चमकना (chamaknaa)
verb
Basic intransitive verb meaning 'to shine, glow, or flash'; also extends figuratively to a person 'shining' or rising to prominence.
Sense
1
:
to shine, glow, sparkle (light, stars, metal, etc.)
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: जगमगाना (jagamgaanaa, of lights, more sparkly/festive), दमकना (damaknaa, of skin or face, glowing)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the verb behind बिजली चमकना (bijlii chamaknaa, 'lightning flashes') -- Hindi treats lightning as something that shines/flashes rather than 'strikes', so बादल गरजते हैं और बिजली चमकती है (baadal garajte hain aur bijlii chamaktii hai, 'clouds thunder and lightning flashes') is the natural way to describe a monsoon storm.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for जलना (jalnaa, 'to burn') when they mean 'to shine', but जलना (jalnaa) describes a flame burning or a light being switched on, not the shining quality itself. 2) चमकना (chamaknaa) is intransitive, so despite describing an active-feeling process (a star shining brightly), it never takes ने (ne) in the past tense -- सूरज चमका (sooraj chamkaa, 'the sun shone'), not सूरज ने चमका।
Sample Sentences:
आसमान में तारे चमक रहे हैं।
The stars are shining in the sky.
(aasmaan men taare chamak rahe hain।)
बादल गरजते हैं और बिजली चमकती है।
The clouds thunder and lightning flashes.
(baadal garajte hain aur bijlii chamaktii hai।)
कल रात अचानक बिजली चमकी और मैं डर गया।
Suddenly lightning flashed last night and I got scared.
(kal raat achaanak bijlii chamkii aur main dar gayaa।)
साफ करने के बाद यह बर्तन बहुत चमकेगा।
After cleaning, this utensil will shine a lot.
(saaph karne ke baad yah bartan bahut chamkegaa।)
जरा दीया साफ करो ताकि वह अच्छे से चमके।
Clean the lamp a little so that it shines nicely.
(jaraa diiyaa saaph karo taaki vah achchhe se chamke।)
अगर बादल न होते तो चांद और तारे साफ चमकते।
If there were no clouds, the moon and stars would shine clearly.
(agar baadal n hote to chaand aur taare saaph chamakte।)
पॉलिश करने से सोना और चमक जाता है।
Polishing makes the gold shine even more.
(polish karne se sonaa aur chamak jaataa hai।)
बारिश के बाद हर पत्ता चमक रहा था।
After the rain, every leaf was shining.
(baarish ke baad har pattaa chamak rahaa thaa।)
उसकी आंखों में एक अजीब सी चमक चमक उठी।
A strange glow suddenly lit up in her eyes.
(uskii aankhon men ek ajiib sii chamak chamak uthii।)
जब भी बिजली चमकती है, बच्चा डर के मारे रोने लगता है।
Whenever lightning flashes, the child starts crying out of fear.
(jab bhii bijlii chamaktii hai, bachchaa dar ke maare rone lagtaa hai।)
सूर्य की किरणों से समुद्र की लहरें चमक रही थीं।
The waves of the sea were shining with the rays of the sun.
(soory kii kirnon se samudr kii lahren chamak rahii thiin।)
Sense
2
:
to shine (figuratively) -- to become famous, do brilliantly, stand out
verb, intransitive Used for people, especially in contexts like exams, sports, or the entertainment industry: फ़िल्म में चमकना (film men chamaknaa, 'to shine in a film').
Synonyms: छा जाना (chhaa jaanaa, to dominate/take over a scene), नाम कमाना (naam kamaanaa, to earn a name/reputation)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly in the context of Bollywood and cricket -- a commentator might say वह मैच में चमका (vah maich men chamkaa, 'he shone in the match'), praising a standout performance. It mirrors the English idiom of a 'star' shining.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense is about visible success or prominence, not general happiness or goodness -- it would sound odd applied to describe someone's character rather than their achievement or public performance.
Sample Sentences:
वह मैच में चमका।
He shone in the match.
(vah maich men chamkaa।)
कोहली फिर से चमक गया।
Kohli shone again.
(kohlii phir se chamak gayaa।)
वह हर फिल्म में चमकती है।
She excels in every film.
(vah har philm men chamaktii hai।)
अगले टूर्नामेंट में वह जरूर चमकेगा।
He will definitely shine in the next tournament.
(agle toornaament men vah jaroor chamkegaa।)
फाइनल में चमको, तभी सिलेक्टर्स ध्यान देंगे।
Shine in the final, only then will the selectors notice you.
(phaainal men chamko, tabhii silektars dhyaan denge।)
काश वह इस बड़े मौके पर चमक पाता।
If only he could have shone on this big occasion.
(kaash vah is bade mauke par chamak paataa।)
अगर उसे मौका मिलता, तो वह जरूर चमकता।
If he had gotten the chance, he would definitely have shone.
(agar use maukaa miltaa, to vah jaroor chamaktaa।)
हो सकता है वह इस बार चमक जाए।
It's possible he might shine this time.
(ho saktaa hai vah is baar chamak jaae।)
नए कलाकार अक्सर पहली फिल्म में ही चमक उठते हैं।
New artists often shine right in their first film.
(nae kalaakaar aksar pahlii philm men hii chamak uthte hain।)
उस सीरीज़ में जो खिलाड़ी चमका था, उसे अब सब जानते हैं।
The player who had shone in that series is now known to everyone.
(us siiriiz men jo khilaadii chamkaa thaa, use ab sab jaante hain।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
चमकना
(chamaknaa)
infinitive oblique:
चमकने
(chamakne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
चमकता
(chamaktaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
चमकते
(chamakte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
चमकती
(chamaktii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
चमकतीं
(chamaktiin)
continuous (sg.m):
चमक रहा
(chamak rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
चमक रहे
(chamak rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
चमक रही
(chamak rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
चमक रहीं
(chamak rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
चमका
(chamkaa)
perfective (pl.m):
चमके
(chamke)
perfective (sg.f):
चमकी
(chamkii)
perfective (pl.f):
चमकीं
(chamkiin)
imperative (informal):
चमक
(chamak)
imperative (neutral):
चमको
(chamko)
imperative (formal):
चमकिए
(chamkie)
future (1sg.m):
चमकूँगा
(chamkoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
चमकूँगी
(chamkoongii)
future (1pl.m):
चमकेंगे
(chamkenge)
future (1pl.f):
चमकेंगी
(chamkengii)
future (2sg.m):
चमकेगा
(chamkegaa)
future (2sg.f):
चमकेगी
(chamkegii)
future (2pl.m):
चमकोगे
(chamkoge)
future (2pl.f):
चमकोगी
(chamkogii)
future (3sg.m):
चमकेगा
(chamkegaa)
future (3sg.f):
चमकेगी
(chamkegii)
future (3pl.m):
चमकेंगे
(chamkenge)
future (3pl.f):
चमकेंगी
(chamkengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
चमकूँ
(chamkoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
चमकें
(chamken)
subjunctive (2sg):
चमके
(chamke)
subjunctive (2pl):
चमको
(chamko)
subjunctive (3sg):
चमके
(chamke)
subjunctive (3pl):
चमकें
(chamken)