بردباری is a feminine abstract noun. It is derived from the Persian "بردبار" (bardbaar), which is composed of "برد" (bard, from برداشتن, to bear) and "بار" (baar, burden). The suffix "ی" (i) creates the abstract noun. The word is used to describe a person's capacity to endure hardship without losing composure. It is a virtue in Islam, in Sufism, and in South Asian cultures generally. A person who has بردباری is praised. The word is formal but not overly technical. It appears in literature, in religious texts, and in everyday conversation about character.
Correct Spelling & Pronunciation:
بردباری with full diacritics is written as: بَردباری
ب پر زبر ( َ ) ہے (بَ)۔
ر ساکن ہے (ر)۔
د پر زبر ( َ ) ہے (دَ)۔
ب پر زبر ( َ ) ہے (بَ)۔
ا ساکن ہے (ا)۔
ر پر زیر ( ِ ) ہے (رِ)۔
ی ساکن ہے (ی)۔
تلفظ: Bardbaari. The "bard" has a short "ba," a soft "r," a soft "d." The "baari" has a short "baa" and a long "ree." The stress falls on the first syllable: BARD baa ri.
Now begin the main body of the entry.
The word بردباری names a virtue that is often in short supply. In a world of instant gratification, of quick tempers, of social media outrage, the ability to endure with patience is rare. بردباری is the quality of the mountain that does not move in the storm. It is the quality of the tree that bends but does not break. It is the quality of the mature person who does not retaliate when insulted, who does not despair when tested, who does not give up when the road is long. بردباری is strength disguised as gentleness. It is power held in reserve.
Let us explore the meaning of بردباری through its components. "برد" (bard) comes from the Persian verb "برداشتن" (bardashtan), to bear, to endure, to tolerate. "بار" (baar) means burden. A "بردبار" person is one who can bear a burden. They can take the weight of difficulty without collapsing. The suffix "ی" (i) turns this quality into an abstract noun. بردباری is the ability to bear burdens.
In Islamic ethics, بردباری (or "صبر", sabr) is a central virtue. The Quran says, "إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ" (Indeed, Allah is with the patient). The Prophet Muhammad praised those who control their anger, who forgive, who endure hardship without complaint. In Urdu religious discourse, بردباری is often used as a synonym for "صبر" (sabr), though "صبر" also has the sense of steadfastness in faith. بردباری emphasizes the endurance of irritation and provocation.
In Sufism, بردباری is the quality of the seeker who endures the trials of the spiritual path. The ego (نفس, nafs) is impatient. It wants immediate gratification. The soul (روح, rooh) is patient. It can wait for divine union. The Sufi cultivates بردباری to overcome the ego's demands.
In everyday social contexts, بردباری is praised. A parent who deals with a difficult child with بردباری is admired. A teacher who handles a disruptive student with بردباری is respected. A citizen who endures a long queue with بردباری is seen as mature. The word is used in compliments. "تمہاری بردباری قابل تعریف ہے" (Your forbearance is praiseworthy). " اس نے بڑی بردباری سے میری بات سنی" (He listened to me with great patience).
The opposite of بردباری is "بے صبری" (be sabri, impatience), "بے بردباری" (be bardbaari, lack of forbearance), or "جلد بازی" (jald baazi, haste). An impatient person may be called "بے صبر" (be sabr) or "بے بردبار" (be bardbaar). The contrast is clear. Impulsive, angry, reactive people lack بردباری. Calm, thoughtful, forgiving people have it.
The verb form is "برداشت کرنا" (bardasht karna, to bear, to endure). "میں یہ ظلم برداشت نہیں کر سکتا" (I cannot bear this oppression). "اس نے بڑی برداشت سے کام لیا" (He acted with great endurance). The noun "برداشت" (bardasht) is a synonym for بردباری, though "برداشت" is more physical (endurance of pain) while "بردباری" is more moral (forbearance of provocation).
The word can be used in the possessive. "اس کی بردباری" (his forbearance). "تمہاری بردباری" (your forbearance). "ہماری بردباری" (our forbearance).
From a grammatical perspective, بردباری is a feminine noun. The verb agrees with the feminine gender. "بردباری کم ہو رہی ہے" (Forbearance is decreasing). "بردباری بڑھنی چاہیے" (Forbearance should increase). The plural is rarely used. The adjective is "بردبار" (bardbaar, patient, forbearing). "وہ ایک بردبار آدمی ہے" (He is a patient man). "بردبار عورت" (forbearing woman).
Synonyms (Urdu): صبر (sabr), تحمل (tahammul), برداشت (bardasht), حلم (hilam, from Arabic, forbearance), رواداری (rawadaari, tolerance), ضبط (zabt, self control)
Synonyms (English): Patience, forbearance, tolerance, endurance, long suffering, self control, composure
Antonyms (Urdu): بے صبری (be sabri), بے بردباری (be bardbaari), جلد بازی (jald baazi), عجلت (ujlat), تنگ دستی (tang dasti, impatience), بے قراری (be qarari)
Antonyms (English): Impatience, intolerance, restlessness, haste, irritability, agitation
Etymology:
بردباری comes from the Persian "بردبار" (bardbaar), which is from "برداشتن" (bardashtan, to bear, to endure) and "بار" (baar, burden). "برداشتن" is from Middle Persian "bar" (to bear) and the root "بر" (bar). The suffix "ی" (i) forms an abstract noun. The word is purely Persian. It has no Arabic or Sanskrit elements. This gives it a refined, ethical tone. It is a word of character.
Metaphorical Use:
The metaphorical use of بردباری extends the concept of patience to non human entities. A mountain has بردباری. It endures wind and rain for millennia. A tree has بردباری. It stands in one place, enduring seasons. The phrase "زمین کی بردباری" (the forbearance of the earth) is used in poetry to describe the earth's patience in bearing the weight of the living. The metaphor praises nature's steadiness.
Cultural Significance:
In South Asian cultures, patience is a highly valued virtue. The phrase "صبر کا پھل میٹھا ہوتا ہے" (The fruit of patience is sweet) is a common proverb. People are taught from childhood to be patient, to endure, to forbear. بردباری is seen as a sign of maturity, wisdom, and spiritual strength. In a crowded, noisy, often difficult environment, patience is essential for survival and for maintaining social harmony.
Social and Emotional Impact:
To be praised for your بردباری is to be seen as mature and strong. The emotional impact is positive. You feel respected. To be told that you lack بردباری is a criticism. It means you are impulsive, reactive, immature. The emotional impact is negative. The word is a measure of character. It is used in advice, in evaluation, in praise and blame.
Word Associations: صبر (patience), تحمل (endurance), اخلاق (morals), عقل (wisdom), برداشت (tolerance), خاموشی (silence), سکون (peace), گھبراہٹ (anxiety), غصہ (anger)
Polarity: Strongly positive. The word describes a highly valued virtue.
Register: Formal to neutral. The word is used in religious, ethical, and everyday contexts.
Pragmatic Sense: To describe the quality of enduring hardship, provocation, or difficulty with calmness and without complaint.
Formality: Medium. The word is serious but not overly technical.
Usage Contexts:
Religious: Describing the virtue of patience in Islam.
Ethical: Praising forbearance and self control.
Social: Complimenting someone's calm demeanor.
Psychological: Describing mature coping mechanisms.
Everyday Conversation: Advising someone to be patient.
Evolution in Use:
The word بردباری has been used for centuries. Its meaning has not changed. It is a stable part of the ethical vocabulary. In modern times, with the rise of stress and burnout, the word is still used. It is a reminder of the value of patience. It is likely to remain in use.
Example Sentences:
مشکل وقت میں اس نے بڑی بردباری کا مظاہرہ کیا۔
In difficult times, he showed great forbearance.
بردباری کامیابی کی کنجی ہے۔
Patience is the key to success.
اس کی بردباری نے سب کو حیران کر دیا۔
His forbearance surprised everyone.
بردباری کے بغیر زندگی بہت مشکل ہے۔
Life is very difficult without forbearance.
اللہ صبر کرنے والوں کے ساتھ ہے، بردباری رکھو۔
Allah is with those who are patient, have forbearance.
اس نے بڑی بردباری سے میری غلطی معاف کر دی۔
He forgave my mistake with great forbearance.
Poetic and Literary Touch:
In Urdu poetry, the theme of بردباری appears in moral and didactic poems. The poet Allama Iqbal wrote about the importance of patience in the struggle for selfhood. The poet Mirza Ghalib wrote about the patience of the lover who endures the beloved's cruelty. In the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the oppressed people are advised to have ببردباری, to endure, because the revolution will come. The word is used in both personal and political contexts. It is a word of hope and of strength.
Summary:
بردباری is an Urdu abstract noun meaning patience, forbearance, tolerance, or endurance. It is derived from the Persian words for bearing a burden (بردبار) and the abstract suffix (ی). The word is used in religious, ethical, social, and psychological contexts to describe the virtue of enduring hardship or provocation with calmness and without complaint. It has a strongly positive polarity and a medium level of formality. Understanding بردباری is essential for discussing moral character, for giving advice, and for understanding the cultural value of patience in Urdu.
Cross Language Comparison:
In Hindi, the same word बर्दबारी (bardbaari) exists and is used similarly. Hindi speakers may also use सहनशीलता (sahansheelta) from Sanskrit. In Persian, the equivalent is بردباری (bardbaari). In Arabic, the equivalent is احتمال (ihtimaal) or تحمل (tahammul). In English, "forbearance" is the closest equivalent. It is a formal word. "Patience" is more common but less specific. Forbearance implies patience under provocation. The Urdu بردباری is a precise term. It is the quality of enduring without reacting.