Bedeutung
To be the victim of a prank, joke, or deception; to be tricked by someone.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of 'Zerangi' (cleverness) often involves being the one who puts others 'sar-e kār' rather than being the victim. It's a social game of wits. In the fast-paced life of Tehran, 'sar-e kāri' is used to describe the frustration with traffic, bureaucracy, and broken promises. Younger generations use 'Istgāh' (Station) more than 'Sar-e kāri' to sound cooler and more modern. On the 13th day of the Persian New Year, it is culturally expected to be put 'sar-e kār' at least once.
The 'i' is the key
Adding the 'i' at the end of 'kār' (making it kāri) almost always signals the figurative 'prank' meaning rather than the literal 'work' meaning.
Tone Matters
If you say it with a smile, it's a joke. If you say it with a frown, you're accusing someone of being a liar.
Bedeutung
To be the victim of a prank, joke, or deception; to be tricked by someone.
The 'i' is the key
Adding the 'i' at the end of 'kār' (making it kāri) almost always signals the figurative 'prank' meaning rather than the literal 'work' meaning.
Tone Matters
If you say it with a smile, it's a joke. If you say it with a frown, you're accusing someone of being a liar.
Ta'arof vs. Sar-e kāri
If someone offers you something three times and then doesn't give it, it wasn't 'sar-e kāri', it was just 'Ta'arof' gone wrong!
Teste dich selbst
Which situation best describes 'sar-e kāri'?
علی به مریم گفت که در حیاط یک گنج پیدا کرده است، اما وقتی مریم رفت، علی خندید و گفت هیچ گنجی نیست.
Maryam is the one who was tricked into going to the yard, so she is 'sar-e kār'.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
تو واقعاً فکر کردی من بهت پول میدم؟ داشتم تو رو سر کار ........ !
'Sar-e kār gozāshtan' is the active form meaning 'to trick someone'.
Match the phrase to the context.
Match: 1. Literal 'At work' | 2. Slang 'Pranked'
Context A mentions a company (sherkat), while B mentions a fake prize.
What would the second speaker say?
شخص اول: شنیدی قراره به همه آیفون مجانی بدن؟ شخص دوم: .........
The idea of a free iPhone is a classic 'too good to be true' situation, likely a prank or scam.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenعلی به مریم گفت که در حیاط یک گنج پیدا کرده است، اما وقتی مریم رفت، علی خندید و گفت هیچ گنجی نیست.
Maryam is the one who was tricked into going to the yard, so she is 'sar-e kār'.
تو واقعاً فکر کردی من بهت پول میدم؟ داشتم تو رو سر کار ........ !
'Sar-e kār gozāshtan' is the active form meaning 'to trick someone'.
Match: 1. Literal 'At work' | 2. Slang 'Pranked'
Context A mentions a company (sherkat), while B mentions a fake prize.
شخص اول: شنیدی قراره به همه آیفون مجانی بدن؟ شخص دوم: .........
The idea of a free iPhone is a classic 'too good to be true' situation, likely a prank or scam.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot inherently, but it's very informal. It's like saying 'Are you bullsh*tting me?' in some contexts, so use it with friends.
Yes! 'In sāyt sar-e kāriye' (This website is a fake/scam).
There isn't a direct slang opposite, but 'vaghe'i' (real) or 'jaddi' (serious) are used.
Say 'Sar-e kār budam' or 'Sar-e kāram gozāshtan'.
Rarely in formal literature, but very common in modern novels and plays.
Yes, parents often say it when playing with their kids.
No! That is 'bikār'. 'Sar-e kār' is the opposite of being unemployed literally.
No, lying is 'dorugh'. 'Sar-e kāri' is the *situation* created by a lie or prank.
Yes, if the ending makes the whole plot feel pointless, you can say 'Film-e sar-e kāri bud'.
Yes, it is universally understood across all Persian-speaking regions.
Verwandte Redewendungen
دست انداختن
synonymTo pull someone's leg
ایستگاه کردن
synonymTo prank (Gen-Z slang)
فیلم کردن
similarTo play someone like a movie
سر کار رفتن
contrastTo actually go to work
پیچاندن
relatedTo ditch or evade someone
