चखना (chakhnaa)
verb
A simple transitive verb meaning to taste or sample food, usually with the tongue and in a small quantity.
Sense
1
:
to taste (food)
verb, transitive
Synonyms: स्वाद लेना (svaad lenaa, to take the taste of)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In a Delhi kitchen, the cook almost always चखती है (chakhtii hai, 'tastes [it]') the daal or sabzi with a spoon before serving -- it's an everyday, almost reflexive action tied to getting the namak-mirch (salt-spice balance) right. You will also hear it at food stalls: दुकानदार अक्सर कहता है, 'चख कर देखो' (chakh kar dekho, 'taste and see'), inviting customers to sample pickles, chutneys, or sweets before buying.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse चखना (chakhnaa) with खाना (khaanaa, to eat) -- चखना (chakhnaa) implies a small sampling bite or sip to check flavor, not a full meal. 2) It is commonly used with 'a little' -- ज़रा चखना (zaraa chakhnaa, 'just taste a little') is very natural, whereas the same phrasing with खाना (khaanaa) sounds odd since eating implies a proper quantity.
Sample Sentences:
माँ दाल चखती है और नमक देखती है।
Mom tastes the daal and checks the salt.
(maan daal chakhtii hai aur namak dekhtii hai।)
जरा यह चटनी चख कर देखो।
Just taste this chutney and see.
(jaraa yah chatnii chakh kar dekho।)
दुकानदार अक्सर कहता है, 'चख कर देखो'।
The shopkeeper often says, 'taste and see'.
(dukaandaar aksar kahtaa hai, 'chakh kar dekho'।)
मैंने सब्जी चखी और फिर उसमें मिर्च डाली।
I tasted the vegetable dish and then added chili to it.
(mainne sabjii chakhii aur phir usmen mirch daalii।)
वह रसोई में खड़ी सूप चख रही है।
She is standing in the kitchen, tasting the soup.
(vah rasoii men khadii soop chakh rahii hai।)
क्या तुमने कभी असली बनारसी पान चखा है?
Have you ever tasted an authentic Banarasi paan?
(kyaa tumne kabhii aslii banaarsii paan chakhaa hai?)
अगर तुम यह अचार चखते, तो पसंद करते।
If you had tasted this pickle, you would have liked it.
(agar tum yah achaar chakhte, to pasand karte।)
शायद वह हलवा चख ले, फिर बताएगी कि मीठा ठीक है या नहीं।
Maybe she will taste the halwa, then she'll tell if the sweetness is right.
(shaayad vah halvaa chakh le, phir bataaegii ki miithaa thiik hai yaa nahiin।)
इस समारोह में हर व्यंजन को शेफ द्वारा चखा जाएगा।
At this event, every dish will be tasted by the chef.
(is samaaroh men har vyanjan ko sheph dvaaraa chakhaa jaaegaa।)
पकवान परोसने से पहले हमेशा चख लेना चाहिए।
One should always taste the dish before serving it.
(pakvaan parosne se pahle hameshaa chakh lenaa chaahie।)
बच्चे मेले में हर स्टॉल की मिठाई चखते फिर रहे थे।
The children kept going around tasting sweets from every stall at the fair.
(bachche mele men har stol kii mithaaii chakhte phir rahe the।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
चखना
(chakhnaa)
infinitive oblique:
चखने
(chakhne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
चखता
(chakhtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
चखते
(chakhte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
चखती
(chakhtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
चखतीं
(chakhtiin)
continuous (sg.m):
चख रहा
(chakh rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
चख रहे
(chakh rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
चख रही
(chakh rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
चख रहीं
(chakh rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
चखा
(chakhaa)
perfective (pl.m):
चखे
(chakhe)
perfective (sg.f):
चखी
(chakhii)
perfective (pl.f):
चखीं
(chakhiin)
imperative (informal):
चख
(chakh)
imperative (neutral):
चखो
(chakho)
imperative (formal):
चखिए
(chakhie)
future (1sg.m):
चखूँगा
(chakhoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
चखूँगी
(chakhoongii)
future (1pl.m):
चखेंगे
(chakhenge)
future (1pl.f):
चखेंगी
(chakhengii)
future (2sg.m):
चखेगा
(chakhegaa)
future (2sg.f):
चखेगी
(chakhegii)
future (2pl.m):
चखोगे
(chakhoge)
future (2pl.f):
चखोगी
(chakhogii)
future (3sg.m):
चखेगा
(chakhegaa)
future (3sg.f):
चखेगी
(chakhegii)
future (3pl.m):
चखेंगे
(chakhenge)
future (3pl.f):
चखेंगी
(chakhengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
चखूँ
(chakhoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
चखें
(chakhen)
subjunctive (2sg):
चखे
(chakhe)
subjunctive (2pl):
चखो
(chakho)
subjunctive (3sg):
चखे
(chakhe)
subjunctive (3pl):
चखें
(chakhen)