सांस लेना in 30 Seconds
- Saans Lena means 'to breathe' in Hindi.
- It is a feminine-based compound verb.
- Used for literal breathing and metaphorical relief.
- Commonly heard in yoga, medicine, and daily talk.
The Hindi phrase सांस लेना (Sāns Lenā) is a compound verb that literally translates to 'to take breath.' In the most fundamental sense, it refers to the physiological process of inhalation and exhalation. However, in the rich tapestry of the Hindi language, it extends far beyond biology. It is used to describe the essence of being alive, the feeling of relief, and the rhythmic cycle of nature itself. Whether you are in a crowded Delhi market feeling the need for fresh air or in a quiet Himalayan ashram practicing deep meditation, this verb will be your constant companion.
- Literal Meaning
- The act of pulling air into the lungs and pushing it out. It combines the feminine noun 'सांस' (breath) with the verb 'लेना' (to take).
- Metaphorical Meaning
- It often signifies taking a moment of rest, feeling relieved from a burden, or simply 'existing' in a particular environment.
योग करते समय गहराई से सांस लेना बहुत जरूरी है। (Taking deep breaths while doing yoga is very important.)
In daily conversation, you'll hear it used when someone is exhausted, 'मुझे सांस लेने का भी वक्त नहीं मिला' (I didn't even get time to breathe), or when someone is describing a suffocating situation. Because Hindi is a gendered language, it's vital to remember that 'सांस' is feminine. This affects how the verb and its modifiers are conjugated, especially in the past tense. For instance, 'उसने चैन की सांस ली' (He/She took a breath of relief) uses 'ली' because 'सांस' is feminine.
शहर के प्रदूषण में सांस लेना दूभर हो गया है। (It has become difficult to breathe in the city's pollution.)
Culturally, the breath is linked to 'Prana' or life force. Therefore, 'सांस लेना' isn't just a mechanical act; it's often spoken of with a sense of vitality. When a poet says the flowers are 'breathing,' they use this verb to personify nature. In a medical context, doctors will ask you to 'लंबी सांस लें' (Take a long/deep breath) during a check-up. Understanding the nuances of this verb helps learners grasp the rhythm of Hindi life, from the frantic pace of urban centers to the spiritual stillness of the countryside.
वह इतनी तेज़ दौड़ रहा था कि उसे सांस लेने में तकलीफ हो रही थी। (He was running so fast that he was having trouble breathing.)
- Common Contexts
- 1. Exercise/Physical exertion. 2. Medical emergencies or check-ups. 3. Moments of emotional relief (sighing). 4. Environmental discussions (air quality).
आराम से बैठो और धीरे-धीरे सांस लो। (Sit comfortably and breathe slowly.)
Mastering the usage of सांस लेना requires understanding its conjugation across different tenses and moods. Since it is a transitive verb (taking 'breath' as the object), it follows specific rules in the past tense with the particle 'ne'. However, because 'saans' is often treated as part of the verb phrase itself, the nuances can be subtle.
1. Present Continuous: Action Happening Now
When you want to say someone 'is breathing,' you use the standard continuous form. For example: 'वह गहरी सांस ले रहा है' (He is taking a deep breath). Notice how 'le raha hai' agrees with the male subject.
बच्चा शांति से सांस ले रहा है। (The child is breathing peacefully.)
2. Past Tense: The 'Ne' Construction
In the simple past, because 'saans' is feminine, the verb becomes 'li'. If the subject is 'he' (usne), it becomes 'Usne chain ki saans li' (He took a sigh of relief). The verb 'li' agrees with 'saans', not the person.
- Masculine Subject (Past)
- राम ने गहरी सांस ली। (Ram took a deep breath.)
- Feminine Subject (Past)
- सीता ने गहरी सांस ली। (Sita took a deep breath.) [Note: The verb remains 'li' for both!]
3. Imperative: Giving Commands
In a yoga class or medical setting, you will hear 'saans lo' (neutral/informal) or 'saans lijiye' (formal). 'लंबी सांस लीजिए' (Please take a long breath) is a classic phrase used by doctors.
कृपया अपनी सांस रोकें और फिर धीरे से छोड़ें। (Please hold your breath and then release slowly.)
4. Potential and Necessity
Using 'chahiye' (should) or 'sakta' (can): 'हमें ताजी हवा में सांस लेनी चाहिए' (We should breathe in fresh air). Here, 'leni' is used because it agrees with the feminine 'saans'.
Finally, the infinitive form 'saans lena' is often used as a verbal noun. 'सांस लेना जिंदगी के लिए जरूरी है' (Breathing is necessary for life). In this case, the whole phrase acts as the subject of the sentence.
In India, you will encounter सांस लेना in three primary cultural spheres: the medical/environmental, the spiritual/yogic, and the emotional/idiomatic.
1. The Environmental Reality
In cities like Delhi, Mumbai, or Kanpur, air quality is a frequent topic of news and daily conversation. You will hear people say, 'आज बाहर सांस लेना मुश्किल है' (It's hard to breathe outside today) due to the smog (dhund). News anchors often use terms like 'दमघोंटू हवा' (suffocating air) in conjunction with 'saans lena' to describe pollution levels.
प्रदूषण की वजह से बुजुर्गों को सांस लेने में तकलीफ हो रही है। (Due to pollution, the elderly are having trouble breathing.)
2. Yoga and Wellness Centers
India is the birthplace of Yoga, and 'Pranayama' (the science of breath) is central to it. In any yoga studio, the instructor will constantly guide you: 'सांस भरते हुए हाथ ऊपर उठाएं' (While inhaling/taking breath, raise your hands) or 'सांस छोड़ते हुए झुकें' (While exhaling/releasing breath, bend down). Here, 'saans lena' is the fundamental building block of the practice.
3. Bollywood and Emotional Drama
Hindi cinema is famous for its emotional depth. You'll hear 'saans' in many romantic songs. 'तेरी सांसों में मेरी सांसें बसी हैं' (My breaths are settled in your breaths). When a character is relieved, they say, 'अब जाकर मैंने चैन की सांस ली' (Now I have finally taken a breath of peace). When someone is dying or in a tense thriller, the phrase 'आखिरी सांस लेना' (to take the last breath) is a common euphemism for passing away.
उसने अपनी मां की गोद में आखिरी सांस ली। (He took his last breath in his mother's lap.)
Whether it's a doctor asking a patient to 'लंबी सांस लो' or a friend telling you to 'relax and just breathe' (बस सांस लो और शांत रहो), the phrase is ubiquitous. It bridges the gap between the biological necessity of life and the profound emotional experiences of the human condition.
For English speakers, the most common hurdles with सांस लेना involve gender agreement, confusing the noun with the verb, and incorrect preposition usage.
- Mistake 1: Wrong Gender in Past Tense
- Many learners say 'Usne saans liya' (He took a breath). Correct: 'Usne saans li.' Because 'saans' is feminine, the verb 'lena' must change to 'li' in the perfective aspect, regardless of the person's gender.
- Mistake 2: Confusing 'Saans' and 'Saas'
- This is a classic pronunciation error. 'Saans' (with a nasal 'n') means breath. 'Saas' (without the nasal sound) means mother-in-law. Saying 'Meri saas ruk gayi' instead of 'Meri saans ruk gayi' changes 'My breath stopped' to 'My mother-in-law stopped'!
Another mistake is using 'mein' (in) incorrectly. In English, we say 'difficulty in breathing.' In Hindi, it's 'saans lene mein takleef.' Learners often forget the oblique form 'lene' and say 'saans lena mein,' which is incorrect. Whenever a verb is followed by a postposition like 'mein' or 'ke liye,' the '-na' ending changes to '-ne'.
Incorrect: मुझे सांस लेना में परेशानी है।
Correct: मुझे सांस लेने में परेशानी है।
Lastly, learners sometimes use 'saans lena' when they actually mean 'to smell' (soonghna). While both involve the nose, they are distinct actions. 'Saans lena' is for air/life, while 'soonghna' is for detecting an aroma. Don't tell someone to 'breathe the flower' (phool saans lo) when you mean 'smell the flower' (phool soongho).
While सांस लेना is the most common way to say 'to breathe,' Hindi offers several synonyms and related terms depending on the formality and the specific type of breathing.
- श्वसन करना (Shwasan Karnā)
- This is the formal, scientific term for 'to respire.' You will find this in biology textbooks or medical reports. It is rarely used in casual conversation.
- दम लेना (Dam Lenā)
- This literally means 'to take breath' but is almost always used to mean 'to take a break' or 'to catch one's breath' after hard work. Example: 'थोड़ी देर दम ले लो' (Catch your breath for a while).
- हाफंना (Hāphnā)
- To pant or gasp. This is the specific type of heavy breathing you do after running a marathon.
Comparison:
1. वह सांस ले रहा है (He is breathing - general).
2. वह दौड़ने के बाद हाफ रहा है (He is panting after running).
In poetry and literature, you might also see 'प्राण वायु ग्रहण करना' (to accept the life-air), which is a very elevated way of saying breathing. Another common phrase is 'सांसें भरना' (to fill breaths), often used to describe deep, emotional inhalations in romantic or dramatic literature.
- आह भरना (Aah Bharnā)
- To sigh. While it involves breath, it specifically refers to the emotional act of sighing due to sadness or longing.
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
The word 'Saans' is a tadbhava word, meaning it evolved naturally from the Sanskrit 'Shwas' over thousands of years through Prakrit and Apabhramsha.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'Saans' as 'Saas' (missing the nasal sound).
- Pronouncing 'Lena' with a hard 'L' instead of a soft dental 'L'.
- Over-pronouncing the 'n' in 'Saans' instead of keeping it nasal.
- Making the 'e' in 'lena' too long like 'leee-na'.
- Forgetting to aspirate if any surrounding consonants were aspirated (though none are here).
Difficulty Rating
Easy to recognize once the nasal 'n' is understood.
Requires remembering the 'bindu' (nasal dot) and compound verb structure.
Nasalization can be tricky for beginners.
Distinctive sound, usually clear in context.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Nominal Compound Verbs
Saans (Noun) + Lena (Verb) forms a single action.
Feminine Gender Agreement
Saans is feminine, so 'li' is used in the past tense.
Oblique Infinitive
Lena becomes Lene before postpositions (e.g., lene mein).
Imperative Mood
Lo (informal), Lijiye (formal).
Ergative Case (ne)
Usne saans li (The subject takes 'ne' in the past transitive).
Examples by Level
मैं सांस लेता हूँ।
I breathe.
Simple present tense.
तुम सांस लो।
You breathe.
Imperative (informal).
सांस लेना जरूरी है।
Breathing is necessary.
Infinitive as a noun.
वह सांस ले रही है।
She is breathing.
Present continuous (feminine).
क्या आप सांस ले रहे हैं?
Are you breathing?
Interrogative present continuous.
यहाँ सांस लो।
Breathe here.
Locative adverb with imperative.
लंबी सांस।
Long breath.
Noun phrase (shortened).
सांस मत रोको।
Don't stop the breath.
Negative imperative.
मुझे सांस लेने में परेशानी है।
I have trouble in breathing.
Oblique infinitive with postposition 'mein'.
वह बहुत तेज़ सांस ले रहा है।
He is breathing very fast.
Adverb 'tez' modifying the action.
डॉक्टर ने कहा, 'गहरी सांस लो' ।
The doctor said, 'Take a deep breath'.
Direct speech with imperative.
क्या तुम यहाँ सांस ले सकते हो?
Can you breathe here?
Modal verb 'sakna' (can).
हमें ताजी हवा में सांस लेनी चाहिए।
We should breathe in fresh air.
Modal 'chahiye' agreeing with feminine 'saans'.
बच्चा सोते समय सांस ले रहा था।
The baby was breathing while sleeping.
Past continuous.
सांस लेना बंद मत करो।
Don't stop breathing.
Compound verb 'band karna'.
वह धीरे-धीरे सांस ले रही थी।
She was breathing slowly.
Past continuous (feminine).
काम खत्म करने के बाद उसने चैन की सांस ली।
After finishing the work, he took a breath of relief.
Idiomatic use in simple past (li).
धुएं में सांस लेना बहुत कठिन है।
It is very difficult to breathe in the smoke.
Infinitive as subject.
अगर तुम योग करोगे, तो तुम बेहतर सांस ले सकोगे।
If you do yoga, you will be able to breathe better.
Conditional future.
उसने अपनी आखिरी सांस तक संघर्ष किया।
He struggled until his last breath.
Idiomatic phrase 'aakhiri saans tak'.
पहाड़ों की ठंडी हवा में सांस लेना अच्छा लगता है।
It feels good to breathe in the cold mountain air.
Infinitive phrase with 'lagta hai'.
मरीज को सांस लेने के लिए ऑक्सीजन की जरूरत थी।
The patient needed oxygen to breathe.
Oblique infinitive with 'ke liye'.
क्या आपने कभी शांति से सांस लेने की कोशिश की है?
Have you ever tried to breathe peacefully?
Present perfect with 'koshish karna'.
जैसे ही वह घर पहुँचा, उसने राहत की सांस ली।
As soon as he reached home, he took a sigh of relief.
Correlative 'jaise hi... waise hi'.
शहर का प्रदूषण इतना बढ़ गया है कि सांस लेना दूभर है।
The city's pollution has increased so much that breathing is arduous.
Result clause with 'itna... ki'.
गहरी सांस लेने से तनाव कम होता है।
Stress decreases by taking deep breaths.
Instrumental 'se' with infinitive.
वह अपनी सांस रोककर पानी के अंदर गया।
He went underwater holding his breath.
Conjunctive participle 'rok-kar'.
बिना सांस लिए कोई जीवित नहीं रह सकता।
No one can stay alive without breathing.
Postposition 'bina' with oblique infinitive.
उसे डर था कि वह सांस नहीं ले पाएगा।
He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to breathe.
Subordinate clause with future potential.
जब वह बोलता है, तो वह सांस लेना भूल जाता है।
When he speaks, he forgets to breathe.
Habitual present with infinitive object.
सांस लेने की प्रक्रिया को श्वसन कहते हैं।
The process of breathing is called respiration.
Formal definition structure.
उसने ठंडी सांस लेते हुए अपनी कहानी सुनाई।
He told his story while taking a cold (heavy) breath.
Present participle as adverbial.
प्राणायाम में सांस लेने और छोड़ने की एक खास लय होती है।
In Pranayama, there is a specific rhythm of breathing in and out.
Complex noun phrase as subject.
जैसे-जैसे वह ऊंचाई पर चढ़ा, उसे सांस लेने में कठिनाई होने लगी।
As he climbed higher, he began to have difficulty breathing.
Inceptive compound verb 'hone lagna'.
कविता में कवि ने फूलों को सांस लेते हुए चित्रित किया है।
In the poem, the poet has depicted flowers as breathing.
Personification in literature.
उसकी बातों ने मुझे फिर से खुलकर सांस लेने की हिम्मत दी।
His words gave me the courage to breathe freely again.
Metaphorical usage.
क्या सांस लेना सिर्फ एक शारीरिक क्रिया है या कुछ और?
Is breathing just a physical act or something more?
Philosophical inquiry structure.
महानगरों में शुद्ध हवा में सांस लेना अब एक विलासिता बन गया है।
Breathing pure air in metropolises has now become a luxury.
Socio-economic commentary.
मरीज की हालत गंभीर थी, वह मशीन के सहारे सांस ले रहा था।
The patient's condition was critical; he was breathing with the help of a machine.
Medical context with postpositional phrase.
उसने एक लंबी और बोझिल सांस ली और अपनी आँखें बंद कर लीं।
He took a long and heavy breath and closed his eyes.
Descriptive adjectives with feminine noun.
अस्तित्व की इस जद्दोजहद में, इंसान सुकून से सांस लेना भूल गया है।
In this struggle for existence, man has forgotten to breathe with peace.
Philosophical complex sentence.
ब्रह्मांड की विशालता के सामने, हमारी सांस लेना भी तुच्छ प्रतीत होता है।
In the face of the universe's vastness, even our breathing seems trivial.
Abstract comparison.
सांस लेने की उस आदिम वृत्ति ने ही उसे डूबने से बचाया।
That primitive instinct of breathing alone saved him from drowning.
Sophisticated vocabulary (aadim vritti).
जब तक यह शरीर सांस ले रहा है, तब तक उम्मीद कायम है।
As long as this body is breathing, hope remains intact.
Correlative 'jab tak... tab tak'.
उसकी रचनाओं में हर शब्द जैसे जीवंत होकर सांस लेता है।
In his works, every word seems to become alive and breathe.
Literary criticism style.
पर्यावरण के क्षरण ने हमारे सांस लेने के अधिकार को ही संकट में डाल दिया है।
Environmental degradation has put our very right to breathe in danger.
Legal/Social justice context.
योग दर्शन के अनुसार, सांस लेना आत्मा और शरीर के बीच का सेतु है।
According to Yoga philosophy, breathing is the bridge between the soul and the body.
Philosophical definition.
उसने अपनी अंतिम सांस लेते हुए भी सत्य का साथ नहीं छोड़ा।
Even while taking his last breath, he did not abandon the truth.
Participial phrase with 'bhi'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To feel revived or greatly relieved.
बेटे को सुरक्षित देखकर माँ की सांस में सांस आई।
— To find it extremely difficult to breathe (often due to pollution).
धुएं में सांस लेना दूभर हो गया है।
— Life is uncertain (breath cannot be trusted).
सांस का कोई भरोसा नहीं, कब रुक जाए।
Often Confused With
Saans is breath (nasal); Saas is mother-in-law (non-nasal).
Lena is to take; Lana is to bring. You take a breath, you don't bring it.
Soonghna is to smell; Saans lena is to breathe.
Idioms & Expressions
— To feel relieved after a period of stress.
परीक्षा खत्म होने के बाद मैंने चैन की सांस ली।
Common— To regain composure or feel safe again.
पानी पीने के बाद उसकी सांस में सांस आई।
Common— To be extremely busy or under pressure.
आज ऑफिस में सांस लेना भी मुश्किल था।
Colloquial— To say something very quickly without pausing.
उसने पूरी कहानी एक ही सांस में कह दी।
Informal— To be paralyzed with shock or fear.
शेर को सामने देखकर उसकी सांस ऊपर की ऊपर और नीचे की नीचे रह गई।
IdiomaticEasily Confused
Pronunciation
Saans (breath) has a nasal 'n', Saas (mother-in-law) does not.
मेरी सांस (breath) फूल रही है vs. मेरी सास (mother-in-law) आ रही है।
Meaning
Dam can mean breath, but also power, price, or a moment. Saans is specifically the air breath.
उसमें बहुत दम (power) है।
Concept
Jeena is to live (the whole life), Saans lena is the physical act of breathing.
वह खुशी से जी रहा है।
Object
Hawa is the air itself; Saans is the air once it is involved in breathing.
ताजी हवा चल रही है।
Register
Shwas is the formal Sanskrit term; Saans is the common everyday term.
श्वास-प्रक्रिया (Respiratory process).
Sentence Patterns
मैं [Adverb] सांस लेता हूँ।
मैं धीरे सांस लेता हूँ।
मुझे सांस लेने में [Noun] है।
मुझे सांस लेने में दिक्कत है।
[Subject] ने चैन की सांस ली।
राम ने चैन की सांस ली।
[Verb-ing] के बिना सांस लेना मुश्किल है।
दौड़ने के बिना सांस लेना मुश्किल है।
सांस लेना [Abstract Noun] का प्रतीक है।
सांस लेना स्वतंत्रता का प्रतीक है।
[Imperative] सांस लो!
गहरी सांस लो!
यहाँ [Adjective] हवा में सांस लेना अच्छा है।
यहाँ ताजी हवा में सांस लेना अच्छा है।
जब तक [Subject] सांस ले रहा है, तब तक...
जब तक इंसान सांस ले रहा है, तब तक उम्मीद है।
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Very high in both spoken and written Hindi.
-
Usne saans liya.
→
Usne saans li.
Saans is feminine, so the verb 'lena' must be 'li' in the past tense.
-
Main saas le raha hoon.
→
Main saans le raha hoon.
Missing the nasal sound makes it 'mother-in-law' instead of 'breath'.
-
Saans lena mein dikkat.
→
Saans lene mein dikkat.
The infinitive must be in the oblique form 'lene' before the postposition 'mein'.
-
Phool saans lo.
→
Phool soongho.
You smell a flower (soonghna), you don't breathe it (saans lena).
-
Saans lena chahiye (for a girl).
→
Saans leni chahiye.
The verb 'chahiye' construction usually agrees with the object's gender.
Tips
Gender Trap
Remember 'Saans' is feminine. Even if a man is breathing, in the past tense, it's 'Usne saans li'. Don't let the subject's gender confuse you.
The Nasal Dot
The 'n' in Saans is a Chandrabindu or Bindu. It's not a full 'n' like in 'sun'. It's a nasalization of the vowel 'aa'.
Relief vs. Breath
Use 'Chain ki saans' for emotional relief and 'Gahri saans' for physical deep breathing.
At the Doctor
If a doctor says 'Lambi saans lo', they want you to take a deep breath so they can listen to your lungs.
Pranayama
When practicing Yoga, focus on the words 'saans bharna' (inhale) and 'saans chhodna' (exhale).
Pollution Talk
In North India, discussing 'saans lene mein takleef' due to smog is a great way to start a conversation about the environment.
Busy as a Bee
To say you are very busy, use 'saans lene ki fursat nahi' (no leisure even to breathe).
Oblique Form
Before any postposition (me, se, ko), change 'saans lena' to 'saans lene'. Example: 'saans lene ke liye'.
Song Lyrics
Listen to the song 'Saans' from 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' to hear how the word is used romantically.
Life Force
Understand that in Hindi, breath is often equated with 'Prana', the vital life force.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Sāns' as 'Sands' of time. Just as sand flows, your breath (Saans) must flow to 'Take' (Lena) you through life.
Visual Association
Imagine a person in a yoga pose (Lotus) taking a deep breath. The word 'SAANS' is written in the air they inhale.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'saans lena' in three different tenses today: 'I am breathing', 'I took a breath', and 'I will breathe'.
Word Origin
Derived from Sanskrit 'Shwas' (श्वास), meaning to breathe or blow.
Original meaning: The act of taking in vital air.
Indo-AryanCultural Context
Be sensitive when using 'aakhiri saans' (last breath) as it refers to death.
English speakers use 'breathe' similarly, but Hindi uses 'take breath'. Metaphors like 'breath of fresh air' translate well.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Doctor's Visit
- लंबी सांस लें
- सांस रोकें
- सांस लेने में दर्द
- सांस फूलना
Yoga Class
- सांस भरें
- सांस छोड़ें
- गहरी सांस
- सांस पर ध्यान दें
Pollution/Weather
- जहरीली हवा
- सांस लेना मुश्किल
- मास्क पहनें
- साफ हवा
Stressful Situation
- चैन की सांस
- राहत की सांस
- सांस में सांस आना
- दम लेना
Sports/Running
- तेज़ सांस
- हाफंना
- सांस फूल गई
- सांस काबू में करना
Conversation Starters
"क्या आपको यहाँ सांस लेने में कोई परेशानी हो रही है?"
"योग में सांस लेना सबसे महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है?"
"दिल्ली के प्रदूषण में आप कैसे सांस लेते हैं?"
"क्या आपने आज चैन की सांस ली?"
"दौड़ने के बाद आपकी सांस कितनी तेज़ फूलती है?"
Journal Prompts
आज मैंने कब और क्यों चैन की सांस ली? विस्तार से लिखें।
मेरे शहर की हवा और वहाँ सांस लेने के अनुभव के बारे में लिखें।
क्या आपने कभी महसूस किया है कि सांस लेना और मानसिक शांति कैसे जुड़े हैं?
एक ऐसी घटना के बारे में लिखें जब आपकी सांस डर के मारे रुक गई थी।
अगर आपको शुद्ध हवा में सांस लेने का मौका मिले, तो आप कहाँ जाना चाहेंगे?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is feminine. This is crucial for verb conjugation in the past tense (e.g., 'Usne saans li').
You say 'Meri saans phool rahi hai' (My breath is swelling/inflating).
'Saans lena' is common everyday speech, while 'shwasan' is the formal/scientific term for respiration.
Usually, 'dam lena' is better for 'taking a break,' but 'chain ki saans lena' means to feel relieved.
You say 'saans roko' or 'saans rokkar rakho'.
Because Hindi past tense for transitive verbs agrees with the object. 'Saans' is feminine, so 'lena' becomes 'li'.
Yes, you can say 'saans chhodna' (to leave breath) or the formal 'nishwasan'.
It means 'last breath,' often used as a euphemism for death.
You can say 'saans andar lena' or 'saans bharna'.
Yes, very frequently. It symbolizes the connection between lovers' lives.
Test Yourself 24 questions
Write a sentence in Hindi using 'saans lena' in the future tense.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'It is difficult to breathe here because of the smoke.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The core of 'सांस लेना' is the feminine noun 'सांस'. Always ensure your past tense verbs (like 'li') and adjectives agree with this feminine gender. Example: 'उसने चैन की सांस ली' (He took a sigh of relief).
- Saans Lena means 'to breathe' in Hindi.
- It is a feminine-based compound verb.
- Used for literal breathing and metaphorical relief.
- Commonly heard in yoga, medicine, and daily talk.
Gender Trap
Remember 'Saans' is feminine. Even if a man is breathing, in the past tense, it's 'Usne saans li'. Don't let the subject's gender confuse you.
The Nasal Dot
The 'n' in Saans is a Chandrabindu or Bindu. It's not a full 'n' like in 'sun'. It's a nasalization of the vowel 'aa'.
Relief vs. Breath
Use 'Chain ki saans' for emotional relief and 'Gahri saans' for physical deep breathing.
At the Doctor
If a doctor says 'Lambi saans lo', they want you to take a deep breath so they can listen to your lungs.
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आनुवंशिक उत्परिवर्तन
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