उत्सुकता (utsuktaa)
noun
A single-sense abstract noun meaning 'eagerness/curiosity' -- the feeling of wanting to know or do something. Related to the adjective उत्सुक (utsuk, 'eager, curious').
Sense
1
:
eagerness, curiosity, keenness
noun, feminine Formed from the adjective उत्सुक (utsuk, 'eager') plus the abstract-noun suffix -ता (taa), a common pattern for turning adjectives into nouns of quality.
Synonyms: जिज्ञासा (jigyaasaa, more about intellectual curiosity), उत्कंठा (utkanthaa, literary), बेचैनी (bechainii, restlessness/impatience, not pure curiosity)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this word a lot in slightly more thoughtful or written speech -- news anchors, teachers, and writers reach for उत्सुकता (utsuktaa) when describing the public's or a character's eagerness to know an outcome, like exam results or election news. In everyday chatty speech, people often just say बेसब्री से इंतज़ार (besabrii se intzaar, 'impatient waiting') instead, so this word has a slightly more measured, literate feel without being stiff or archaic.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use it where English 'excitement' is meant -- उत्सुकता (utsuktaa) is specifically the eager-to-know/eager-to-see feeling, not general excitement or joy, for which उत्साह (utsaah) or खुशी (khushii) fit better. 2) It is typically paired with की (kii) plus a noun or verbal noun to say what one is eager about, e.g. उससे मिलने की उत्सुकता (usse milne kii utsuktaa, 'eagerness to meet him/her') -- learners often try to attach से (se) instead of building the की-phrase.
Sample Sentences:
बच्चों में नई किताब पढ़ने की उत्सुकता साफ़ दिखाई दे रही थी।
The children's eagerness to read the new book was clearly visible.
(bachchon men naii kitaab padhne kii utsuktaa saaf dikhaaii de rahii thii।)
परिणाम जानने की उत्सुकता में पूरा शहर टीवी के सामने बैठा था।
Out of eagerness to know the result, the whole city sat in front of the TV.
(parinaam jaanne kii utsuktaa men pooraa shahar tiivii ke saamne baithaa thaa।)
वह हमेशा नई जगहों के बारे में उत्सुकता दिखाती है।
She always shows curiosity about new places.
(vah hameshaa naii jagahon ke baare men utsuktaa dikhaatii hai।)
दर्शकों की उत्सुकता को देखते हुए फ़िल्म का ट्रेलर जल्दी रिलीज़ किया गया।
Seeing the audience's eagerness, the film's trailer was released early.
(darshkon kii utsuktaa ko dekhte hue film kaa trelar jaldii riliiz kiyaa gayaa।)
काश मुझमें भी उसकी तरह सीखने की इतनी उत्सुकता होती।
I wish I too had as much eagerness to learn as she does.
(kaash mujhmen bhii uskii tarah siikhne kii itnii utsuktaa hotii।)
अगर उसे थोड़ी भी उत्सुकता होती, तो वह ज़रूर सवाल पूछता।
If he had even a little curiosity, he would surely have asked a question.
(agar use thodii bhii utsuktaa hotii, to vah zaroor savaal poochhtaa।)
छात्रों की उत्सुकता बनाए रखने के लिए शिक्षक ने कहानी को अधूरा छोड़ दिया।
To keep the students' curiosity alive, the teacher left the story unfinished.
(chhaatron kii utsuktaa banaae rakhne ke lie shikshak ne kahaanii ko adhooraa chhod diyaa।)
मुझे उम्मीद है कि यह प्रस्तुति सबकी उत्सुकता जगाएगी।
I hope this presentation will spark everyone's curiosity.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki yah prastuti sabkii utsuktaa jagaaegii।)
चुनाव नतीजों को लेकर जनता में भारी उत्सुकता है।
There is great public eagerness regarding the election results.
(chunaav natiijon ko lekar jantaa men bhaarii utsuktaa hai।)
वैज्ञानिक की आँखों में नई खोज को लेकर एक अजीब-सी उत्सुकता झलक रही थी।
A strange kind of eagerness about the new discovery was shining in the scientist's eyes.
(vaigyaanik kii aankhon men naii khoj ko lekar ek ajiib-sii utsuktaa jhalak rahii thii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
उत्सुकता
(utsuktaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
उत्सुकता
(utsuktaa)
(pl.f.direct):
उत्सुकताएँ
(utsuktaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
उत्सुकताओं
(utsuktaaon)