देखना (dekhnaa)
verb
The basic verb 'to see/look/watch,' which also extends to 'to check/find out,' 'to consider/regard,' and shows up as a light verb after a verb stem to mean 'try doing something.' Notes: heavily used as an auxiliary in the -कर देखना (-kar dekhnaa) construction covered in the second sense.
Sense
1
:
to see, look at, watch
verb, transitive
Synonyms: निहारना (nihaarnaa, literary), ताकना (taaknaa, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is one of the first verbs every learner picks up, and it stretches further than English 'see': ज़रा देखो (zaraa dekho, 'just look') is a very common way to draw someone's attention, said constantly by parents, shopkeepers, and friends alike.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सुनना (sunnaa) or समझना (samajhnaa) when देखना (dekhnaa) is actually what a native speaker would use, e.g. फ़िल्म देखना (film dekhnaa, 'to watch a movie')- देखना covers both 'watch' and 'see' contexts English splits apart. 2) With things you check by looking, like a watch or the time, Hindi still uses देखना (dekhnaa) -- घड़ी देखना (ghadii dekhnaa, 'to check the time') -- where a learner might instead reach for 'check.'
Sample Sentences:
ज़रा देखो, बाहर बारिश हो रही है।
Just look, it's raining outside.
(zaraa dekho, baahar baarish ho rahii hai।)
मैं हर शनिवार अपने दोस्तों के साथ फ़िल्म देखता हूँ।
I watch a movie with my friends every Saturday.
(main har shanivaar apne doston ke saath film dekhtaa hoon।)
वह खिड़की से बाहर देख रही थी।
She was looking outside through the window.
(vah khidkii se baahar dekh rahii thii।)
मैंने कल रात एक अच्छी फ़िल्म देखी।
I saw a good movie last night.
(mainne kal raat ek achchhii film dekhii।)
क्या तुमने वह चिट्ठी देखी है?
Have you seen that letter?
(kyaa tumne vah chitthii dekhii hai?)
हम कल ताजमहल देखेंगे।
We will see the Taj Mahal tomorrow.
(ham kal taajmahal dekhenge।)
यह फ़िल्म बड़ों की देख-रेख में ही देखी जानी चाहिए।
This movie should only be watched under the supervision of adults.
(yah film badon kii dekh-rekh men hii dekhii jaanii chaahie।)
अगर मैं वहाँ होता, तो मैं भी वह नज़ारा देखता।
If I had been there, I would have seen that view too.
(agar main vahaan hotaa, to main bhii vah nazaaraa dekhtaa।)
कृपया ध्यान से देखिए, कहीं कुछ छूट न जाए।
Please look carefully, in case something gets left behind.
(kripyaa dhyaan se dekhie, kahiin kuchh chhoot n jaae।)
बच्चा टीवी पर कार्टून देख रहा है।
The child is watching cartoons on TV.
(bachchaa tiivii par kaartoon dekh rahaa hai।)
उस दृश्य को देखकर सब लोग रो पड़े।
Seeing that scene, everyone burst into tears.
(us drishy ko dekhkar sab log ro pade।)
Sense
2
:
to try, to see if (as a light verb after a verb stem)
verb, intransitive Formed as verb stem + कर (kar) + देखना (dekhnaa), e.g. खाकर देखो (khaakar dekho, 'try eating it'). This -कर देखना (-kar dekhnaa) pattern is how Hindi expresses 'try X-ing' and is distinct from the plain infinitive + light-verb compounds covered elsewhere.
Synonyms: कोशिश करना (koshish karnaa, different construction, not a direct swap)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: A shopkeeper offering you a sample will often say चखकर देखो (chakhkar dekho, 'taste and see') -- this construction is everywhere in markets and kitchens, encouraging someone to test something out for themselves rather than just take your word for it.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes drop the कर (kar) and just say the stem plus देखना (dekhnaa), which sounds off -- the कर is required to signal 'do this and then see.' 2) This is not the verb to use for 'try on clothes' -- that is पहनकर देखना (pahankar dekhnaa) specifically, or often just पहनना (pahannaa) alone in context, so learners should not assume देखना (dekhnaa) alone covers trying on.
Sample Sentences:
एक बार चखकर देखो, बहुत अच्छा बना है।
Taste it once and see, it has turned out very good.
(ek baar chakhkar dekho, bahut achchhaa banaa hai।)
मैं यह कुर्ता पहनकर देखना चाहता हूँ।
I want to try wearing this kurta.
(main yah kurtaa pahankar dekhnaa chaahtaa hoon।)
उसने दरवाज़ा खोलकर देखा तो कमरा खाली था।
He tried opening the door and saw that the room was empty.
(usne darvaazaa kholkar dekhaa to kamraa khaalii thaa।)
तुम एक बार बोलकर तो देखो, शायद वह मान जाए।
Just try saying it once, maybe he'll agree.
(tum ek baar bolkar to dekho, shaayad vah maan jaae।)
अगर वक़्त मिले तो यह किताब पढ़कर देखना।
If you get time, try reading this book.
(agar vaqt mile to yah kitaab padhkar dekhnaa।)
मैंने गाना गाकर देखा, पर सुर नहीं लगा।
I tried singing the song, but I couldn't get the tune right.
(mainne gaanaa gaakar dekhaa, par sur nahiin lagaa।)
अगर मैं यह नौकरी करके देखता, तो शायद ज़िंदगी कुछ और होती।
If I had tried doing this job, life might have been something else.
(agar main yah naukrii karke dekhtaa, to shaayad zindgii kuchh aur hotii।)
कृपया इस मशीन को चलाकर देखिए और बताइए कि कोई खराबी तो नहीं।
Please try running this machine and tell me if there's any fault.
(kripyaa is mashiin ko chalaakar dekhie aur bataaie ki koii kharaabii to nahiin।)
वह हर तरीका आज़माकर देख रहा है ताकि समस्या हल हो जाए।
He is trying every method so that the problem gets solved.
(vah har tariikaa aazmaakar dekh rahaa hai taaki samasyaa hal ho jaae।)
बच्चों को खुद साइकिल चलाकर देखने दो, वे सीख जाएँगे।
Let the children try riding the bicycle themselves, they'll learn.
(bachchon ko khud saaikil chalaakar dekhne do, ve siikh jaaenge।)
एक बार दिल्ली में रहकर देखिए, फिर पता चलेगा यहाँ की ज़िंदगी कैसी है।
Just try living in Delhi once, then you'll find out what life here is like.
(ek baar dillii men rahkar dekhie, phir pataa chalegaa yahaan kii zindgii kaisii hai।)
Sense
3
:
to consider, regard, treat (someone/something as)
verb, transitive Often appears in the pattern X को Y की तरह/नज़र से देखना (X ko Y kii tarah dekhnaa, 'to see/regard X as Y').
Synonyms: मानना (maannaa, to consider/believe), समझना (samajhnaa, to consider/take as)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Parents often say अपने बच्चों को एक जैसा देखना चाहिए (apne bachchon ko ek jaisaa dekhnaa chaahie, 'one should regard one's children equally') -- देखना (dekhnaa) here shifts from physical sight to a stance or attitude, much like English 'I see her as a friend.'
Sample Sentences:
माता-पिता को अपने बच्चों को एक जैसा देखना चाहिए।
Parents should regard their children as equal.
(maataa-pitaa ko apne bachchon ko ek jaisaa dekhnaa chaahie।)
वह अपने नौकर को भी परिवार का हिस्सा देखता है।
He regards his servant as part of the family too.
(vah apne naukar ko bhii parivaar kaa hissaa dekhtaa hai।)
मैं उसे अपने भाई की तरह देखती हूँ।
I regard him as my own brother.
(main use apne bhaaii kii tarah dekhtii hoon।)
उसने हमेशा पैसे को ही सफलता का पैमाना देखा।
He always regarded money as the sole measure of success.
(usne hameshaa paise ko hii saphaltaa kaa paimaanaa dekhaa।)
समाज को हर इंसान को बराबर देखना चाहिए, चाहे वह किसी भी जाति का हो।
Society should regard every human as equal, no matter what caste they belong to.
(samaaj ko har insaan ko baraabar dekhnaa chaahie, chaahe vah kisii bhii jaati kaa ho।)
काश वह मुझे एक दोस्त की तरह देखता, न कि सिर्फ एक कर्मचारी की तरह।
If only he regarded me as a friend, not just as an employee.
(kaash vah mujhe ek dost kii tarah dekhtaa, n ki sirph ek karmchaarii kii tarah।)
इस मुद्दे को केवल राजनीति के नज़रिए से मत देखो।
Don't regard this issue only from a political angle.
(is mudde ko keval raajniiti ke nazrie se mat dekho।)
अगर हम प्रकृति को माँ की तरह देखें, तो शायद हम उसकी बेहतर रक्षा करें।
If we regard nature as a mother, perhaps we would protect it better.
(agar ham prakriti ko maan kii tarah dekhen, to shaayad ham uskii behtar rakshaa karen।)
प्राचीन भारतीय दर्शन में अतिथि को देवता के समान देखा जाता था।
In ancient Indian philosophy, a guest used to be regarded as equal to god.
(praachiin bhaartiiy darshan men atithi ko devtaa ke samaan dekhaa jaataa thaa।)
अगर उसे नौकरी न मिली होती, तो शायद वह खुद को असफल देखता।
If he hadn't gotten the job, he might have regarded himself as a failure.
(agar use naukrii n milii hotii, to shaayad vah khud ko asphal dekhtaa।)
Sense
4
:
to check, find out, look into
verb, transitive
Synonyms: जांचना (jaanchnaa, to inspect/verify), पता करना (pataa karnaa, to find out)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In offices and homes alike, ज़रा देखो तो (zaraa dekho to, 'just take a look, will you') is a very common polite request to look into or verify something, from a bill to a bag's contents.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes overuse चेक करना (chek karnaa) borrowed from English when देखना (dekhnaa) is the more natural native choice, e.g. ज़रा देख लो (zaraa dekh lo, 'just check it') for checking an email or a document.
Sample Sentences:
ज़रा देखो तो, गैस बंद है या नहीं।
Just check, will you, whether the gas is off or not.
(zaraa dekho to, gais band hai yaa nahiin।)
क्या आप ज़रा बिल देख लेंगे? मुझे कुछ गड़बड़ लग रही है।
Could you please check the bill? Something seems off to me.
(kyaa aap zaraa bil dekh lenge? mujhe kuchh gadbad lag rahii hai।)
मैं रोज़ सुबह मेल देखता हूँ कि कोई ज़रूरी काम तो नहीं आया।
I check my mail every morning to see if any urgent work has come in.
(main roz subah mel dekhtaa hoon ki koii zaroorii kaam to nahiin aayaa।)
पुलिस पूरे मामले की जांच देख रही है।
The police are looking into the entire matter.
(pulis poore maamle kii jaanch dekh rahii hai।)
मैंने बैग खोलकर देखा कि उसमें पैसे रखे हैं या नहीं।
I opened the bag and checked whether the money was inside or not.
(mainne baig kholkar dekhaa ki usmen paise rakhe hain yaa nahiin।)
अगर हम पहले रिकॉर्ड देख लेते तो यह गलती नहीं होती।
If we had checked the records earlier, this mistake wouldn't have happened.
(agar ham pahle rikord dekh lete to yah galtii nahiin hotii।)
ऐसा न हो कि हम बाद में पछताएँ, इसलिए पहले सारे कागज़ात देख लो।
Lest we regret it later, check all the documents first.
(aisaa n ho ki ham baad men pachhtaaen, islie pahle saare kaagzaat dekh lo।)
मामले की तह तक जाने के लिए हर पहलू को बारीकी से देखा गया।
In order to get to the bottom of the matter, every aspect was closely examined.
(maamle kii tah tak jaane ke lie har pahloo ko baariikii se dekhaa gayaa।)
समिति इस प्रस्ताव के हर पहलू को गंभीरता से देखेगी।
The committee will carefully look into every aspect of this proposal.
(samiti is prastaav ke har pahloo ko gambhiirtaa se dekhegii।)
अकाउंटेंट से कहो कि खाते ज़रा ध्यान से देख ले।
Tell the accountant to check the accounts carefully.
(akaauntent se kaho ki khaate zaraa dhyaan se dekh le।)
मैंने कल ही देख लिया था कि सब कागज़ पूरे हैं।
I had already checked yesterday that all the papers are complete.
(mainne kal hii dekh liyaa thaa ki sab kaagaz poore hain।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
देखना
(dekhnaa)
infinitive oblique:
देखने
(dekhne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
देखता
(dekhtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
देखते
(dekhte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
देखती
(dekhtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
देखतीं
(dekhtiin)
continuous (sg.m):
देख रहा
(dekh rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
देख रहे
(dekh rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
देख रही
(dekh rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
देख रहीं
(dekh rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
देखा
(dekhaa)
perfective (pl.m):
देखे
(dekhe)
perfective (sg.f):
देखी
(dekhii)
perfective (pl.f):
देखीं
(dekhiin)
imperative (informal):
देख
(dekh)
imperative (neutral):
देखो
(dekho)
imperative (formal):
देखिए
(dekhie)
future (1sg.m):
देखूँगा
(dekhoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
देखूँगी
(dekhoongii)
future (1pl.m):
देखेंगे
(dekhenge)
future (1pl.f):
देखेंगी
(dekhengii)
future (2sg.m):
देखेगा
(dekhegaa)
future (2sg.f):
देखेगी
(dekhegii)
future (2pl.m):
देखोगे
(dekhoge)
future (2pl.f):
देखोगी
(dekhogii)
future (3sg.m):
देखेगा
(dekhegaa)
future (3sg.f):
देखेगी
(dekhegii)
future (3pl.m):
देखेंगे
(dekhenge)
future (3pl.f):
देखेंगी
(dekhengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
देखूँ
(dekhoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
देखें
(dekhen)
subjunctive (2sg):
देखे
(dekhe)
subjunctive (2pl):
देखो
(dekho)
subjunctive (3sg):
देखे
(dekhe)
subjunctive (3pl):
देखें
(dekhen)