लेखन (lekhan)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'writing' -- the act, craft, or activity of writing, not a physical piece of writing. Related to लिखना (likhnaa, 'to write') and लेखक (lekhak, 'writer').
Sense 1 : writing (the activity/craft)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: लिखाई (likhaaii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you will see on college course titles and book covers -- रचनात्मक लेखन (rachnaatmak lekhan, 'creative writing'), पत्र लेखन (patr lekhan, 'letter writing') as a school subject, or कहानी लेखन (kahaanii lekhan, 'story writing'). It has a slightly formal, bookish feel compared to everyday लिखना (likhnaa), the verb 'to write' that underlies it.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use लेखन (lekhan) to mean a specific document or letter -- it refers to the activity or craft of writing in general (like 'authorship' or 'composition'), not a piece of writing itself; for that, use चिट्ठी (chitthii), लेख (lekh), or किताब (kitaab) depending on context. 2) लिखाई (likhaaii) overlaps but leans more toward 'handwriting' or the physical act/style of writing, while लेखन (lekhan) leans toward the creative or professional craft, as in रचनात्मक लेखन (rachnaatmak lekhan, 'creative writing').
Sample Sentences:
लेखन एक कला है। Writing is an art.
(lekhan ek kalaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने रचनात्मक लेखन में डिप्लोमा किया है। He has done a diploma in creative writing.
(usne rachnaatmak lekhan men diplomaa kiyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
स्कूल में पत्र लेखन एक अलग विषय की तरह पढ़ाया जाता था। In school, letter writing used to be taught as a separate subject.
(skool men patr lekhan ek alag vishay kii tarah padhaayaa jaataa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
कहानी लेखन के लिए धैर्य और कल्पनाशक्ति दोनों चाहिए। For story writing, you need both patience and imagination.
(kahaanii lekhan ke lie dhairy aur kalpnaashakti donon chaahie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि लेखन सिखाया जा सकता है? Do you think writing can be taught?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki lekhan sikhaayaa jaa saktaa hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर उसे शुरू से लेखन में दिलचस्पी होती, तो वह आज उपन्यासकार होता। If he had been interested in writing from the start, he would be a novelist today.
(agar use shuroo se lekhan men dilchaspii hotii, to vah aaj upanyaaskaar hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस कार्यशाला में लेखन की बारीकियाँ सिखाई जाएंगी। In this workshop, the nuances of writing will be taught.
(is kaaryshaalaa men lekhan kii baariikiyaan sikhaaii jaaengii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
अपने लेखन को निखारने के लिए रोज़ अभ्यास करो। Practice every day to polish your writing.
(apne lekhan ko nikhaarne ke lie roz abhyaas karo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
प्राध्यापक महोदय का लेखन गहन शोध पर आधारित होता है। The professor's writing is based on deep research.
(praadhyaapak mahoday kaa lekhan gahan shodh par aadhaarit hotaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
विश्वविद्यालय ने हिंदी लेखन पर एक नया पाठ्यक्रम शुरू किया है। The university has started a new course on Hindi writing.
(vishvvidyaalay ne hindii lekhan par ek nayaa paathyakram shuroo kiyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): लेखन (lekhan)
(sg.m.oblique): लेखन (lekhan)
(pl.m.direct): लेखन (lekhan)
(pl.m.oblique): लेखनों (lekhnon)