मतलब
A question that is hard to solve.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
In Kolkata, the 'Madhyamik' exam is a massive cultural event. If the math paper has 'kothin proshno', it will be on the front page of the 'Anandabazar Patrika' the next day. The 'HSC' and 'SSC' exams are equally significant. Students often use the term 'out of syllabus' (সিলেবাসের বাইরে) synonymously with an unfairly 'kothin proshno'. There is a tradition of 'Adda' (intellectual banter) where people deliberately ask 'kothin proshno' to test each other's knowledge of literature or politics. In village settings, a 'kothin proshno' might refer to a riddle (dhandha) that the elders use to challenge the youth during evening gatherings.
Buying Time
In an interview, saying 'Seta besh kothin proshno' (That's a rather tough question) is a great way to buy 5 seconds of thinking time without looking lost.
Don't say 'Hard Question' literally
Avoid saying 'Hard Question' in English while speaking Bengali; 'Kothin Proshno' is so common that using the English version sounds like you lack basic vocabulary.
मतलब
A question that is hard to solve.
Buying Time
In an interview, saying 'Seta besh kothin proshno' (That's a rather tough question) is a great way to buy 5 seconds of thinking time without looking lost.
Don't say 'Hard Question' literally
Avoid saying 'Hard Question' in English while speaking Bengali; 'Kothin Proshno' is so common that using the English version sounds like you lack basic vocabulary.
Use 'Shokto' for Street Cred
If you're talking to friends about a hard video game level or a tricky riddle, use 'Shokto proshno' to sound more like a native speaker.
Exam Culture
If a Bengali person tells you 'Proshno kothin hoyeche', they are likely looking for sympathy about their exam performance. Be supportive!
खुद को परखो
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'kothin proshno'.
গণিত পরীক্ষায় অনেক ______ এসেছিল।
In a math exam, you typically encounter 'questions' (proshno), and if it was hard, 'kothin' is the right adjective.
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a formal job interview?
How would you say 'That is a difficult question'?
This option uses neutral/formal language and adds a polite request for time, which is professional.
Complete the dialogue between two students.
রহিম: পরীক্ষার প্রশ্ন কেমন ছিল? করিম: খুব ______ ছিল, আমি সব উত্তর দিতে পারিনি।
The second part of the sentence 'I couldn't answer everything' implies the questions were 'kothin' (hard).
Match the phrase variation to the correct context.
1. শক্ত প্রশ্ন, 2. গূঢ় প্রশ্ন, 3. ট্যারা প্রশ্ন
'Shokto' is informal, 'Gūṛha' is literary/philosophical, and 'Tyara' is student slang.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
Kothin vs. Shokto
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यासগণিত পরীক্ষায় অনেক ______ এসেছিল।
In a math exam, you typically encounter 'questions' (proshno), and if it was hard, 'kothin' is the right adjective.
How would you say 'That is a difficult question'?
This option uses neutral/formal language and adds a polite request for time, which is professional.
রহিম: পরীক্ষার প্রশ্ন কেমন ছিল? করিম: খুব ______ ছিল, আমি সব উত্তর দিতে পারিনি।
The second part of the sentence 'I couldn't answer everything' implies the questions were 'kothin' (hard).
1. শক্ত প্রশ্ন, 2. গূঢ় প্রশ্ন, 3. ট্যারা প্রশ্ন
'Shokto' is informal, 'Gūṛha' is literary/philosophical, and 'Tyara' is student slang.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
12 सवालYes, 'kothin' can mean physically hard, like 'kothin mati' (hard soil), but 'shokto' is more common for physical hardness.
It is neutral. It works in both a PhD thesis and a conversation with a child.
The opposite is 'shohoj proshno' (easy question).
No, that means 'to ask a hard question'. Use 'shomadhan kora' for solving.
'Tyara' means crooked. It's slang for a question that is intentionally confusing or tricky.
Yes, a 'kothin manush' is a person who is strict or lacks emotion.
You say 'Proshno khub kothin chilo'.
Only if the question is complex/convoluted. If it's just hard to answer, stick with 'kothin'.
Yes, 'matha noshto proshno' (brain-spoiling question) is common among youth.
Usually, but it can also mean a 'matter' or 'issue', like 'jibon-moron proshno' (a matter of life and death).
'Kothin' is more formal and used for mental difficulty; 'shokto' is more informal and used for physical hardness.
Add '-gulo' to get 'kothin proshno-gulo'.
संबंधित मुहावरे
সহজ প্রশ্ন
contrastEasy question
জটিল সমস্যা
similarComplex problem
মাথা খাটানো
builds onTo use one's brain
ধাঁধা
specialized formRiddle
প্রশ্নপত্র
relatedQuestion paper
