टेकना (teknaa)
verb
A physical verb meaning to lean, prop, or rest something (like a stick, hand, or knee) against a support -- most familiar to learners through the fixed phrase घुटने टेकना (ghutne teknaa, 'to kneel/give in').
Sense
1
:
to kneel down (as an act of submission or surrender), used almost only in the fixed idiom घुटने टेकना
verb, transitive Almost always appears as the fixed collocation घुटने टेकना (ghutne teknaa, 'to kneel'), where घुटने (ghutne, 'knees') is the object being 'propped' on the ground.
Synonyms: हार मानना (haar maannaa, to accept defeat), झुकना (jhuknaa, to bow/bend)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This idiom carries the same emotional weight as its English counterpart 'to go down on one's knees' or 'to surrender' -- you will hear it in news reports about armies or political rivals 'kneeling' (घुटने टेकना, ghutne teknaa) rather than literally describing prayer posture.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes translate this too literally as 'knees rested' rather than recognizing it as an idiom for defeat or surrender, similar to English 'to go down on one's knees.' 2) The idiom is used figuratively far more often than literally -- घुटने टेकना (ghutne teknaa) in a sentence about an argument or war means 'surrendered,' not necessarily a physical kneeling.
Sample Sentences:
आखिरकार दुश्मन सेना को घुटने टेकने पड़े।
In the end, the enemy army had to kneel down (surrender).
(aakhirkaar dushman senaa ko ghutne tekne pade।)
सरकार विपक्ष के दबाव के आगे घुटने टेक देगी।
The government will give in to the opposition's pressure.
(sarkaar vipaksh ke dabaav ke aage ghutne tek degii।)
वह कभी किसी के आगे घुटने नहीं टेकता।
He never gives in to anyone.
(vah kabhii kisii ke aage ghutne nahiin tektaa।)
मत घुटने टेको, लड़ते रहो!
Don't give in, keep fighting!
(mat ghutne teko, ladte raho!)
अगर हालात और बिगड़ते, तो कंपनी को घुटने टेकने पड़ते।
If the situation had worsened further, the company would have had to give in.
(agar haalaat aur bigadte, to kampnii ko ghutne tekne padte।)
क्या टीम इतनी आसानी से घुटने टेक देगी?
Will the team really give in so easily?
(kyaa tiim itnii aasaanii se ghutne tek degii?)
घंटों की झड़प के बाद विद्रोहियों ने घुटने टेक दिए।
After hours of clashes, the rebels surrendered.
(ghanton kii jhadap ke baad vidrohiyon ne ghutne tek die।)
इस बार तो उसे घुटने टेकने ही पड़ेंगे, कोई रास्ता नहीं बचा।
This time he will have no choice but to kneel -- there's no way out left.
(is baar to use ghutne tekne hii padenge, koii raastaa nahiin bachaa।)
यह ज़रूरी नहीं कि हर हार में घुटने टेक दिए जाएँ।
It is not necessary that one should surrender at every defeat.
(yah zaroorii nahiin ki har haar men ghutne tek die jaaen।)
Sense
2
:
to prop, lean, or rest something against a support
verb, transitive Takes an object plus a location marked with पर (par): X को Y पर टेकना (X ko Y par teknaa).
Synonyms: सहारा लेना (sahaaraa lenaa, take support), टिकाना (tikaanaa, to make something rest against)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this most in physical, everyday contexts: an elderly person propping a cane -- लाठी टेकना (laathii teknaa) -- or someone resting a hand on a table to steady themselves. It is a very concrete, body-in-space verb.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often confuse टेकना (teknaa) with टिकना (tiknaa) -- टिकना is intransitive ('to rest, to hold up on its own') while टेकना is transitive ('to prop something against something'). 2) The object being propped (a stick, hand, knee) needs को or is simply the direct object; the surface being propped against takes पर (par), not पे casually swapped without thought in careful writing.
Sample Sentences:
बुढ़िया दीवार पर हाथ टेककर उठी।
The old woman got up, propping her hand against the wall.
(budhiyaa diivaar par haath tekkar uthii।)
बाबा जी हमेशा लाठी टेककर चलते हैं।
The old man always walks propped on his cane.
(baabaa jii hameshaa laathii tekkar chalte hain।)
सीढ़ी को दीवार पर टेक दो, फिर ऊपर चढ़ो।
Prop the ladder against the wall, then climb up.
(siidhii ko diivaar par tek do, phir oopar chadho।)
वह थककर छड़ी टेके हुए खड़ा है।
Tired, he is standing there leaning on his stick.
(vah thakkar chhadii teke hue khadaa hai।)
अगर तुम्हें चक्कर आ रहा है तो मेज़ पर हाथ टेक लो।
If you're feeling dizzy, rest your hand on the table.
(agar tumhen chakkar aa rahaa hai to mez par haath tek lo।)
उसने कंधे से बंदूक टेककर निशाना साधा।
He steadied the rifle against his shoulder and took aim.
(usne kandhe se bandook tekkar nishaanaa saadhaa।)
कमज़ोर टहनी को खूँटे से टेक दिया गया ताकि वह टूटे नहीं।
The weak branch was propped against a stake so it wouldn't break.
(kamzor tahnii ko khoonte se tek diyaa gayaa taaki vah toote nahiin।)
अगर उसके पास लाठी होती, तो वह उसे टेककर आराम से चल पाता।
If he had a cane, he would have been able to walk comfortably, propped on it.
(agar uske paas laathii hotii, to vah use tekkar aaraam se chal paataa।)
कृपया साइकिल को यहाँ दीवार से मत टेकिए, रास्ता बंद हो जाता है।
Please don't lean the bicycle against the wall here, it blocks the way.
(kripyaa saaikil ko yahaan diivaar se mat tekie, raastaa band ho jaataa hai।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
टेकना
(teknaa)
infinitive oblique:
टेकने
(tekne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
टेकता
(tektaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
टेकते
(tekte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
टेकती
(tektii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
टेकतीं
(tektiin)
continuous (sg.m):
टेक रहा
(tek rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
टेक रहे
(tek rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
टेक रही
(tek rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
टेक रहीं
(tek rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
टेका
(tekaa)
perfective (pl.m):
टेके
(teke)
perfective (sg.f):
टेकी
(tekii)
perfective (pl.f):
टेकीं
(tekiin)
imperative (informal):
टेक
(tek)
imperative (neutral):
टेको
(teko)
imperative (formal):
टेकिए
(tekie)
future (1sg.m):
टेकूँगा
(tekoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
टेकूँगी
(tekoongii)
future (1pl.m):
टेकेंगे
(tekenge)
future (1pl.f):
टेकेंगी
(tekengii)
future (2sg.m):
टेकेगा
(tekegaa)
future (2sg.f):
टेकेगी
(tekegii)
future (2pl.m):
टेकोगे
(tekoge)
future (2pl.f):
टेकोगी
(tekogii)
future (3sg.m):
टेकेगा
(tekegaa)
future (3sg.f):
टेकेगी
(tekegii)
future (3pl.m):
टेकेंगे
(tekenge)
future (3pl.f):
टेकेंगी
(tekengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
टेकूँ
(tekoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
टेकें
(teken)
subjunctive (2sg):
टेके
(teke)
subjunctive (2pl):
टेको
(teko)
subjunctive (3sg):
टेके
(teke)
subjunctive (3pl):
टेकें
(teken)