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जख्म

A1 noun #4,000 most common 7 min read

जख्म

zakham Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips जख्म in 30 Seconds

Explanation जख्म in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'जख्म' (Jakhm) means a 'wound' or a physical cut. It is a masculine noun. You can use it in very simple sentences like 'This is a wound' (यह एक जख्म है) or 'I have a wound' (मुझे जख्म है). At this stage, don't worry about the poetic meanings. Just focus on identifying it as something physical that hurts. Remember that it is pronounced like 'Juk-hum' but the 'k' is slightly breathy (from the throat). It is a common word you might see in a first-aid kit context or if someone is showing you an injury.

At the A2 level, you should start using 'जख्म' with simple adjectives and verbs. You can describe a wound as 'बड़ा' (big) or 'छोटा' (small). You should also learn the basic verb pairing: 'जख्म होना' (to have a wound). You might say 'मेरे पैर में जख्म है' (There is a wound in my leg). You can also understand the word 'जख्मी' (Jakhm-ee), which means 'injured'. For example, 'वह जख्मी है' (He is injured). You are beginning to see the word in news headlines about minor accidents.

At the B1 level, you can explore the metaphorical uses of 'जख्म'. You should be able to understand phrases like 'पुराने जख्म' (old wounds/memories) and 'जख्म भरना' (to heal). You can use it to describe emotional pain in a basic way: 'उसकी बातों ने मुझे जख्म दिया' (His words gave me a wound/hurt me). You should also be aware of the difference between 'जख्म' (the wound) and 'चोट' (the impact/injury). You can participate in conversations about health or feelings using this word with more confidence.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'जख्म' in complex sentences and understanding its role in literature and media. You can use idiomatic expressions like 'जख्मों पर नमक छिड़कना' (to rub salt on wounds). You understand that 'जख्म' is a masculine noun and always ensure correct agreement with verbs and adjectives in the oblique case (e.g., 'जख्मों के बारे में'). You can distinguish between the formal 'घाव' and the more common 'जख्म' and choose the appropriate one based on the social context.

At the C1 level, you appreciate the poetic depth of 'जख्म'. You can analyze its use in Urdu poetry (Ghazals) and high-level Hindi literature. You understand the nuances of how 'जख्म' represents societal trauma or historical scars. You can use the word with sophisticated verbs like 'कुरेदना' (to rake up/scratch) or 'नसूर' (a non-healing wound/festering sore). Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, and you can use it to discuss abstract concepts like 'the wounds of partition' or 'the scars of a broken childhood'.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command over 'जख्म' and its various connotations. You can use it to express the finest shades of emotional and physical states. You are familiar with rare idioms and literary references involving the word. You can effortlessly switch between 'जख्म', 'घाव', and 'क्षत' (a very formal Sanskrit term) to suit the exact register of your discourse. You understand the etymological journey of the word from Persian into Hindi and how it has shaped the emotional vocabulary of the language.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

जख्म in 30 Seconds

Jakhm means a physical wound or cut.
It is also used for emotional pain and heartache.
It is a masculine noun of Persian origin.
Commonly paired with 'bharna' (to heal) and 'dena' (to give/inflict).

The Hindi word जख्म (Jakhm) is a deeply evocative noun that primarily translates to 'wound' or 'injury' in English. While its most immediate application is in the biological sense—referring to a physical breach of the skin or flesh caused by an accident, surgery, or violence—its cultural and linguistic footprint in Hindi is far more expansive. It belongs to the Perso-Arabic layer of Hindi vocabulary, which often lends words a certain poetic or dramatic weight compared to their Sanskrit-derived counterparts like 'घाव' (Ghaav). In everyday conversation, you might hear a doctor use it to describe a laceration, but you are just as likely to hear it in a soulful Bollywood song or a heated argument to describe emotional trauma.

Physical Context: In a medical or literal sense, 'जख्म' refers to any cut, sore, or ulcer. For example, if a child falls and scrapes their knee, the resulting mark is a 'जख्म'. It implies something that requires healing, bandaging, or time to recover. It is often paired with verbs like 'भरना' (to heal/fill) or 'सूखना' (to dry/heal).

डॉक्टर ने मेरे जख्म पर पट्टी बांधी। (The doctor tied a bandage on my wound.)

Metaphorical Context: This is where the word truly shines in Hindi literature and cinema. A 'जख्म' can be a broken heart, a betrayal by a friend, or the lingering pain of a past tragedy. When someone says 'मेरे जख्म अभी हरे हैं' (My wounds are still green/fresh), they are likely talking about a recent emotional setback rather than a physical injury.

The word carries a sense of vulnerability. To have a 'जख्म' is to be in a state of needing care. In social justice contexts, it is used to describe the 'wounds' of a nation or a community following a conflict. Because it is a masculine noun, adjectives modifying it will end in '-ा' (a) or '-े' (e), such as 'गहरा जख्म' (deep wound) or 'पुराने जख्म' (old wounds).

वक्त हर जख्म को भर देता है। (Time heals every wound.)

Understanding 'जख्म' requires recognizing its gravity. It is rarely used for trivial things like a papercut in a casual way; usually, it implies something significant enough to leave a mark or require a process of recovery. In the world of Urdu poetry (Shayari), 'जख्म' is a central theme, often representing the pain of unrequited love or the harshness of the world.

Using 'जख्म' correctly involves understanding its grammatical gender (masculine) and the specific verbs it typically pairs with. In Hindi, nouns don't just sit in a sentence; they 'do' or 'receive' actions through specific light verbs. For 'जख्म', the most common companions are 'होना' (to be/happen), 'देना' (to give/inflict), 'भरना' (to heal), and 'कुरेदना' (to scratch/reopen).

Describing the State of a Wound: To say someone has a wound, you use the possessive construction. 'उसको एक गहरा जख्म है' (He/She has a deep wound). Notice how 'गहरा' (deep) agrees with the masculine 'जख्म'. If the wound is healing, you say 'जख्म भर रहा है'.

सर्जरी के बाद उसका जख्म धीरे-धीरे भर रहा है। (After the surgery, his wound is slowly healing.)

Inflicting Pain (Active Usage): When someone hurts another person, especially emotionally, the phrase 'जख्म देना' is used. 'तुमने मुझे बहुत गहरा जख्म दिया है' (You have given me a very deep wound). This is a common line in dramatic dialogues.

Another sophisticated use is 'जख्म ताजा होना' (a wound being fresh). This is used when a past trauma is remembered or triggered by a current event. If someone mentions a deceased relative, you might say, 'उसकी बातों ने मेरे पुराने जख्म ताजा कर दिए' (His words made my old wounds fresh again).

पुरानी यादें कभी-कभी जख्म की तरह होती हैं। (Old memories are sometimes like wounds.)

When discussing physical injuries in a more formal or news-related context, you might see 'जख्मी' (the adjective form, meaning 'injured'). For example, 'हादसे में दस लोग जख्मी हो गए' (Ten people were injured in the accident). However, the noun 'जख्म' remains the core word for the injury itself.

'जख्म' is a high-frequency word that bridges the gap between clinical language and high-art poetry. You will encounter it in several distinct domains of Indian life. Understanding these contexts will help you grasp the 'vibe' of the word.

Bollywood and Music: If you listen to 'Sad Songs' or 'Ghazals', 'जख्म' is unavoidable. It is the bread and butter of romantic longing. Lyrics often revolve around 'जख्म खाना' (to suffer a wound) or 'जख्मों को सीना' (to stitch up wounds/bear pain silently). There is even a famous 1998 movie titled 'Zakhm' which deals with the emotional scars of communal tension.

फिल्मों में नायक अक्सर कहता है, "मेरे जख्म बहुत गहरे हैं।" (In movies, the hero often says, "My wounds are very deep.")

News and Media: In news reports about accidents, riots, or wars, journalists use 'जख्म' and its derivative 'जख्मी' (injured) constantly. It provides a more serious and somber tone than the colloquial 'चोट'. A headline might read: 'विस्फोट के जख्म अभी भी भरे नहीं' (The wounds of the explosion have still not healed).

In daily life, you might hear a parent telling a child, 'जख्म को मत छुओ, इन्फेक्शन हो जाएगा' (Don't touch the wound, it will get infected). Here, it is purely functional. However, in a political speech, a leader might talk about 'इतिहास के जख्म' (the wounds of history), referring to past injustices. This versatility makes it a powerful word to master.

Learners of Hindi often encounter a few specific hurdles when using the word 'जख्म'. Because Hindi has multiple words for 'pain' and 'injury', the nuances are easy to miss.

Confusing 'जख्म' with 'चोट': This is the most frequent error. 'चोट' (Chot) refers to the impact or the act of getting hurt (like a bump or a bruise). 'जख्म' refers specifically to the resulting open wound or cut. You 'get' a चोट, which 'results' in a जख्म. If you say 'मेरे हाथ में जख्म लगी है', it's wrong because 'जख्म' is masculine and it doesn't 'lagna' (hit), it 'hona' (exists) or 'lagna' is used for Chot.

गलत: मुझे एक जख्म लगी है। (Wrong: I have been hit by a wound.)
सही: मुझे एक जख्म हुआ है। (Right: I have a wound.)

Gender Agreement Issues: Since 'जख्म' is masculine, many students mistakenly use feminine adjectives or verbs. They might say 'बड़ी जख्म' (big wound) instead of 'बड़ा जख्म'. Always remember: Jakhm is a 'he'!

Another mistake is using 'जख्म' for internal pain like a stomach ache or a headache. For those, you must use 'दर्द' (Dard). 'जख्म' always implies a specific point of injury, whether physical or a metaphorical 'scar' on the soul.

Hindi is rich with synonyms for 'injury' and 'pain', each carrying a slightly different flavor. Choosing the right one depends on whether you want to sound clinical, poetic, or casual.

घाव (Ghaav) vs. जख्म (Jakhm): 'घाव' is the Sanskrit-origin (Tatsama) word for wound. It is used in formal literature and sometimes in medical texts. While 'जख्म' feels more emotional and conversational (due to its Urdu roots), 'घाव' feels more 'pure' Hindi. They are 95% interchangeable, but you'll hear 'जख्म' more in songs.
चोट (Chot): This means 'injury' or 'blow'. It is the most common word for getting hurt. If you trip, you say 'मुझे चोट लगी' (I got hurt). You wouldn't say 'मुझे जख्म लगी'. 'चोट' is the event, 'जख्म' is the physical result.
पीड़ा (Peeda) or कष्ट (Kasht): These mean 'suffering' or 'pain'. They are very formal. Unlike 'जख्म', they don't refer to a physical cut but to the feeling of pain itself.

तुलना: 'चोट' एक घटना है, 'जख्म' उसका निशान है। (Comparison: 'Chot' is an event, 'Jakhm' is its mark.)

In a medical setting, you might also hear 'इंजरी' (Injury) used by English-speaking Indians, but 'जख्म' remains the standard native term. If you are describing a small scratch, you might use 'खरोंच' (Kharonch). Use 'जख्म' when the injury is serious enough to be called a 'wound'.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

While Hindi has the Sanskrit word 'Ghaav', the Persian 'Jakhm' is often preferred in music and poetry because its phonetic structure (the breathy 'kh') is considered more evocative and 'heavy' with emotion.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /d͡ʒəkʰm/

US /d͡ʒəkʰm/

The stress is primarily on the first syllable 'Jakh'.

Rhymes With

रहम (Rahm - Mercy) वहम (Vahm - Delusion) फ़हम (Fahm - Understanding) अहम (Aham - Important) नज़्म (Nazm - Poem) बज़्म (Bazm - Gathering) चश्म (Chashm - Eye) खत्म (Khatm - Finish)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'Jak-am' (adding an extra vowel).
Pronouncing the 'kh' as a hard 'k' (like 'Jak-m').
Treating the 'j' as a 'z' (though 'Zakhm' is the Urdu variant, in Hindi 'J' is common).
Misgendering the word in sentences.
Confusing the spelling with 'Jham-ak'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize once the 'kh' sound is mastered.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the 'kh' (ख) and the conjunction with 'm'.

Speaking 3/5

The 'kh' sound can be tricky for English speakers.

Listening 2/5

Very distinct sound, easy to pick up in songs.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

चोट (Injury) दर्द (Pain) शरीर (Body) दवा (Medicine) खून (Blood)

Learn Next

मरहम (Ointment) इलाज (Treatment) निशान (Scar) पीड़ा (Agony) संक्रमण (Infection)

Advanced

नासूर (Festering sore) क्षत-विक्षत (Mutilated) आघात (Trauma) विदीर्ण (Lacerated)

Grammar to Know

Masculine Noun Agreement

गहरा जख्म (Deep wound) - 'गहरा' ends in 'a' to match 'जख्म'.

Oblique Case

जख्मों पर (On the wounds) - 'जख्म' becomes 'जख्मों' before a postposition.

Possessive Construction

मुझे जख्म है (I have a wound) - Uses 'ko' logic for physical states.

Compound Verbs

जख्म भर जाना (Wound becoming filled/healed) - Uses 'jana' for completion.

Adjective Formation

जख्म + ई = जख्मी (Wounded/Injured) - Adding the 'ee' suffix.

Examples by Level

यह एक छोटा जख्म है।

This is a small wound.

'छोटा' (small) matches the masculine 'जख्म'.

मुझे जख्म है।

I have a wound.

Uses the 'to me is' construction for possession of physical states.

जख्म कहाँ है?

Where is the wound?

Simple interrogative sentence.

यह जख्म साफ़ है।

This wound is clean.

'साफ़' is an adjective modifying 'जख्म'.

जख्म पर पानी मत डालो।

Don't put water on the wound.

'पर' is a postposition meaning 'on'.

क्या यह जख्म बड़ा है?

Is this wound big?

Yes/No question format.

मेरे हाथ पर जख्म है।

There is a wound on my hand.

'मेरे हाथ पर' indicates location.

जख्म लाल है।

The wound is red.

Descriptive sentence.

डॉक्टर ने जख्म पर दवा लगाई।

The doctor applied medicine to the wound.

'लगाई' is the past tense of 'लगाना' (to apply).

उसका जख्म गहरा नहीं है।

His wound is not deep.

'गहरा' means deep.

हादसे में कई लोग जख्मी हुए।

Many people were injured in the accident.

'जख्मी' is the adjective form.

जख्म अब धीरे-धीरे भर रहा है।

The wound is now slowly healing.

'भरना' is the verb used for healing a wound.

साइकिल से गिरने पर मुझे जख्म हुआ।

I got a wound from falling off the cycle.

'गिरने पर' means 'upon falling'.

जख्म को पट्टी से ढको।

Cover the wound with a bandage.

'ढको' is the imperative of 'ढकना' (to cover).

क्या तुम्हारे जख्म में दर्द है?

Is there pain in your wound?

'दर्द' (pain) is a separate noun.

पुराना जख्म फिर से खुल गया।

The old wound opened up again.

'खुल गया' means 'opened'.

वक्त हर जख्म को भर देता है।

Time heals every wound.

A common metaphorical proverb.

उसके शब्दों ने मेरे दिल पर गहरा जख्म छोड़ा।

His words left a deep wound on my heart.

Metaphorical use of 'Jakhm'.

जख्म पर नमक छिड़कने से क्या फायदा?

What is the use of rubbing salt on the wound?

Idiomatic expression for making a bad situation worse.

युद्ध के जख्म कभी नहीं भूलते।

The wounds of war are never forgotten.

Plural 'जख्म' used for collective trauma.

उसने अपने जख्मों को दुनिया से छुपाया।

He hid his wounds from the world.

Oblique plural 'जख्मों' used with postposition 'को'.

डॉक्टर ने कहा कि जख्म में संक्रमण हो गया है।

The doctor said that the wound has become infected.

'संक्रमण' is the formal word for infection.

तुम्हारे जख्म अब कैसे हैं?

How are your wounds now?

Inquiring about recovery.

यह जख्म बहुत पुराना है।

This wound is very old.

Refers to a long-standing injury or scar.

उसकी बेवफाई ने उसे ऐसा जख्म दिया जो कभी नहीं भरेगा।

His betrayal gave her such a wound that will never heal.

Uses 'बेवफाई' (betrayal) and 'भरेगा' (will heal).

जख्मों को कुरेदने से पुरानी यादें ताजा हो जाती हैं।

By scratching the wounds, old memories become fresh.

'कुरेदना' means to scrape or rake up.

समाज के इन जख्मों को भरने में सालों लगेंगे।

It will take years to heal these wounds of society.

Societal metaphor.

उसने अपने जख्मों को अपनी ताकत बना लिया।

He made his wounds his strength.

Inspirational context.

जख्म गहरा था, इसलिए टांके लगाने पड़े।

The wound was deep, so stitches had to be applied.

'टांके' means stitches.

कविता में 'जख्म' अक्सर विरह का प्रतीक होता है।

In poetry, 'wound' is often a symbol of separation.

Literary analysis.

जख्म से खून बहना बंद नहीं हो रहा है।

The bleeding from the wound is not stopping.

Continuous tense.

बिना मरहम के जख्म नहीं भरता।

A wound does not heal without ointment.

'मरहम' means ointment or balm.

विभाजन के जख्म आज भी उपमहाद्वीप की राजनीति में झलकते हैं।

The wounds of partition still reflect in the politics of the subcontinent.

High-level political discourse.

उसकी आलोचना ने मेरे स्वाभिमान पर गहरा जख्म पहुँचाया।

His criticism inflicted a deep wound on my self-respect.

'पहुँचाया' means 'reached/inflicted'.

शायर ने अपने जख्मों को अल्फाजों में पिरो दिया।

The poet wove his wounds into words.

Poetic/Literary register.

जख्म का नासूर बन जाना किसी भी राष्ट्र के लिए खतरनाक है।

A wound turning into a festering sore is dangerous for any nation.

'नासूर' is a chronic, non-healing wound.

उसने अपनी चुप्पी से मेरे जख्मों पर और नमक छिड़क दिया।

With his silence, he rubbed even more salt on my wounds.

Complex idiomatic usage.

चिकित्सीय भाषा में, इस जख्म को 'लेस्रेशन' कहा जाता है।

In medical terms, this wound is called a 'laceration'.

Technical/Scientific register.

अपमान का जख्म किसी भी शारीरिक चोट से अधिक पीड़ादायक होता है।

The wound of insult is more painful than any physical injury.

Comparative philosophical statement.

इतिहास गवाह है कि सत्ता के भूखे लोग अक्सर मासूमों को जख्म देते हैं।

History is witness that power-hungry people often wound the innocent.

Formal rhetoric.

अस्तित्ववादी दर्शन में, मानवीय चेतना स्वयं में एक अखंड जख्म है।

In existential philosophy, human consciousness is itself an unbroken wound.

Abstract philosophical usage.

उसकी रचनाओं में जख्म केवल व्यथा नहीं, बल्कि सृजन का स्रोत हैं।

In her works, wounds are not just agony, but a source of creation.

Artistic theory register.

क्या समय वास्तव में जख्मों को भरता है, या हम बस उनके साथ जीना सीख लेते हैं?

Does time really heal wounds, or do we just learn to live with them?

Rhetorical philosophical question.

जख्म की गहराई का अंदाजा केवल वही लगा सकता है जिसने उसे सहा हो।

Only one who has endured the wound can estimate its depth.

Complex conditional structure.

राजनीतिक प्रतिशोध के ये जख्म लोकतंत्र की नींव को कमजोर कर रहे हैं।

These wounds of political vendetta are weakening the foundations of democracy.

Political analysis.

शायरी में 'जख्म-ए-जिगर' एक पारिभाषिक शब्दावली की तरह प्रयुक्त होता है।

In poetry, 'Jakhm-e-Jigar' (wound of the liver/heart) is used like a technical term.

Linguistic/Literary commentary.

उसकी आँखों में छिपे जख्म उसकी मुस्कुराहट से कहीं अधिक मुखर थे।

The wounds hidden in his eyes were far more vocal than his smile.

Highly descriptive/Literary.

जख्मों का यह सिलसिला कब थमेगा, यह कहना कठिन है।

It is hard to say when this cycle of wounds will stop.

Abstract noun usage.

Synonyms

घाव चोट आघात खरोंच क्षति

Antonyms

आरोग्य स्वास्थ्य

Common Collocations

गहरा जख्म

जख्म भरना

जख्म देना

जख्म ताजा होना

जख्म पर नमक

पुराना जख्म

जख्म का निशान

जख्म सूखना

जख्म कुरेदना

जख्म सहना

Common Phrases

जख्मों की नुमाइश

— To show off one's pain or suffering to gain sympathy.

वह हर जगह अपने जख्मों की नुमाइश करता फिरता है।

जख्मों पर मरहम

— Something that provides relief or comfort to someone in pain.

तुम्हारी बातें मेरे जख्मों पर मरहम की तरह हैं।

हरा जख्म

— A fresh wound, usually referring to recent emotional pain.

अभी मेरा जख्म हरा है, मुझे अकेला छोड़ दो।

जख्म खाना

— To be hurt or injured, often used in a heroic or tragic sense.

सैनिक ने देश के लिए कई जख्म खाए।

जख्म गहराना

— For a wound (or problem) to become more severe.

विवाद के कारण जख्म और गहरा गया।

जख्म की टीस

— The sharp, throbbing pain of a wound.

रात में जख्म की टीस बढ़ जाती है।

अनगिनत जख्म

— Countless wounds.

इतिहास ने हमें अनगिनत जख्म दिए हैं।

जख्मों का हिसाब

— Keeping track of past hurts or grievances.

मैं अपने जख्मों का हिसाब नहीं रखता।

जख्मों को सीना

— To bear one's pain silently or to try and fix a broken relationship.

मैंने अपने जख्मों को सीना सीख लिया है।

दिल का जख्म

— Emotional heartache.

दिल का जख्म बाहर से नहीं दिखता।

Often Confused With

जख्म vs चोट (Chot)

Chot is the impact or bruise; Jakhm is the open cut.

जख्म vs दर्द (Dard)

Dard is the feeling of pain; Jakhm is the physical cause.

जख्म vs दाग (Daag)

Daag is a stain or a scar; Jakhm is the fresh wound.

Idioms & Expressions

"जख्म पर नमक छिड़कना"

— To make a bad situation worse for someone; to insult someone who is already hurting.

जब वह फेल हुआ, तो उसके दोस्तों ने उसका मजाक उड़ाकर उसके जख्म पर नमक छिड़क दिया।

Common

"जख्म हरा होना"

— For a past pain or trauma to feel fresh again due to a reminder.

उस पुरानी तस्वीर को देखकर मेरा जख्म फिर से हरा हो गया।

Poetic/Common

"जख्म भरना"

— To recover from a physical injury or to overcome an emotional trauma.

समय के साथ उसके दिल का जख्म भर गया।

Universal

"जख्म कुरेदना"

— To intentionally remind someone of a painful past event.

तुम बार-बार पुरानी बातें करके मेरे जख्म क्यों कुरेदते हो?

Common

"जख्मों पर मरहम लगाना"

— To comfort or help someone who is suffering.

उसकी मीठी बातों ने मेरे जख्मों पर मरहम लगा दिया।

Poetic

"जख्म खाना"

— To endure suffering or betrayal.

मैंने प्यार में बहुत जख्म खाए हैं।

Informal/Poetic

"जख्म का नासूर बनना"

— For a small problem or hurt to turn into a permanent, destructive issue.

उनका आपसी झगड़ा अब एक नासूर बन गया है।

Formal

"जख्मों को धोना"

— To try to clean up or forget past mistakes or hurts.

वह गंगा में अपने जख्मों को धोने आया है।

Literary

"जख्म की जुबान"

— The idea that pain itself speaks or tells a story.

कभी-कभी जख्म की जुबान लफ्जों से ज्यादा तेज होती है।

High Poetic

"जख्म-ए-जिगर"

— A deep emotional wound (literally 'wound of the liver/heart').

उसका जख्म-ए-जिगर कोई नहीं देख सका।

Urdu-influenced/Poetic

Easily Confused

जख्म vs घाव

They mean the same thing.

Ghaav is Sanskrit-based and formal; Jakhm is Persian-based and common/poetic.

डॉक्टर ने घाव साफ़ किया। / शायर ने जख्म के बारे में लिखा।

जख्म vs जश्न

Similar sound to beginners.

Jashn means celebration; Jakhm means wound. Complete opposites!

जीत का जश्न मनाओ। / जख्म का इलाज करो।

जख्म vs जुल्म

Starts with 'J' and has a similar heavy tone.

Julm means oppression/cruelty; Jakhm means wound.

गरीबों पर जुल्म मत करो। / उसके शरीर पर जख्म हैं।

जख्म vs ज़हर

Both relate to injury/death.

Zahar means poison; Jakhm means wound.

साँप का ज़हर खतरनाक है। / जख्म गहरा है।

जख्म vs जिस्म

Both used in poetic contexts about the body.

Jism means body; Jakhm means wound.

पूरे जिस्म पर जख्म थे।

Sentence Patterns

यह [Adjective] जख्म है।

यह बड़ा जख्म है।

मेरे [Body Part] में जख्म है।

मेरे पैर में जख्म है।

वक्त [Noun] के जख्म भर देता है।

वक्त दिल के जख्म भर देता है।

[Person] ने मुझे जख्म दिया।

उसने मुझे गहरा जख्म दिया।

जख्मों पर नमक छिड़कने से [Outcome]।

जख्मों पर नमक छिड़कने से दर्द बढ़ता है।

यह जख्म [Noun] का प्रतीक है।

यह जख्म हमारी हार का प्रतीक है।

जख्म की गहराई [Action] से पता चलती है।

जख्म की गहराई उसकी खामोशी से पता चलती है।

जख्म का नासूर बनना [Context] के लिए बुरा है।

जख्म का नासूर बनना देश के लिए बुरा है।

Word Family

Nouns

जख्म (Wound)

जख्मी (Injured person)

Verbs

जख्मी करना (To injure)

जख्म भरना (To heal)

Adjectives

जख्मी (Injured)

जख्मी-दिल (Wounded-heart)

दर्द (Pain)

चोट (Injury)

पट्टी (Bandage)

दवा (Medicine)

निशान (Mark/Scar)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in both spoken and written Hindi.

Common Mistakes

Using 'जख्म' as a feminine noun. → गहरा जख्म (Masculine)
Many learners think it sounds feminine, but it is strictly masculine.
Saying 'जख्म लग गई'. → जख्म हो गया / चोट लग गई
'Jakhm' happens (hona), while 'Chot' hits (lagna).
Using 'जख्म' for a simple stomach ache. → पेट दर्द
'Jakhm' requires a physical or symbolic lesion.
Adding an extra vowel: 'Jakham'. → जख्म (Jakhm)
The 'kh' and 'm' are joined together without a full vowel between them.
Confusing 'जख्मी' (adj) with 'जख्म' (noun). → वह जख्मी है। / यह एक जख्म है।
One describes the person, the other describes the injury.

Tips

Gender Check

Always remember 'जख्म' is masculine. This affects the verbs and adjectives around it. 'जख्म भर गया' (The wound healed) - 'गया' is masculine.

Poetic Usage

In songs, if you hear 'Jakhm', look for words like 'Dil' (heart) or 'Yaad' (memory) nearby to understand the emotional context.

The 'Kh' Sound

Don't say 'Jak-am'. Ensure the 'k' and 'h' are blended into a single breathy sound from the throat.

Salt on Wound

The idiom 'जख्म पर नमक' is very common in India. Use it when someone is being insensitive to your problems.

Small vs Big

For a tiny scratch, 'खरोंच' (Kharonch) is better. For a serious cut, use 'जख्म'.

Spelling

In Devanagari, it is written as ज़ख्म (with a dot under 'ja' for the 'z' sound) or more commonly as जख्म.

Song Lyrics

Listen to the song 'Zakhm-e-Dil' to hear the word used in its most dramatic, poetic form.

Medical Needs

If you are hurt in India, saying 'मुझे जख्म हुआ है' will immediately get people to help you with first aid.

History

When reading about Indian history, 'Jakhm' often refers to the trauma of 1947. Context is key!

Word Association

Link 'Jakhm' with 'Bandage'. A Jakhm needs a bandage.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Jack' who fell down and broke his crown. The resulting wound is a 'Jakhm'. Jack + h(u)m = Jakhm.

Visual Association

Imagine a deep red 'J' shape on a white bandage. The 'J' stands for Jakhm.

Word Web

Blood Pain Heartache Bandage Doctor Poetry Healing Scar

Challenge

Try to use 'जख्म' in three different ways today: once for a physical scratch, once for a sad movie, and once for a historical event.

Word Origin

The word 'जख्म' originates from the Persian word 'zakhm' (زخم). It entered the Hindi language through the influence of Persian and Urdu during the medieval period of the Indian subcontinent.

Original meaning: In Persian, it also meant a wound, cut, or sore.

Indo-European -> Indo-Iranian -> Iranian -> Persian.

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'जख्म' metaphorically in professional settings; it can sound overly dramatic. Stick to 'समस्या' (problem) or 'चुनौती' (challenge) unless you are being intentionally expressive.

English speakers might use 'wound' mostly for serious injuries, but 'Jakhm' is used much more liberally in Hindi for any break in the skin.

Movie: 'Zakhm' (1998) by Mahesh Bhatt. Song: 'Zakhmee Dil Chhupa Ke Royenge' from the movie Lucky. Poetry by Mirza Ghalib often features the word 'Zakhm'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Doctor

जख्म गहरा है।
पट्टी बदलनी होगी।
टांके लगेंगे।
इन्फेक्शन तो नहीं है?

Emotional Talk

मेरा दिल जख्मी है।
उसने मुझे जख्म दिए।
पुराने जख्म मत कुरेदो।
वक्त मरहम है।

News Report

दस लोग जख्मी।
गंभीर जख्म।
अस्पताल में भर्ती।
जख्मों की जांच।

Poetry/Songs

जख्म-ए-दिल।
जख्मों की नुमाइश।
हारा हुआ जख्म।
जख्मों को सीना।

Kitchen Accident

चाकू से जख्म हो गया।
खून निकल रहा है।
जल्दी दवा लगाओ।
जख्म छोटा है।

Conversation Starters

"क्या आपका कोई पुराना जख्म है जो अभी तक नहीं भरा? (Do you have an old wound that hasn't healed yet?)"

"क्या समय वाकई हर जख्म को भर देता है? (Does time really heal every wound?)"

"अगर किसी को जख्म हो जाए, तो सबसे पहले क्या करना चाहिए? (If someone gets a wound, what should be done first?)"

"क्या आपने कभी 'जख्म' फिल्म देखी है? (Have you ever seen the movie 'Zakhm'?)"

"इतिहास के कौन से जख्म आज भी ताजा हैं? (Which wounds of history are still fresh today?)"

Journal Prompts

Write about a physical 'जख्म' you got as a child and how you got it.

Describe a metaphorical 'जख्म' that helped you grow as a person.

If you could put 'मरहम' (balm) on one 'जख्म' of the world, which one would it be?

Why do you think poets use the word 'जख्म' so often in their writing?

Reflect on the phrase 'जख्मों पर नमक छिड़कना'. Have you ever felt this way?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is masculine. You say 'मेरा जख्म' (my wound), not 'मेरी जख्म'.

No, for a headache use 'सिर दर्द'. 'जख्म' is only for physical cuts or deep emotional trauma.

They are synonyms. 'जख्म' is more common in daily life and songs, while 'घाव' is used in formal Hindi and medical textbooks.

You use the phrase 'जख्म भरना' (Jakhm bharna).

No, 'जख्मी' is an adjective meaning 'injured'. To use it as a verb, say 'जख्मी करना' (to injure).

It means to rub salt on a wound, which idiomatically means to make someone's pain worse by teasing or insulting them.

Usually, for a broken bone, we say 'हड्डी टूटना'. 'जख्म' implies a break in the skin.

In the direct case, it stays 'जख्म'. In the oblique case (with postpositions), it becomes 'जख्मों'.

It is of Persian origin and is shared by both Hindi and Urdu (Hindustani).

Say 'गहरा जख्म' (Gahra Jakhm).