زشت

خلفية ثقافية

'Zeshte!' is perhaps the most common word a child hears. It is used to instill a sense of 'shame' (sharm) and social awareness from a very young age. In the complex world of Ta'arof, 'zesht' is the ultimate deterrent. People will go to great lengths to avoid doing something that could be labeled 'zesht,' such as being the first to start eating at a party. Persian poetry often contrasts 'zesht' with 'ziba' (beautiful) to discuss the struggle between the ego and the soul. What is 'zesht' is often associated with the material world. The term 'fosh-e zesht' (ugly swear words) is used to describe the toxicity sometimes found in online comments, which is a major topic of social discussion in modern Iran.