हँसी-मज़ाक़ (hansii-mazaaq)
noun
A compound noun meaning light-hearted joking, banter, or fun between people -- used to describe the general activity of teasing and laughing together, not any single joke.
Sense
1
:
playful joking, banter, fun between people
noun, masculine
Synonyms: मज़ाक़ (mazaaq, covers just the joking part), मस्ती (mastii, leans more toward general fun/horsing around), ठिठोली (thitholii, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is a classic Hindi twin-word (dvand) pairing हँसी (hansii, 'laughter') with मज़ाक़ (mazaaq, 'joke') to name a whole mood rather than a single act -- much like family gatherings or tea-stall conversations that drift into हँसी-मज़ाक़ (hansii-mazaaq) once the serious talk is done. It often shows up in the caution हँसी-मज़ाक़ की बात नहीं है (hansii-mazaaq kii baat nahiin hai, 'this is not a laughing matter'), signaling that things have turned serious.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use just मज़ाक़ (mazaaq) where हँसी-मज़ाक़ (hansii-mazaaq) is more natural for describing a whole atmosphere of light banter rather than one specific joke. 2) The word is normally used with करना (karnaa) -- हँसी-मज़ाक़ करना (hansii-mazaaq karnaa, 'to joke around') -- rather than treated as a countable thing you 'tell' or 'make' the way English says 'a joke'.
Sample Sentences:
काम खत्म होने के बाद दफ़्तर में थोड़ी हँसी-मज़ाक़ हो जाती है।
After work is done, there's a bit of joking around in the office.
(kaam khatm hone ke baad daftar men thodii hansii-mazaaq ho jaatii hai।)
चाय की दुकान पर सब लोग हँसी-मज़ाक़ कर रहे थे।
At the tea stall everyone was joking around.
(chaay kii dukaan par sab log hansii-mazaaq kar rahe the।)
यह हँसी-मज़ाक़ की बात नहीं है, मामला गंभीर है।
This is not a laughing matter, the situation is serious.
(yah hansii-mazaaq kii baat nahiin hai, maamlaa gambhiir hai।)
बच्चों के साथ थोड़ी हँसी-मज़ाक़ कर लो, मन हल्का हो जाएगा।
Have a bit of a laugh with the kids, you'll feel lighter.
(bachchon ke saath thodii hansii-mazaaq kar lo, man halkaa ho jaaegaa।)
अगर वह इतना गंभीर न होता, तो हमारे बीच थोड़ी हँसी-मज़ाक़ भी होती।
If he weren't so serious, there would be some banter between us too.
(agar vah itnaa gambhiir n hotaa, to hamaare biich thodii hansii-mazaaq bhii hotii।)
परिवार में शादी की तैयारियों के बीच हँसी-मज़ाक़ का माहौल बना रहा।
Amid the wedding preparations, an atmosphere of banter and laughter persisted in the family.
(parivaar men shaadii kii taiyaariyon ke biich hansii-mazaaq kaa maahaul banaa rahaa।)
काश दफ़्तर का माहौल इतना सख़्त न होता और थोड़ी हँसी-मज़ाक़ की गुंजाइश होती।
I wish the office atmosphere weren't so strict and there was room for a bit of banter.
(kaash daftar kaa maahaul itnaa sakht n hotaa aur thodii hansii-mazaaq kii gunjaaish hotii।)
उम्मीद है कि इस बार पारिवारिक मिलन में खूब हँसी-मज़ाक़ हो।
I hope there's plenty of joking and laughter at this family gathering this time.
(ummiid hai ki is baar paarivaarik milan men khoob hansii-mazaaq ho।)
बैठक में गंभीर मुद्दों पर चर्चा के साथ-साथ थोड़ी हँसी-मज़ाक़ भी की जाती है ताकि तनाव कम हो।
Along with discussion of serious issues in the meeting, some joking around is also done so that tension eases.
(baithak men gambhiir muddon par charchaa ke saath-saath thodii hansii-mazaaq bhii kii jaatii hai taaki tanaav kam ho।)
उनके बीच जो हँसी-मज़ाक़ चलती रहती है, वह दोस्ती की मिठास दिखाती है।
The banter that keeps going on between them shows the sweetness of their friendship.
(unke biich jo hansii-mazaaq chaltii rahtii hai, vah dostii kii mithaas dikhaatii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
हँसी-मज़ाक़
([[हँसी-मज़ाक़]])
(sg.m.oblique):
हँसी-मज़ाक़
([[हँसी-मज़ाक़]])
(pl.m.direct):
हँसी-मज़ाक़
([[हँसी-मज़ाक़]])
(pl.m.oblique):
हँसी-मज़ाक़ों
([[हँसी-मज़ाक़ों]])