चुनौती (chunautii)
noun
A single-sense noun meaning 'challenge,' used both literally (a dare) and abstractly (a difficult task or test one faces).
Sense
1
:
challenge, difficult task
noun, feminine Very commonly paired with the verb देना (denaa, 'to give') to mean 'to challenge someone,' and with मिलना (milnaa) or का सामना करना (kaa saamnaa karnaa, 'to face') to mean 'to face a challenge.'
Synonyms: मुश्किल (mushkil, meaning scope: difficulty in general), कठिनाई (kathinaaii, meaning scope: difficulty in general)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this word constantly in Indian news and political speech -- देश के सामने बड़ी चुनौती है (desh ke saamne badii chunautii hai, 'there is a big challenge before the country') is a stock phrase in editorials and speeches. It has a slightly formal, earnest ring to it -- in casual chat about everyday annoyances, people are just as likely to say मुश्किल (mushkil) or दिक्कत (dikkat).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for मुश्किल (mushkil) or समस्या (samasyaa, 'problem') when they mean चुनौती (chunautii); चुनौती carries a sense of being tested or having to prove oneself, not just a plain difficulty or problem. 2) The common verb pairing is चुनौती देना (chunautii denaa, 'to throw down a challenge') for challenging someone, and चुनौती का सामना करना (chunautii kaa saamnaa karnaa, 'to face a challenge') for confronting one -- mixing these up is a frequent error.
Sample Sentences:
देश के सामने बड़ी चुनौती है।
There is a big challenge before the country.
(desh ke saamne badii chunautii hai।)
गरीबी को खत्म करना सरकार के लिए सबसे बड़ी चुनौती रही है।
Eliminating poverty has been the government's biggest challenge.
(gariibii ko khatm karnaa sarkaar ke lie sabse badii chunautii rahii hai।)
हमें इस चुनौती का सामना करना होगा।
We will have to face this challenge.
(hamen is chunautii kaa saamnaa karnaa hogaa।)
अगर वह यह चुनौती स्वीकार कर लेता, तो शायद जीत जाता।
If he had accepted this challenge, he might have won.
(agar vah yah chunautii sviikaar kar letaa, to shaayad jiit jaataa।)
इस चुनौती से कैसे निपटा जाए?
How is this challenge to be dealt with?
(is chunautii se kaise niptaa jaae?)
बेरोज़गारी आज भी सबसे बड़ी चुनौतियों में से एक है।
Unemployment is still one of the biggest challenges today.
(berozgaarii aaj bhii sabse badii chunautiyon men se ek hai।)
आइए, इस चुनौती को अवसर में बदलें।
Come, let's turn this challenge into an opportunity.
(aaie, is chunautii ko avsar men badlen।)
मुझे उम्मीद है कि हम इस चुनौती से पार पा लेंगे।
I hope that we will overcome this challenge.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki ham is chunautii se paar paa lenge।)
जलवायु परिवर्तन पूरी दुनिया के सामने एक गंभीर चुनौती बनकर खड़ा है।
Climate change stands as a serious challenge before the entire world.
(jalvaayu parivartan poorii duniyaa ke saamne ek gambhiir chunautii bankar khadaa hai।)
मंत्री जी ने कहा कि आतंकवाद देश के लिए एक बड़ी चुनौती बना हुआ है।
The minister said that terrorism remains a major challenge for the country.
(mantrii jii ne kahaa ki aatankvaad desh ke lie ek badii chunautii banaa huaa hai।)
नई तकनीक अपनाना छोटे व्यापारियों के लिए एक चुनौती हो सकती है।
Adopting new technology can be a challenge for small traders.
(naii takniik apnaanaa chhote vyaapaariyon ke lie ek chunautii ho saktii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
चुनौती
(chunautii)
(sg.f.oblique):
चुनौती
(chunautii)
(pl.f.direct):
चुनौतियाँ
(chunautiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
चुनौतियों
(chunautiyon)