प्रश्न करना

The Hindi verb प्रश्न करना (prashna karnā) is a fundamental compound verb used to describe the act of questioning or inquiring. Rooted in the Sanskrit word 'Prashna' (meaning question) and the light verb 'Karnā' (to do), it represents a formal and standard way to express the seeking of information or the challenging of a statement. In everyday Hindi, while 'Saval Puchna' is more common in casual conversation, 'Prashna Karna' holds a place of prestige in academic, legal, and literary contexts. When you use this term, you are not just asking a simple question like 'Where is the milk?'; rather, you are often engaging in a more structured form of inquiry. It implies a level of seriousness and intent. For example, in a classroom setting, a teacher might encourage students by saying, 'Bejhijhak prashna karo' (Question without hesitation). This encourages a culture of curiosity and critical thinking. The word 'Prashna' itself carries a weight of intellectual pursuit. In ancient Indian philosophy, the Upanishads often take the form of 'Prashna'—disciples questioning the guru to uncover deep truths. Therefore, when an English speaker learns 'Prashna Karna', they are moving beyond basic survival Hindi into the realm of formal communication and intellectual exchange. It is used when a journalist questions a politician, when a scientist questions a hypothesis, or when a curious mind questions the nature of reality. Understanding the nuance between this and its synonyms is key to mastering Hindi register.

Formal Inquiry

Used in news reporting, academic papers, and official interviews to denote a structured questioning process.

Philosophical Doubt

Used to describe the internal or external act of doubting or seeking deeper meaning in life or science.

Legal Context

Refers to the cross-examination or the formal interrogation of a witness in a court of law.

In the modern digital age, 'Prashna Karna' is also used in the context of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on websites, where it is often translated as 'Aksar puche jane vale prashna'. This shows the word's versatility across traditional and modern media. It is a bridge between the ancient Sanskrit heritage of Hindi and the functional requirements of a modern global language. By using this verb, you signal that you respect the formal structure of the Hindi language.

Using प्रश्न करना correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure as a transitive verb. Because it is a 'Karnā' (to do) compound, the gender and number of the object ('Prashna') often dictate the verb agreement in certain tenses like the perfective. However, since 'Prashna' is a singular masculine noun, the verb usually remains in its masculine form. Let's look at the syntax. Usually, the person being questioned is marked with the postposition 'se' (from/with). For example, 'Maine usse prashna kiya' (I questioned him). If you are questioning a concept or a statement, you might use 'par' (on). For example, 'Satta par prashna karna' (To question the power/authority). This distinction is vital for English speakers who are used to saying 'Question someone' directly without a preposition. In Hindi, you are literally 'doing a question with someone'.

Direct Questioning

Subject + Person + Se + Prashna + Karna. Example: 'Rohan ne mujhse prashna kiya.'

Questioning an Idea

Subject + Idea + Par + Prashna + Karna. Example: 'Usne mere faisle par prashna kiya.'

In the future tense, it becomes 'Prashna karega' (He will question). In the continuous tense, it is 'Prashna kar raha hai' (He is questioning). The versatility of 'Karna' verbs allows 'Prashna' to be used in virtually any grammatical mood or aspect. For instance, the imperative 'Prashna karo!' is a command to ask. The subjunctive 'Humein prashna karna chahiye' expresses necessity. One of the nuances to watch out for is the difference between 'Prashna karna' and 'Prashna uthana' (to raise a question). While they are related, 'Prashna uthana' is more about bringing up a concern or a doubt in a public forum, whereas 'Prashna karna' is the direct act of asking. If you are in a meeting and you want to ask about the budget, you 'Prashna karenge'. If you think the budget is wrong and want to challenge it, you 'Prashna uthayenge'. This subtle difference marks the transition from an intermediate to an advanced Hindi speaker. Always remember that 'Prashna' is a more formal noun than 'Saval'. If you are writing an email to a professor, use 'Prashna'. If you are asking your brother where he went, 'Saval' or just the verb 'Puchna' is better.

You will encounter प्रश्न करना in environments where formal Hindi (Manak Hindi) is spoken. This includes news broadcasts on channels like NDTV India or Aaj Tak, where news anchors often use the phrase while interviewing politicians or experts. For example, 'Hum mantri ji se prashna karenge' (We will question the minister). It is also the standard terminology used in the Indian Parliament (Sansad) during 'Prashna Kaal' (Question Hour), a dedicated time for members to question the government's actions. In the educational sphere, from primary school textbooks to university lectures, 'Prashna' is the only word used for 'question'. You will see it in exams: 'Niche diye gaye prashno ke uttar dijiye' (Answer the questions given below). Literature and high-brow cinema also favor this term. In a courtroom drama movie, the judge might say, 'Vakil sahab, prashna kariye' (Lawyer, ask the question). It carries a sense of authority and procedure.

News & Media

Used by anchors to maintain a professional distance and objectivity during interviews.

Academic Settings

The standard way to refer to the act of inquiry between teachers and students.

Corporate Meetings

In formal presentations, 'Any prashna?' (Any questions?) is the common way to invite feedback.

Even in spiritual discourses (Pravachans), the speaker might invite the audience to 'Prashna karein' to clear their doubts about the scriptures. This demonstrates the word's deep roots in the Indian tradition of 'Shastrarth' (philosophical debate). Conversely, you are unlikely to hear it in a busy vegetable market or during a cricket match among friends, where the more colloquial 'Puchna' dominates. If you use 'Prashna karna' in a very casual setting, you might sound slightly stiff or overly formal, similar to saying 'I shall now commence my inquiry' instead of 'I'm gonna ask' in English. However, for a learner, using it correctly in formal settings will earn you significant respect and show your dedication to the nuances of the language. It shows you have moved beyond the basics and are engaging with the 'Shuddh' (pure) or 'Manak' (standard) form of Hindi.

The most common mistake learners make with प्रश्न करना is confusing it with 'Saval Puchna'. While they mean the same thing, 'Prashna' is almost never paired with 'Puchna' in standard Hindi, and 'Saval' is almost never paired with 'Karna'. You say 'Prashna karna' or 'Saval puchna'. Combining them as 'Prashna puchna' is technically understandable and even used by some native speakers in casual settings, but it is considered poor style in formal writing. Another major error involves the postposition. English speakers often forget the 'se' and say 'Maine usko prashna kiya', which sounds awkward. It should be 'Maine usse prashna kiya'. The 'se' indicates the source of the answer or the person being addressed in the inquiry.

Verb Pairing

Incorrect: Saval karna. Correct: Saval puchna. Incorrect: Prashna puchna. Correct: Prashna karna.

Gender Agreement

Mistake: Usne prashna ki. Correction: Usne prashna kiya (Prashna is masculine).

Another mistake is using 'Prashna karna' when you actually mean 'to doubt' (shak karna). While questioning can imply doubt, 'Prashna karna' is about the act of asking, while 'Shak karna' is about the feeling of suspicion. If you want to say 'I doubt his story', you should use 'Mujhe uski kahani par shak hai' rather than 'Main uski kahani par prashna karta hoon' unless you are specifically interrogating the details of the story. Finally, pay attention to the level of formality. Using 'Prashna karna' with a toddler might sound funny to native speakers; in that context, 'Beta, kuch puchna hai?' is much more natural. Learning when *not* to use the word is just as important as learning when to use it. Beginners often over-formalize their speech, and this word is a prime candidate for that mistake. Practice using it in role-plays of interviews or classroom settings to get the 'feel' for its appropriate register.

Hindi has a rich vocabulary for the act of asking, and choosing the right word depends entirely on the context. The most direct alternative to प्रश्न करना is 'सवाल पूछना' (savāl pūchnā). 'Saval' is of Arabic origin and is the standard word in Urdu and colloquial Hindi. It is warm, common, and versatile. If you are with friends or family, 'Saval' is your go-to word. Another alternative is 'पूछताछ करना' (pūchtāchh karnā), which means 'to interrogate' or 'to inquire' in a more investigative sense. You hear this when the police are involved. Then there is 'जिज्ञासा प्रकट करना' (jigyāsā prakaṭ karnā), which means 'to express curiosity'. This is very formal and poetic, used when someone is genuinely seeking knowledge out of a deep desire to learn.

सवाल पूछना (Saval Puchna)

Common, everyday usage. Suitable for all informal and many semi-formal situations.

पूछताछ करना (Puchtach Karna)

Investigation or inquiry. Often used by authorities or in administrative contexts.

प्रश्न उठाना (Prashna Uthana)

To raise a question or an objection. Used in debates and social critiques.

In academic writing, you might also see 'प्रश्नावली' (prashnāvalī), which means 'questionnaire'. If you are challenging someone's authority, you might use 'चुनौती देना' (chunautī denā - to challenge), which is a stronger form of questioning. For English speakers, it's helpful to think of 'Prashna karna' as 'to inquire' and 'Saval puchna' as 'to ask'. Just as you wouldn't say 'I have an inquiry for you' to a friend at a bar, you wouldn't use 'Prashna' there either. However, in a job interview, 'May I inquire about the salary?' maps perfectly to 'क्या मैं वेतन के बारे में प्रश्न कर सकता हूँ?'. Mastering these synonyms allows you to navigate different social strata in India with ease and confidence.