इच्छा करना (ichchhaa karnaa)
verb
A conjunct verb built from the noun इच्छा (ichchhaa, 'desire, wish') plus करना (karnaa, 'to do'), meaning 'to wish for' or 'to desire' something. Closely related to the more common verb चाहना (chaahnaa), which expresses the same idea more directly and is used far more often in everyday speech.
Sense
1
:
to wish, to desire (something)
verb, transitive The desired thing is usually marked with की (kii) as in किसी चीज़ की इच्छा करना (kisii chiiz kii ichchhaa karnaa, 'to wish for something'), rather than taking a direct object the way चाहना (chaahnaa) does.
Synonyms: चाहना (chaahnaa), कामना करना (kaamnaa karnaa, more formal/literary)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: You will hear इच्छा (ichchhaa) far more often as a standalone noun in phrases like मेरी इच्छा है (merii ichchhaa hai, 'my wish is...') than paired with करना (karnaa) as a verb phrase; the noun+है (hai) construction feels more natural to most speakers than the conjunct verb form. It has a gentle, almost reflective tone, well suited to talking about hopes, spiritual wishes, or long-term desires rather than immediate wants like hunger or thirst.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use this the way they would चाहना (chaahnaa), putting the desired noun directly before करना (karnaa) without की (kii); native speakers usually say इच्छा है कि (ichchhaa hai ki, 'the wish is that...') or X की इच्छा करना (X kii ichchhaa karnaa) rather than a bare object. 2) In casual conversation, चाहना (chaahnaa) is the default verb for 'want/wish'; इच्छा करना (ichchhaa karnaa) sounds a shade more formal or written, so overusing it in casual speech can sound stiff.
Sample Sentences:
मैं चाहता हूँ कि तुम खुश रहो, यही मेरी इच्छा है।
I want you to be happy, this is my wish.
(main chaahtaa hoon ki tum khush raho, yahii merii ichchhaa hai।)
उसने विदेश जाने की इच्छा की थी, पर हालात ठीक नहीं थे।
He had wished to go abroad, but circumstances were not right.
(usne videsh jaane kii ichchhaa kii thii, par haalaat thiik nahiin the।)
दादी अक्सर तीर्थयात्रा करने की इच्छा करती थीं।
Grandmother would often wish to go on a pilgrimage.
(daadii aksar tiirthyaatraa karne kii ichchhaa kartii thiin।)
काश मैं भी संगीत सीखने की इच्छा करता।
If only I too had wished to learn music.
(kaash main bhii sangiit siikhne kii ichchhaa kartaa।)
यदि तुम उन्नति की इच्छा करो, तो निरंतर प्रयास करते रहो।
If you wish for progress, then keep trying continuously.
(yadi tum unnti kii ichchhaa karo, to nirantar prayaas karte raho।)
साधक मन की शांति की इच्छा करता है।
The seeker wishes for peace of mind.
(saadhak man kii shaanti kii ichchhaa kartaa hai।)
भक्त ईश्वर की कृपा पाने की इच्छा करते हैं।
Devotees wish to receive God's grace.
(bhakt iishvar kii kripaa paane kii ichchhaa karte hain।)
उसने अपने बेटे के सुखी जीवन की इच्छा की।
She wished for her son's happy life.
(usne apne bete ke sukhii jiivan kii ichchhaa kii।)
क्या तुम सचमुच इस बदलाव की इच्छा करते हो?
Do you really wish for this change?
(kyaa tum sachmuch is badlaav kii ichchhaa karte ho?)
Morphology
Verb (irregular)
infinitive:
इच्छा करना
(ichchhaa karnaa)
infinitive oblique:
इच्छा करने
(ichchhaa karne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
इच्छा करता
(ichchhaa kartaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
इच्छा करते
(ichchhaa karte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
इच्छा करती
(ichchhaa kartii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
इच्छा करतीं
(ichchhaa kartiin)
continuous (sg.m):
इच्छा कर रहा
(ichchhaa kar rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
इच्छा कर रहे
(ichchhaa kar rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
इच्छा कर रही
(ichchhaa kar rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
इच्छा कर रहीं
(ichchhaa kar rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
इच्छा किया
(ichchhaa kiyaa)
perfective (pl.m):
इच्छा किए
(ichchhaa kie)
perfective (sg.f):
इच्छा की
(ichchhaa kii)
perfective (pl.f):
इच्छा कीं
(ichchhaa kiin)
imperative (informal):
इच्छा कर
(ichchhaa kar)
imperative (neutral):
इच्छा करो
(ichchhaa karo)
imperative (formal):
इच्छा कीजिए
(ichchhaa kiijie)
future (1sg.m):
इच्छा करूँगा
(ichchhaa karoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
इच्छा करूँगी
(ichchhaa karoongii)
future (1pl.m):
इच्छा करेंगे
(ichchhaa karenge)
future (1pl.f):
इच्छा करेंगी
(ichchhaa karengii)
future (2sg.m):
इच्छा करेगा
(ichchhaa karegaa)
future (2sg.f):
इच्छा करेगी
(ichchhaa karegii)
future (2pl.m):
इच्छा करोगे
(ichchhaa karoge)
future (2pl.f):
इच्छा करोगी
(ichchhaa karogii)
future (3sg.m):
इच्छा करेगा
(ichchhaa karegaa)
future (3sg.f):
इच्छा करेगी
(ichchhaa karegii)
future (3pl.m):
इच्छा करेंगे
(ichchhaa karenge)
future (3pl.f):
इच्छा करेंगी
(ichchhaa karengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
इच्छा करूँ
(ichchhaa karoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
इच्छा करें
(ichchhaa karen)
subjunctive (2sg):
इच्छा करे
(ichchhaa kare)
subjunctive (2pl):
इच्छा करो
(ichchhaa karo)
subjunctive (3sg):
इच्छा करे
(ichchhaa kare)
subjunctive (3pl):
इच्छा करें
(ichchhaa karen)