नोक (nok)
noun
Mainly a physical noun meaning 'tip/point' of something sharp, with a common figurative extension in the idiom नोक-झोंक (nok-jhonk) for playful bickering.
Sense
1
:
tip, point (of something sharp or pointed)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: सिरा (siraa), अगला भाग (aglaa bhaag, descriptive phrase)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of the tip of a पेंसिल (pensil, pencil) or सुई (suii, needle) -- नोक (nok) is the word Hindi speakers reach for whenever something comes to a fine point. It's a very everyday, concrete noun.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse नोक (nok) with सिरा (siraa): नोक (nok) specifically suggests a sharp or narrowing point (like a pencil, needle, or knife), while सिरा (siraa) is more neutral for 'end' of something (like a rope or road) without implying sharpness.
Sample Sentences:
पेंसिल की नोक टूट गई है।
The tip of the pencil has broken.
(pensil kii nok toot gaii hai।)
सुई की नोक बहुत तेज़ होती है।
The tip of a needle is very sharp.
(suii kii nok bahut tez hotii hai।)
चाकू की नोक मत छुओ, कट जाओगे।
Don't touch the tip of the knife, you'll get cut.
(chaakoo kii nok mat chhuo, kat jaaoge।)
उसने चाकू की नोक मेज़ पर गड़ा दी।
He stuck the tip of the knife into the table.
(usne chaakoo kii nok mez par gadaa dii।)
अगर पेन की नोक थोड़ी और महीन होती, तो लिखावट साफ़ आती।
If the tip of the pen were a bit finer, the handwriting would come out cleaner.
(agar pen kii nok thodii aur mahiin hotii, to likhaavat saaf aatii।)
तीर की नोक इतनी नुकीली थी कि वह लकड़ी को चीर गई।
The tip of the arrow was so sharp that it pierced through the wood.
(tiir kii nok itnii nukiilii thii ki vah lakdii ko chiir gaii।)
क्या तुम इस पेंसिल की नोक तेज़ कर सकते हो?
Can you sharpen the tip of this pencil?
(kyaa tum is pensil kii nok tez kar sakte ho?)
पहाड़ की चोटी की नोक बादलों में छिपी हुई थी।
The tip of the mountain peak was hidden in the clouds.
(pahaad kii chotii kii nok baadlon men chhipii huii thii।)
नोक ऐसी होनी चाहिए कि कागज़ आसानी से कट जाए।
The tip should be such that the paper cuts easily.
(nok aisii honii chaahie ki kaagaz aasaanii se kat jaae।)
उंगली की नोक पर काँटा चुभ गया।
A thorn pricked the tip of the finger.
(unglii kii nok par kaantaa chubh gayaa।)
कंपास की नोक से घेरा बनाइए।
Make a circle with the tip of the compass.
(kampaas kii nok se gheraa banaaie।)
Sense
2
:
playful bickering, teasing banter (in the idiom नोक-झोंक)
noun, feminine Almost always appears as the compound नोक-झोंक (nok-jhonk) rather than नोक (nok) alone in this sense.
Synonyms: छेड़छाड़ (chhedchhaad), नोक-झोंक (nok-jhonk, fixed idiom form)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: नोक-झोंक (nok-jhonk) is the light, affectionate bickering you hear between siblings or a newly married couple -- teasing with an edge but no real anger, much like how the 'point' (नोक, nok) of a jab is felt but not meant to wound.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense only exists inside the fixed pair नोक-झोंक (nok-jhonk) -- using नोक (nok) alone to mean 'banter' will not be understood; the pairing is obligatory.
Sample Sentences:
भाई-बहन के बीच नोक-झोंक तो चलती ही रहती है।
There is always some playful bickering going on between brother and sister.
(bhaaii-bahan ke biich nok-jhonk to chaltii hii rahtii hai।)
नई-नई शादी हुई है, थोड़ी नोक-झोंक तो होगी ही।
They're newly married, there's bound to be some playful bantering.
(naii-naii shaadii huii hai, thodii nok-jhonk to hogii hii।)
कल रात खाने की मेज पर दोनों में खूब नोक-झोंक हुई।
Last night there was quite a bit of playful bickering between the two of them at the dinner table.
(kal raat khaane kii mej par donon men khoob nok-jhonk huii।)
वे दोनों हमेशा नोक-झोंक करते रहते हैं, पर दिल में कोई मैल नहीं।
The two of them are always teasing each other, but there's no ill will in their hearts.
(ve donon hameshaa nok-jhonk karte rahte hain, par dil men koii mail nahiin।)
अगर वे दोनों नोक-झोंक न करते तो घर इतना जीवंत न लगता।
If the two of them didn't bicker playfully, the house wouldn't feel so lively.
(agar ve donon nok-jhonk n karte to ghar itnaa jiivant n lagtaa।)
थोड़ी नोक-झोंक कर लो, इससे रिश्ते में मिठास बनी रहती है।
Go ahead and tease each other a bit, it keeps the sweetness alive in a relationship.
(thodii nok-jhonk kar lo, isse rishte men mithaas banii rahtii hai।)
मुझे लगता है कि उनकी नोक-झोंक असल में प्यार जताने का तरीका है।
I think their bickering is actually their way of showing love.
(mujhe lagtaa hai ki unkii nok-jhonk asal men pyaar jataane kaa tariikaa hai।)
पति-पत्नी के बीच ऐसी नोक-झोंक होना स्वाभाविक बात है।
Such playful banter between husband and wife is a natural thing.
(pati-patnii ke biich aisii nok-jhonk honaa svaabhaavik baat hai।)
काश उनकी नोक-झोंक कभी झगड़े में न बदलती।
I wish their playful bickering would never turn into a real fight.
(kaash unkii nok-jhonk kabhii jhagde men n badaltii।)
उपन्यास में दोनों प्रेमियों की नोक-झोंक बड़ी मार्मिक ढंग से लिखी गई है।
The playful banter between the two lovers is written very movingly in the novel.
(upanyaas men donon premiyon kii nok-jhonk badii maarmik dhang se likhii gaii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
नोक
(nok)
(sg.f.oblique):
नोक
(nok)
(pl.f.direct):
नोकें
(noken)
(pl.f.oblique):
नोकों
(nokon)