नाटक (naatak)
noun
One core meaning ('play/drama') that extends naturally into a very common figurative sense: a fake show of emotion or a dramatic fuss. Both senses share the same noun.
Sense
1
:
melodrama, fuss, fake show of emotion
noun, masculine Very commonly used with करना (karnaa) as नाटक करना (naatak karnaa, 'to make a scene / put on an act') to describe someone exaggerating emotions or pretending.
Synonyms: ड्रामा (draamaa), तमाशा (tamaashaa, colloquial), बहाना (bahaanaa, meaning scope: excuse, not identical)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the sense you will hear constantly at home: a mother telling a child रोना बंद करो, नाटक मत करो (ronaa band karo, naatak mat karo, 'stop crying, stop making a scene') is a classic bit of Delhi household speech. It captures a very Hindi idea -- performance and real emotion blurring into one word.
Common Mistakes: 1) नाटक करना (naatak karnaa) does not mean 'to perform a play' in this sense -- it means someone is being fake or overdramatic, e.g. crying for attention or exaggerating an illness. Context (tone, situation) tells you which sense is meant. 2) Learners often miss that this sense can be used affectionately or with mild irritation, both common in family settings.
Sample Sentences:
रोना बंद करो, नाटक मत करो।
Stop crying, stop making a scene.
(ronaa band karo, naatak mat karo।)
वह हर छोटी बात पर नाटक करती है।
She makes a big drama out of every little thing.
(vah har chhotii baat par naatak kartii hai।)
उसने खाना न खाने का इतना नाटक किया कि पूरा घर परेशान हो गया।
He made such a fuss about not eating that the whole house got worried.
(usne khaanaa n khaane kaa itnaa naatak kiyaa ki pooraa ghar pareshaan ho gayaa।)
यह चोट लगने का नाटक कर रहा है, इसे कुछ नहीं हुआ।
He's putting on an act about being hurt, nothing actually happened to him.
(yah chot lagne kaa naatak kar rahaa hai, ise kuchh nahiin huaa।)
काश वह इतना नाटक न करता तो लोग उसकी बात पर यकीन करते।
If only he didn't make such a fuss, people would believe what he says.
(kaash vah itnaa naatak n kartaa to log uskii baat par yakiin karte।)
अगर तुम बीमार होने का नाटक न करते तो स्कूल जाना पड़ता।
If you hadn't faked being sick, you'd have had to go to school.
(agar tum biimaar hone kaa naatak n karte to skool jaanaa padtaa।)
मुझे लगता है यह सारा गुस्सा सिर्फ नाटक है।
I think all this anger is just an act.
(mujhe lagtaa hai yah saaraa gussaa sirph naatak hai।)
क्या ज़रूरत है इतना नाटक करने की, सीधे बता दो क्या चाहिए।
What's the need for all this drama, just tell me directly what you want.
(kyaa zaroorat hai itnaa naatak karne kii, siidhe bataa do kyaa chaahie।)
उसका रोना-धोना देखकर लगा जैसे कोई नाटक चल रहा हो।
Watching her wail, it felt like some kind of theatrics was going on.
(uskaa ronaa-dhonaa dekhkar lagaa jaise koii naatak chal rahaa ho।)
ऑफिस में उसने इस्तीफे को लेकर इतना नाटक किया कि बॉस को मनाना पड़ा।
At the office he made such a drama over the resignation that the boss had to talk him out of it.
(ophis men usne istiiphe ko lekar itnaa naatak kiyaa ki bos ko manaanaa padaa।)
इतना नाटक मत करो, बात इतनी बड़ी नहीं है।
Don't make such a fuss, it's not that big a deal.
(itnaa naatak mat karo, baat itnii badii nahiin hai।)
Sense
2
:
play, drama (theatrical)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: नाट्य (naaty, literary), ड्रामा (draamaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of school and college culture in Delhi: every annual function has a नाटक (naatak) performed by students, often based on mythology or a social message. It is the everyday word you would use for anything from a Shakespeare play to a local street theater piece.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes assume नाटक (naatak) only means a stage play, but it is also the standard word for a TV drama or serial in casual speech, e.g. टीवी नाटक (tiivii naatak, 'TV drama').
Sample Sentences:
स्कूल के वार्षिक समारोह में एक नाटक होगा।
There will be a play at the school's annual function.
(skool ke vaarshik samaaroh men ek naatak hogaa।)
हम लोग रामायण पर आधारित एक नाटक कर रहे हैं।
We are putting on a play based on the Ramayana.
(ham log raamaayan par aadhaarit ek naatak kar rahe hain।)
उसने कॉलेज में नाटक में मुख्य भूमिका निभाई थी।
She played the lead role in the play in college.
(usne kolej men naatak men mukhy bhoomikaa nibhaaii thii।)
यह नाटक शेक्सपियर की एक कहानी पर लिखा गया है।
This play is written based on a story by Shakespeare.
(yah naatak shekspiyar kii ek kahaanii par likhaa gayaa hai।)
काश हम इस साल का नाटक खुद लिख पाते।
I wish we could have written this year's play ourselves.
(kaash ham is saal kaa naatak khud likh paate।)
अगर वक्त मिलता तो मैं भी नाटक में हिस्सा लेता।
If I had had the time, I would have taken part in the play too.
(agar vakt miltaa to main bhii naatak men hissaa letaa।)
बच्चों, कल शाम तक अपने नाटक के संवाद याद कर लो।
Kids, memorize your play's dialogues by tomorrow evening.
(bachchon, kal shaam tak apne naatak ke sanvaad yaad kar lo।)
मुझे यह नाटक बहुत पसंद है, हर बार देखने का मन करता है।
I really like this play; I feel like watching it every time.
(mujhe yah naatak bahut pasand hai, har baar dekhne kaa man kartaa hai।)
निर्देशक चाहते हैं कि नाटक समय पर शुरू हो।
The director wants the play to start on time.
(nirdeshak chaahte hain ki naatak samay par shuroo ho।)
उस साल का नाटक इतना मशहूर हुआ कि शहर भर में उसकी चर्चा होने लगी।
That year's play became so famous that it started being talked about all over the city.
(us saal kaa naatak itnaa mashahoor huaa ki shahar bhar men uskii charchaa hone lagii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
नाटक
(naatak)
(sg.m.oblique):
नाटक
(naatak)
(pl.m.direct):
नाटक
(naatak)
(pl.m.oblique):
नाटकों
(naatkon)