तलाश (talaash)

noun A single core meaning: 'search' or 'quest', used as a noun and in the common compound verb तलाश करना (talaash karnaa).
Sense 1 : search, quest
noun, feminine Most often used with की (kii) to mean 'in search of': नौकरी की तलाश (naukrii kii talaash, 'search for a job'). Also frequently paired with the verb करना (karnaa) to form the compound तलाश करना (talaash karnaa, 'to search for').
Synonyms: खोज (khoj), जुस्तजू (justjoo, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear तलाश (talaash) constantly in everyday contexts like नौकरी की तलाश (naukrii kii talaash, 'the search for a job') or घर की तलाश (ghar kii talaash, 'house-hunting') -- it carries a slightly more purposeful, ongoing-effort feel than the more neutral खोज (khoj), which can sound more like 'a search' as an event or discovery.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say तलाश के लिए (talaash ke lie) when they mean 'in search of', but the natural construction uses की तलाश में (kii talaash men) or simply X की तलाश (X kii talaash), not के लिए (ke lie). 2) The verb pairing is तलाश करना (talaash karnaa), not तलाश होना (talaash honaa), when the meaning is 'to search actively.'
Sample Sentences:
मुझे एक अच्छी नौकरी की तलाश है। I am searching for a good job.
(mujhe ek achchhii naukrii kii talaash hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह पिछले तीन महीनों से घर की तलाश कर रही है। She has been house-hunting for the last three months.
(vah pichhle tiin mahiinon se ghar kii talaash kar rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमने उस खोए हुए बच्चे की तलाश में पूरा बाज़ार छान मारा। We combed through the entire market in search of that lost child.
(hamne us khoe hue bachche kii talaash men pooraa baazaar chhaan maaraa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सच्चे सुख की तलाश इंसान को कभी शांत नहीं बैठने देती। The search for true happiness never lets a person sit still.
(sachche sukh kii talaash insaan ko kabhii shaant nahiin baithne detii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम्हें किसी अच्छे डॉक्टर की तलाश हो, तो मुझे बताना। If you're in search of a good doctor, let me know.
(agar tumhen kisii achchhe doktar kii talaash ho, to mujhe bataanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
पुलिस अभी भी उस चोर की तलाश में जुटी है। The police are still busy searching for that thief.
(pulis abhii bhii us chor kii talaash men jutii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश मुझे भी कोई ऐसा साथी मिल जाता, जिसकी मुझे सालों से तलाश थी। If only I too could have found such a companion, one I had been searching for for years.
(kaash mujhe bhii koii aisaa saathii mil jaataa, jiskii mujhe saalon se talaash thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
नई प्रतिभाओं की तलाश के लिए कंपनी ने एक विशेष टीम बनाई है। The company has formed a special team for the search for new talent.
(naii pratibhaaon kii talaash ke lie kampnii ne ek vishesh tiim banaaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जीवन का उद्देश्य केवल सुख की तलाश तक सीमित नहीं होना चाहिए। The purpose of life should not be limited merely to the search for happiness.
(jiivan kaa uddeshy keval sukh kii talaash tak siimit nahiin honaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
आत्मज्ञान की तलाश में साधु ने वर्षों तक जंगलों में भटकते रहे। In search of self-knowledge, the sage kept wandering through the forests for years.
(aatmgyaan kii talaash men saadhu ne varshon tak janglon men bhatakte rahe।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अपनी खोई हुई पहचान की तलाश में वह शहर-शहर घूमता रहा। He kept wandering from city to city in search of his lost identity.
(apnii khoii huii pahchaan kii talaash men vah shahar-shahar ghoomtaa rahaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): तलाश (talaash)
(sg.f.oblique): तलाश (talaash)
(pl.f.direct): तलाशें (talaashen)
(pl.f.oblique): तलाशों (talaashon)