स्वस्थ रहना

You treat रहना like any other verb. It changes based on who you are talking about. If you are giving advice to a friend, you might say स्वस्थ रहो. If you are talking about your own goals, you’d say मैं स्वस्थ रहना चाहता हूँ. It usually follows a reason or a method. For example, 'Eat fruit to स्वस्थ रहना.' It’s a very flexible building block for sentences.

Use it when discussing lifestyle changes with friends. It’s perfect for the gym or a yoga class. You will also hear it at the doctor’s office. Doctors love telling you how to स्वस्थ रहना. It’s also a common part of blessings. Elders often tell younger people to 'stay healthy' as a way of saying they care. You can use it in professional emails about wellness too.

Don't use this for inanimate objects. You wouldn't say a car is स्वस्थ. That would sound very silly! Also, if someone is currently sick, don't tell them to स्वस्थ रहना. Instead, tell them to ठीक हो जाओ (get well). स्वस्थ रहना is about the long-term habit, not a quick recovery from a cold. Using it for a temporary flu feels a bit too heavy.

In India, health is often viewed holistically. The ancient science of Ayurveda heavily influences this. There is a famous saying: पहला सुख निरोगी काया (The first happiness is a healthy body). Being healthy is seen as a duty to oneself. You’ll notice that food and health are always linked in Indian culture. People will constantly give you 'healthy' advice, even if you didn't ask for it!

You might hear तंदुरुस्त रहना (tadurust rahnā). This is a bit more informal and often implies being physically strong or 'sturdy.' Another one is सेहतमंद रहना (sehatmand rahnā). सेहतमंद comes from the Urdu word for health. Both are great, but स्वस्थ रहना is the most standard and widely understood version across all of India.