न्याय

/njɑːj/
nounIntermediate justice
formal

The quality of being fair and reasonable; the administration of the law.

सभी को न्याय मिलना चाहिए।

Everyone should get justice.

न्यायपालिका स्वतंत्र होनी चाहिए।

The judiciary should be independent.

💡

Often used in legal, social, or moral contexts to refer to fairness.

⚖️Law
formal

A judge or magistrate in a court of law.

न्याय ने फैसला सुनाया।

The judge delivered the verdict.

💡

Less common modern usage; primarily historical or literary.

Related Phrases

न्याय से दूर रहनाphrase
to stay away from justice (often implying corruption)
न्याय की देवीphrase
goddess of justice (metaphorical)

💡Pro Tip

Contextual Usage

In everyday Hindi, 'न्याय' is often paired with 'इंसाफ' (insāf) for emphasis (e.g., 'न्याय और इंसाफ'). For legal contexts, 'न्याय' is preferred, while 'इंसाफ' is more colloquial.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

Use 'न्याय' in formal writing, speeches, or legal discussions. For casual conversations, 'इंसाफ' is more common.

📖Word Origin

Sanskrit root 'न्य्' (ni) meaning 'to lead' or 'to guide', combined with 'य' (ya) forming 'न्याय' (nyāya), originally meaning 'rule' or 'method'. In classical Sanskrit, it referred to logical reasoning, later evolving to mean 'justice' or 'legal principle'.

📝Usage Notes

Used in both formal (legal, judicial) and informal (moral fairness) contexts. Common in Hindi proverbs and philosophical texts (e.g., 'न्याय के मार्ग पर चलना' — 'to walk the path of justice').

Word Breakdown

न्य् (ni)
prefix meaning 'leading' or 'guiding'
root
+
य (ya)
suffix forming abstract nouns (e.g., 'method', 'rule')
suffix
हिन्दी-अंग्रेज़ी शब्दकोश