तलाश करना (talaash karnaa)

verb A compound expression meaning 'to search' or 'to look for' -- तलाश (talaash) is the noun 'search' and करना (karnaa) is 'to do', so literally 'to do a search'. One sense only.
Sense 1 : to search, look for, seek
verb, transitive The thing being searched for is marked with की (kii) between तलाश (talaash) and करना (karnaa): नौकरी की तलाश करना (naukrii kii talaash karnaa, 'to search for a job').
Synonyms: ढूँढना (dhoondhnaa), खोजना (khojnaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: तलाश (talaash) itself is a common noun you will hear constantly -- नौकरी की तलाश (naukrii kii talaash, 'job search') is a phrase every Delhi household with a job-hunting son or daughter uses often. Compare it with ढूँढना (dhoondhnaa), which is more everyday and physical (looking for lost keys), while तलाश करना (talaash karnaa) leans slightly more formal or purposeful, like searching for a job, a person, or the truth.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say तलाश ढूँढना (talaash dhoondhnaa) by mistake, mixing this verb with ढूँढना (dhoondhnaa); the correct pairing is तलाश करना (talaash karnaa) or simply ढूँढना (dhoondhnaa) alone, not both together. 2) The object of the search takes की (kii), not को (ko): घर की तलाश करना (ghar kii talaash karnaa, 'to search for a house') is correct, not घर को तलाश करना.
Sample Sentences:
वह एक अच्छी नौकरी की तलाश कर रहा है। He is searching for a good job.
(vah ek achchhii naukrii kii talaash kar rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पुलिस लापता लड़की की तलाश कर रही है। The police are searching for the missing girl.
(pulis laaptaa ladkii kii talaash kar rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमने सच्चाई की तलाश में कई साल लगा दिए। We spent many years in search of the truth.
(hamne sachchaaii kii talaash men kaii saal lagaa die।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम अभी भी किराए के मकान की तलाश कर रहे हो? Are you still searching for a rented house?
(kyaa tum abhii bhii kiraae ke makaan kii talaash kar rahe ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम सच में कुछ बनना चाहते हो, तो सही रास्ते की तलाश करो। If you really want to become something, then search for the right path.
(agar tum sach men kuchh bannaa chaahte ho, to sahii raaste kii talaash karo।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
कंपनी एक अनुभवी इंजीनियर की तलाश में है। The company is in search of an experienced engineer.
(kampnii ek anubhvii injiiniyar kii talaash men hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर उसे नौकरी की तलाश करनी होती, तो वह इतना निश्चिंत नहीं बैठा होता। If he had needed to search for a job, he wouldn't be sitting so carefree.
(agar use naukrii kii talaash karnii hotii, to vah itnaa nishchint nahiin baithaa hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
सरकार उन नेताओं की तलाश करेगी जो भ्रष्टाचार में शामिल थे। The government will search for those leaders who were involved in corruption.
(sarkaar un netaaon kii talaash karegii jo bhrashtaachaar men shaamil the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
खोए हुए बच्चे की तलाश पूरे शहर में की गई। A search for the lost child was carried out across the whole city.
(khoe hue bachche kii talaash poore shahar men kii gaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
मुझे लगता है कि वह अपनी पहचान की तलाश में भटक रहा है। I think he is wandering in search of his own identity.
(mujhe lagtaa hai ki vah apnii pahchaan kii talaash men bhatak rahaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बेहतर होगा कि तुम कोई स्थायी हल की तलाश करो, बहाने नहीं। It would be better if you looked for a permanent solution, not excuses.
(behtar hogaa ki tum koii sthaayii hal kii talaash karo, bahaane nahiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Verb (irregular)
infinitive: तलाश करना (talaash karnaa)
infinitive oblique: तलाश करने (talaash karne)
habitual/simple (sg.m): तलाश करता (talaash kartaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m): तलाश करते (talaash karte)
habitual/simple (sg.f): तलाश करती (talaash kartii)
habitual/simple (pl.f): तलाश करतीं (talaash kartiin)
continuous (sg.m): तलाश कर रहा (talaash kar rahaa)
continuous (pl.m): तलाश कर रहे (talaash kar rahe)
continuous (sg.f): तलाश कर रही (talaash kar rahii)
continuous (pl.f): तलाश कर रहीं (talaash kar rahiin)
perfective (sg.m): तलाश किया (talaash kiyaa)
perfective (pl.m): तलाश किए (talaash kie)
perfective (sg.f): तलाश की (talaash kii)
perfective (pl.f): तलाश कीं (talaash kiin)
imperative (informal): तलाश कर (talaash kar)
imperative (neutral): तलाश करो (talaash karo)
imperative (formal): तलाश कीजिए (talaash kiijie)
future (1sg.m): तलाश करूँगा (talaash karoongaa)
future (1sg.f): तलाश करूँगी (talaash karoongii)
future (1pl.m): तलाश करेंगे (talaash karenge)
future (1pl.f): तलाश करेंगी (talaash karengii)
future (2sg.m): तलाश करेगा (talaash karegaa)
future (2sg.f): तलाश करेगी (talaash karegii)
future (2pl.m): तलाश करोगे (talaash karoge)
future (2pl.f): तलाश करोगी (talaash karogii)
future (3sg.m): तलाश करेगा (talaash karegaa)
future (3sg.f): तलाश करेगी (talaash karegii)
future (3pl.m): तलाश करेंगे (talaash karenge)
future (3pl.f): तलाश करेंगी (talaash karengii)
subjunctive (1sg): तलाश करूँ (talaash karoon)
subjunctive (1pl): तलाश करें (talaash karen)
subjunctive (2sg): तलाश करे (talaash kare)
subjunctive (2pl): तलाश करो (talaash karo)
subjunctive (3sg): तलाश करे (talaash kare)
subjunctive (3pl): तलाश करें (talaash karen)