चाक़ू (chaaqoo)

noun A simple everyday noun meaning 'knife' -- the small folding or kitchen kind, not a large sword or blade. Also commonly spelled चाकू (chaakoo) without the nuqta under the क़.
Sense 1 : knife (small, handheld)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: छुरी (chhurii, smaller or curved knife, often for kitchen use), छुरा (chhuraa, larger blade/dagger-like knife)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi speech you will hear both चाक़ू (chaaqoo) with the nuqta and चाकू (chaakoo) without it -- the nuqta reflects the word's Persian/Urdu-influenced pronunciation (a throatier 'q' sound), but dropping it is extremely common and not seen as incorrect. The word often shows up in crime-news contexts (चाक़ू मारना, chaaqoo maarnaa, 'to stab') as well as in ordinary kitchen talk.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use चाक़ू (chaaqoo) for any bladed object, but a बड़ा चाकू (badaa chaakoo, 'big knife') for chopping vegetables is more naturally called छुरी (chhurii) in many Delhi-NCR kitchens -- चाक़ू (chaaqoo) leans toward a pocket knife or a knife used as a weapon.
Sample Sentences:
क्या तुम मुझे वो चाक़ू दे सकते हो? Can you hand me that knife?
(kyaa tum mujhe vo chaaqoo de sakte ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
रसोई में चाक़ू बहुत तेज़ है, ध्यान से पकड़ना। The knife in the kitchen is very sharp, hold it carefully.
(rasoii men chaaqoo bahut tez hai, dhyaan se pakadnaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पुलिस ने बताया कि हमलावर ने उसे चाक़ू मार दिया। The police said that the attacker stabbed him with a knife.
(pulis ne bataayaa ki hamlaavar ne use chaaqoo maar diyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर मेरे पास चाक़ू होता तो मैं सेब काट लेता। If I had a knife, I would have cut the apple.
(agar mere paas chaaqoo hotaa to main seb kaat letaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
चाक़ू को हमेशा बच्चों की पहुँच से दूर रखा जाना चाहिए। A knife should always be kept out of children's reach.
(chaaqoo ko hameshaa bachchon kii pahunch se door rakhaa jaanaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मेज़ पर एक चाक़ू पड़ा है। A knife is lying on the table.
(mez par ek chaaqoo padaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह रोज़ सुबह चाक़ू से सब्ज़ियाँ काटती है। She cuts vegetables with a knife every morning.
(vah roz subah chaaqoo se sabziyaan kaattii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
खबरों में सुना कि किसी ने बाज़ार में चाक़ू लहराया था। I heard in the news that someone had waved a knife in the market.
(khabron men sunaa ki kisii ne baazaar men chaaqoo lahraayaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
चाक़ू संभल कर उठाना, गिर गया तो चोट लग जाएगी। Pick up the knife carefully, if it falls you'll get hurt.
(chaaqoo sambhal kar uthaanaa, gir gayaa to chot lag jaaegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
शायद यह चाक़ू फल काटने के लिए ठीक न हो। Perhaps this knife isn't quite right for cutting fruit.
(shaayad yah chaaqoo phal kaatne ke lie thiik n ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दुकानदार ने ग्राहक को एक नया चाक़ू दिखाया। The shopkeeper showed the customer a new knife.
(dukaandaar ne graahak ko ek nayaa chaaqoo dikhaayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): चाक़ू (chaaqoo)
(sg.m.oblique): चाक़ू (chaaqoo)
(pl.m.direct): चाक़ू (chaaqoo)
(pl.m.oblique): चाक़ूों ([[चाक़ूों]])