कार्य (kaary)

noun A formal, Sanskritic word for 'work/task/action' -- the more everyday counterpart is काम (kaam); कार्य (kaary) shows up mostly in offices, news, and formal speech rather than casual conversation.
Sense 1 : work, task, job (formal register)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: काम (kaam), कामकाज (kaamkaaj)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you see on office noticeboards, government forms, and news broadcasts -- 'कार्यालय' (kaaryaalay, 'office'), 'कार्यक्रम' (kaaryakram, 'program/event'), and 'कार्रवाई' (kaarrvaaii, 'action taken') all share this root. Think of कार्य (kaary) as the Hindi equivalent of choosing 'endeavor' or 'task' over the plain English 'work' -- it signals seriousness and formality.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for कार्य (kaary) in everyday speech where काम (kaam) is what a native speaker would actually say -- 'मुझे काम है' (mujhe kaam hai, 'I have work') sounds natural, while the कार्य (kaary) version sounds like a memo. 2) कार्य (kaary) is grammatically masculine but ends in य, which sometimes tempts learners to guess it's feminine -- it isn't.
Sample Sentences:
यह कार्य कल तक पूरा होना चाहिए। This task should be completed by tomorrow.
(yah kaary kal tak pooraa honaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मंत्री जी ने इस कार्य का उद्घाटन किया। The minister inaugurated this project.
(mantrii jii ne is kaary kaa udghaatan kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कार्यालय में सभी कर्मचारी अपना-अपना कार्य कर रहे हैं। In the office, all the employees are doing their respective tasks.
(kaaryaalay men sabhii karmchaarii apnaa-apnaa kaary kar rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह कार्य समय पर पूरा किया जाएगा। This work will be completed on time.
(yah kaary samay par pooraa kiyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
कृपया यह कार्य आज ही निपटा दीजिए। Please get this task finished today itself.
(kripyaa yah kaary aaj hii niptaa diijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर समय होता तो मैं यह कार्य स्वयं करता। If I had had time, I would have done this task myself.
(agar samay hotaa to main yah kaary svayan kartaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
समिति ने इस वर्ष कई महत्वपूर्ण कार्य संपन्न किए हैं। The committee has accomplished several important tasks this year.
(samiti ne is varsh kaii mahatvpoorn kaary sampann kie hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह कार्य इतना सरल नहीं जितना दिखाई देता है। This task is not as simple as it appears.
(yah kaary itnaa saral nahiin jitnaa dikhaaii detaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकारी कार्यों में अक्सर देरी हो जाती है। Government tasks often get delayed.
(sarkaarii kaaryon men aksar derii ho jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने अपना कार्य पूरी निष्ठा से किया। He did his work with complete dedication.
(usne apnaa kaary poorii nishthaa se kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : purpose, function, business/matter (in fixed phrases)
noun, masculine Common in the fixed phrase 'क्या कार्य है' (kyaa kaary hai, 'what is the purpose/business') or 'किस काम का' equivalents in formal registers, similar to काम (kaam) meaning 'use, purpose' in 'किस काम का' (kis kaam kaa).
Synonyms: मतलब (matlab), प्रयोजन (prayojan, formal)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: You'll meet this sense in slightly bureaucratic or literary contexts, such as asking someone's business at an office reception -- 'आपका क्या कार्य है?' (aapkaa kyaa kaary hai?, 'What is your purpose here?') -- a more formal cousin of 'आपको क्या काम है?' (aapko kyaa kaam hai?).
Common Mistakes: 1) In this sense कार्य (kaary) behaves like an abstract 'purpose,' not a countable task -- learners sometimes pluralize or count it the way they would 'jobs,' which sounds off in formal writing.
Sample Sentences:
आपका क्या कार्य है? What is your purpose here?
(aapkaa kyaa kaary hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया बताएं, आपका यहाँ क्या कार्य है? Please tell me, what is your business here?
(kripyaa bataaen, aapkaa yahaan kyaa kaary hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस भवन में प्रवेश से पूर्व अपना कार्य स्पष्ट करें। Before entering this building, please state your purpose clearly.
(is bhavan men pravesh se poorv apnaa kaary spasht karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उसने अधिकारी से पूछा कि उसका कार्य क्या है। He asked the officer what his business was.
(usne adhikaarii se poochhaa ki uskaa kaary kyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि आपका कोई विशेष कार्य न हो, तो कृपया कल आइए। If you have no particular purpose, please come tomorrow instead.
(yadi aapkaa koii vishesh kaary n ho, to kripyaa kal aaie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
रिसेप्शन पर बैठे व्यक्ति ने पूछा, महोदय, आपका क्या कार्य है? The person sitting at the reception asked, 'Sir, what is your purpose here?'
(risepshan par baithe vyakti ne poochhaa, mahoday, aapkaa kyaa kaary hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बिना कार्य बताए भीतर जाने की अनुमति नहीं है। Permission to go inside is not given without stating one's business.
(binaa kaary bataae bhiitar jaane kii anumti nahiin hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यहाँ आने का उसका कार्य केवल यह जानना था कि फल कब आएगा। His purpose in coming here was only to find out when the result would come.
(yahaan aane kaa uskaa kaary keval yah jaannaa thaa ki phal kab aaegaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): कार्य (kaary)
(sg.m.oblique): कार्य (kaary)
(pl.m.direct): कार्य (kaary)
(pl.m.oblique): कार्यों (kaaryon)