.

कृपया मेरे पेज को पसंद करें। (Please like my page.)

Finally, you will hear this word in professional and academic settings. During job interviews, an employer might ask, 'Aap kis tarah ka mahol pasand karte hain?' (What kind of environment do you prefer?). In schools, teachers ask students about the subjects they like. It is used to express professional preferences, work styles, and academic interests. Because it can range from expressing a casual liking for a cup of tea to a deep, considered preference for a career path, 'pasand karna' is truly a word for all seasons and all situations in the Hindi-speaking world.

When English speakers learn the Hindi verb पसंद करना (pasand karnā), they frequently encounter a few specific stumbling blocks. Because the concept of 'liking' maps slightly differently in Hindi grammar compared to English, direct word-for-word translation often leads to errors. The most prevalent and confusing mistake involves mixing up the active construction ('pasand karna') with the dative construction ('pasand hona/hai'). In English, 'I like apples' is a straightforward Subject-Verb-Object sentence. A beginner might try to translate this literally into Hindi using the dative structure but keeping the nominative pronoun, resulting in the incorrect sentence: 'Main seb pasand hai'. This is grammatically nonsensical in Hindi. It literally translates to 'I am pleasing apples'.

To fix this, the learner must choose one of two distinct paths. Path A is the active voice: 'Main seb pasand karta hoon' (I like apples). Here, 'Main' (I) is the subject, and the verb 'karta hoon' agrees with the masculine singular subject 'Main'. Path B is the dative voice: 'Mujhe seb pasand hai' (To me, apples are pleasing). Here, the subject 'I' transforms into the dative pronoun 'Mujhe' (to me), and the verb 'hai' (is) agrees with the object 'seb' (apples). Mixing the pronoun from Path A ('Main') with the verb ending from Path B ('hai') is the number one mistake beginners make. It takes practice to mentally separate these two structures and use them consistently without cross-contamination.

Incorrect: मैं चाय पसंद है। (Main chai pasand hai.)
Correct (Active): मैं चाय पसंद करता हूँ। (Main chai pasand karta hoon.)
Correct (Dative): मुझे चाय पसंद है। (Mujhe chai pasand hai.)

वह संगीत पसंद करता है। (He likes music.)

उसे संगीत पसंद है। (He/She likes music. - Dative)

Another frequent error occurs when using 'pasand karna' in the past tense. As mentioned earlier, 'pasand karna' is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. In Hindi, transitive verbs in the perfective past tense require the subject to take the ergative marker 'ne'. English speakers often forget this rule because English has no equivalent. A learner might say 'Main yeh film pasand kiya' (I liked this film), which is incorrect. Because it is past tense, 'Main' must become 'Maine' (Main + ne). Furthermore, the verb must agree with the object, not the subject. Since 'film' is a feminine noun in Hindi, the verb 'kiya' must change to 'ki'. The correct sentence is 'Maine yeh film pasand ki'. Forgetting the 'ne' marker and failing to make the verb agree with the object's gender are twin mistakes that immediately mark a speaker as a non-native.

Incorrect Past: मैं किताब पसंद किया। (Main kitab pasand kiya.)
Correct Past: मैंने किताब पसंद की। (Maine kitab pasand ki.) - Kitab is feminine.

राम ने नया फोन पसंद किया। (Ram liked the new phone.)

सीता ने नीली साड़ी पसंद की। (Sita liked the blue saree.)

A third common mistake relates to using infinitive verbs as objects. When you want to say 'I like to sleep', the verb 'to sleep' (sona) acts as the object. Learners sometimes try to conjugate both verbs, saying something like 'Main sota pasand karta hoon', which is incorrect. The secondary verb must remain in its pure infinitive form, ending in '-na'. The correct phrasing is 'Main sona pasand karta hoon'. The infinitive verb in Hindi functions as a masculine singular verbal noun. Therefore, if you are using the past tense with an infinitive object, the main verb will always be masculine singular ('kiya'). For example, 'Maine wahan jana pasand kiya' (I liked going there). Remembering that infinitive verbs act as masculine singular nouns helps resolve a lot of confusion regarding agreement.

हम यात्रा करना पसंद करते हैं। (We like to travel.)

Finally, learners sometimes overuse 'pasand karna' when other verbs might be more appropriate. While it is a versatile word, using it to express deep romantic love can sound a bit understated. If you want to say 'I love you', saying 'Main tumhe pasand karta hoon' translates closer to 'I have a crush on you' or 'I really like you'. For true love, 'pyar karna' or 'mohabbat karna' are the correct terms. Conversely, using 'pasand karna' for minor, fleeting preferences might sound too formal in casual street slang, where 'achchha lagna' (to feel good) is often preferred. Navigating these subtle nuances of register and intensity takes time, but avoiding the major grammatical pitfalls of dative mixing and ergative past tense will immediately elevate your Hindi to a much more proficient level.

While पसंद करना (pasand karnā) is the most direct and common translation for 'to like', the Hindi language offers a rich tapestry of alternative verbs and phrases to express preference, affection, and enjoyment. Knowing these alternatives allows a speaker to add nuance, adjust their level of formality, and sound more like a native speaker. The most important alternative to understand is the phrase अच्छा लगना (achchhā lagnā). This phrase literally translates to 'to seem good' or 'to feel good'. It is used almost interchangeably with the dative form of pasand (mujhe pasand hai), but it carries a slightly different flavor. 'Achchha lagna' is often used for sensory experiences or spontaneous feelings of liking. For example, 'Mujhe yeh gaana achchha lagta hai' (I like this song / This song feels good to me). It feels slightly more passive and emotional than 'pasand karna', which can imply a more active, cognitive choice.

Another closely related concept is चाहना (chāhnā), which translates to 'to want', 'to desire', or sometimes 'to love'. While 'pasand karna' is about liking something that is present or an established fact, 'chahna' often implies a desire to possess or achieve something that you do not currently have. For instance, 'Main ek nayi gaadi chahta hoon' means 'I want a new car'. However, in romantic contexts, 'chahna' elevates the feeling beyond mere liking. 'Main tumhe chahta hoon' is a poetic and intense way of saying 'I desire you' or 'I love you', often found in Bollywood songs and literature. It is much stronger than 'pasand karna'.

अच्छा लगना (achchha lagna): To feel good / to appeal to the senses. Very common in casual speech.
चाहना (chahna): To want / to desire. Stronger emotional pull or indicating a lack of the object.
प्यार करना (pyar karna): To love. Used for deep romantic or familial affection.

मुझे बारिश बहुत अच्छी लगती है। (I really like the rain / The rain feels very good to me.)

मैं एक कप चाय चाहता हूँ। (I want a cup of tea.)

For expressing deep affection, प्यार करना (pyār karnā) or प्रेम करना (prem karnā) are the appropriate verbs. These translate directly to 'to love'. While English speakers might casually say 'I love pizza', translating this directly to 'Main pizza se pyar karta hoon' sounds slightly comical and overly dramatic in Hindi. In Hindi, 'pyar karna' is generally reserved for living beings—family, friends, pets, and romantic partners. For inanimate objects or food, 'bahut pasand karna' (to like a lot) or 'bahut achchha lagna' are the culturally appropriate ways to express strong preference without sounding melodramatic.

मैं अपने परिवार से प्यार करता हूँ। (I love my family.)

यह रंग मेरी आँखों को भाता है। (This color appeals to my eyes.)

A more literary or poetic alternative is the verb भाना (bhānā), which means 'to appeal to' or 'to be pleasing'. It is structurally similar to 'achchha lagna' and is often used in literature, poetry, or older forms of Hindi. For example, 'Mujhe yeh jagah bhati hai' means 'This place appeals to me'. While you might not use it in everyday street conversation, recognizing it will greatly enhance your comprehension of Hindi literature and classic film dialogues. Another formal alternative is रुचि होना (ruchi honā), which means 'to have an interest in'. This is highly formal and is used in academic or professional contexts. 'Meri is vishay mein ruchi hai' translates to 'I have an interest in this subject'. By understanding these alternatives, learners can move beyond basic communication and express their thoughts with precision, cultural appropriateness, and stylistic flair.

भाना (bhana): To appeal. Poetic and literary.
रुचि होना (ruchi hona): To have an interest. Formal and academic.

मेरी विज्ञान में रुचि है। (I have an interest in science.)

In conclusion, while 'pasand karna' is your reliable, everyday workhorse for expressing likes and preferences, expanding your vocabulary to include 'achchha lagna', 'chahna', 'pyar karna', and 'ruchi hona' will make your Hindi sound much more natural and expressive. It allows you to distinguish between a casual sensory pleasure, an active choice, a deep desire, and a formal academic interest, giving you the full spectrum of human preference at your fingertips.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"समिति ने इस प्रस्ताव को पसंद किया है।"

Neutral

"मैं यह किताब पसंद करता हूँ।"

Informal

"मुझे यह जगह बहुत पसंद है यार।"

Child friendly

"क्या तुम्हें चॉकलेट पसंद है?"

Slang

"ये गाना एकदम मेरी पसंद का है।"

Fun Fact

Because 'pasand' originally meant 'approved' in a formal sense, its usage in older texts often carries a heavier weight than the modern, casual 'like'. When a Mughal emperor 'pasand' did something, it meant it received royal sanction!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /pəˈsənd kərˈnɑː/

US /pəˈsənd kɑrˈnɑ/

pa-SAND kar-NAA

Rhymes With

मंद (mand - slow) छंद (chhand - meter/verse) बंद (band - closed) आनंद (aanand - joy) मरना (marna - to die) डरना (darna - to fear) करना (karna - to do) भरना (bharna - to fill)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'sand' like the English word 'sand' (beach sand). It should sound like 'sund' (rhymes with fund).
Aspirating the 'k' in 'karna' to sound like 'kharna'. It should be a soft, unaspirated 'k'.
Making the first 'a' in 'pasand' too long. It is a short schwa sound.
Forgetting to lengthen the final 'aa' in 'karnaa'.
Pronouncing the 'd' in 'pasand' as a hard English 'd'. It is a soft dental 'd', with the tongue touching the back of the upper teeth.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The word is written phonetically in Devanagari (पसंद). The nasal dot (bindu) over 'sa' represents the 'n' sound, which is easy to read once learned.

Writing 3/5

Remembering to place the bindu (dot) correctly over the 'स' (sa) and not the 'प' (pa) is a minor challenge for beginners.

Speaking 4/5

Conjugating the verb correctly, especially remembering the 'ne' rule in the past tense, makes speaking it accurately quite challenging for beginners.

Listening 2/5

It is spoken clearly and frequently, making it easy to pick out in natural conversation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

मैं (I) मुझे (To me) करना (To do) है (Is) नहीं (No/Not)

Learn Next

अच्छा लगना (To feel good) चाहना (To want) प्यार करना (To love) शौक (Hobby) तरजीह (Preference)

Advanced

रुचि (Interest) आकर्षण (Attraction) प्राथमिकता (Priority) दृष्टिकोण (Perspective) सौंदर्यशास्त्र (Aesthetics)

Grammar to Know

Ergativity in the Past Tense

मैंने सेब पसंद किया। (I liked the apple.) - Subject takes 'ne', verb agrees with object.

Infinitive as Object

मैं सोना पसंद करता हूँ। (I like to sleep.) - Infinitive verb ends in '-na'.

Dative Subject Construction

मुझे चाय पसंद है। (I like tea.) - Subject takes 'ko' (mujhe = main + ko).

Verb Agreement with Gender

वह (लड़का) पसंद करता है। वह (लड़की) पसंद करती है। - 'karta' for male, 'karti' for female.

Negative Placement

मैं पसंद नहीं करता। - 'nahi' is placed immediately before the verb.

Examples by Level

मैं सेब पसंद करता हूँ।

I like apples. (Male speaker)

Present tense, active voice, masculine singular subject 'main'.

मैं चाय पसंद करती हूँ।

I like tea. (Female speaker)

Present tense, active voice, feminine singular subject 'main'.

क्या तुम दूध पसंद करते हो?

Do you like milk?

Interrogative sentence using 'kya' at the beginning.

हम क्रिकेट पसंद करते हैं।

We like cricket.

Plural subject 'hum' takes the plural verb 'karte hain'.

वह लाल रंग पसंद करता है।

He likes the color red.

Third person singular masculine 'vah'.

मुझे यह पसंद है।

I like this. (Dative)

Introduction of the common dative structure 'mujhe pasand hai'.

मैं कॉफी पसंद नहीं करता।

I do not like coffee.

Negative sentence using 'nahin' before the verb.

राम आम पसंद करता है।

Ram likes mangoes.

Proper noun subject with present tense conjugation.

मैं किताबें पढ़ना पसंद करता हूँ।

I like to read books.

Using an infinitive verb (padhna) as the object.

मैंने वह फिल्म पसंद की।

I liked that film.

Past tense with ergative 'ne'. Verb 'ki' agrees with feminine 'film'.

हम कल बाहर जाना पसंद करेंगे।

We would like to go out tomorrow.

Future tense plural 'pasand karenge'.

क्या आप यहाँ बैठना पसंद करेंगे?

Would you like to sit here?

Formal 'aap' with future tense for polite offers.

मुझे चाय से ज़्यादा कॉफी पसंद है।

I like coffee more than tea.

Using 'se zyada' for comparison.

वह सुबह जल्दी उठना पसंद नहीं करती।

She doesn't like waking up early in the morning.

Negative sentence with an infinitive verb phrase.

उन्होंने मेरा खाना पसंद किया।

They liked my food.

Past tense with plural ergative subject 'unhone'.

आप खाने में क्या पसंद करते हैं?

What do you like in food?

Question word 'kya' placed before the verb.

मैं इस शहर में रहना पसंद करता हूँ क्योंकि यहाँ शांति है।

I like living in this city because it is peaceful here.

Complex sentence using conjunction 'kyonki' (because).

मुझे वह कमीज़ बहुत पसंद आई।

I really liked that shirt (it caught my eye).

Using 'pasand aana' to indicate a new realization of liking.

मैं अकेले काम करना पसंद करता हूँ।

I prefer to work alone.

Expressing professional preferences.

क्या तुमने वह नया गाना पसंद किया?

Did you like that new song?

Past tense question with ergative 'tumne'.

वह हमेशा अपनी पसंद की चीज़ें खरीदता है।

He always buys things of his choice.

Using 'pasand' as a noun (choice/preference).

मुझे लगता है कि वह तुम्हें पसंद करने लगा है।

I think he has started liking you.

Using 'lagna' (to start) with the infinitive to show beginning of an action.

मैं इस विषय पर और पढ़ना पसंद करूँगा।

I would like to read more on this subject.

Expressing academic interest using future tense.

अगर बारिश हुई, तो मैं घर पर रहना पसंद करूँगा।

If it rains, I would prefer to stay at home.

Conditional sentence structure (agar... toh).

मैं उसकी ईमानदारी को सबसे ज़्यादा पसंद करता हूँ।

I like his/her honesty the most.

Using an abstract noun (imaandari) as the object with 'ko'.

यह कहना मुश्किल है कि दर्शकों ने फिल्म क्यों पसंद नहीं की।

It is hard to say why the audience did not like the film.

Embedded question clause explaining a reason.

मैं चाहूँगा कि आप अपनी पसंद का विषय चुनें।

I would like you to choose the topic of your preference.

Using 'chahunga ki' followed by subjunctive mood.

उसने उस प्रस्ताव को तुरंत पसंद कर लिया।

He immediately liked/approved of that proposal.

Using compound verb 'kar liya' for completion of action.

सोशल मीडिया पर लोग अक्सर दिखावे को पसंद करते हैं।

On social media, people often like show-off/pretension.

Discussing societal trends and abstract concepts.

मुझे यह जगह इतनी पसंद आई कि मैंने यहीं बसने का फैसला किया।

I liked this place so much that I decided to settle here.

Correlative structure 'itni... ki' (so much... that).

क्या आप शास्त्रीय संगीत सुनना पसंद करते हैं या आधुनिक?

Do you prefer listening to classical music or modern?

Asking for a preference between two complex categories.

मेरी पसंद और तुम्हारी पसंद में बहुत अंतर है।

There is a lot of difference between my choice and your choice.

Using 'pasand' as a noun to compare tastes.

समिति ने सर्वसम्मति से दूसरे विकल्प को पसंद किया।

The committee unanimously favored the second option.

Formal vocabulary (samiti, sarvasammati) with past perfective.

साहित्य में मुझे वह शैली पसंद है जो यथार्थवाद को दर्शाती हो।

In literature, I prefer the style that reflects realism.

Complex sentence with a relative clause in the subjunctive (darshati ho).

यह उनकी व्यक्तिगत पसंद का मामला है, हमें दखल नहीं देना चाहिए।

This is a matter of their personal choice, we shouldn't interfere.

Using 'pasand' as part of a formal phrase (vyaktigat pasand ka mamla).

मुझे उसकी यह बात बिल्कुल पसंद नहीं आई कि उसने झूठ बोला।

I absolutely did not like the fact that he lied.

Using 'yeh baat... ki' to refer to an entire clause as the object of dislike.

विदेशी पर्यटकों द्वारा भारतीय हस्तशिल्प को बहुत पसंद किया जाता है।

Indian handicrafts are highly liked/appreciated by foreign tourists.

Passive voice construction (pasand kiya jata hai).

मैं ऐसे माहौल में काम करना पसंद करता हूँ जहाँ रचनात्मकता को बढ़ावा मिले।

I prefer to work in an environment where creativity is encouraged.

Advanced vocabulary and relative clause with subjunctive.

उसकी पसंद बहुत ही परिष्कृत और अनोखी है।

His/her taste is very refined and unique.

Using adjectives (parishkrit, anokhi) to describe the noun 'pasand'.

मैं चाहकर भी उसकी इस हरकत को पसंद नहीं कर सका।

Even though I wanted to, I could not bring myself to like this action of his.

Using 'chahkar bhi' (even wanting to) with the modal 'saka' (could).

शास्त्रीय उर्दू शायरी में 'पसंद' शब्द का प्रयोग महबूब की रज़ा के संदर्भ में बहुतायत से मिलता है।

In classical Urdu poetry, the word 'pasand' is abundantly found in the context of the beloved's consent.

Highly academic sentence discussing the etymology and literary history of the word.

उनकी राजनीतिक विचारधारा मुझे कतई पसंद नहीं, तथापि मैं उनके तर्कों का सम्मान करता हूँ।

I do not like his political ideology at all, nevertheless, I respect his arguments.

Formal conjunctions (tathapi) and advanced vocabulary (vichardhara).

यह महज़ एक क्षणिक पसंद नहीं, बल्कि एक गहरा वैचारिक जुड़ाव है।

This is not merely a fleeting preference, but a deep ideological connection.

Contrasting 'pasand' with deeper concepts using 'mahaz' and 'balki'.

उपभोक्तावाद के इस दौर में, हमारी 'पसंद' अक्सर विज्ञापनों द्वारा गढ़ी जाती है।

In this era of consumerism, our 'choice' is often manufactured by advertisements.

Sociological analysis using passive voice and advanced terminology.

उन्होंने अपनी पसंद को ही अपना पेशा बना लिया, जो कि विरले ही देखने को मिलता है।

He made his passion/choice his profession, which is rarely seen.

Idiomatic use of 'pasand' representing passion, with advanced relative clause.

सौंदर्यशास्त्र में यह बहस पुरानी है कि क्या कोई सार्वभौमिक पसंद हो सकती है।

In aesthetics, it is an old debate whether there can be a universal preference.

Philosophical context using 'pasand' as an abstract universal concept.

मुझे उनकी वह अदा बेहद पसंद आई जब उन्होंने खामोशी से अपनी हार स्वीकार कर ली।

I greatly admired that grace of his when he silently accepted his defeat.

Poetic and nuanced description of a specific behavior (ada).

यह परिधान न केवल मेरी पसंद के अनुकूल है, बल्कि मौसम के भी मुआफ़िक है।

This attire is not only according to my taste, but also suitable for the weather.

Formal vocabulary (paridhan, anukool, muafiq) demonstrating high fluency.

Common Collocations

बहुत पसंद करना (bahut pasand karna)

सबसे ज़्यादा पसंद करना (sabse zyada pasand karna)

बिल्कुल पसंद नहीं करना (bilkul pasand nahi karna)

खाना पसंद करना (khana pasand karna)

देखना पसंद करना (dekhna pasand karna)

रहना पसंद करना (rehna pasand karna)

अपनी पसंद (apni pasand)

पसंद की चीज़ (pasand ki cheez)

पहली पसंद (pehli pasand)

पसंद आना (pasand aana)

Common Phrases

क्या आप पसंद करेंगे? (Kya aap pasand karenge?)

मुझे यह पसंद नहीं। (Mujhe yeh pasand nahi.)

जैसी आपकी पसंद। (Jaisi aapki pasand.)

मेरी पसंद का... (Meri pasand ka...)

पसंद आपकी है। (Pasand aapki hai.)

कुछ पसंद आया? (Kuch pasand aaya?)

सबको पसंद है। (Sabko pasand hai.)

मुझे बहुत पसंद है। (Mujhe bahut pasand hai.)

क्या पसंद है तुम्हें? (Kya pasand hai tumhe?)

पसंद बदल जाना (Pasand badal jana)

Often Confused With

पसंद करना vs अच्छा लगना (achchha lagna)

Learners confuse when to use 'pasand karna' vs 'achchha lagna'. Use 'pasand' for choices and preferences, use 'achchha lagna' for sensory feelings or general pleasantness.

पसंद करना vs चाहना (chahna)

Confused with 'to want'. If you like pizza, use 'pasand'. If you want to eat pizza right now, use 'chahna' (Main pizza khana chahta hoon).

पसंद करना vs प्यार करना (pyar karna)

English speakers overuse 'pyar karna' for objects (I love this song). In Hindi, use 'bahut pasand hai' for objects, and 'pyar karna' for people.

Idioms & Expressions

"पसंद की शादी (Pasand ki shaadi)"

A love marriage. Literally 'marriage of choice', contrasting with an arranged marriage.

उन्होंने पसंद की शादी की है। (They had a love marriage.)

Informal/Everyday

"आँखों को भाना (Aankhon ko bhana)"

To be pleasing to the eyes. A poetic way of saying you like how something looks.

यह चित्र मेरी आँखों को भा गया। (This painting pleased my eyes.)

Poetic/Literary

"दिल को छू लेना (Dil ko chhoo lena)"

To touch the heart. Used when you like something so much it affects you emotionally.

उसकी कहानी ने मेरे दिल को छू लिया। (His story touched my heart.)

Emotional

"मनपसंद (Manpasand)"

Favorite. Literally 'pleasing to the mind'. Used as an adjective.

यह मेरा मनपसंद खाना है। (This is my favorite food.)

Everyday

"दिल आ जाना (Dil aa jana)"

To fall for something/someone. Literally 'the heart has come upon'.

मेरा इस घड़ी पर दिल आ गया है। (I have fallen for this watch.)

Informal/Slang

"जान छिड़कना (Jaan chhidakna)"

To love someone deeply, to the point of sacrificing one's life. Much stronger than pasand.

माँ अपने बच्चों पर जान छिड़कती है। (A mother loves her children dearly.)

Idiomatic/Emotional

"पसंद का सौदा (Pasand ka sauda)"

A deal of choice. A transaction where both parties are happy with what they get.

यह व्यापार दोनों के लिए पसंद का सौदा था। (This business was a good deal for both.)

Business/Informal

"मुँह माँगी मुराद (Munh mangi murad)"

Getting exactly what you wished/liked.

यह नौकरी मिलना मेरे लिए मुँह माँगी मुराद थी। (Getting this job was exactly what I wished for.)

Idiomatic

"खास पसंद (Khaas pasand)"

Special preference or niche taste.

शास्त्रीय संगीत उनकी खास पसंद है। (Classical music is his special preference.)

Formal

"पसंद पर खरा उतरना (Pasand par khara utarna)"

To meet someone's expectations or tastes perfectly.

यह होटल हमारी पसंद पर खरा उतरा। (This hotel perfectly met our tastes.)

Formal/Written

Easily Confused

पसंद करना vs पसंद (pasand) vs पसंदीदा (pasandida)

Both relate to liking.

'Pasand' is a noun meaning 'choice' or the root of the verb. 'Pasandida' is an adjective meaning 'favorite'.

यह मेरी पसंद है (This is my choice) vs यह मेरा पसंदीदा रंग है (This is my favorite color).

पसंद करना vs पसंद करना (pasand karna) vs पसंद आना (pasand aana)

Both use 'pasand' but with different auxiliary verbs.

'Pasand karna' is an active state of liking. 'Pasand aana' describes the event of *coming* to like something, often upon first sight.

मैं उसे पसंद करता हूँ (I like him) vs मुझे वह पसंद आ गया (I came to like him/He caught my eye).

पसंद करना vs पसंद (pasand) vs इच्छा (ichchha)

Both relate to what someone wants.

'Pasand' is a preference between options. 'Ichchha' is a desire or wish for something to happen.

मेरी पसंद चाय है (My preference is tea) vs मेरी इच्छा है कि मैं उड़ सकूँ (It is my wish that I could fly).

पसंद करना vs नापसंद (napasand) vs नफ़रत (nafrat)

Both are negative feelings.

'Napasand' is simply dislike. 'Nafrat' is intense hatred.

मैं करेला नापसंद करता हूँ (I dislike bitter gourd) vs मैं झूठ से नफ़रत करता हूँ (I hate lies).

पसंद करना vs पसंद होना (pasand hona) vs पसंद करना (pasand karna)

Active vs Dative structures.

'Pasand hona' requires the dative subject (Mujhe pasand hai). 'Pasand karna' requires the nominative subject (Main pasand karta hoon).

मुझे सेब पसंद है (To me apple is pleasing) vs मैं सेब पसंद करता हूँ (I like apples).

Sentence Patterns

मैं [Noun] पसंद करता/करती हूँ।

मैं सेब पसंद करता हूँ। (I like apples.)

मुझे [Noun] पसंद है।

मुझे चाय पसंद है। (I like tea.)

मैं [Infinitive Verb] पसंद करता/करती हूँ।

मैं पढ़ना पसंद करती हूँ। (I like to read.)

मैंने [Noun] पसंद किया/की।

मैंने वह कार पसंद की। (I liked that car.)

मैं [Noun 1] से ज़्यादा [Noun 2] पसंद करता हूँ।

मैं चाय से ज़्यादा कॉफी पसंद करता हूँ। (I like coffee more than tea.)

मुझे [Noun] पसंद आया/आई।

मुझे यह घर पसंद आया। (I came to like this house.)

अगर [Condition], तो मैं [Action] पसंद करूँगा।

अगर बारिश हुई, तो मैं सोना पसंद करूँगा। (If it rains, I would like to sleep.)

यह मेरी [Adjective] पसंद है।

यह मेरी व्यक्तिगत पसंद है। (This is my personal choice.)

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely High. Top 100 most used verbs in spoken and written Hindi.

Common Mistakes

मैं सेब पसंद है। (Main seb pasand hai.) → मुझे सेब पसंद है। (Mujhe seb pasand hai.) OR मैं सेब पसंद करता हूँ। (Main seb pasand karta hoon.)
Learners mix the nominative pronoun 'Main' (I) with the dative verb structure 'hai' (is). You must either use the full active structure or the full dative structure.
मैं यह फिल्म पसंद किया। (Main yeh film pasand kiya.) → मैंने यह फिल्म पसंद की। (Maine yeh film pasand ki.)
In the past tense, the subject must take 'ne' (Maine). Also, 'film' is feminine, so the verb must be 'ki', not 'kiya'.
मैं पिज़्ज़ा से प्यार करता हूँ। (Main pizza se pyar karta hoon.) → मुझे पिज़्ज़ा बहुत पसंद है। (Mujhe pizza bahut pasand hai.)
Directly translating 'I love pizza' using 'pyar karna' sounds unnatural in Hindi. 'Pyar karna' is for people. Use 'bahut pasand' for food.
मैं सोता पसंद करता हूँ। (Main sota pasand karta hoon.) → मैं सोना पसंद करता हूँ। (Main sona pasand karta hoon.)
When using a verb as an object (I like *to sleep*), the object verb must be in its infinitive form ending in '-na' (sona), not conjugated (sota).
वह मुझे पसंद करता है। (Meaning: I like him) → मैं उसे पसंद करता हूँ। (Main use pasand karta hoon.)
Word order confusion. 'Woh mujhe pasand karta hai' means 'He likes me'. To say 'I like him', 'Main' must be the subject.

Tips

The 'Ne' Rule

Always remember that 'pasand karna' is transitive. In the simple past tense, your subject must take 'ne' (Main -> Maine, Tum -> Tumne, Woh -> Usne).

Dative is King

For everyday casual conversation, default to the dative structure: 'Mujhe [X] pasand hai'. It sounds much more natural to native ears than the active structure.

Soft 'D'

The 'd' in 'pasand' is dental. Put your tongue against the back of your upper teeth, not the roof of your mouth, to sound authentic.

Polite Refusals

If a host offers you food you don't like, saying 'Mujhe pasand nahi' can be a bit harsh. Say 'Mera pet bhara hai' (My stomach is full) or 'Main thoda hi khaunga' (I will eat only a little).

Infinitive Objects

When saying you like *doing* something, the action verb always ends in '-na' (khelna, padhna, sona). 'Main khelna pasand karta hoon'.

Pasand vs Pyar

Reserve 'pyar karna' (to love) for living beings. Use 'bahut pasand hai' (like very much) for objects, food, and movies.

Gender Agreement

In the active present tense (Main pasand karta/karti hoon), the verb agrees with YOU (the speaker). In the dative (Mujhe pasand hai), the verb 'hai' agrees with the OBJECT.

Shopping Phrase

Memorize 'Mujhe yeh pasand aaya' (I liked this one). It is the perfect phrase to use when you finally choose an item in a shop.

Spelling Bindu

In Devanagari, the nasal 'n' sound is represented by a dot (bindu) over the 'sa': पसंद. Don't forget it!

Social Media Liking

If your phone is in Hindi, the 'Like' button says 'पसंद करें' (Pasand karein). It's a great way to practice the word daily!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you are at a market and you see a beautiful SANDcastle. You point to it and say, 'Pa, SAND! I LIKE it!' (Pa-sand = to like).

Visual Association

Visualize a giant Facebook 'Like' button with the word 'पसंद' (Pasand) written on it in bold letters. Every time you click it, you are 'doing a like' (karna).

Word Web

पसंद (Choice) करना (To do) अच्छा (Good) चाहना (To want) खाना (Food) रंग (Color) फिल्म (Movie) मुझे (To me)

Challenge

Next time you scroll through social media, instead of thinking 'I like this post', say out loud: 'Main yeh post pasand karta hoon' (or karti hoon if you are female).

Word Origin

The word 'pasand' is a direct borrowing from Classical Persian 'پسند' (pasand), which means 'approved', 'acceptable', or 'pleasing'. It is derived from the Persian verb 'pasandidan' (to approve/to choose). During the centuries of Persianate rule in the Indian subcontinent (such as the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire), Persian was the language of the court and administration. Consequently, thousands of Persian words entered the local vernacular, Hindustani. To integrate these foreign adjectives and nouns into the grammatical structure of Hindi, they were paired with native light verbs like 'karna' (to do) or 'hona' (to be). Thus, 'pasand karna' was born as a hybrid conjunct verb.

Original meaning: To approve of, to find acceptable, or to make a choice.

Indo-Iranian (Persian root) + Indo-Aryan (Hindi auxiliary verb).

Cultural Context

When talking about people, saying 'Main use pasand karta hoon' can imply romantic interest. If you just mean you like them as a friend or colleague, it's safer to say 'Woh mujhe achchha lagta hai' (He seems like a good person to me).

English speakers use 'like' very casually for almost everything. In Hindi, while 'pasand karna' is common, using 'achchha lagna' is often more natural for casual, sensory things (like the weather or a song).

The famous Bollywood movie 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge!' features the hit song 'Andekhi Anjaani', where the lyrics heavily play on the concept of who the heart will 'pasand' do. The Facebook interface in Hindi translates the iconic 'Like' button directly as 'पसंद करें' (Pasand karein). Classic Urdu ghazals frequently use 'pasand' to describe the capricious choices of the beloved.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Ordering Food in a Restaurant

आप क्या खाना पसंद करेंगे?
मैं चाय पसंद करूँगा।
मुझे तीखा पसंद नहीं।
आपकी क्या पसंद है?

Shopping for Clothes

मुझे यह रंग पसंद है।
क्या आपको कुछ पसंद आया?
मैं कुछ और पसंद करूँगा।
यह मेरी पसंद का नहीं है।

Discussing Hobbies

मैं किताबें पढ़ना पसंद करता हूँ।
मुझे संगीत सुनना पसंद है।
क्या तुम खेलना पसंद करते हो?
मेरी पसंद अलग है।

Expressing Romantic Interest

मैं तुम्हें बहुत पसंद करता हूँ।
उसने मुझे पसंद कर लिया।
हमारी पसंद मिलती है।
क्या तुम मुझे पसंद करती हो?

Using Social Media

कृपया पेज को पसंद करें।
कितने लोगों ने इसे पसंद किया?
मुझे यह वीडियो पसंद आया।
पसंद और साझा करें।

Conversation Starters

"आपको खाली समय में क्या करना पसंद है? (What do you like to do in your free time?)"

"खाने में आपकी सबसे पसंदीदा चीज़ क्या है? (What is your most favorite thing in food?)"

"क्या आप पहाड़ों में जाना पसंद करते हैं या समुद्र तट पर? (Do you prefer going to the mountains or the beach?)"

"आपको किस तरह की फिल्में देखना पसंद है? (What kind of movies do you like to watch?)"

"क्या आपको भारतीय संगीत पसंद है? (Do you like Indian music?)"

Journal Prompts

Write about three things you liked doing when you were a child using the past tense of 'pasand karna'.

Describe your favorite food and explain why you like it using 'mujhe pasand hai' and 'kyonki'.

Write a short dialogue between a shopkeeper and yourself where you reject three items because you don't like them.

List five activities you like to do on weekends using infinitive verbs + 'pasand karta/karti hoon'.

Reflect on a time your taste changed. What did you use to dislike but now like?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes and no. 'Main tumhe pasand karta hoon' translates to 'I like you' or 'I have a crush on you'. It is a common way to express romantic interest initially. However, if you want to express deep, committed love, the correct phrase is 'Main tumse pyar karta hoon'.

'Mujhe pasand hai' is the dative construction, meaning 'To me, it is pleasing'. It is the most natural and common way to express casual likes in spoken Hindi. 'Main pasand karta hoon' is grammatically correct but sounds slightly more formal or deliberate, like 'I make the choice to like it'.

Because 'pasand karna' is a transitive verb, you must use the 'ne' construction in the past tense. You say 'Maine pasand kiya' (if the object is masculine) or 'Maine pasand ki' (if the object is feminine). For example, 'Maine chai (fem) pasand ki'.

Absolutely. It is the standard way to talk about food preferences. You can say 'Mujhe bhartiya khana pasand hai' (I like Indian food) or 'Main meetha pasand karta hoon' (I like sweets).

They are very similar. 'Pasand' implies a preference or a choice. 'Achchha lagna' implies that something feels good or appeals to your senses. You might say 'Mujhe yeh gaana achchha lagta hai' (This song sounds good to me), but 'Main yeh shirt pasand karta hoon' (I choose/like this shirt).

You can ask formally: 'Aap kya pasand karte hain?' or informally: 'Tum kya pasand karte ho?'. Using the dative, you can ask: 'Aapko kya pasand hai?' or 'Tumhe kya pasand hai?'.

The word 'pasand' actually comes from Persian. It was absorbed into Hindustani centuries ago. It is combined with the Hindi verb 'karna' (to do) to form the verb 'pasand karna'.

You use the infinitive form of the verb 'to read' (padhna) before 'pasand karna'. So, you say 'Main padhna pasand karta hoon' (I like to read).

'Pasand aana' means 'to come to like' or 'to catch one's fancy'. It is often used when you see something for the first time and immediately like it, such as when shopping: 'Mujhe yeh joota pasand aa gaya' (I came to like this shoe).

Simply place 'nahi' (not) before the verb. 'Main pasand nahi karta' (I do not like) or 'Mujhe pasand nahi hai' (I don't like it).