कोशिश (koshish)

noun A single core meaning -- 'effort/attempt' -- almost always used with करना (karnaa) 'to try' or the postposition में (men) meaning 'in the process of trying to.'
Sense 1 : effort, attempt, try
noun, feminine Almost always appears as कोशिश करना (koshish karnaa, 'to make an effort') -- कोशिश itself is the noun object of करना (karnaa) in this frame.
Synonyms: प्रयास (prayaas, formal), जतन (jatan, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear कोशिश करो (koshish karo, 'try!') constantly in everyday encouragement -- from parents to kids studying, from friends motivating each other before an exam or interview. It carries a gentle, supportive tone rather than pressure, close to English 'just give it a shot.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say कोशिश बनाना (koshish banaanaa) by analogy with English 'make an effort,' but Hindi always pairs कोशिश with करना (karnaa), never बनाना (banaanaa). 2) When saying 'trying to do X,' the infinitive takes की (kii) before कोशिश, as in जाने की कोशिश (jaane kii koshish, 'an attempt to go') -- learners sometimes drop की (kii) and just say जाना कोशिश, which sounds broken.
Sample Sentences:
कोशिश करो, हो जाएगा। Just try, it'll work out.
(koshish karo, ho jaaegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मैंने बहुत कोशिश की, पर बात नहीं बनी। I tried a lot, but it didn't work out.
(mainne bahut koshish kii, par baat nahiin banii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह रोज़ अपनी अंग्रेज़ी सुधारने की कोशिश करता है। He tries to improve his English every day.
(vah roz apnii angrezii sudhaarne kii koshish kartaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हम इस समस्या को हल करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं। We are trying to solve this problem.
(ham is samasyaa ko hal karne kii koshish kar rahe hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम थोड़ी और कोशिश करते, तो शायद जीत जाते। If you had tried a little more, you might have won.
(agar tum thodii aur koshish karte, to shaayad jiit jaate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि तुम पूरी कोशिश करोगे। I hope you'll make a full effort.
(ummiid hai ki tum poorii koshish karoge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
मेरी कोशिश है कि सबको खुश रखूँ। My effort is to keep everyone happy.
(merii koshish hai ki sabko khush rakhoon।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार की ओर से गरीबी कम करने की कोशिश की जा रही है। An effort is being made by the government to reduce poverty.
(sarkaar kii or se gariibii kam karne kii koshish kii jaa rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
इतनी कोशिशों के बावजूद भी नतीजा वही रहा। Despite so many attempts, the result remained the same.
(itnii koshishon ke baavjood bhii natiijaa vahii rahaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बेटा, इम्तिहान में अच्छे नंबर लाने की कोशिश करना। Son, do try to get good marks in the exam.
(betaa, imtihaan men achchhe nambar laane kii koshish karnaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि हर कोई थोड़ी कोशिश करे, तो बहुत कुछ बदल सकता है। If everyone were to make a little effort, a lot could change.
(yadi har koii thodii koshish kare, to bahut kuchh badal saktaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): कोशिश (koshish)
(sg.f.oblique): कोशिश (koshish)
(pl.f.direct): कोशिशें (koshishen)
(pl.f.oblique): कोशिशों (koshishon)