उत्सुक (utsuk)

adjective A single-sense adjective meaning 'eager, curious, keen' about something -- covers both intellectual curiosity and eager anticipation.
Sense 1 : eager, curious, keen (to know or do something)
adjective Often used with के लिए (ke lie) or a following infinitive to mean 'eager to...': जानने के लिए उत्सुक (jaanne ke lie utsuk, 'eager to know').
Synonyms: इच्छुक (ichchhuk, eager, more about wanting to do something than curiosity), जिज्ञासु (jigyaasu, formal, stresses intellectual curiosity), बेचैन (bechain, restless with eagerness/anxiety)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is a word you'll hear a lot in classrooms and interviews -- a teacher might say बच्चे बहुत उत्सुक थे (bachche bahut utsuk the, 'the children were very eager') when describing keen students. It sits comfortably in both spoken and written registers, unlike its more bookish cousin जिज्ञासु (jigyaasu), which leans more literary/formal.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for excited-sounding words like खुश (khush) when they mean उत्सुक (utsuk) -- खुश (khush) is happy, not curious/eager; keep them distinct. 2) उत्सुक (utsuk) pairs naturally with जानने के लिए (jaanne ke lie, 'to know') or देखने के लिए (dekhne ke lie, 'to see') -- learners sometimes drop के लिए (ke lie) and just tack the bare verb stem on, which sounds off.
Sample Sentences:
बच्चे बहुत उत्सुक थे नई किताब पढ़ने के लिए। The children were very eager to read the new book.
(bachche bahut utsuk the naii kitaab padhne ke lie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मैं यह जानने के लिए बहुत उत्सुक हूँ कि नतीजा क्या होगा। I am very eager to know what the result will be.
(main yah jaanne ke lie bahut utsuk hoon ki natiijaa kyaa hogaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह हमेशा नई जगहें देखने के लिए उत्सुक रहती है। She always stays eager to see new places.
(vah hameshaa naii jagahen dekhne ke lie utsuk rahtii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम इस बारे में उत्सुक नहीं हो? Aren't you curious about this?
(kyaa tum is baare men utsuk nahiin ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
साक्षात्कार में सभी उम्मीदवार बहुत उत्सुक दिख रहे थे। In the interview, all the candidates seemed very eager.
(saakshaatkaar men sabhii ummiidvaar bahut utsuk dikh rahe the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उत्सुक मत बनो, सब्र रखो, सब पता चल जाएगा। Don't be so eager, be patient, everything will come to light.
(utsuk mat bano, sabr rakho, sab pataa chal jaaegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि वह थोड़ा और उत्सुक होता, तो शायद अवसर न खोता। If he had been a little more eager, he might not have lost the opportunity.
(yadi vah thodaa aur utsuk hotaa, to shaayad avsar n khotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शायद वह इस प्रस्ताव के लिए उत्सुक हो। Maybe he is eager about this proposal.
(shaayad vah is prastaav ke lie utsuk ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
छात्रों में इस विषय को लेकर बड़ी उत्सुकता देखी गई और सभी बहुत उत्सुक पाए गए। Great eagerness was observed among the students regarding this topic, and everyone was found to be very keen.
(chhaatron men is vishay ko lekar badii utsuktaa dekhii gaii aur sabhii bahut utsuk paae gae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगली फिल्म देखने के लिए मैं बहुत उत्सुक रहूँगा। I will be very eager to watch the next movie.
(aglii philm dekhne ke lie main bahut utsuk rahoongaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
टीम इस चुनौती को स्वीकार करने के लिए उत्सुक है। The team is eager to accept this challenge.
(tiim is chunautii ko sviikaar karne ke lie utsuk hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: उत्सुक (utsuk)