When I teach writing to children लेखन (lekhan), I find that they struggle most with recalling and using descriptive words वर्णात्मक शब्द (varnaatmuk shubd). They have no trouble coming up with complicated पेचीदा (pay-cheeda) stories कहानियाँ (ka-haaniyaan). However, it is a constant challenge to offer detailed विस्तृत (vistrut) written sketches of characters पात्र (paatra) and accounts of scenes दृश्य (drishya). After all, a well written description is what sets your mind’s video rolling, thus playing out the book for you as you read it.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite sections of the newspaper was the Sunday Matrimonials. Although brief, the descriptions of men/women seeking soulmates, and the kind of soulmate they sought, never ceased to amuse me. This is also a good place to get an idea of the various castes and sub-castes present in India.

Here is an excerpt from one such matrimonial ad posted in a leading daily Hindi newspaper. The brevity of the ad is due to the per-word cost of placing the ad. I’ve also deleted references to the caste and the contact information. You can listen to it here:

मेरा भाई बहुत हसमुख व्यक्ति है और मस्तीखोर भी।  उसकी लंबी टांगें और बाज़ू उसके बहुत काम आती हैं — रसोई घर से मिठाई चुराने में।  वह हर बात चुटकुले से शुरू करता है और हर उत्तर के साथ एक पहेली प्रस्तुत करता है। उससे जो भी मिलता है, वह उसके चंचल स्वभाव से प्रभावित हो जाता है।

Mayra bhai bahut hus-mukh vyakti hai aur mastikhor bhi. Uski lambi taangen aur baazoo uske bahut kaam aati hain — rasoi ghar se mithaai churaane mein. Veh har baat chutkule se shuru karta hai aur har uttar ke saath ek paheli prastut karta hai. Us-se jo bhi milta hai, veh uske chun-chul swabhaav se prabhaavit ho jaata hai.

My brother is a very cheerful and mischievous person. His long/lanky legs and arms are very useful to him — in stealing sweets from the kitchen. He begins every conversation with a joke, and presents a riddle every time he answers a question. Whoever meets him, is impressed by his lively personality/nature.

Can you create a short description of a person?
Here are some words and phrases to get you started:

लंबी टांगें	lambi taange	long leg
हसमुख	hasmukh	cheerful
छोटी	chhoti	small
लंबे बाल	lum-bay baal	long hair
काले बाल	kaa-lay baal	black hair
होशियार	hoshiyaar	clever
सुशील	susheel	well-mannered/courteous/polite
गुस्सेवाली/गुस्सेवाला	gussevaali/gussevaala	angry (fem./masc.)
सहनशील	sehensheel	tolerant
मदद करता है /करती है	ma-dud karta hai/karti hai	helps (masc./fem.)
प्यारी/प्यारा	pyaari/pyaara	sweet or lovable (fem./masc.)
आँखें	aankhen	eyes
गंभीर	gambhir	serious
चेहरा	chehra	face (masc.)
चुटकुला	chutkula	joke
पहेली	pa-hay-lee	riddle
प्रभावित होना	prabhaavit hona	to be impressed
उत्तर	uttar	answer/reply (masc.)
प्रस्तुत करना	prastut karna	to present
धीरे चलना	dheere chalna	to walk slowly
तेज़ बोलना	tayz bolna	to speak fast