آب خوش از گلویش پایین نمیرود
ab khosh az gloysh payyn nmyrod
Sweet water doesn't go down his throat
المعنى
Someone is constantly unhappy, anxious, or unable to enjoy anything.
خلفية ثقافية
Water is considered 'light' (roshana'i) in Iranian culture. Spilling water behind someone who is going on a journey is a tradition to ensure their safe return. Therefore, the inability to swallow water is a very dark omen or sign of extreme misery. Classical poets like Saadi and Hafez often used the imagery of the throat and water to describe the plight of the lover or the oppressed. The proverb is a distilled version of centuries of poetic metaphors. In modern Tehran, this phrase is frequently used to complain about the 'sholughi' (chaos) and 'ezterab' (anxiety) of city life, especially regarding the economy. During the month of Muharram, the theme of thirst and water becomes very prominent. While this proverb is secular, the emotional weight of 'water not reaching the throat' has a subconscious religious resonance for many.
Use it for Empathy
This is a great phrase to show you understand the depth of someone's struggle. It sounds more heartfelt than just saying 'I'm sorry you're stressed.'
Don't be Literal
If someone actually has a sore throat, do not use this phrase. They will think you are being overly dramatic about a minor cold.
المعنى
Someone is constantly unhappy, anxious, or unable to enjoy anything.
Use it for Empathy
This is a great phrase to show you understand the depth of someone's struggle. It sounds more heartfelt than just saying 'I'm sorry you're stressed.'
Don't be Literal
If someone actually has a sore throat, do not use this phrase. They will think you are being overly dramatic about a minor cold.
The Causative Trick
Use 'نمیگذارند...' (They don't let...) to blame a specific person or situation for someone's lack of peace. It's a very common way to complain about a boss or a government.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
از وقتی برادرم به سفر رفته، مادرم نگران است و آب خوش از ________ پایین نمیرود.
The subject is 'مادرم' (my mother), so we need the 3rd person singular possessive suffix '-ash' on 'galu'.
Which situation best fits the use of this proverb?
In which scenario would you say 'آب خوش از گلویم پایین نمیرود'?
The proverb is used for high-stress, anxious situations where peace is impossible.
Complete the dialogue.
شخص الف: چرا اینقدر پریشانی؟ شخص ب: ________
Person B is explaining their distress (exam stress) using the proverb.
Match the person to their feeling.
Match: 1. A person in debt, 2. A person who won the lottery, 3. A person who lost their job.
Debt and job loss are causes of distress, whereas winning the lottery is usually a cause for joy.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Register Differences
بنك التمارين
4 تماريناز وقتی برادرم به سفر رفته، مادرم نگران است و آب خوش از ________ پایین نمیرود.
The subject is 'مادرم' (my mother), so we need the 3rd person singular possessive suffix '-ash' on 'galu'.
In which scenario would you say 'آب خوش از گلویم پایین نمیرود'?
The proverb is used for high-stress, anxious situations where peace is impossible.
شخص الف: چرا اینقدر پریشانی؟ شخص ب: ________
Person B is explaining their distress (exam stress) using the proverb.
Match: 1. A person in debt, 2. A person who won the lottery, 3. A person who lost their job.
Debt and job loss are causes of distress, whereas winning the lottery is usually a cause for joy.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةYes, it is very common in journalism and literature to describe the suffering of people or characters.
Absolutely. 'آب خوش از گلویم پایین نمیرود' is a common way to express personal anxiety.
There isn't a direct 'positive' version of this proverb, but you could say 'با خیال راحت زندگی کردن' (living with a comfortable mind).
Yes, the idiom is fixed with 'آب خوش' (pleasant water). You cannot change it to 'bread' or 'juice'.
No, it is not rude. It is a standard, slightly poetic way to describe sadness or stress.
Yes, 'آب خوش از گلویش پایین نرفت' means he/she *didn't* have peace during a specific past period.
Mostly, yes. It's for things like debt, illness, or major life stress, not for losing your keys.
It's pronounced Ga-loo-yash. The 'y' is important for smooth pronunciation.
Sometimes people just say 'آب خوش از گلوم پایین نمیره' in casual speech.
Yes, just change the suffix: 'آب خوش از گلویمان (our) / گلویشان (their) پایین نمیرود'.
عبارات ذات صلة
کوفتش شد
similarIt became like a blow/misery to him (usually about a meal or event).
دماغش سوخت
contrastHis nose burned (he was disappointed/embarrassed).
خون جگر خوردن
builds onTo eat the blood of one's own liver (to suffer immensely).
یک روز خوش نداشتن
synonymTo not have a single happy day.
