पूछताछ (poochhtaachh)
noun
A single-sense feminine noun meaning 'inquiry' or 'questioning' -- related to the verb पूछना (poochhnaa, 'to ask'), but पूछताछ is the noun for the act of asking, especially repeated or thorough asking.
Sense
1
:
inquiry, questioning
noun, feminine Most commonly used with करना (karnaa) as पूछताछ करना (poochhtaachh karnaa, 'to inquire/question') or with होना (honaa) as पूछताछ होना (poochhtaachh honaa, 'inquiry to happen/be made'), often in a passive-ish sense where the person being asked about is marked with के बारे में (ke baare men) or की (kii).
Synonyms: जानकारी (jaankaarii, asking for information), जाँच (jaanch, more formal, leans toward 'investigation')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear पूछताछ (poochhtaachh) constantly at Indian railway stations and airports -- the पूछताछ खिड़की (poochhtaachh khidkii, 'inquiry window') or पूछताछ काउंटर (poochhtaachh kaauntar, 'inquiry counter') is where you go to ask about train timings, platforms, or lost luggage. It also shows up in news reports about police questioning a suspect: पुलिस ने पूछताछ की (pulis ne poochhtaachh kii, 'the police questioned [him/her]').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use पूछना (poochhnaa) where पूछताछ (poochhtaachh) + करना (karnaa) is more natural for a formal or repeated inquiry -- e.g. police 'questioning' someone is पूछताछ करना (poochhtaachh karnaa), not just पूछना (poochhnaa). 2) The object of inquiry is usually marked with से (se) for the person asked ('पूछताछ की जाती है' style) or के बारे में (ke baare men) for the topic, not के लिए (ke lie).
Sample Sentences:
स्टेशन पर पूछताछ खिड़की कहाँ है?
Where is the inquiry window at the station?
(steshan par poochhtaachh khidkii kahaan hai?)
पुलिस ने चोर से पूछताछ की।
The police questioned the thief.
(pulis ne chor se poochhtaachh kii।)
अगर टिकट में कोई गड़बड़ हो तो पूछताछ काउंटर पर जाइए।
If there is any problem with the ticket, go to the inquiry counter.
(agar tikat men koii gadbad ho to poochhtaachh kaauntar par jaaie।)
आरोपी से घंटों पूछताछ की जा रही है।
The accused has been under questioning for hours.
(aaropii se ghanton poochhtaachh kii jaa rahii hai।)
मैं फ्लाइट के बारे में थोड़ी पूछताछ करना चाहता हूँ।
I want to make a bit of an inquiry about the flight.
(main phlaait ke baare men thodii poochhtaachh karnaa chaahtaa hoon।)
अगर मुझे शक होता तो मैं ज़रूर पूछताछ करता।
If I had had a doubt, I would certainly have made an inquiry.
(agar mujhe shak hotaa to main zaroor poochhtaachh kartaa।)
क्या आपने सामान के बारे में कोई पूछताछ की?
Did you make any inquiry about the luggage?
(kyaa aapne saamaan ke baare men koii poochhtaachh kii?)
जाँच अधिकारी ने कहा कि पूछताछ जारी रहेगी।
The investigating officer said that the questioning would continue.
(jaanch adhikaarii ne kahaa ki poochhtaachh jaarii rahegii।)
यात्रियों को हर सवाल का जवाब पूछताछ खिड़की से मिल जाता है।
Travelers get an answer to every question from the inquiry window.
(yaatriyon ko har savaal kaa javaab poochhtaachh khidkii se mil jaataa hai।)
बेहतर होगा कि आप पूछताछ काउंटर पर जाकर सही जानकारी लें।
It would be better if you went to the inquiry counter and got the correct information.
(behtar hogaa ki aap poochhtaachh kaauntar par jaakar sahii jaankaarii len।)
संदिग्ध व्यक्ति से पूछताछ के बाद उसे छोड़ दिया गया।
After the questioning, the suspicious person was released.
(sandigdh vyakti se poochhtaachh ke baad use chhod diyaa gayaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
पूछताछ
(poochhtaachh)
(sg.f.oblique):
पूछताछ
(poochhtaachh)
(pl.f.direct):
पूछताछें
(poochhtaachhen)
(pl.f.oblique):
पूछताछों
(poochhtaachhon)