शिकायत (shikaayat)

noun A single core meaning -- 'complaint' -- used both for the everyday sense of grumbling and the more formal sense of lodging an official complaint.
Sense 1 : complaint, grievance
noun, feminine Commonly used with करना (karnaa) 'to complain' and होना (honaa) 'to have a complaint (about)'; the person complained to is marked with से (se) and the person/thing complained about with की (kii).
Synonyms: शिकवा (shikvaa, often paired with शिकायत as शिकवा-शिकायत (shikvaa-shikaayat)), गिला (gilaa, mild reproach, more personal/emotional)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday family life, शिकायत (shikaayat) shows up constantly -- a mother telling the neighbor 'इसकी शिकायत मत करो' (iskii shikaayat mat karo, 'don't complain about him') is a classic scene. It also has a formal register: लिखित शिकायत (likhit shikaayat, 'written complaint') is what you file at a police station or a government office, so the same word stretches comfortably from sibling tattling to formal grievance redressal.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say शिकायत को (shikaayat ko) when marking the person being complained to, but the correct postposition is से (se): शिकायत करना (shikaayat karnaa) takes 'से' for the addressee, e.g. मैंने उससे शिकायत की (mainne usse shikaayat kii, 'I complained to him'). 2) The thing complained about is marked with की (kii), not पर (par) or के बारे में (ke baare men), giving the frame X की शिकायत (X kii shikaayat).
Sample Sentences:
मम्मी से उसकी शिकायत मत करो। Don't complain about him to mom.
(mammii se uskii shikaayat mat karo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उसे हर छोटी बात की शिकायत करने की आदत है। He has a habit of complaining about every little thing.
(use har chhotii baat kii shikaayat karne kii aadat hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पड़ोसी ने शोर की शिकायत थाने में दर्ज कराई। The neighbor lodged a complaint about the noise at the police station.
(padosii ne shor kii shikaayat thaane men darj karaaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर सामान खराब निकले तो आप लिखित शिकायत दे सकते हैं। If the product turns out to be defective, you can submit a written complaint.
(agar saamaan kharaab nikle to aap likhit shikaayat de sakte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे तुमसे कोई शिकायत नहीं है। I have no complaint against you.
(mujhe tumse koii shikaayat nahiin hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
टीचर ने उसकी शिकायत प्रिंसिपल से कर दी। The teacher went and complained about him to the principal.
(tiichar ne uskii shikaayat prinsipal se kar dii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उपभोक्ता की शिकायत पर कंपनी को कार्रवाई करनी पड़ी। The company had to take action on the customer's complaint.
(upbhoktaa kii shikaayat par kampnii ko kaarrvaaii karnii padii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश उसकी इतनी शिकायतें न होतीं। If only he didn't have so many complaints.
(kaash uskii itnii shikaayten n hotiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वह मेरी जगह होता, तो उसे भी शिकायत होती। If he were in my place, he would have complaints too.
(agar vah merii jagah hotaa, to use bhii shikaayat hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
सभी शिकायतों की जांच के बाद ही कोई फैसला लिया जाएगा। A decision will be taken only after all the complaints are investigated.
(sabhii shikaayton kii jaanch ke baad hii koii phaislaa liyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
उसकी शिकायत सुनी जा रही है। His complaint is being heard.
(uskii shikaayat sunii jaa rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): शिकायत (shikaayat)
(sg.f.oblique): शिकायत (shikaayat)
(pl.f.direct): शिकायतें (shikaayten)
(pl.f.oblique): शिकायतों (shikaayton)