सीखना
सीखना in 30 Seconds
- It is the direct Hindi translation for the English verb 'to learn'.
- It is a transitive verb, requiring the 'ne' (ने) rule in the past tense.
- It changes form based on the gender of the person learning (sikhta/sikhti).
- It is distinct from 'to teach' (sikhana) and 'to study' (padhna).
मैं हर दिन कुछ नया सीखना चाहता हूँ।
- Academic Context
- Used when referring to studying subjects like mathematics, science, or languages in a formal school or university setting.
उसने तैरना सीखा।
- Life Skills
- Applies to practical abilities such as cooking (खाना बनाना), driving (गाड़ी चलाना), or playing an instrument.
हमें अपनी गलतियों से सीखना चाहिए।
- Moral Lessons
- Used when someone gains wisdom from a difficult experience or hardship, often phrased as 'सबक सीखना' (to learn a lesson).
जीवन हमें बहुत कुछ सिखाता है, और हमें सीखना पड़ता है।
क्या तुम गिटार सीखना पसंद करोगे?
मैं हिंदी सीखता हूँ।
- Feminine Present
- For a female speaker, the conjugation changes to 'मैं सीखती हूँ' (Main sikhti hoon), demonstrating the gender agreement rule.
वह गाड़ी चलाना सीख रही है।
- Past Tense (Transitive)
- Because सीखना is a transitive verb (it takes a direct object), the past tense requires the subject to take the 'ने' (ne) marker, and the verb agrees with the object.
मैंने कल एक नया शब्द सीखा।
हम अगले साल फ्रेंच सीखेंगे।
- Infinitive as Noun
- The infinitive form 'सीखना' can act as a verbal noun, similar to a gerund in English, meaning 'the act of learning'.
नई भाषा सीखना आसान नहीं है।
बच्चे स्कूल में बहुत कुछ सीखते हैं।
- Workplace Training
- In corporate environments, learning new software, protocols, or management skills is frequently discussed using this verb.
मुझे यह नया सॉफ़्टवेयर सीखना होगा।
- Creative Arts
- Learning music (संगीत), dance (नृत्य), or painting (चित्रकारी) are common conversational topics where this verb shines.
मेरी बेटी कत्थक सीख रही है।
बड़ों का आदर करना सीखो।
- Idiomatic Usage
- Phrases like 'सबक सीखना' (to learn a lesson the hard way) are prevalent in news media regarding criminals or political defeats.
उसने अपनी हार से एक बड़ा सबक सीखा।
मैं आपको हिंदी सिखाऊँगा।
- Causative Verbs
- In Hindi, adding an 'aa' sound to the root of a verb often makes it causative. Sikhna (to learn) becomes Sikhana (to cause to learn / to teach).
मैंने यह कविता सीखी।
- Gender Agreement
- Always identify the gender of the object you are learning when speaking in the past tense to ensure correct verb conjugation.
उसने काम सीखा।
- Study vs. Learn
- Use पढ़ना for the physical act of reading or attending school. Use सीखना for the actual acquisition of the skill or information.
मैं किताब पढ़ रहा हूँ ताकि मैं कुछ नया सीख सकूँ।
मैं विश्वविद्यालय में पढ़ता हूँ।
- अध्ययन करना (Adhyayan Karna)
- This is a highly formal, academic term meaning 'to study' or 'to research'. It is used in scholarly contexts rather than daily conversation.
वह प्राचीन इतिहास का अध्ययन कर रहा है।
मैं तुम्हारी बात समझ गया।
- जानना (Jaanna)
- This verb means 'to know'. It represents the state of already possessing the knowledge, which is the end result of the learning process.
मैं तैरना जानता हूँ।
- ज्ञान प्राप्त करना (Gyaan Praapt Karna)
- A very formal, literary phrase meaning 'to acquire knowledge'. It is often found in religious or philosophical texts.
गुरु से ज्ञान प्राप्त करना जीवन का लक्ष्य है।
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
The religion 'Sikhism' and its followers, the 'Sikhs', derive their name from the exact same Sanskrit root. The word 'Sikh' literally translates to 'disciple' or 'learner'. Therefore, a Sikh is fundamentally someone who is a lifelong learner of the Guru's teachings.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'kh' as a regular 'k' without aspiration (saying 'seek-na' instead of 'seekh-na').
- Shortening the long 'ee' sound to a short 'i' (saying 'sikh-na' like 'sick').
- Confusing it with 'sikhana' (to teach) by adding an extra 'a' sound.
- Mispronouncing the dental 'n' as a retroflex 'ṇ'.
- Dropping the final 'a' sound, making it sound like 'seekhn'.
Difficulty Rating
The Devanagari script for सीखना is straightforward. The long 'ee' (ी) and the aspirated 'kh' (ख) are common characters.
Writing the aspirated 'ख' (kha) correctly without confusing it with 'रव' (rava) takes a little practice for beginners.
Pronouncing the aspirated 'kh' correctly is challenging for English speakers. Also, remembering gender and 'ne' rule conjugations while speaking requires mental effort.
Distinguishing between 'sikhna' (to learn) and 'sikhana' (to teach) in fast native speech can be tricky.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
The 'Ne' (ने) Rule for Transitive Verbs
मैंने हिंदी सीखी। (I learned Hindi. Verb agrees with feminine object 'Hindi').
Gender Agreement in Present Tense
राम सीखता है (Ram learns) vs. सीता सीखती है (Sita learns).
Infinitive as a Verbal Noun (Gerund)
तैरना सीखना स्वास्थ्य के लिए अच्छा है। (Learning to swim is good for health).
Compound Verbs for Completion
वह जल्दी सीख गया। (He learned quickly / He finished learning).
Using 'Chahiye' (चाहिए) for Advice
तुम्हें सीखना चाहिए। (You should learn).
Examples by Level
मैं हिंदी सीखता हूँ।
I learn Hindi. (Masculine)
Simple present tense, masculine singular agreement.
मैं हिंदी सीखती हूँ।
I learn Hindi. (Feminine)
Simple present tense, feminine singular agreement.
मैं तैरना सीख रहा हूँ।
I am learning to swim.
Present continuous tense using 'रहा हूँ'.
तुम क्या सीख रहे हो?
What are you learning?
Question formulation in present continuous.
वह गिटार सीख रही है।
She is learning guitar.
Third-person feminine continuous.
हम रोज़ कुछ नया सीखते हैं।
We learn something new every day.
First-person plural present habitual.
मुझे अंग्रेजी सीखना है।
I have to/want to learn English.
Infinitive used with 'है' to express desire/necessity.
राम गाड़ी चलाना सीखता है।
Ram learns to drive.
Using an infinitive phrase (गाड़ी चलाना) as the object.
मैंने कल एक नया शब्द सीखा।
I learned a new word yesterday.
Past perfective with 'ने'. Verb agrees with masculine object 'शब्द'.
उसने खाना बनाना सीखा।
He/She learned to cook.
Past perfective. Verb agrees with masculine infinitive 'बनाना'.
हम अगले महीने फ्रेंच सीखेंगे।
We will learn French next month.
Future tense, first-person plural.
तुमने यह कहाँ से सीखा?
Where did you learn this from?
Question in the past tense with 'ने'.
मैं बचपन में संगीत सीखता था।
I used to learn music in childhood.
Past habitual tense (ता था).
क्या तुम तैरना सीखना चाहते हो?
Do you want to learn to swim?
Infinitive combined with 'चाहना' (to want).
मैंने अपनी गलती से बहुत कुछ सीखा।
I learned a lot from my mistake.
Using 'से' (from) to indicate the source of learning.
वह बहुत जल्दी सीख जाती है।
She learns very quickly.
Compound verb 'सीख जाना' indicating completion/ability.
मुझे यह नया सॉफ़्टवेयर सीखना पड़ेगा।
I will have to learn this new software.
Infinitive with 'पड़ेगा' to show future compulsion.
तुम्हें दूसरों की गलतियों से सीखना चाहिए।
You should learn from others' mistakes.
Infinitive with 'चाहिए' for giving advice.
अगर मैं रोज़ अभ्यास करूँ, तो मैं जल्दी सीख जाऊँगा।
If I practice every day, I will learn quickly.
Conditional sentence (अगर... तो) with future outcome.
वह बिना किसी शिक्षक के गिटार सीख चुका है।
He has already learned guitar without any teacher.
Present perfect tense using 'चुका है' (has finished learning).
नई भाषा सीखना दिमाग के लिए अच्छा होता है।
Learning a new language is good for the brain.
Infinitive used as a verbal noun (gerund) subject.
मैंने यह काम अपने पिता से सीखा था।
I had learned this work from my father.
Past perfect tense (सीखा था).
क्या तुमने कभी हार न मानना सीखा है?
Have you ever learned not to give up?
Present perfect with 'ने' and a negative infinitive object.
बच्चे खेल-खेल में बहुत कुछ सीख लेते हैं।
Children learn a lot while playing.
Compound verb 'सीख लेना' showing benefit to the subject.
यह कौशल आसानी से नहीं सीखा जा सकता।
This skill cannot be learned easily.
Passive voice construction (सीखा जा सकता).
बच्चों के सीखने की प्रक्रिया वयस्कों से भिन्न होती है।
The learning process of children is different from adults.
Oblique infinitive 'सीखने की' acting as an adjective phrase.
अगर मैंने बचपन में संगीत सीखा होता, तो आज मैं एक कलाकार होता।
If I had learned music in childhood, I would be an artist today.
Past counterfactual conditional (सीखा होता... होता).
लगातार सीखते रहना सफलता की कुंजी है।
Continuously keeping on learning is the key to success.
Continuous aspect with 'रहना' (सीखते रहना).
उसने अपनी असफलता से जो सबक सीखा, वह अमूल्य था।
The lesson he learned from his failure was invaluable.
Relative clause structure (जो... वह).
विदेशी भाषा सीखते समय व्याकरण पर ध्यान देना आवश्यक है।
While learning a foreign language, it is necessary to pay attention to grammar.
Present participle usage (सीखते समय - while learning).
मुझे लगता है कि मैंने इस अनुभव से बहुत कुछ सीख लिया है।
I feel that I have learned a lot from this experience.
Complex sentence with 'कि' (that) and compound perfect verb.
बिना ठोकर खाए इंसान चलना नहीं सीखता।
Without stumbling, a human does not learn to walk.
Idiomatic usage expressing a universal truth.
आधुनिक युग में, निरंतर नई तकनीकों को सीखते रहना ही प्रासंगिकता बनाए रखने का एकमात्र साधन है।
In the modern era, continuously keeping on learning new technologies is the only means of maintaining relevance.
Highly formal vocabulary and complex gerund phrase.
यह कला किसी किताब से नहीं सीखी जा सकती, इसके लिए गुरु के सानिध्य की आवश्यकता होती है।
This art cannot be learned from a book; it requires the proximity of a Guru.
Passive voice combined with formal cultural vocabulary.
उसने जीवन के कड़वे अनुभवों से जो व्यवहारिकता सीखी है, वह किसी विश्वविद्यालय में नहीं पढ़ाई जाती।
The practicality he has learned from the bitter experiences of life is not taught in any university.
Contrasting 'सीखना' (internal learning) with 'पढ़ाना' (formal teaching).
भाषा सीखने की अंतर्निहित क्षमता हर मनुष्य में जन्मजात होती है।
The inherent capacity to learn language is innate in every human.
Academic phrasing using 'अंतर्निहित क्षमता' (inherent capacity).
समाज को अपने इतिहास की भूलों से सबक सीखना नितांत आवश्यक है।
It is absolutely essential for society to learn a lesson from the mistakes of its history.
Formal imperative structure with 'नितांत आवश्यक' (absolutely essential).
विपत्ति काल में ही मनुष्य का वास्तविक चरित्र और उसके सीखने की क्षमता का परीक्षण होता है।
Only in times of adversity is a human's true character and their capacity to learn tested.
Advanced abstract nouns and passive testing concept.
मैं इस जटिल दार्शनिक अवधारणा को सीखने का प्रयास कर रहा हूँ।
I am attempting to learn this complex philosophical concept.
Formal alternative to 'कोशिश' using 'प्रयास'.
यह जानकर आश्चर्य होता है कि मशीनें भी अब अनुभव से सीखना शुरू कर चुकी हैं।
It is surprising to know that machines have also now started learning from experience.
Complex sentence discussing machine learning (AI).
जीवन की पाठशाला में जो सीखा जाता है, वह किसी पोथी में नहीं मिलता।
What is learned in the school of life is not found in any tome.
Literary metaphor (जीवन की पाठशाला) and archaic vocabulary (पोथी).
सीखने की अदम्य पिपासा ही मानव को पशु से पृथक करती है।
The unquenchable thirst for learning is what separates humans from animals.
Highly poetic and philosophical vocabulary (अदम्य पिपासा, पृथक).
जब तक श्वास है, तब तक सीखने की प्रक्रिया अनवरत चलती रहनी चाहिए।
As long as there is breath, the process of learning should continue unceasingly.
Philosophical statement using 'अनवरत' (unceasingly).
उसने मौन रहकर जो सीखा, वह शब्दों के कोलाहल में कभी नहीं सीखा जा सकता था।
What he learned by remaining silent could never have been learned in the cacophony of words.
Profound contrast using 'मौन' (silence) and 'कोलाहल' (cacophony).
अधिगम मात्र सूचनाओं का एकत्रीकरण नहीं, अपितु चेतना का विस्तार है।
Learning is not merely the accumulation of information, but rather the expansion of consciousness.
Using the highly formal Sanskritized synonym 'अधिगम' (adhigam).
पराजय से सीखकर ही राष्ट्र अपने भविष्य की सुदृढ़ नींव रखते हैं।
Only by learning from defeat do nations lay the strong foundation of their future.
Political/Historical discourse using 'सुदृढ़ नींव' (strong foundation).
सूफी संतों का मानना था कि ईश्वर को ग्रंथों से नहीं, बल्कि प्रेम से सीखा और जाना जा सकता है।
Sufi saints believed that God can be learned and known not from scriptures, but through love.
Theological context combining 'सीखना' and 'जानना'.
प्रकृति के सूक्ष्म संकेतों को पढ़ना और उनसे सीखना एक लुप्तप्राय कला है।
Reading the subtle signs of nature and learning from them is an endangered art.
Ecological/Anthropological context using 'लुप्तप्राय' (endangered).
Synonyms
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— There is no age limit for learning. You can learn at any age.
मेरे दादाजी ने 70 की उम्र में कंप्यूटर सीखा, सच है सीखने की उम्र नहीं होती।
— There is a lot to learn. Used when facing a vast subject.
इस दुनिया में सीखने को बहुत कुछ है।
— To learn while playing. Often used for children's education.
बच्चे खेल-खेल में जल्दी सीखते हैं।
— To learn the hard way, through mistakes or hardship.
वह किसी की नहीं सुनता, ठोकर खाकर ही सीखेगा।
Often Confused With
Sikhana means 'to teach'. Sikhna means 'to learn'. They are opposite sides of the same action.
Padhna means 'to read' or 'to study' formally. Sikhna is the internal acquisition of the knowledge or skill.
Samajhna means 'to understand'. You learn (sikhna) first, and as a result, you understand (samajhna).
Idioms & Expressions
— To learn a lesson after suffering a loss or making a mistake.
उसे समझाने का कोई फायदा नहीं, वह ठोकर खाकर ही सीखेगा।
Informal/Proverbial— No one is born knowing everything (literally: no one comes having learned from the womb).
चिंता मत करो, तुम भी काम सीख जाओगे, पेट से सीखकर कोई नहीं आता।
Informal— Implies that one has learned a lot through life experience and age (literally: haven't turned hair white in the sun).
मेरी बात मानो, मैंने ये बाल धूप में सफेद नहीं किए हैं, बहुत कुछ सीखा है जीवन से।
Idiomatic— To have learned from extensive and varied life experiences.
वह बहुत चतुर है, उसने घाट-घाट का पानी पिया है।
Idiomatic— To be experienced and have learned the tricks of the trade (literally: not playing with unbaked marbles).
मुझे बेवकूफ मत बनाओ, मैंने कच्ची गोलियाँ नहीं खेली हैं।
Informal— When the student outpaces or learns more than the teacher.
उसने अपने उस्ताद से भी अच्छा काम किया, गुरु गुड़ ही रहे, चेला शक्कर हो गया।
Proverbial— Wisdom/learning comes from facing hardships, not from eating almonds.
जीवन की सच्चाई उसे अब समझ आई है, अक्ल बादाम खाने से नहीं, धक्के खाने से आती है।
Informal— To be a blank slate, having learned nothing yet about a specific topic.
कंप्यूटर के मामले में वह बिल्कुल कोरा कागज़ है, उसे सब कुछ सीखना होगा।
Idiomatic— To learn by rote memorization without understanding.
परीक्षा पास करने के लिए सिर्फ रट्टा मारना काफी नहीं है।
Slang/Informal— To parrot or repeat what one has learned without comprehension.
वह भाषण को तोते की तरह रट कर आया था।
InformalEasily Confused
It is the causative form of सीखना. It sounds almost identical to beginners, just with an extra 'a' sound.
सीखना (sikhna) is what the student does. सिखाना (sikhana) is what the teacher does.
मैं सीखता हूँ (I learn). शिक्षक सिखाता है (The teacher teaches).
Both are translated as 'to study' in English depending on the context.
पढ़ना is the physical act of reading or attending a class. सीखना is the cognitive act of acquiring the skill.
मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ (I read a book). मैं भाषा सीखता हूँ (I learn a language).
'To learn' and 'to know' are related concepts.
सीखना is the process. जानना is the result. You learn to eventually know.
मैं तैरना सीख रहा हूँ (I am learning to swim). मैं तैरना जानता हूँ (I know how to swim).
English speakers often say 'I need to learn these words', meaning memorize.
याद करना specifically means rote memorization. सीखना implies understanding and skill acquisition.
कविता याद करो (Memorize the poem). गिटार बजाना सीखो (Learn to play guitar).
Both relate to education.
अध्ययन करना is a formal, academic term for researching or studying a subject deeply. सीखना is everyday learning.
वह इतिहास का अध्ययन करता है (He studies history). वह साइकिल चलाना सीखता है (He learns to ride a bike).
Sentence Patterns
मैं [Object] सीखता/सीखती हूँ।
मैं हिंदी सीखता हूँ।
मैं [Object] सीख रहा/रही हूँ।
मैं गिटार सीख रही हूँ।
मैंने [Object] सीखा/सीखी।
मैंने एक नई भाषा सीखी।
मैं [Object] सीखना चाहता/चाहती हूँ।
मैं तैरना सीखना चाहता हूँ।
मुझे [Object] सीखना है/पड़ेगा।
मुझे यह काम सीखना पड़ेगा।
हमें [Object] से सीखना चाहिए।
हमें अपनी गलतियों से सीखना चाहिए।
अगर मैं [Object] सीखता, तो...
अगर मैं अंग्रेजी सीखता, तो मुझे नौकरी मिल जाती।
[Object] सीखते रहना आवश्यक है।
नई तकनीक सीखते रहना आवश्यक है।
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
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How to Use It
Top 100 most frequently used verbs in spoken and written Hindi.
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मैं हिंदी सीखता है।
→
मैं हिंदी सीखता हूँ।
The subject 'मैं' (I) must always be paired with the auxiliary verb 'हूँ' (am) in the present tense, never 'है' (is).
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मैं आपको हिंदी सीखूँगा।
→
मैं आपको हिंदी सिखाऊँगा।
You cannot 'learn' someone else. You must use the causative verb 'सिखाना' (to teach) when you are imparting knowledge to another person.
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मैं यह कविता सीखा।
→
मैंने यह कविता सीखी।
Because सीखना is transitive, the past tense requires the subject to take 'ने' (मैंने). Furthermore, the verb must agree with the feminine object 'कविता', so it becomes 'सीखी'.
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मैं किताब सीख रहा हूँ।
→
मैं किताब पढ़ रहा हूँ।
You cannot 'learn' a physical book. You 'read' or 'study' (पढ़ना) a book. You 'learn' the knowledge inside it.
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मुझे हिंदी सीखना चाहता हूँ।
→
मैं हिंदी सीखना चाहता हूँ।
When using 'चाहना' (to want), the subject remains in its direct form ('मैं'), not the oblique form with 'को' ('मुझे'). You only use 'मुझे' when expressing compulsion (मुझे सीखना है).
Tips
The Transitive Trap
Always remember that 'sikhna' is transitive. Before you speak in the past tense, pause and think: 'Did I add NE to the subject?' If you say 'Main sikha' instead of 'Maine sikha', native speakers will notice immediately.
Aspirate the KH
Hold your hand in front of your mouth and say 'sikhna'. You should feel a distinct puff of air hit your hand on the 'kh' sound. If you don't, you are pronouncing it like a regular 'k'.
Pair with 'Chahna'
One of the most useful sentence structures for a beginner is 'Main [skill] sikhna chahta hoon' (I want to learn [skill]). Memorize this template and just swap out the skill.
The Humble Learner
In Indian culture, admitting that you are still learning is seen as a sign of humility and respect. Use the phrase 'मैं अभी सीख रहा हूँ' (I am still learning) frequently when native speakers correct you.
Avoid 'Ko' with Objects
Do not use the postposition 'ko' (को) after the thing you are learning unless it's a very specific, previously mentioned item. Say 'हिंदी सीखना', not 'हिंदी को सीखना'.
Sikhna vs Sikhana
To remember the difference: The teacher opens their mouth wide to say 'Aaa' and teach you (sikhAna). You quietly learn by yourself (sikhna).
Continuous Tense Mastery
Since you are currently a learner, the present continuous tense is your best friend. Practice saying 'Main sikh raha hoon' until it becomes muscle memory.
Learn a Lesson
If you want to sound advanced, use 'sabak sikhna' when talking about someone facing the consequences of their actions. It adds great dramatic flair to your storytelling.
Study vs Learn
If you are talking about going to school or reading a textbook, use 'padhna'. If you are talking about actually acquiring the ability to speak a language or play an instrument, use 'sikhna'.
Compound Verbs
To emphasize that you have completely finished learning something, use the compound verb 'seekh liya' (learned it) or 'seekh gaya' (became learned in it).
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine you are 'SEEK'ing knowledge. When you SEEK, you LEARN. SEEK-na = to learn.
Visual Association
Visualize a magnifying glass (seeking) over a book. The act of seeking information in the book is the process of learning (seekh-na).
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 24 hours, every time you learn a new fact, read a new word, or figure out how to do something, say out loud: 'मैंने यह सीखा' (Maine yeh sikha - I learned this).
Word Origin
The word सीखना (sikhna) traces its roots back to the ancient Sanskrit word शिक्षते (shikshate), which means 'to learn' or 'to study'. Over millennia, as Sanskrit evolved into Prakrit and then into modern Indo-Aryan languages like Hindi, the complex consonant clusters simplified. The 'ksh' sound in Sanskrit often transformed into a 'kh' or 'chh' sound in Hindi. Thus, 'shiksha' (education) gave rise to the verb root 'sikh-'.
Original meaning: To acquire knowledge, to study, to practice a skill.
Indo-European > Indo-Iranian > Indo-Aryan > Central Zone > Hindustani > HindiCultural Context
There are no specific taboo contexts for this word. It is universally safe and positive.
In English, 'learning a lesson' can sound punitive. In Hindi, 'सबक सीखना' carries a similar punitive weight, but general 'सीखना' is overwhelmingly positive and deeply respected.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Language Classes
- मैं हिंदी सीख रहा हूँ।
- यह शब्द कैसे सीखते हैं?
- मुझे व्याकरण सीखना है।
- मैं जल्दी सीखना चाहता हूँ।
Driving/Physical Skills
- मैं गाड़ी चलाना सीख रहा हूँ।
- तैरना सीखना आसान है।
- उसने साइकिल चलाना सीखा।
- मुझे यह मशीन चलाना सीखना है।
Life Advice
- अपनी गलतियों से सीखो।
- दूसरों से अच्छी बातें सीखनी चाहिए।
- उसने एक बड़ा सबक सीखा।
- जीवन हमेशा कुछ सिखाता है।
Workplace Training
- नया काम सीखना पड़ेगा।
- मैं यहाँ बहुत कुछ सीख रहा हूँ।
- सॉफ़्टवेयर सीखना ज़रूरी है।
- अनुभव से सीखना सबसे अच्छा है।
Hobbies and Arts
- वह गिटार सीख रही है।
- मुझे खाना बनाना सीखना है।
- क्या तुम डांस सीखना चाहते हो?
- पेंटिंग सीखना मेरा शौक है।
Conversation Starters
"क्या आप आजकल कुछ नया सीख रहे हैं? (Are you learning anything new these days?)"
"आपने इतनी अच्छी हिंदी कहाँ से सीखी? (Where did you learn such good Hindi?)"
"आपके अनुसार जीवन में सबसे ज़रूरी क्या सीखना चाहिए? (In your opinion, what is the most important thing to learn in life?)"
"क्या आपको लगता है कि नई भाषा सीखना मुश्किल है? (Do you think learning a new language is difficult?)"
"आपने बचपन में कौन सा खेल सीखा था? (Which sport did you learn in childhood?)"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time when you learned a difficult lesson in life. Use the phrase 'सबक सीखा'.
List three new skills you want to learn this year and explain why using 'सीखना चाहता हूँ'.
Describe your process of learning Hindi. What is easy and what is hard? Use 'सीख रहा हूँ'.
Write about someone who taught you something valuable. Contrast 'सिखाया' (taught) and 'सीखा' (learned).
Reflect on the phrase 'सीखने की उम्र नहीं होती' (There is no age for learning). Do you agree?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes. If you are male, you say 'मैं सीखता हूँ' (Main sikhta hoon). If you are female, you say 'मैं सीखती हूँ' (Main sikhti hoon). This is a fundamental rule for all Hindi verbs in the present tense.
Because सीखना is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object (you learn *something*). In Hindi, transitive verbs in the perfective past tense require the subject to take 'ने', and the verb conjugates to match the gender and number of the object, not the subject.
You say 'मैं हिंदी सीख रहा हूँ' (Main Hindi sikh raha hoon) if you are male, or 'मैं हिंदी सीख रही हूँ' (Main Hindi sikh rahi hoon) if you are female. This uses the present continuous tense marker 'रहा/रही'.
सीखना (sikhna) means 'to learn' (what a student does). सिखाना (sikhana) means 'to teach' (what a teacher does). Be careful with the pronunciation of the middle 'a' to distinguish them.
Absolutely. सीखना is used for both academic knowledge (learning math) and physical skills (learning to swim - तैरना सीखना, learning to drive - गाड़ी चलाना सीखना).
You combine the infinitive सीखना with the verb चाहना (to want). 'मैं सीखना चाहता हूँ' (Main sikhna chahta hoon) for a male, and 'मैं सीखना चाहती हूँ' (Main sikhna chahti hoon) for a female.
No, that sounds unnatural. You 'read' or 'study' a book, so you should use पढ़ना (padhna): 'मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ'. You use सीखना for the knowledge inside the book or a skill.
It is an idiom that translates to 'learning a lesson', usually in a moral sense or after making a mistake. For example, 'उसने अपनी गलती से सबक सीखा' (He learned a lesson from his mistake).
You use the infinitive form with 'चाहिए' (chahiye - should). 'तुम्हें नई चीज़ें सीखनी चाहिए' (You should learn new things). Note that the infinitive 'सीखनी' agrees with the feminine object 'चीज़ें'.
It is completely neutral and universal. You can use it with children, friends, bosses, and in academic writing. It fits perfectly into any register.
Test Yourself 200 questions
Write a sentence saying 'I learn Hindi' (assume your own gender).
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Write a sentence saying 'She is learning guitar'.
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Write a sentence saying 'We learn every day'.
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Write a sentence saying 'I want to learn to swim'.
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Write a sentence saying 'I learned a new word yesterday' using the 'ne' rule.
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Write a sentence saying 'He learned to cook'.
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Write a sentence saying 'We will learn French next year'.
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Write a question asking 'Where did you learn this?'.
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Write a sentence saying 'I will have to learn this work'.
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Write a sentence giving advice: 'You should learn from your mistakes'.
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Write a conditional sentence: 'If I practice, I will learn quickly'.
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Write a sentence using the compound verb 'सीख जाना'.
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Write a sentence using the passive voice: 'This skill cannot be learned easily'.
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Write a sentence using 'सीखने की प्रक्रिया' (learning process).
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Write a past counterfactual: 'If I had learned music, I would be an artist'.
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Write a sentence using 'सीखते रहना' (keep on learning).
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Write a formal sentence using 'निरंतर सीखते रहना' (continuously keeping on learning).
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Write a sentence contrasting 'सीखना' (learning) and 'पढ़ाना' (teaching).
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Write a philosophical sentence about learning in the 'school of life'.
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Write a sentence using the formal synonym 'अधिगम'.
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What is the person doing?
What is the person asking?
What instrument is she learning?
When did they learn a new word?
What skill did he/she learn?
What language will they learn next year?
Does the person have a choice?
What is the advice given?
What is the condition for learning quickly?
Is the skill easy to learn?
What is the key to success?
What did he learn from his defeat?
Who should learn from historical mistakes?
What is necessary in the modern era?
Where is the invaluable knowledge learned?
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The verb सीखना (sikhna) is your primary tool for expressing the acquisition of skills or knowledge. Remember it is transitive: 'मैंने हिंदी सीखी' (I learned Hindi).
- It is the direct Hindi translation for the English verb 'to learn'.
- It is a transitive verb, requiring the 'ne' (ने) rule in the past tense.
- It changes form based on the gender of the person learning (sikhta/sikhti).
- It is distinct from 'to teach' (sikhana) and 'to study' (padhna).
The Transitive Trap
Always remember that 'sikhna' is transitive. Before you speak in the past tense, pause and think: 'Did I add NE to the subject?' If you say 'Main sikha' instead of 'Maine sikha', native speakers will notice immediately.
Aspirate the KH
Hold your hand in front of your mouth and say 'sikhna'. You should feel a distinct puff of air hit your hand on the 'kh' sound. If you don't, you are pronouncing it like a regular 'k'.
Pair with 'Chahna'
One of the most useful sentence structures for a beginner is 'Main [skill] sikhna chahta hoon' (I want to learn [skill]). Memorize this template and just swap out the skill.
The Humble Learner
In Indian culture, admitting that you are still learning is seen as a sign of humility and respect. Use the phrase 'मैं अभी सीख रहा हूँ' (I am still learning) frequently when native speakers correct you.
Example
मैं हिंदी सीखना चाहता हूँ।
Related Content
Related Phrases
More Education words
अनुशासन
B2Anushasan refers to the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, and the quality of self-control. It encompasses both external regulation by an authority and internal self-regulation for personal or professional growth.
अनुसंधान
B2Anusandhan refers to a systematic and detailed investigation or study into a specific subject to discover new facts or information. It is the Hindi equivalent of 'research' and is primarily used in scientific, academic, and professional contexts.
सिखाना
A1To impart knowledge, skill, or a habit to someone else. It is the causative form of 'seekhna' (to learn), focusing on the act of guiding another person to acquire new information or abilities.