झाँकना (jhaanknaa)
verb
A single-sense verb meaning 'to peep, peer, or glance in' -- the everyday word for stealing a look through a window, door, curtain, or gap.
Sense
1
:
to peep, peer in, glance furtively
verb, intransitive Commonly takes में (men) for the opening peeped into (खिड़की में झाँकना (khidkii men jhaanknaa, 'to peep into the window')) or से (se) for the gap/aperture used to peep through.
Synonyms: देखना (dekhnaa, much broader, plain 'to look'), नज़र डालना (nazar daalnaa, a quick glance, less about hidden/restricted viewing)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Picture a kid standing on tiptoe to peep over a wall, or a neighbor peering through a slightly open door to see who's knocking -- झाँकना (jhaanknaa) is the word for exactly that half-curious, half-cautious glance. It carries a mild connotation of nosiness or stealth, so it is often used gently teasingly, as when an elder catches a child sneaking a look into the kitchen before dinner is ready.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for देखना (dekhnaa) when झाँकना (jhaanknaa) is meant -- झाँकना (jhaanknaa) specifically implies a partial, cautious, or curious/furtive look, often through a gap, from outside to inside (or vice versa), not a general act of looking. 2) The postposition after झाँकना (jhaanknaa) is often में (men) even where English would say 'through' -- खिड़की में झाँकना (khidkii men jhaanknaa) rather than खिड़की से (khidkii se) in many everyday uses, though से (se) is also fine when emphasizing the aperture itself.
Sample Sentences:
बच्चा दीवार के ऊपर से झाँक रहा था।
The child was peeping over the wall.
(bachchaa diivaar ke oopar se jhaank rahaa thaa।)
वह हर रोज़ खिड़की से झाँकती है कि बाहर क्या हो रहा है।
She peeps out of the window every day to see what's happening outside.
(vah har roz khidkii se jhaanktii hai ki baahar kyaa ho rahaa hai।)
ज़रा दरवाज़े से झाँक कर देखो, कौन आया है।
Just peep through the door and see who's come.
(zaraa darvaaze se jhaank kar dekho, kaun aayaa hai।)
मत झाँको, अभी खाना नहीं बना है!
Don't peep, the food isn't ready yet!
(mat jhaanko, abhii khaanaa nahiin banaa hai!)
वह चुपके से रसोई में झाँक रहा था कि हलवा बना या नहीं।
He was secretly peeping into the kitchen to see whether the halwa was ready or not.
(vah chupke se rasoii men jhaank rahaa thaa ki halvaa banaa yaa nahiin।)
अगर तुम झाँकते तो देखते कि मैं तुम्हारे लिए उपहार छिपा रहा था।
If you had peeped, you would have seen that I was hiding a gift for you.
(agar tum jhaankte to dekhte ki main tumhaare lie upahaar chhipaa rahaa thaa।)
पड़ोसी अक्सर बालकनी से झाँककर देखता है कि कौन आया-गया।
The neighbor often peeks from the balcony to see who's coming and going.
(padosii aksar baalaknii se jhaankkar dekhtaa hai ki kaun aayaa-gayaa।)
शायद वह भीतर झाँक रही हो कि सब ठीक है या नहीं।
Perhaps she is peering inside to check whether everything is alright.
(shaayad vah bhiitar jhaank rahii ho ki sab thiik hai yaa nahiin।)
उसने पर्दे के पीछे से झाँककर मुझे देख लिया।
He peeked out from behind the curtain and spotted me.
(usne parde ke piichhe se jhaankkar mujhe dekh liyaa।)
क्या तुम फिर से मेरे कमरे में झाँकोगी?
Will you peep into my room again?
(kyaa tum phir se mere kamre men jhaankogii?)
कुछ लोग दूसरों की ज़िंदगी में झाँकने की आदत रखते हैं।
Some people have a habit of peering into others' lives.
(kuchh log doosron kii zindgii men jhaankne kii aadat rakhte hain।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
झाँकना
(jhaanknaa)
infinitive oblique:
झाँकने
(jhaankne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
झाँकता
(jhaanktaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
झाँकते
(jhaankte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
झाँकती
(jhaanktii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
झाँकतीं
(jhaanktiin)
continuous (sg.m):
झाँक रहा
(jhaank rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
झाँक रहे
(jhaank rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
झाँक रही
(jhaank rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
झाँक रहीं
(jhaank rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
झाँका
(jhaankaa)
perfective (pl.m):
झाँके
(jhaanke)
perfective (sg.f):
झाँकी
(jhaankii)
perfective (pl.f):
झाँकीं
(jhaankiin)
imperative (informal):
झाँक
(jhaank)
imperative (neutral):
झाँको
(jhaanko)
imperative (formal):
झाँकिए
(jhaankie)
future (1sg.m):
झाँकूँगा
(jhaankoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
झाँकूँगी
(jhaankoongii)
future (1pl.m):
झाँकेंगे
(jhaankenge)
future (1pl.f):
झाँकेंगी
(jhaankengii)
future (2sg.m):
झाँकेगा
(jhaankegaa)
future (2sg.f):
झाँकेगी
(jhaankegii)
future (2pl.m):
झाँकोगे
(jhaankoge)
future (2pl.f):
झाँकोगी
(jhaankogii)
future (3sg.m):
झाँकेगा
(jhaankegaa)
future (3sg.f):
झाँकेगी
(jhaankegii)
future (3pl.m):
झाँकेंगे
(jhaankenge)
future (3pl.f):
झाँकेंगी
(jhaankengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
झाँकूँ
(jhaankoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
झाँकें
(jhaanken)
subjunctive (2sg):
झाँके
(jhaanke)
subjunctive (2pl):
झाँको
(jhaanko)
subjunctive (3sg):
झाँके
(jhaanke)
subjunctive (3pl):
झाँकें
(jhaanken)