For autodidact students of Hindi, the postposition से (se) is one of the most productive words in the language. In earlier lessons it has appeared meaning "from," "with," "by," and "since." In this lesson we focus on its comparative function: से meaning "than." The Hindi comparative construction works differently from English — the standard of comparison (the thing you are comparing to) comes BEFORE से, and the adjective follows: राम सोहन से बड़ा है = "Ram is bigger than Sohan" — literally "Ram, from/than Sohan, big is."
This reversal of English word order is one of the most important structural features a Hindi learner must internalise. से-comparatives appear in everyday speech, in proverbs, in literature, and in argument — they are inescapable.
Link to course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does से (se) mean in "than"? से is a postposition (it follows its noun, unlike English prepositions which precede). In comparative sentences, the standard of comparison takes से after it: यह किताब उस किताब से अच्छी है = "This book is better than that book." The superlative uses सबसे (from all = most/est): सबसे अच्छा = best. से does not change form — it is invariable.
In the following 15 examples you will encounter से across the full range of comparative constructions: adjective comparatives, adverb comparatives, degree expressions with ज़्यादा/कम, and the superlative सबसे. The duplex interlinear format gives direct Devanagari-to-meaning access on line (a) and phonetic guidance on line (b).
Educational Note: Designed for English speakers learning Hindi through the Latinum Institute's proven interlinear method.
Key Takeaways: - Comparative construction: [subject] + [standard] + से + [adjective] + है - से is invariable — it does not change for gender, number, or case - ज़्यादा/अधिक (more) and कम (less) combine with से: X से ज़्यादा Y = more Y than X - Superlative: सबसे + adjective = most/est (सबसे बड़ा = biggest) - पहले से (before/previously — lit. from before) and बाद में (later) use the same से
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से is a single syllable written in Devanagari as स + े (sa + e mātrā) = से. It is one of the most frequently written syllables in Hindi text. In unvocalised text (without full diacritics), it appears as से — the ए mātrā is always written because it is not the inherent -a vowel.
Key phonetic notes: - स (s): voiceless dental/alveolar sibilant — similar to English s but produced slightly further forward, with the tongue closer to the teeth - े (e mātrā): pure long mid-front vowel [eː] — the same steady vowel as in देखना (Lesson 48) - से is always one syllable: [seː]
In rapid speech, से often reduces toward a very short [sə], especially in the middle of long sentences. For clear, formal, or emphatic speech, the full [seː] is used.
Common learner mistakes: - Placing से before the standard of comparison (English-transfer): *से राम Sohan बड़ा है — wrong; the standard always precedes से - Using English word order throughout the comparative: *Ram is bigger से Sohan — wrong in every way - Forgetting agreement: the adjective after से still agrees with the subject in gender and number
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50.1a राम Ram सोहन Sohan से than लंबा tall-MASC है is
50.1b (Rām) Ram (Sohan) Sohan (se) than (lambā) tall-MASC (hai) is
50.2a यह this किताब book-FEM उस that-OBL किताब book-OBL से than अच्छी good-FEM है is
50.2b (yah) this (kitāb) book-FEM (us) that-OBL (kitāb) book-OBL (se) than (acchī) good-FEM (hai) is
50.3a दिल्ली Delhi मुंबई Mumbai से than बड़ी big-FEM है is ؟ या or छोटी small-FEM ؟
50.3b (Dillī) Delhi (Mumbaī) Mumbai (se) than (baṛī) big-FEM (hai) is ? (yā) or (choṭī) small-FEM ?
50.4a आज today कल yesterday से than ज़्यादा more गर्मी heat-FEM है is
50.4b (āj) today (kal) yesterday (se) than (zyādā) more (garmī) heat-FEM (hai) is
50.5a उसे him-DAT मुझसे me-than [से fused] कम less पैसे money मिले got-MASC-PL
50.5b (use) him-DAT (mujhse) me-than [से fused] (kam) less (paise) money (mile) got-MASC-PL
50.6a हिंदी Hindi अंग्रेज़ी English से than अलग different है is
50.6b (hindī) Hindi (am̐grezī) English (se) than (alag) different (hai) is
50.7a सबसे all-than [superlative] अच्छा good-MASC रास्ता path कौन which सा one है is ؟
50.7b (sabse) all-than [superlative] (acchā) good-MASC (rāstā) path (kaun) which (sā) one (hai) is ?
50.8a वह she अपनी own-FEM बहन sister से than दो two साल years बड़ी older-FEM है is
50.8b (vah) she (apnī) own-FEM (bahan) sister (se) than (do) two (sāl) years (baṛī) older-FEM (hai) is
50.9a पहले before से than ज़्यादा more मेहनत effort करनी to-do-FEM होगी will-have-to-FEM
50.9b (pahle) before (se) than (zyādā) more (mehnat) effort (karnī) to-do-FEM (hogī) will-have-to-FEM
50.10a यह this शहर city-MASC बाकी remaining शहरों cities-OBL से than सबसे most महंगा expensive-MASC है is
50.10b (yah) this (śahar) city-MASC (bākī) remaining (śahrom̐) cities-OBL (se) than (sabse) most (mahm̐gā) expensive-MASC (hai) is
50.11a प्यार love पैसे money से than ज़रूरी necessary है is
50.11b (pyār) love (paise) money (se) than (zarūrī) necessary (hai) is
50.12a वह he उम्मीद hope से than जल्दी soon आ come गया went-MASC [COMP]
50.12b (vah) he (ummīd) hope (se) than (jaldī) soon (ā) come (gayā) went-MASC [COMP]
50.13a इस this-OBL काम work-OBL में in सोच thinking से than ज़्यादा more वक्त time लगा took-MASC
50.13b (is) this-OBL (kām) work-OBL (mem̐) in (soc) thinking (se) than (zyādā) more (vakt) time (lagā) took-MASC
50.14a बोलना speaking आसान easy है is करने doing-OBL से than
50.14b (bolnā) speaking (āsān) easy (hai) is (karne) doing-OBL (se) than
50.15a मुझसे me-than [से fused] पूछो ask [IMP] वह she तुमसे you-than [से fused] बेहतर better जानती knows-FEM है is
50.15b (mujhse) me-than [से fused] (pūcho) ask [IMP] (vah) she (tumse) you-than [से fused] (behtar) better (jāntī) knows-FEM (hai) is
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50.1 राम सोहन से लंबा है। "Ram is taller than Sohan."
50.2 यह किताब उस किताब से अच्छी है। "This book is better than that book."
50.3 दिल्ली मुंबई से बड़ी है या छोटी? "Is Delhi bigger or smaller than Mumbai?"
50.4 आज कल से ज़्यादा गर्मी है। "Today is hotter than yesterday."
50.5 उसे मुझसे कम पैसे मिले। "He received less money than me."
50.6 हिंदी अंग्रेज़ी से अलग है। "Hindi is different from/than English."
50.7 सबसे अच्छा रास्ता कौन सा है? "Which is the best path?"
50.8 वह अपनी बहन से दो साल बड़ी है। "She is two years older than her sister."
50.9 पहले से ज़्यादा मेहनत करनी होगी। "More effort than before will be needed."
50.10 यह शहर बाकी शहरों से सबसे महंगा है। "This city is the most expensive of all the other cities."
50.11 प्यार पैसे से ज़रूरी है। "Love is more necessary than money."
50.12 वह उम्मीद से जल्दी आ गया। "He arrived sooner than expected."
50.13 इस काम में सोच से ज़्यादा वक्त लगा। "This work took more time than expected."
50.14 बोलना आसान है करने से। "Saying is easier than doing."
50.15 मुझसे पूछो — वह तुमसे बेहतर जानती है। "Ask me — she knows better than you."
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50.1 राम सोहन से लंबा है।
50.2 यह किताब उस किताब से अच्छी है।
50.3 दिल्ली मुंबई से बड़ी है या छोटी?
50.4 आज कल से ज़्यादा गर्मी है।
50.5 उसे मुझसे कम पैसे मिले।
50.6 हिंदी अंग्रेज़ी से अलग है।
50.7 सबसे अच्छा रास्ता कौन सा है?
50.8 वह अपनी बहन से दो साल बड़ी है।
50.9 पहले से ज़्यादा मेहनत करनी होगी।
50.10 यह शहर बाकी शहरों से सबसे महंगा है।
50.11 प्यार पैसे से ज़रूरी है।
50.12 वह उम्मीद से जल्दी आ गया।
50.13 इस काम में सोच से ज़्यादा वक्त लगा।
50.14 बोलना आसान है करने से।
50.15 मुझसे पूछो — वह तुमसे बेहतर जानती है।
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These are the grammar rules for से (se) in comparative constructions — "than":
The Hindi comparative structure: English says "A is bigger than B." Hindi says "A, [from/than] B, big is." The standard of comparison (B) comes before से, and the adjective follows: A [B से] [adj] है.
Basic formula: Subject + Standard + से + Adjective (agreeing with subject) + है
Examples showing gender agreement of the adjective: - राम सोहन से लंबा है — Ram (masc.) is taller: लंबा (masc.) - सीता गीता से लंबी है — Sita (fem.) is taller: लंबी (fem.) - ये पेड़ उन पेड़ों से लंबे हैं — These trees (masc. pl.) are taller: लंबे
से fused with pronouns: Pronouns fuse directly with से: - मुझसे (mujhse) — than me / from me - तुमसे (tumse) — than you / from you - उससे (usse) — than him/her / from him/her - हमसे (hamse) — than us / from us - आपसे (āpse) — than you (formal)
Degree expressions with से: - X से ज़्यादा / X से अधिक — more than X: आज कल से ज़्यादा गर्म है (Today is hotter than yesterday) - X से कम — less than X: मुझसे कम (less than me) - X से दोगुना — twice as much as X - X से थोड़ा — a little more than X
Superlative — सबसे + adjective: The superlative uses सबसे (from all / out of all) + adjective: सबसे बड़ा (biggest), सबसे अच्छी (best, fem.), सबसे महंगे (most expensive, pl.). The adjective still agrees with the subject in gender and number.
से in non-comparative uses (review): से has other functions not covered here — से (from): दिल्ली से (from Delhi); से (by/with instrument): कलम से (with a pen); से (since): बचपन से (since childhood). The comparative से is recognisable by context: when a noun or pronoun precedes it and an adjective follows, it is comparative.
Infinitive comparison: बोलना आसान है करने से — when comparing actions, the infinitive is used for one term and the oblique infinitive + से for the other. The structure here is inverted from the usual pattern: adjective comes before the standard (करने से), a literary/emphatic word order.
Common Mistakes: - English word order: *राम से लंबा सोहन है — wrong order - Omitting से: *राम सोहन लंबा है — missing the comparative marker - Forgetting adjective agreement: *सीता राम से लंबा है — adjective must be feminine (लंबी) to agree with Sita
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Comparison is central to Hindi oral culture. Proverbs (कहावतें kahāvatēm̐) are built on से-comparatives: जान से प्यारा (dearer than life), धन से ज़रूरी (more necessary than wealth), सोने से कीमती (more precious than gold). The comparative से appears in folk songs, in the language of the bazaar, in political rhetoric, and in the intimate speech of families discussing who is older, taller, cleverer, or more hardworking.
The superlative सबसे is particularly beloved in Hindi film song and advertising: सबसे सुंदर (most beautiful), सबसे बड़ा (greatest), सबसे प्यारा (dearest of all). It functions as a superlative of inclusion — you are not just better than some, you are better than all.
The phrase उम्मीद से जल्दी (sooner than expected — example 50.12) illustrates a charming extension of the comparative: उम्मीद (hope/expectation) becomes the benchmark of comparison, a personified standard against which reality is measured. This is deeply characteristic of Hindi's expressive use of से — it can compare against abstractions, not just concrete things.
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रहीम (Rahim, 1556–1627) — दोहावली (Dohāvalī)
Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khana — known simply as रहीम — was one of the Navaratnas (Nine Jewels) of Akbar's court and one of the greatest doha poets in Hindi. His couplets are full of से-comparisons: the natural world and human nature measured against each other with a poet's precision. This doha compares the worth of water against all wealth.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
रहिमन (Rahiman) Rahim पानी (pānī) water राखिए (rākhie) keep [HON-IMP] बिन (bin) without पानी (pānī) water सब (sab) everything सून (sūn) empty पानी (pānī) water गए (gae) gone-MASC-PL न (na) not ऊबरे (ūbare) recover मोती (motī) pearl मानस (mānas) human चून (cūn) lime
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
रहिमन पानी राखिए, बिन पानी सब सून। पानी गए न ऊबरे, मोती, मानस, चून।।
"Rahim, keep water (self-respect/honour); without water all is empty. Once water is gone, none recover — neither the pearl, nor the human, nor the lime."
F-C: Authentic Text Only
रहिमन पानी राखिए, बिन पानी सब सून। पानी गए न ऊबरे, मोती, मानस, चून।।
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
बिन पानी (bin pānī): बिन is an older Hindi/Braj form of बिना (without) — here used as a comparative baseline: "without water" = "compared to a state with water, lacking it."
सून (sūn): an older Braj/Awadhi form meaning empty, barren, desolate. Equivalent to modern Hindi सूना (sūnā).
पानी गए (pānī gae): पानी (water) treated as plural here (गए, masculine plural past) — poetic licence; in modern Hindi पानी takes masculine singular agreement.
न ऊबरे (na ūbare): na (not) + ūbare (subjunctive of ऊबरना, to recover/survive) = "none recover." The subjunctive expresses universal inevitability.
मोती, मानस, चून: three nouns in apposition — pearl (lustre lost without water), human being (honour/face lost without self-respect), lime (loses its binding quality without water). पानी = both literal water and figurative self-respect/honour.
F-E: Literary Commentary
Rahim's doha does not use से directly as a comparative particle, but it is built entirely on the comparative structure of betterness: what has water compared to what lacks it. The implied से is everywhere: a pearl with water से better than one without; a person with honour से better than one without. The language of comparison operates not through a grammatical marker but through the juxtaposition of presence and absence. This is the rhetorical art of the doha — to say "than" without saying से. The learner who has mastered the से-comparative can now read Rahim's silence around it as a deliberate intensification: the comparison is so self-evident it requires no grammatical marking.
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Priya and her mother go shopping. The market is full of comparisons — this is cheaper, that is fresher, the first seller is more honest than the second. से as comparative runs through the entire scene, with adjectives, degree words, and the superlative all appearing naturally.
50.16a माँ mother और and प्रिया Priya बाज़ार market में in सब्ज़ियाँ vegetables ख़रीदने to-buy-OBL आई came-FEM-PL थीं were
50.16b (mām̐) mother (aur) and (Priyā) Priya (bāzār) market (mem̐) in (sabziyām̐) vegetables (kharīdne) to-buy-OBL (āī) came-FEM-PL (thīm̐) were
50.17a पहले first दुकानदार shopkeeper की GEN-FEM सब्ज़ियाँ vegetables दूसरे second-OBL से than ताज़ी fresh-FEM-PL थीं were
50.17b (pahle) first (dukāndār) shopkeeper (kī) GEN-FEM (sabziyām̐) vegetables (dūsre) second-OBL (se) than (tāzī) fresh-FEM-PL (thīm̐) were
50.18a लेकिन but उनके their दाम prices बाज़ार market में in सबसे most ज़्यादा high थे were
50.18b (lekin) but (unke) their (dām) prices (bāzār) market (mem̐) in (sabse) most (zyādā) high (the) were
50.19a माँ mother ने ERG कहा said इस this-OBL वाले GEN से than वह that दुकान shop-FEM सस्ती cheap-FEM है is
50.19b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (kahā) said (is) this-OBL (vāle) GEN (se) than (vah) that (dukān) shop-FEM (sastī) cheap-FEM (hai) is
50.20a प्रिया Priya ने ERG देखा saw-MASC कि that दूसरे second-OBL दुकानदार shopkeeper-OBL के GEN पास near टमाटर tomatoes पहले first-OBL से than लाल red और and बड़े big-MASC-PL थे were
50.20b (Priyā) Priya (ne) ERG (dekhā) saw-MASC (ki) that (dūsre) second-OBL (dukāndār) shopkeeper-OBL (ke) GEN (pās) near (ṭamāṭar) tomatoes (pahle) first-OBL (se) than (lāl) red (aur) and (baṛe) big-MASC-PL (the) were
50.21a माँ mother ने ERG दाम price पूछा asked-MASC तो then पता knowledge चला became-MASC यहाँ here भी also पहले first से than महंगा expensive-MASC है is
50.21b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (dām) price (pūchā) asked-MASC (to) then (patā) knowledge (calā) became-MASC (yahām̐) here (bhī) also (pahle) first (se) than (mahm̐gā) expensive-MASC (hai) is
50.22a प्रिया Priya ने ERG मुस्कुराकर smiling [CONV] कहा said-MASC सबसे most सस्ता cheap-MASC वह that तीसरा third वाला one है is
50.22b (Priyā) Priya (ne) ERG (muskurākar) smiling [CONV] (kahā) said-MASC (sabse) most (sastā) cheap-MASC (vah) that (tīsrā) third (vālā) one (hai) is
50.23a तीसरे third-OBL दुकानदार shopkeeper के GEN पास near सब्ज़ियाँ vegetables दूसरों others-OBL से than कम less ताज़ी fresh-FEM थीं were
50.23b (tīsre) third-OBL (dukāndār) shopkeeper (ke) GEN (pās) near (sabziyām̐) vegetables (dūsrom̐) others-OBL (se) than (kam) less (tāzī) fresh-FEM (thīm̐) were
50.24a माँ mother ने ERG तय decided किया did-MASC पहले first वाले GEN से from ही only लेना to-buy है is क्योंकि because वह he सबसे most ईमानदार honest है is
50.24b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (tay) decided (kiyā) did-MASC (pahle) first (vāle) GEN (se) from (hī) only (lenā) to-buy (hai) is (kyom̐ki) because (vah) he (sabse) most (īmāndār) honest (hai) is
50.25a प्रिया Priya ने ERG पूछा asked-MASC क्या is ईमानदारी honesty-FEM ताज़गी freshness-FEM से than ज़रूरी necessary है is ؟
50.25b (Priyā) Priya (ne) ERG (pūchā) asked-MASC (kyā) is (īmāndārī) honesty-FEM (tāzgī) freshness-FEM (se) than (zarūrī) necessary (hai) is ?
50.26a माँ mother ने ERG कहा said-MASC हाँ yes और and पैसे money से than भी also ज़्यादा more
50.26b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (kahā) said-MASC (hām̐) yes (aur) and (paise) money (se) than (bhī) also (zyādā) more
50.27a पहले first दुकानदार shopkeeper ने ERG तौलते weighing [CONV] वक्त time उम्मीद expectation से than ज़्यादा more दिया gave-MASC
50.27b (pahle) first (dukāndār) shopkeeper (ne) ERG (taulte) weighing [CONV] (vakt) time (ummīd) expectation (se) than (zyādā) more (diyā) gave-MASC
50.28a माँ mother ने ERG कहा said-MASC देखा saw-MASC पहले before से than बेहतर better कोई no जगह place नहीं not मिलती finds-FEM
50.28b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (kahā) said-MASC (dekhā) saw-MASC (pahle) before (se) than (behtar) better (koī) no (jagah) place (nahīm̐) not (miltī) finds-FEM
50.29a प्रिया Priya बोली said-FEM आज today मैंने I-ERG सीखा learned-MASC कि that सबसे most सस्ता cheap-MASC हमेशा always सबसे most अच्छा good-MASC नहीं not होता is-MASC
50.29b (Priyā) Priya (bolī) said-FEM (āj) today (maim̐ne) I-ERG (sīkhā) learned-MASC (ki) that (sabse) most (sastā) cheap-MASC (hameśā) always (sabse) most (acchā) good-MASC (nahīm̐) not (hotā) is-MASC
50.30a माँ mother मुस्कुराईं smiled-FEM-PL और and बोलीं said-FEM-PL यह this सबक़ lesson पैसे money से than ज़्यादा more कीमती valuable है is
50.30b (mām̐) mother (muskurāīm̐) smiled-FEM-PL (aur) and (bolīm̐) said-FEM-PL (yah) this (sabaq) lesson (paise) money (se) than (zyādā) more (kīmatī) valuable (hai) is
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50.16 माँ और प्रिया बाज़ार में सब्ज़ियाँ ख़रीदने आई थीं। "Mother and Priya had come to the market to buy vegetables."
50.17 पहले दुकानदार की सब्ज़ियाँ दूसरे से ताज़ी थीं। "The first shopkeeper's vegetables were fresher than the second's."
50.18 लेकिन उनके दाम बाज़ार में सबसे ज़्यादा थे। "But their prices were the highest in the market."
50.19 माँ ने कहा — इस वाले से वह दुकान सस्ती है। "Mother said: That shop is cheaper than this one."
50.20 प्रिया ने देखा कि दूसरे दुकानदार के पास टमाटर पहले से लाल और बड़े थे। "Priya saw that the second shopkeeper's tomatoes were redder and bigger than the first's."
50.21 माँ ने दाम पूछा तो पता चला — यहाँ भी पहले से महंगा है। "Mother asked the price and found out — here too it is more expensive than the first."
50.22 प्रिया ने मुस्कुराकर कहा — सबसे सस्ता वह तीसरा वाला है। "Priya said with a smile: The cheapest is that third one."
50.23 तीसरे दुकानदार के पास सब्ज़ियाँ दूसरों से कम ताज़ी थीं। "The third shopkeeper's vegetables were less fresh than the others'."
50.24 माँ ने तय किया — पहले वाले से ही लेना है, क्योंकि वह सबसे ईमानदार है। "Mother decided: We will buy only from the first one, because he is the most honest."
50.25 प्रिया ने पूछा — क्या ईमानदारी ताज़गी से ज़रूरी है? "Priya asked: Is honesty more necessary than freshness?"
50.26 माँ ने कहा — हाँ, और पैसे से भी ज़्यादा। "Mother said: Yes, and more than money too."
50.27 पहले दुकानदार ने तौलते वक्त उम्मीद से ज़्यादा दिया। "The first shopkeeper gave more than expected while weighing."
50.28 माँ ने कहा — देखा, पहले से बेहतर कोई जगह नहीं मिलती। "Mother said: You see — you won't find anywhere better than the first."
50.29 प्रिया बोली — आज मैंने सीखा कि सबसे सस्ता हमेशा सबसे अच्छा नहीं होता। "Priya said: Today I learned that the cheapest is not always the best."
50.30 माँ मुस्कुराईं और बोलीं — यह सबक़ पैसे से ज़्यादा कीमती है। "Mother smiled and said: This lesson is more valuable than money."
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50.16 माँ और प्रिया बाज़ार में सब्ज़ियाँ ख़रीदने आई थीं।
50.17 पहले दुकानदार की सब्ज़ियाँ दूसरे से ताज़ी थीं।
50.18 लेकिन उनके दाम बाज़ार में सबसे ज़्यादा थे।
50.19 माँ ने कहा — इस वाले से वह दुकान सस्ती है।
50.20 प्रिया ने देखा कि दूसरे दुकानदार के पास टमाटर पहले से लाल और बड़े थे।
50.21 माँ ने दाम पूछा तो पता चला — यहाँ भी पहले से महंगा है।
50.22 प्रिया ने मुस्कुराकर कहा — सबसे सस्ता वह तीसरा वाला है।
50.23 तीसरे दुकानदार के पास सब्ज़ियाँ दूसरों से कम ताज़ी थीं।
50.24 माँ ने तय किया — पहले वाले से ही लेना है, क्योंकि वह सबसे ईमानदार है।
50.25 प्रिया ने पूछा — क्या ईमानदारी ताज़गी से ज़रूरी है?
50.26 माँ ने कहा — हाँ, और पैसे से भी ज़्यादा।
50.27 पहले दुकानदार ने तौलते वक्त उम्मीद से ज़्यादा दिया।
50.28 माँ ने कहा — देखा, पहले से बेहतर कोई जगह नहीं मिलती।
50.29 प्रिया बोली — आज मैंने सीखा कि सबसे सस्ता हमेशा सबसे अच्छा नहीं होता।
50.30 माँ मुस्कुराईं और बोलीं — यह सबक़ पैसे से ज़्यादा कीमती है।
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The comparative with pehle se — पहले से: पहले से (pahle se) literally means "from before / than before" and functions as a comparative against a previous state or expectation: पहले से महंगा (more expensive than before), पहले से बेहतर (better than before). This is one of the most common comparative expressions in everyday Hindi.
उम्मीद से ज़्यादा (ummīd se zyādā) — more than expected: उम्मीद (expectation/hope) becomes the standard of comparison. This construction uses an abstract noun as the benchmark: उम्मीद से ज़्यादा दिया (gave more than expected), उम्मीद से कम आए (fewer came than expected). It is characteristic of a language at ease with abstract comparisons.
Feminine plural honorific agreement — माँ मुस्कुराईं, माँ बोलीं: when referring to parents or elders with respect, Hindi uses plural verb forms even for a single person. माँ मुस्कुराईं (Mother smiled — plural FEM, honorific) rather than माँ मुस्कुराई. This honorific pluralisation is a mark of respect, not a description of number.
कि-clause with सीखा: आज मैंने सीखा कि... — "Today I learned that..." — the verb सीखना (to learn) takes the ergative ने (transitive) and introduces the content of learning with कि (that). The verb सीखा is masculine singular, agreeing with the implied masculine object (the lesson).
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से (se) — IPA: /seː/
- स (s): voiceless dental/alveolar sibilant [s] — produced with the tongue near the upper teeth, slightly further forward than English s - े (e mātrā): pure long mid-front vowel [eː] — not a diphthong; held steady - The word is one syllable: [seː]
In rapid connected speech: से often reduces to [sə] or even [s] when unstressed in the middle of a sentence. In careful or emphatic speech — particularly in teaching or argumentation — the full [seː] is maintained.
Fused forms in pronunciation: - मुझसे [mʊd͡ʒ.seː] — than/from me - तुमसे [tʊm.seː] — than/from you - उससे [ʊs.seː] — than/from him/her (note double ss) - हमसे [hʌm.seː] — than/from us
Adjective stress in comparatives: in a sentence like राम सोहन से लंबा है, slight emphasis naturally falls on the adjective लंबा — the point of the comparison. Native speakers mark the comparison by a mild lengthening or stress on the comparative adjective, not on से itself.
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