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दोषी

A2 adjective #4,000 most common 6 min read

दोषी

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips दोषी in 30 Seconds

Explanation दोषी in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should understand 'दोषी' (Doshi) as a simple word for 'guilty' or 'at fault'. Think of it as the opposite of 'good' in a situation where something went wrong. You might hear it in very simple sentences like 'He is guilty' (Vah doshi hai). At this stage, don't worry about complex legal definitions. Just remember that it identifies the person who did the 'bad thing'. It is an adjective, so it describes a person. If you break a toy, you are 'doshi' for that small mistake. The word is easy to pronounce: Do-shee. Focus on recognizing it when someone is being blamed in a simple story or conversation.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'दोषी' in basic sentences to describe responsibility. You should learn the pattern 'X ka doshi' (guilty of X). For example, 'Chori ka doshi' (guilty of theft). You will also start to see it used with the verb 'thehrana' (to hold/declare). You might say 'Police ne use doshi thehraya' (The police held him guilty). This level requires you to distinguish between the noun 'dosh' (fault) and the adjective 'doshi' (guilty). You use 'doshi' to describe the person, and 'dosh' to describe the mistake itself. You might also encounter it in simple news snippets or social media posts about someone doing something wrong.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'दोषी' in more varied contexts, including workplace mistakes and social accountability. You will learn to use it with abstract nouns, like 'laaparvahi ka doshi' (guilty of negligence). At this stage, you should also understand the difference between 'doshi' and its Urdu-origin synonyms like 'kasurwar' or 'gunahgar'. You will notice that 'doshi' is the preferred word in formal situations, textbooks, and news reports. You can start using it in conditional sentences, such as 'Agar tum doshi paaye gaye, toh saza milegi' (If you are found guilty, you will get punishment). Your understanding of the word moves from simple blame to a more formal recognition of responsibility.

At the B2 level, you explore the nuances of 'दोषी' in legal and ethical debates. You should be able to discuss 'systemic guilt' or 'moral culpability'. You will encounter the word in complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions: 'Use doshi karaar diya gaya' (He was declared guilty). You should also understand how 'doshi' is used in literature to describe a character's internal state, even though 'apradhbodh' is more common for the feeling of guilt. You can participate in discussions about whether a person is truly 'doshi' or if they were a victim of circumstances. Your vocabulary should also include the feminine form 'doshini', although you'll recognize it as rare and formal.

At the C1 level, you master the use of 'दोषी' in academic, legal, and philosophical contexts. You can analyze the etymology of the word from Sanskrit and its connection to other concepts like 'Dosha' in Ayurveda or 'Nirdosh' in philosophy. You will be able to read complex legal judgments where 'दोषी' is used with specific legal qualifiers. You can use the word to describe collective responsibility, such as 'poori peedhi doshi hai' (the whole generation is guilty). You understand the subtle connotations it carries in political rhetoric and can use it to craft persuasive arguments or critiques. You also recognize its use in classical Hindi poetry and high-register prose.

At the C2 level, your understanding of 'दोषी' is near-native. You can perceive the subtle shifts in meaning when the word is used in different dialects or historical registers of Hindi. You can use it in highly sophisticated ways, such as in legal drafting or philosophical treatises on the nature of guilt and innocence. You are aware of how the word has evolved and can identify its use in ancient texts versus modern legal codes. You can effortlessly switch between 'doshi' and its many synonyms to achieve the exact emotional or formal tone required. You can also critique the use of the word in media, identifying biases when someone is labeled 'doshi' before a trial is complete.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

दोषी in 30 Seconds

Doshi means 'guilty' or 'at fault' in Hindi.
It is used in both legal (courtroom) and casual (home) settings.
The common grammatical pattern is '[Crime] ka doshi'.
Its direct opposite is 'Nirdosh', which means 'innocent'.

The Hindi word दोषी (Doshi) is a powerful adjective used to describe someone who has committed a mistake, a crime, or an ethical lapse. Derived from the Sanskrit root 'dosh' (meaning fault, defect, or vice), it carries both legal and moral weight. In everyday Hindi, you will encounter this word in news reports about court verdicts, in heated family arguments where blame is being assigned, and in literature exploring the depths of human conscience.

Legal Context: In a courtroom, 'दोषी' is the standard term for 'guilty'. When a judge pronounces someone guilty, they use the phrase 'दोषी पाया गया' (found guilty). It signifies that the evidence has proven the person's involvement in a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Moral and Social Context: Beyond the law, it refers to anyone responsible for a failure. If a project fails at work, the manager might look for the 'दोषी' person. In social settings, it can imply a sense of being 'at fault' for a misunderstanding or a broken promise.
Emotional Nuance: While 'दोषी' primarily describes the state of being at fault, it is often associated with the feeling of guilt (दोषी महसूस करना). However, Hindi speakers more commonly use 'अपराधबोध' (apradhbodh) for the internal feeling of guilt, while 'दोषी' remains the external label of culpability.

अदालत ने उसे चोरी का दोषी करार दिया। (The court declared him guilty of theft.)

It is important to distinguish 'दोषी' from 'अपराधी' (Aparadhi). While both can mean guilty, 'अपराधी' specifically refers to a 'criminal' who has violated the law, whereas 'दोषी' is more versatile, covering everything from a child breaking a vase to a high-profile white-collar criminal. You might say a child is 'दोषी' for the broken vase, but you would rarely call them an 'अपराधी' unless the act was a serious legal offense.

क्या तुम मुझे इस गलती के लिए दोषी मानते हो? (Do you consider me guilty/at fault for this mistake?)

Using दोषी correctly requires understanding its relationship with the preposition 'का' (ka). In Hindi, you are usually 'guilty of [something]', which translates to '[Something] का दोषी'. This grammatical structure is vital for constructing natural-sounding sentences.

The 'Ka' Pattern: Whenever you specify the crime or mistake, use the possessive marker 'का'. For example: 'हत्या का दोषी' (Guilty of murder), 'लापरवाही का दोषी' (Guilty of negligence). Notice that 'का' changes to 'की' or 'के' based on the gender and number of the object, but here it usually stays 'का' because 'दोषी' functions as the head of the phrase.
Verbs Used with Doshi: Common verbs that accompany this adjective include:
1. ठहराना (Thahrana): To hold someone responsible/guilty.
2. मानना (Maanna): To consider someone guilty.
3. पाना (Paana): To find someone guilty (often in legal contexts).

पुलिस ने उसे हत्या का दोषी ठहराया। (The police held him guilty of murder.)

When describing a female, the word 'दोषी' remains unchanged in modern spoken Hindi. While the feminine form 'दोषिनी' (Doshini) exists in formal or archaic Sanskritized Hindi, it is rarely used in daily conversation. You can safely use 'दोषी' for all genders. For example: 'वह स्त्री दोषी है' (That woman is guilty).

असली दोषी अभी भी फरार है। (The real culprit is still at large/fleeing.)

You will encounter दोषी in three primary environments: the news, legal dramas, and interpersonal conflicts. Understanding these contexts helps you grasp the weight the word carries.

In News and Media: Headline: 'भ्रष्टाचार मामले में नेता दोषी करार' (Leader declared guilty in corruption case). News anchors use this word constantly when reporting on trials, scandals, and police investigations. It is a very formal and objective term in this setting.
In Bollywood and TV Shows: In intense courtroom dramas (like 'Jolly LLB' or 'Section 375'), lawyers shout 'क्या मेरा मुवक्किल दोषी है?' (Is my client guilty?). It adds a dramatic flair to the dialogue, emphasizing the struggle between truth and falsehood.
In Daily Arguments: If someone feels unfairly blamed, they might say: 'मुझे दोषी मत ठहराओ' (Don't hold me guilty/Don't blame me). This is common in families or among friends when discussing who forgot to lock the door or who lost the keys.

सच्चाई सामने आने पर पता चला कि वह दोषी नहीं था। (When the truth came out, it was found that he was not guilty.)

In rural or semi-urban India, 'दोषी' might also be used in the context of village 'Panchayats' (local councils). When the community elders decide on a dispute, they identify the 'दोषी' party and decide on a punishment or fine. This gives the word a sense of communal justice.

Even advanced learners sometimes stumble when using दोषी. Here are the most frequent errors and how to avoid them.

Confusing Doshi and Dosh: 'Dosh' (दोष) is the noun (fault/sin), and 'Doshi' (दोषी) is the adjective (guilty/culpable). You cannot say 'I am fault' (Main dosh hoon). You must say 'It is my fault' (Yeh mera dosh hai) or 'I am guilty' (Main doshi hoon).
Overusing for 'Sorry': English speakers often say 'I feel guilty' when they actually just mean 'I feel bad' or 'I am sorry'. In Hindi, saying 'Main doshi mehsoos kar raha hoon' sounds very heavy and formal. If you just feel bad about missing a party, use 'मुझे बुरा लग रहा है' (Mujhe bura lag raha hai) instead.
Wrong Postposition: Learners often use 'se' (from) or 'par' (on) with Doshi. For example: 'Chori se doshi' (Wrong). The correct form is always 'Chori ka doshi' (Guilty of theft).

Incorrect: वह झूठ का दोष है।
Correct: वह झूठ का दोषी है। (He is guilty of lying.)

Another mistake is failing to recognize that 'दोषी' can be plural without changing its form. 'वे दोषी हैं' (They are guilty) is correct; you don't need to add a plural suffix to the adjective itself.

Hindi has several words for guilt and blame. Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the nature of the 'crime'.

दोषी vs. अपराधी (Aparadhi): दोषी: General term for being at fault or guilty.
अपराधी: Strictly 'criminal'. Use this for serious lawbreakers. You wouldn't call a person who made a clerical error an 'aparadhi', but they are definitely 'doshi'.
दोषी vs. कसूरवार (Kasurwar): कसूरवार: This is the Urdu-origin equivalent. It is very common in spoken Hindi and Bollywood songs. It feels slightly more emotional and personal than the clinical 'दोषी'.
दोषी vs. गुनहगार (Gunahgar): गुनहगार: This means 'sinner' or 'one who has committed a gunah (sin)'. It is used in religious or highly dramatic romantic contexts (e.g., 'I am a sinner in love').

वह कानून की नज़र में अपराधी है, लेकिन समाज की नज़र में सिर्फ दोषी। (He is a criminal in the eyes of the law, but only at fault in the eyes of society.)

If you want to say 'innocent', the direct antonym is निर्दोष (Nirdosh). For a more Urdu/spoken feel, you can use बेगुनाह (Begunah) or बेकसूर (Bekasur).

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"अभियुक्त को भ्रष्टाचार के आरोपों में दोषी पाया गया है।"

Neutral

"वह अपनी गलती के लिए दोषी है।"

Informal

"सब मुझे ही दोषी क्यों मानते हैं?"

Child friendly

"खिलौना तोड़ने वाला बच्चा दोषी है।"

Slang

"उसकी तो गर्दन फँस गई, वही दोषी निकला।"

Fun Fact

The root word 'Dosh' is also used in Ayurveda (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) to describe the three bodily humors. In that context, it refers to things that can become 'faulty' or unbalanced.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /d̪oː.ʃiː/

US /doʊ.ʃi/

Stress is evenly distributed, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable 'Do'.

Rhymes With

Khushi (Happiness) Rishi (Sage) Krishi (Agriculture) Nishi (Night) Hoshi (Aware - rare) Joshi (A surname) Toshi (Satisfaction - rare) Doshi (itself)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'D' as an alveolar 'd' (like in 'dog') instead of a dental 'd'.
Pronouncing 'sh' as a simple 's' (Dosi).
Shortening the final 'i' vowel.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The word is common in newspapers and books.

Writing 3/5

Requires knowledge of the 'ka' postposition.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce but carries strong weight.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to spot.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

दोष (Dosh) गलती (Galti) पाप (Paap) कानून (Kanoon) सज़ा (Saza)

Learn Next

अपराध (Apradh) अदालत (Adalat) वकील (Vakeel) सबूत (Saboot) फैसला (Faisla)

Advanced

दोषारोपण (Dosharopan) अभियुक्त (Abhiyukt) न्यायशास्त्र (Nyayashastra)

Grammar to Know

Adjective to Noun Conversion

दोषी (Adjective) can function as 'The guilty person' (Noun).

Possessive Postposition 'Ka'

Always use 'ka' with the specific crime: 'Chori ka doshi'.

Gender Invariance

Doshi is used for both masculine and feminine subjects in modern Hindi.

Verb Agreement

The verb agrees with the subject, not the adjective 'doshi'.

Causative Verbs

Using 'thahrana' (to cause to be held) with doshi.

Examples by Level

वह दोषी है।

He is guilty.

Simple subject + adjective + verb construction.

क्या मैं दोषी हूँ?

Am I guilty?

Interrogative sentence using 'kya' at the beginning.

तुम दोषी नहीं हो।

You are not guilty.

Negative sentence using 'nahi'.

वे सब दोषी हैं।

They all are guilty.

Plural subject 've sab' with plural verb 'hain'.

कौन दोषी है?

Who is guilty?

Question word 'kaun' (who).

यह बच्चा दोषी नहीं है।

This child is not guilty.

Demonstrative adjective 'yeh' with the noun 'baccha'.

राम दोषी था।

Ram was guilty.

Past tense using 'tha'.

दोषी कौन था?

Who was guilty?

Past tense interrogative.

वह चोरी का दोषी है।

He is guilty of theft.

Use of 'ka' to link the crime 'chori' with 'doshi'.

पुलिस ने उसे दोषी माना।

The police considered him guilty.

Subject 'police' + object 'use' + adjective 'doshi' + verb 'maana'.

झूठ बोलना भी दोषी बनाता है।

Lying also makes one guilty.

Gerund 'jhooth bolna' as the subject.

क्या तुम मुझे दोषी ठहराते हो?

Do you hold me guilty?

Verb 'thahrana' (to hold/declare).

असली दोषी भाग गया।

The real culprit ran away.

'Asli' (real) modifying 'doshi' used as a noun.

वह अपनी गलती के लिए दोषी है।

He is guilty for his mistake.

Use of 'ke liye' (for).

जज ने उसे दोषी नहीं पाया।

The judge did not find him guilty.

Past tense negative with 'paaya' (found).

हम सब थोड़े दोषी हैं।

We are all a little guilty.

Use of 'thode' (a little) to modify the adjective.

अदालत ने उसे हत्या का दोषी पाया।

The court found him guilty of murder.

Formal legal sentence structure.

वह खुद को दोषी महसूस कर रहा है।

He is feeling guilty himself.

Reflexive pronoun 'khud ko' + 'mehsoos karna' (to feel).

समाज उसे दोषी समझता है।

Society considers him guilty.

Abstract subject 'samaj' (society).

बिना सबूत के किसी को दोषी मत कहो।

Don't call anyone guilty without evidence.

Imperative negative 'mat kaho'.

वह लापरवाही का दोषी पाया गया।

He was found guilty of negligence.

Passive construction 'paaya gaya'.

क्या तुम इस दुर्घटना के लिए मुझे दोषी मानते हो?

Do you consider me guilty for this accident?

Specific context 'durghatna' (accident).

दोषी व्यक्ति को सज़ा मिलनी चाहिए।

The guilty person should get punishment.

Use of 'chahiye' (should).

उसने स्वीकार किया कि वह दोषी था।

He admitted that he was guilty.

Complex sentence with 'ki' (that) clause.

उसे भ्रष्टाचार के मामले में दोषी करार दिया गया।

He was declared guilty in the corruption case.

Formal phrase 'doshi karaar dena'.

नैतिक रूप से वह इस स्थिति के लिए दोषी है।

Morally, he is guilty for this situation.

Adverbial phrase 'naitik roop se' (morally).

दोषी को बचाने की कोशिश मत करो।

Don't try to save the guilty one.

Infinitival phrase 'bachane ki koshish'.

उसकी आँखों में दोषी होने का भाव था।

There was a sense of being guilty in his eyes.

Noun phrase 'doshi hone ka bhaav'.

कानून अंधा नहीं है, वह दोषी को पहचान लेता है।

The law is not blind; it recognizes the guilty.

Personification of 'kanoon' (law).

सिस्टम की विफलता के लिए कौन दोषी है?

Who is guilty for the failure of the system?

Abstract concept 'system ki vifalta'.

वह अपराधी नहीं, बस परिस्थितियों का दोषी है।

He is not a criminal, just guilty of the circumstances.

Contrast between 'aparadhi' and 'doshi'.

दोषी ठहराए जाने के बाद उसने माफ़ी मांगी।

After being held guilty, he apologized.

Participial phrase 'thahraye jaane ke baad'.

इतिहास उसे इस विनाश का दोषी मानेगा।

History will consider him guilty of this destruction.

Future tense 'maanega' with abstract subject 'itihas'.

क्या हम अपनी चुप्पी के लिए दोषी नहीं हैं?

Are we not guilty for our silence?

Rhetorical question exploring collective guilt.

दोषी की पहचान करना हमेशा सरल नहीं होता।

Identifying the guilty is not always simple.

Gerundive subject 'pehchan karna'.

उसका व्यवहार उसे प्रथम दृष्टया दोषी बनाता है।

His behavior makes him guilty prima facie.

Legal term 'pratham drishtya' (prima facie).

न्यायालय ने उसे साक्ष्यों के अभाव में दोषी नहीं पाया।

The court did not find him guilty due to lack of evidence.

Formal phrase 'sakshyon ke abhaav mein'.

वह अपनी अंतरात्मा की अदालत में दोषी था।

He was guilty in the court of his conscience.

Metaphorical use of 'court of conscience'.

दोषी को दंडित करना न्याय का आधार है।

Punishing the guilty is the basis of justice.

Infinitive phrase as subject 'dandit karna'.

मीडिया ने उसे ट्रायल से पहले ही दोषी घोषित कर दिया।

The media declared him guilty even before the trial.

Critique of 'media trial'.

दोषी की मनोवैज्ञानिक स्थिति का विश्लेषण करना अनिवार्य है।

It is mandatory to analyze the psychological state of the guilty.

Scientific and formal vocabulary.

क्या केवल कार्यान्वयन करने वाला ही दोषी होता है?

Is only the one who executes (the act) guilty?

Philosophical inquiry into agency.

वह व्यवस्था के अंतर्निहित दोषों का दोषी पाया गया।

He was found guilty of the inherent flaws of the system.

Advanced vocabulary 'antarnihit' (inherent).

दोषी होने की ग्लानि उसे भीतर ही भीतर खाए जा रही थी।

The remorse of being guilty was eating him up from within.

Poetic and intense description of emotion.

इस त्रासदी के लिए पूरी मानवता दोषी है।

The entire humanity is guilty for this tragedy.

Universal subject 'poori manavta'.

दोषी और निर्दोष के बीच की रेखा अत्यंत धुंधली है।

The line between the guilty and the innocent is extremely blurry.

Metaphorical use of 'rekha' (line).

उसने स्वयं को नियति का दोषी माना।

He considered himself guilty of destiny.

Abstract concept 'niyati' (destiny).

दोषी ठहराने की प्रक्रिया में पारदर्शिता आवश्यक है।

Transparency is essential in the process of holding someone guilty.

Administrative and legal register.

Common Collocations

दोषी ठहराना

दोषी पाना

दोषी करार देना

दोषी मानना

दोषी महसूस करना

पूर्ण रूप से दोषी

मुख्य दोषी

स्वयं को दोषी समझना

दोषी सिद्ध होना

सामूहिक रूप से दोषी

Common Phrases

दोषी कौन है?

— A standard question asking who is at fault.

इस गड़बड़ के लिए आखिर दोषी कौन है?

दोषी को सज़ा

— Refers to the punishment of the guilty.

दोषी को सज़ा मिलनी ही चाहिए।

दोषी की तलाश

— Searching for the culprit.

पुलिस असली दोषी की तलाश में है।

दोषी नहीं हूँ

— A common declaration of innocence.

मैं इस मामले में दोषी नहीं हूँ।

दोषी साबित करना

— To prove someone guilty.

वकील ने उसे दोषी साबित कर दिया।

दोषी का चेहरा

— The face of the guilty one (often metaphorical).

दोषी का चेहरा सबके सामने आ गया।

दोषी पक्ष

— The guilty party in a dispute.

दोषी पक्ष को हर्जाना देना होगा।

दोषी भावना

— A feeling of guilt.

उसके मन में दोषी भावना घर कर गई है।

दोषी की पहचान

— Identification of the guilty.

गवाह ने दोषी की पहचान कर ली।

दोषी ठहराया जाना

— The state of being held guilty.

दोषी ठहराया जाना उसके करियर के लिए बुरा था।

Often Confused With

दोषी vs दोष (Dosh)

Dosh is the noun (fault), Doshi is the person (guilty).

दोषी vs अपराधी (Aparadhi)

Aparadhi is a criminal; Doshi is anyone at fault.

दोषी vs दुखी (Dukhi)

Dukhi means sad; learners sometimes confuse the sounds.

Idioms & Expressions

"दोष मढ़ना"

— To pin the blame on someone else.

उसने अपनी गलती का दोष मुझ पर मढ़ दिया।

Informal

"दोषी की दाढ़ी में तिनका"

— A guilty conscience needs no accuser (literal: a straw in the thief's beard).

जब पुलिस आई तो वह घबरा गया, सच है कि दोषी की दाढ़ी में तिनका होता है।

Colloquial

"पाप का घड़ा भरना"

— When one's sins or wrongdoings reach their limit.

उस दोषी के पाप का घड़ा भर चुका है।

Literary

"दूध का दूध और पानी का पानी"

— To separate the truth from falsehood (to find the truly guilty).

अदालत दूध का दूध और पानी का पानी कर देगी।

Common

"उंगली उठाना"

— To point a finger of blame.

बिना सोचे-समझे किसी पर उंगली उठाना गलत है।

Common

"दामन पर दाग"

— A stain on one's reputation (being guilty of something shameful).

इस घोटाले ने उसके दामन पर दाग लगा दिया।

Poetic

"कटघरे में खड़ा करना"

— To put someone in the dock (to question their guilt).

विपक्ष ने सरकार को कटघरे में खड़ा कर दिया।

Political

"गर्दन फँसना"

— To get into trouble or be caught as the guilty party.

इस बार उसकी गर्दन फँस गई है।

Slang

"आँखें चुराना"

— To avoid eye contact because of guilt.

गलती करने के बाद वह मुझसे आँखें चुरा रहा है।

Common

"मुँह दिखाने लायक न रहना"

— To be too ashamed/guilty to show one's face.

दोषी साबित होने के बाद वह मुँह दिखाने लायक नहीं रहा।

Colloquial

Easily Confused

दोषी vs दोषी (Doshi)

Sound

Doshi means guilty; Doshi is also a common Indian surname (Joshi/Doshi).

मिस्टर दोषी दोषी नहीं हैं। (Mr. Doshi is not guilty.)

दोषी vs देशी (Deshi)

Sound

Deshi means local/indigenous.

यह देशी घी है।

दोषी vs दोस्ती (Dosti)

Sound

Dosti means friendship.

हमारी दोस्ती पुरानी है।

दोषी vs दोष (Dosh)

Root

Dosh is the flaw itself; Doshi is the person who has it.

यह मेरा दोष है।

दोषी vs दोषी (Doshi)

Context

In Ayurveda, 'Dosha' refers to bodily humors, not guilt.

उसका वात दोष बढ़ा हुआ है।

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] [Doshi] [Verb].

वह दोषी है।

[Subject] [Crime] का [Doshi] है।

वह चोरी का दोषी है।

[Subject] को [Doshi] ठहराया गया।

उसे दोषी ठहराया गया।

[Subject] [Doshi] होने के बावजूद [Action].

दोषी होने के बावजूद वह हँस रहा था।

यह [Abstract Noun] उसे [Doshi] बनाती है।

उसकी चुप्पी उसे दोषी बनाती है।

[Doshi] होने की [Emotion] [Verb].

दोषी होने की ग्लानि उसे परेशान कर रही है।

क्या [Subject] [Doshi] पाया गया?

क्या वह दोषी पाया गया?

[Subject] [Doshi] नहीं है।

राम दोषी नहीं है।

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news, legal contexts, and serious personal discussions.

Common Mistakes

Main dosh hoon. → Main doshi hoon.
Dosh is the noun (fault); Doshi is the adjective (guilty).
Vah chori se doshi hai. → Vah chori ka doshi hai.
The postposition 'ka' is required, not 'se'.
Vah ek aparadhi galti hai. → Vah ek doshpurn galti hai.
Aparadhi is for people; things are doshpurn.
Main doshi mehsoos kar raha hoon (for a small mistake). → Mujhe bura lag raha hai.
'Doshi' is too heavy for minor social errors.
Doshi log (as plural). → Doshi (or Doshi log).
'Doshi' itself can be plural, though 'log' is acceptable for clarity.

Tips

The 'Ka' Rule

Always remember that you are guilty 'of' something. In Hindi, that 'of' is 'ka'. Chori ka doshi.

Retroflex Sh

Curling your tongue slightly for the 'sh' (ष) makes you sound much more native.

Synonym Choice

Use 'Kasurwar' for a more emotional, Urdu-flavored conversation.

Be Careful

Calling someone 'Doshi' is a serious allegation. Use 'Galti' for minor mistakes.

Legal Phrase

Learn 'Doshi karaar dena' to understand 90% of Hindi crime news.

Noun Usage

You can use 'Doshi' as a noun to refer to 'the guilty person' directly.

News Watch

Watch Hindi news for 10 minutes; you will likely hear 'Doshi' at least once.

Mnemonic

Dosh = Fault. Doshi = Faulty person (Guilty).

Ayurveda Connection

Remember 'Tridosha' to keep the root 'Dosh' in your mind.

Not 'Dukhi'

Don't confuse 'Doshi' (guilty) with 'Dukhi' (sad).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Doshi' as 'Do-She'. If she 'did' (Do) it, 'She' is 'Doshi' (Guilty).

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in a courtroom with a large red 'X' on their chest, representing the 'Dosh' (fault) they carry.

Word Web

Crime Blame Court Judge Punishment Mistake Fault Culpable

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about a famous movie character who was wrongly found 'दोषी'.

Word Origin

Derived from the Sanskrit word 'Doṣa' (दोष), which means fault, vice, or deficiency. The suffix 'ī' is added to turn the noun into an adjective denoting possession of that quality.

Original meaning: One who possesses a fault or has committed a vice.

Indo-Aryan

Cultural Context

Be careful when calling someone 'Doshi' in a personal argument, as it is a very strong accusation in Hindi culture.

In English, 'guilty' can be a feeling or a legal status. In Hindi, 'Doshi' is mostly the status. Use 'Apradhbodh' for the feeling.

The movie 'Section 375' explores the complexities of who is truly 'दोषी'. Premchand's stories often deal with characters who are 'दोषी' in the eyes of a rigid society. The legal phrase 'Doshi karaar dena' is a staple of Indian news channels.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Courtroom

दोषी करार देना
दोषी पाया जाना
साक्ष्यों के आधार पर दोषी
सज़ा सुनाना

Workplace

लापरवाही का दोषी
देरी के लिए दोषी
जवाबदेह ठहराना
गलती सुधारना

Personal Relationships

झूठ बोलने का दोषी
धोखा देने का दोषी
दोष मढ़ना
माफ़ी मांगना

News Reporting

मुख्य दोषी फरार
दोषी की गिरफ़्तारी
आरोपों में दोषी
जांच जारी

Ethics/Religion

पाप का दोषी
अंतरात्मा का दोषी
नैतिक रूप से दोषी
प्रायश्चित करना

Conversation Starters

"क्या आपको लगता है कि वह दोषी है?"

"अदालत ने उसे किस बात का दोषी पाया?"

"क्या तुम मुझे इस बात के लिए दोषी मानते हो?"

"अगर वह दोषी नहीं है, तो फिर अपराधी कौन है?"

"दोषी को सज़ा मिलने में इतनी देरी क्यों हो रही है?"

Journal Prompts

क्या आपने कभी किसी ऐसी चीज़ के लिए दोषी महसूस किया है जो आपने नहीं की थी? विस्तार से लिखें।

आपके अनुसार, समाज में असली दोषी कौन है - अपराधी या वह व्यवस्था जो उसे अपराधी बनाती है?

एक कहानी लिखें जहाँ मुख्य पात्र को अंत में पता चलता है कि वह खुद ही दोषी था।

न्याय और दोषी ठहराने की प्रक्रिया के बारे में अपने विचार लिखें।

क्या 'दोषी' होना और 'बुरा' होना एक ही बात है? चर्चा करें।

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in modern Hindi, 'दोषी' is used for both men and women. While 'दोषिनी' exists, it is very rare.

Doshi is a general term for being at fault. Apradhi is specifically for someone who committed a crime (Aparadh).

You can say 'Main doshi mehsoos kar raha hoon', but 'Mujhe apradhbodh ho raha hai' is more natural for feelings.

Yes, it is formal enough for law and news, but common enough for home arguments.

The opposite is 'Nirdosh' (Innocent).

No, for objects we use 'Doshpurn' (दोषपूर्ण). 'Doshi' is for people.

It is '[Crime] ka doshi'. For example, 'Chori ka doshi'.

Yes, it can mean 'the culprit'. For example, 'Doshi ko pakdo' (Catch the culprit).

Yes, it is the retroflex 'sh' (ष), pronounced with the tongue curled back.

Constantly! Especially in courtroom scenes and dramatic confrontations.