पढ़ाई (padhaaii)

noun A feminine noun meaning 'studying' or 'studies' -- the activity of learning, not a specific subject. It is the noun derived from the verb पढ़ना (padhnaa, 'to read/study').
Sense 1 : studying, studies (the activity of learning)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शिक्षा (shikshaa, formal/education-focused), विद्या (vidyaa, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word every Indian parent and student uses constantly -- पढ़ाई कैसी चल रही है? (padhaaii kaisii chal rahii hai?, 'how are studies going?') is a near-universal greeting to students. It carries a slightly weighty, dutiful connotation, evoking exam pressure and the seriousness with which studying is treated in Indian households.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often confuse पढ़ाई (padhaaii) with शिक्षा (shikshaa): पढ़ाई (padhaaii) is the everyday word for the act/process of studying (homework, exams, courses), while शिक्षा (shikshaa) leans toward 'education' as a broader concept or system. 2) With verbs like करना (karnaa) or होना (honaa), पढ़ाई (padhaaii) behaves like an ordinary feminine noun -- learners sometimes forget the feminine agreement, e.g. पढ़ाई हो गई (padhaaii ho gaii, 'the studying got done'), not गया (gayaa).
Sample Sentences:
आजकल पढ़ाई कैसी चल रही है? How are studies going these days?
(aajkal padhaaii kaisii chal rahii hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेरी पढ़ाई अभी पूरी नहीं हुई है। My studies aren't finished yet.
(merii padhaaii abhii poorii nahiin huii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह हर रोज़ रात को देर तक पढ़ाई करता है। He studies late into the night every day.
(vah har roz raat ko der tak padhaaii kartaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अपनी पढ़ाई पर ध्यान दो, बाकी चीज़ें बाद में देख लेना। Focus on your studies, take care of everything else later.
(apnii padhaaii par dhyaan do, baakii chiizen baad men dekh lenaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वह मन लगाकर पढ़ाई करता तो आज उसका रिज़ल्ट अच्छा होता। If he had studied attentively, his result today would have been good.
(agar vah man lagaakar padhaaii kartaa to aaj uskaa rizalt achchhaa hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शादी के बाद उसकी पढ़ाई बीच में ही छूट गई। After the wedding, her studies were left incomplete.
(shaadii ke baad uskii padhaaii biich men hii chhoot gaii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मुझे पढ़ाई के लिए इतना समय मिल पाता। I wish I could get so much time for studying.
(kaash mujhe padhaaii ke lie itnaa samay mil paataa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
बच्चों की पढ़ाई का पूरा खर्च स्कॉलरशिप से पूरा किया जाता है। The children's entire studying expenses are covered by the scholarship.
(bachchon kii padhaaii kaa pooraa kharch skolarship se pooraa kiyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
बोर्ड परीक्षा के बाद वह विदेश में आगे की पढ़ाई करेगी। After the board exam, she will continue her studies abroad.
(bord pariikshaa ke baad vah videsh men aage kii padhaaii karegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि उसकी पढ़ाई में कोई रुकावट न आए। Hopefully there won't be any obstacle in her studies.
(ummiid hai ki uskii padhaaii men koii rukaavat n aae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
पढ़ाई से मन ऊब गया था, इसलिए वह टहलने निकल गया। He had gotten bored of studying, so he went out for a walk.
(padhaaii se man oob gayaa thaa, islie vah tahalne nikal gayaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): पढ़ाई (padhaaii)
(sg.f.oblique): पढ़ाई (padhaaii)
(pl.f.direct): पढ़ाईएँ (padhaaiien)
(pl.f.oblique): पढ़ाईओं (padhaaiion)