जिज्ञासा (jigyaasaa)

noun A refined, bookish word for 'curiosity' or 'the desire to know' -- one sense, used mainly in thoughtful or written contexts rather than casual chat.
Sense 1 : curiosity, a genuine desire to know or learn
noun, feminine
Synonyms: उत्सुकता (utsuktaa), कौतुक (kautuk, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this word from a teacher praising a student's questions, or see it in the opening lines of an essay or a spiritual discourse -- it has a slightly elevated, almost respectful tone, as if the curiosity itself is admirable. In everyday bazaar chatter about who's marrying whom, people reach for उत्सुकता (utsuktaa) or just जानना चाहना (jaannaa chaahnaa, 'to want to know') instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for this word to translate everyday 'curiosity' (like being curious about gossip), but जिज्ञासा (jigyaasaa) carries a more intellectual, earnest flavor -- closer to 'a thirst to understand' than casual nosiness. For that everyday sense, उत्सुकता (utsuktaa) fits better. 2) It commonly pairs with होना (honaa) in a dative-subject frame -- मुझे जिज्ञासा है (mujhe jigyaasaa hai, 'I am curious') -- not with करना (karnaa) as the main verb.
Sample Sentences:
बच्चों के मन में जिज्ञासा होनी चाहिए। Children should have curiosity in their minds.
(bachchon ke man men jigyaasaa honii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी जिज्ञासा देखकर शिक्षक बहुत प्रसन्न हुए। Seeing his curiosity, the teacher was very pleased.
(uskii jigyaasaa dekhkar shikshak bahut prasann hue।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेरे मन में यह जिज्ञासा बनी रहती है कि जीवन का उद्देश्य क्या है। This curiosity remains in my mind, about what the purpose of life is.
(mere man men yah jigyaasaa banii rahtii hai ki jiivan kaa uddeshy kyaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस विषय पर उनकी जिज्ञासा बढ़ती जा रही है। Their curiosity about this subject is increasing.
(is vishay par unkii jigyaasaa badhtii jaa rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यात्म के प्रति मनुष्य की जिज्ञासा सदा से रही है। Human curiosity toward spirituality has always existed.
(adhyaatm ke prati manushy kii jigyaasaa sadaa se rahii hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मेरे भीतर भी वैसी जिज्ञासा होती। If only I too had that kind of curiosity within me.
(kaash mere bhiitar bhii vaisii jigyaasaa hotii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अपनी जिज्ञासा को शांत करने के लिए वह गुरु के पास गया। To quench his curiosity, he went to the guru.
(apnii jigyaasaa ko shaant karne ke lie vah guru ke paas gayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्राचीन ग्रंथों में यह जिज्ञासा बार-बार व्यक्त की गई है। This curiosity has been expressed repeatedly in ancient texts.
(praachiin granthon men yah jigyaasaa baar-baar vyakt kii gaii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
जिज्ञासा ही ज्ञान की पहली सीढ़ी है। Curiosity itself is the first step toward knowledge.
(jigyaasaa hii gyaan kii pahlii siidhii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अपने भीतर की जिज्ञासा को कभी मत मरने दो। Never let the curiosity within you die.
(apne bhiitar kii jigyaasaa ko kabhii mat marne do।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): जिज्ञासा (jigyaasaa)
(sg.f.oblique): जिज्ञासा (jigyaasaa)
(pl.f.direct): जिज्ञासाएँ (jigyaasaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): जिज्ञासाओं (jigyaasaaon)