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A2 noun #2,500 am häufigsten 6 Min. Lesezeit

گناه

gonah
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At the A1 level, 'Gonāh' is a word you might hear in very simple emotional contexts. It is best understood as 'a bad thing' or 'something that makes you feel sorry for someone.' You don't need to worry about the complex religious theology yet. Just remember that if someone says 'Gonāh dāre,' they are feeling sorry for a person or an animal. For example, if a small bird is cold, you say 'Gonāh dāre.' It's like saying 'Poor thing!' in English. You might also learn it as the opposite of 'khub' (good) in a very basic moral sense.
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At the A2 level, you start using 'Gonāh' to describe simple wrong actions. You learn the verb 'Gonāh kardan' (to do a sin/wrong). You can use it to talk about lying or being mean. You also begin to see it in simple stories or news where someone did something wrong. You should be able to distinguish between 'Gonāh' (a moral wrong) and 'Eshtebāh' (a simple mistake like a typo). You also learn that 'Gonāh-e man nist' means 'It is not my fault,' though 'Taqsir-e man nist' is more common for accidents.
At the B1 level, you explore the religious and social weight of the word. You understand that 'Gonāh' is a key concept in Iranian culture and Islam. You learn about 'Gonāh-e bozorg' (big sin). You can participate in basic discussions about what is considered right and wrong in different cultures. You also start to recognize the word in Persian music and pop culture, where singers often talk about the 'sin' of falling in love or the 'guilt' of leaving someone. You are comfortable with the plural 'Gonāhān' and 'Gonāh-hā'.
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At the B2 level, you understand the nuance between 'Gonāh' (sin), 'Jorm' (crime), and 'Taqsir' (fault). You can use the word in more complex sentences, such as 'He was overwhelmed by guilt' (Ghargh-e ehsās-e gonāh bud). You understand the use of 'Gonāh' in more formal or literary contexts, such as news reports about moral issues or debates about ethics. You can also use the word metaphorically, such as 'the sin of silence' in the face of injustice. You are aware of the cultural implication of 'Savāb' as the counterpart to 'Gonāh'.
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At the C1 level, you delve into the philosophical and literary depths of 'Gonāh.' You can analyze how classical poets like Hafez use the word to subvert traditional morality. You understand the theological distinctions between different types of sins in Islamic jurisprudence. You can discuss the concept of 'original sin' (which is different in Islam compared to Christianity) and how the word 'Gonāh' is used in philosophical translations. You are sensitive to the register of the word, knowing when to use 'Ma'siyat' for a more formal or religious tone.
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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'Gonāh' in all its forms. You can engage in high-level academic or theological debates about the nature of sin, free will, and divine justice. You understand the etymological roots of the word (from Middle Persian 'wināh') and its historical evolution. You can interpret complex legal texts where 'Gonāh' might appear in an archaic sense. You are also able to use the word with subtle irony or in complex wordplay in your own writing and speaking, reflecting a deep cultural integration.
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گناه in 30 Sekunden

  • Gonāh means 'sin' or 'guilt' in Persian.
  • Used religiously for moral wrongs and socially to express pity.
  • Commonly paired with 'kardan' (to sin) or 'dāshtan' (to be pitiful).
  • Distinguished from 'Jorm' (legal crime) and 'Taqsir' (accidental fault).

The Persian word گناه (Gonāh) is a multifaceted noun that primarily translates to 'sin' in a religious context, but extends to 'guilt,' 'fault,' or 'wrongdoing' in secular and everyday conversation. At its core, it represents a deviation from a moral, divine, or legal path. In the Persian-speaking world, the concept is deeply intertwined with both Islamic theology and pre-Islamic Zoroastrian ethics, where the struggle between good (Asha) and lie/wrong (Druj) was central. When you use this word, you are often pointing to an action that carries a weight of moral responsibility or a consequence that requires forgiveness or atonement.

Theological Dimension
In a religious sense, it refers to acts that violate the commands of God. It is categorized into 'Kabireh' (major) and 'Saghireh' (minor) sins.
Social & Legal Dimension
In older texts or specific legal contexts, it can mean a crime or a transgression against the social order, though 'jorm' is more common for modern legal crimes.
Emotional Dimension
It often describes the feeling of guilt. Saying 'I have a sin' (گناه دارم) can colloquially mean 'I am innocent/pitiful' or 'It's a pity for me,' depending on the context.
«دروغ گفتن یک گناه بزرگ است.»
— Translation: Lying is a great sin.

Understanding Gonāh requires recognizing that it isn't always about fire and brimstone. In daily life, if someone says 'Gonāh dārad' (He/She has sin), they are often expressing pity. For example, seeing a hungry cat on the street might prompt a Persian speaker to say 'Gonāh dārad,' meaning 'It’s a shame/pity to leave it like this.' This shift from 'transgression' to 'evoking pity' is a crucial linguistic nuance for learners.

«او احساس گناه می‌کرد چون به قولش عمل نکرد.»
— Translation: He felt guilty because he didn't keep his promise.

Using گناه correctly involves mastering its common verb pairings and understanding the shift between literal and figurative meanings. The most common verb is کردن (kardan), meaning 'to commit a sin.' However, when talking about the feeling of guilt, we use احساس گناه کردن.

Common Verb Collocations
  • گناه کردن: To sin / To commit a wrong.
  • بخشیدن گناه: To forgive a sin.
  • پاک شدن از گناه: To be cleansed of sin.
  • مرتکب گناه شدن: To commit/perpetrate a sin (more formal).
«خداوند همه گناهان را می‌بخشد.»
— Translation: God forgives all sins.

In casual conversation, the phrase گناه داشتن (Gonāh dāshtan) is essential. While it literally means 'to have sin,' it is almost always used to mean 'to be deserving of pity' or 'to be innocent/unlucky.' If a child falls down, a grandmother might say 'Elāhi, gonāh dāre!' (Oh my, poor thing!). This is a high-frequency idiom that marks a natural speaker.

«این بچه چه گناهی کرده که باید گرسنه بماند؟»
— Translation: What sin has this child committed that they must stay hungry? (Used to express injustice).

You will encounter گناه in three primary spheres: religious settings, classical literature, and daily empathetic expressions. In a mosque or during a religious sermon (Rozheh), the word is central to discussions about morality, the afterlife, and repentance (Towbeh). Preachers will often list various 'Gonāhān' to warn the congregation.

In Classical Poetry
Persian poets like Hafez and Rumi often use 'Gonāh' paradoxically. Hafez might speak of the 'sin' of drinking wine as a path to spiritual purity, challenging the orthodox definition of the word.
In Modern Media
In Iranian cinema and TV dramas, 'Gonāh' is a recurring theme, often focusing on social guilt, secrets, and the consequences of past mistakes.
«در اشعار حافظ، گاهی گناه به معنای رندی و آزادی است.»
— Translation: In Hafez's poems, sin sometimes means cleverness and freedom.

In the street, you'll hear it in the context of 'Nazar-e Gonāh' (a sinful look), referring to looking at someone with lustful intent, or in the very common phrase 'Gonāhesh pāye khodet' (Its sin is on your feet/neck), which means 'The responsibility/consequence of this act lies solely with you.'

The most frequent mistake for learners is confusing گناه with جرم (Jorm). While both involve doing something wrong, Jorm is a legal term (crime) punishable by the state, whereas Gonāh is a moral or religious term (sin) punishable by divine law or conscience. You wouldn't say 'Stealing is a sin' in a courtroom; you would say 'Stealing is a crime.'

Mistake 1: Literal Translation of 'It's a sin'
English speakers say 'It's a sin to waste food' as a figure of speech. In Persian, saying 'Ghazā dour rikhtan gonāh ast' is much more literal and carries a stronger religious weight.
Mistake 2: Misusing 'Gonāh dāram'
If you say 'Man gonāh dāram' thinking it means 'I have committed a sin,' you are wrong. It actually means 'I am a poor/pitiful person' or 'I am innocent.' To say 'I sinned,' use 'Man gonāh kardam.'
«اشتباه: من گناه دارم (به معنی: من گناه کردم).»
— Correct: 'Man gonāh kardam' for 'I sinned'.

Another nuance is the word تقصیر (Taqsir). If you break a vase, it's your Taqsir (fault), not necessarily a Gonāh (sin). Use Gonāh for moral transgressions and Taqsir for mistakes or being the cause of an accident.

Persian has a rich vocabulary for 'wrongdoing,' each with a specific flavor. معصیت (Ma'siyat) is the closest synonym to Gonāh but is even more strictly religious and formal. It is rarely used in casual conversation and is found mostly in Islamic texts.

خطا (Khatā)
Means 'error' or 'mistake.' It is less heavy than 'Gonāh.' If you make a mistake in a math problem, it's a 'Khatā,' not a 'Gonāh.'
بزه (Bezeh)
A formal, somewhat archaic word for 'crime' or 'offense,' often used in legal or sociological contexts (e.g., 'Bezehkāri' for delinquency).
نافرمانی (Nāfarmāni)
Literally 'disobedience.' Often used to describe the act of sinning as a form of disobeying God's command.
«هر خطایی گناه نیست، اما هر گناهی یک نوع خطا است.»
— Translation: Not every error is a sin, but every sin is a type of error.

Finally, پلیدی (Palidi) refers to 'filth' or 'wickedness' in a moral sense. While Gonāh is the act, Palidi is the state of being impure or evil that results from or leads to such acts.

How Formal Is It?

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Compound Verbs (Gonāh kardan)

Ezafe construction (Ehsās-e gonāh)

Pluralization of nouns ending in 'h'

Relative clauses with 'ke'

Subjunctive mood after 'nabāyad'

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Beispiele nach Niveau

1

این گربه گرسنه است، گناه دارد.

This cat is hungry, it's a pity.

Gonāh dārad here means 'it's a pity'.

2

دروغ گفتن گناه است.

Lying is a sin.

Simple Subject + Predicate.

3

او گناه نکرد.

He did not sin.

Negative past tense of 'Gonāh kardan'.

4

گناه من چیست؟

What is my sin/fault?

Possessive 'man' after 'Gonāh'.

5

بچه‌ها گناه دارند، با آن‌ها مهربان باش.

Children are innocent, be kind to them.

Plural subject with 'Gonāh dārand'.

6

این کار گناه بزرگی است.

This act is a big sin.

Adjective 'bozorg' modifying 'Gonāh'.

7

خدا گناهان را می‌بخشد.

God forgives sins.

Plural 'Gonāhān' as a direct object.

8

او احساس گناه می‌کند.

He feels guilty.

Present continuous of 'Ehsās-e gonāh kardan'.

1

من نمی‌خواستم گناه کنم.

I didn't want to sin.

Infinitive construction with 'khāstan'.

2

آیا سیگار کشیدن گناه است؟

Is smoking a sin?

Question form.

3

او به خاطر گناهش عذرخواهی کرد.

He apologized for his sin/wrongdoing.

Preposition 'be khāter-e' (because of).

4

ما نباید گناه دیگران را بشوییم.

We shouldn't wash (judge/take on) others' sins.

Modal 'nabāyad' (should not).

5

این یک گناه کوچک است.

This is a small sin.

Adjective 'kuchek' (small).

6

او همیشه از گناه می‌ترسد.

He is always afraid of sin.

Verb 'tarsidan' with preposition 'az'.

7

گناه او فقط راستگویی بود.

His only sin was telling the truth.

Ironical use of 'Gonāh'.

8

در این فیلم، قهرمان گناهکار است.

In this movie, the hero is a sinner/guilty.

Adjective 'Gonāhkār' (sinner).

1

او برای بخشش گناهانش به مسجد رفت.

He went to the mosque for the forgiveness of his sins.

Compound noun 'bakhshesh-e gonāhān'.

2

احساس گناه می‌تواند انسان را بیمار کند.

Feeling of guilt can make a person sick.

Subject is a noun phrase 'Ehsās-e gonāh'.

3

او سعی کرد گناه خود را پنهان کند.

He tried to hide his sin.

Infinitive 'panhān kardan'.

4

آیا هر اشتباهی یک گناه محسوب می‌شود؟

Is every mistake considered a sin?

Passive-like construction 'mahsub shodan'.

5

او از گناهان گذشته‌اش توبه کرد.

He repented for his past sins.

Verb 'Towbeh kardan' (to repent).

6

گناه کردن در تنهایی آسان‌تر است.

Sinning in loneliness is easier.

Comparative 'āsāntar'.

7

او فکر می‌کرد که تمام زندگی‌اش گناه بوده است.

He thought his whole life had been a sin.

Past perfect 'budeh ast'.

8

جامعه نباید فرد گناهکار را طرد کند.

Society should not reject the guilty person.

Negative modal 'nabāyad'.

1

او مدام خودش را به خاطر گناهی که نکرده بود سرزنش می‌کرد.

He constantly blamed himself for a sin he hadn't committed.

Relative clause 'ke nakarde bud'.

2

در بسیاری از ادیان، تکبر بزرگترین گناه است.

In many religions, pride is the greatest sin.

Superlative 'bozorgtarin'.

3

او با اعتراف به گناهش، سبک شد.

By confessing his sin, he felt relieved (light).

Gerund-like 'bā e'terāf'.

4

نویسنده در این کتاب به مفهوم گناه و جزا می‌پردازد.

The author deals with the concept of sin and punishment in this book.

Verb 'pardākhtan be' (to deal with/address).

5

آیا می‌توان گناه را با پول پاک کرد؟

Can sin be cleansed with money?

Passive potential 'mitavān... pāk kard'.

6

او در میان گناه و ثواب سرگردان بود.

He was wandering between sin and merit.

Prepositional phrase 'miyān-e... va...'.

7

احساس گناه جمعی پس از جنگ در کشور حاکم بود.

A sense of collective guilt prevailed in the country after the war.

Adjective 'jam'i' (collective).

8

او معتقد بود که سکوت در برابر ظلم، خود یک گناه است.

He believed that silence in the face of oppression is itself a sin.

Emphatic 'khod' (itself).

1

حافظ با ظرافتی بی‌نظیر، مرز میان گناه و طاعت را به چالش می‌کشد.

Hafez, with unique subtlety, challenges the boundary between sin and obedience.

Complex sentence with literary vocabulary.

2

مفهوم گناه در فلسفه اگزیستانسیالیسم با مفهوم مسئولیت گره خورده است.

The concept of sin in existentialist philosophy is tied to the concept of responsibility.

Passive 'gereh khorde ast'.

3

او در جستجوی راهی برای تطهیر از گناهان نیاکانش بود.

He was searching for a way to purify himself from the sins of his ancestors.

Formal word 'tathir' (purification).

4

برخی معتقدند که گناه، تنها یک قرارداد اجتماعی برای کنترل توده‌هاست.

Some believe that sin is merely a social contract to control the masses.

Contraction 'tudeh-hāst' (is the masses).

5

در الهیات، تفاوت ظریفی میان گناه ذاتی و گناه فعلی وجود دارد.

In theology, there is a subtle difference between original (innate) sin and actual sin.

Technical theological terms.

6

او با ارتکاب این گناه، تمام پل‌های پشت سرش را خراب کرد.

By committing this sin, he burned all his bridges.

Idiomatic expression 'pol-hā-ye posht-e sar'.

7

ادبیات کلاسیک ایران سرشار از ناله و زاری برای بخشایش گناهان است.

Classical Iranian literature is full of moaning and wailing for the forgiveness of sins.

Compound phrase 'nāleh va zāri'.

8

او مدعی بود که در دنیای مدرن، گناه معنای سنتی خود را از دست داده است.

He claimed that in the modern world, sin has lost its traditional meaning.

Present perfect 'az dast dāde ast'.

1

واکاوی روان‌شناختی احساس گناه نشان می‌دهد که این حس ریشه در سوپرایگو دارد.

Psychological analysis of guilt shows that this feeling is rooted in the superego.

Academic/Scientific register.

2

جدال میان عقل و شرع در تعریف مصادیق گناه، همواره موضوعی چالش‌برانگیز بوده است.

The conflict between reason and religious law in defining instances of sin has always been a challenging topic.

Complex noun phrases 'jadāl miyān-e...'.

3

او در رساله‌اش به بررسی تطبیقی مفهوم گناه در آیین زرتشت و اسلام می‌پردازد.

In his treatise, he conducts a comparative study of the concept of sin in Zoroastrianism and Islam.

Formal academic 'barresi-ye tatbiqi'.

4

استحاله مفهوم گناه به جرم در جوامع سکولار، پیامدهای حقوقی گسترده‌ای داشته است.

The transformation of the concept of sin into crime in secular societies has had extensive legal consequences.

Advanced vocabulary 'estahāleh' (transformation).

5

او با نگاهی ساختارگرایانه، گناه را به مثابه یک دال در نظام نشانه‌شناسی مذهبی تحلیل کرد.

With a structuralist view, he analyzed sin as a signifier in the system of religious semiotics.

Highly technical linguistic/philosophical terms.

6

تقابل میان 'گناه نخستین' در مسیحیت و 'فطرت پاک' در اسلام، بن‌مایه بسیاری از مناظرات کلامی است.

The contrast between 'original sin' in Christianity and 'pure nature' (Fitra) in Islam is the theme of many theological debates.

Theological contrast 'taqābol miyān-e...'.

7

او در اشعارش، گناه را نه به عنوان یک لغزش، بلکه به عنوان ضرورتی برای کمال انسانی ترسیم می‌کند.

In his poems, he portrays sin not as a slip, but as a necessity for human perfection.

Contrastive 'na be onvān-e... balke...'.

8

پیچیدگی‌های هرمنوتیک در تفسیر متون مقدس، راه را برای برداشت‌های گوناگون از مفهوم گناه گشوده است.

Hermeneutic complexities in interpreting sacred texts have opened the way for various perceptions of the concept of sin.

Advanced academic 'pichidegi-hā-ye hermeneutik'.

Häufige Kollokationen

گناه کبیره (Major sin)
گناه صغیره (Minor sin)
احساس گناه (Feeling of guilt)
مرتکب گناه شدن (To commit a sin)
آلوده به گناه (Stained with sin)
بخشش گناهان (Forgiveness of sins)
اعتراف به گناه (Confession of sin)
پاک شدن از گناه (Cleansing from sin)
بار گناه (Burden of sin)
کفاره گناه (Atonement for sin)

Häufige Phrasen

گناه دارد (It's a pity / Poor thing)
گناهش پای خودش (The sin/responsibility is theirs)
مگر چه گناهی کردم؟ (What sin did I commit? - used when complaining about bad luck)
گناه کسی را شستن (To backbite or judge someone wrongly)
بی‌گناه (Innocent)
گناهکار (Sinner / Guilty)
گردن گرفتن گناه (To take the blame)
دوری از گناه (Avoiding sin)
گناه نابخشودنی (Unforgivable sin)
به گناه افتادن (To fall into sin)

Wird oft verwechselt mit

گناه vs جرم (Jorm)

Jorm is legal/secular; Gonāh is moral/religious.

گناه vs تقصیر (Taqsir)

Taqsir is fault/blame for an error; Gonāh is a moral transgression.

گناه vs اشتباه (Eshtebāh)

Eshtebāh is a simple mistake/error without moral weight.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"گناهش به گردن من (The sin/blame be on my neck/me)"
"گناه نکرده (Without having done anything wrong)"
"یک گناه و صد ثواب (One sin and a hundred merits - used for a 'good' bad deed)"
"گناهش پای من (I'll take the responsibility)"
"گناه کسی را پای دیگری نوشتن (To blame someone for another's fault)"
"غرق در گناه (Drowned in sin)"
"گناه از در و دیوار می‌بارد (Sin is raining from the doors and walls - very sinful environment)"
"گناهش را نشستن (Not to judge/backbite)"
"بی‌گناه پای دار رفتن (The innocent going to the gallows - extreme injustice)"
"گناه کردن و توبه نکردن (Sinning and not repenting)"

Leicht verwechselbar

گناه vs

گناه vs

گناه vs

گناه vs

گناه vs

Satzmuster

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So verwendest du es

nuance

The word 'Gonāh' is much more common in Persian than 'Sin' is in secular English conversations.

social aspect

Accusing someone of 'Gonāh' is a heavy moral judgment.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using 'Gonāh' for a typo.
  • Saying 'Man gonāh dāram' to mean 'I sinned'.
  • Confusing 'Gonāh' with 'Savāb'.
  • Using 'Jorm' when talking to God.
  • Forgetting the 'h' at the end.

Tipps

Empathy

Use 'Gonāh dāre' to show you are a kind and empathetic person.

Compound Verbs

Always remember 'Gonāh' takes 'kardan' to form the verb 'to sin'.

Synonyms

Use 'Ma'siyat' if you want to sound very formal or religious.

The 'H'

Don't drop the final 'h' in formal speech; it's part of the root.

Fault

Use 'Taqsir' for accidents like breaking a glass.

Poetry

Look for 'Gonāh' in Hafez's poems to see its paradoxical use.

Judgment

Be careful not to label people as 'Gonāhkār' lightly.

Colloquialism

In Tehran, 'Gonāh' is sometimes pronounced very quickly.

Plurals

Use 'Gonāhān' for religious topics.

Mnemonic

Associate 'Gonāh' with 'Guilt'—both start with G.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Go-Nah' -> 'Go' away from 'Nah' (No/Bad things). Or 'Gonāh' sounds like 'Gone-Ah!' (My goodness is gone because of this sin).

Wortherkunft

Middle Persian (Pahlavi)

Kultureller Kontext

Used by Sufi poets to describe the 'sin' of the ego.

Avoid saying 'You are a sinner' (To gonāhkāri) as it is extremely offensive.

Central to the concept of the Day of Judgment (Ma'ād).

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"آیا به نظر شما دروغ مصلحتی گناه است؟ (Do you think a white lie is a sin?)"

"در فرهنگ شما، بزرگترین گناه چیست؟ (In your culture, what is the greatest sin?)"

"چطور می‌توانیم احساس گناه را از خود دور کنیم؟ (How can we remove the feeling of guilt from ourselves?)"

"آیا فکر می‌کنید حیوانات هم گناه می‌کنند؟ (Do you think animals sin too?)"

"معنی عبارت 'گناه دارد' در این جمله چیست؟ (What does 'Gonāh dārad' mean in this sentence?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

درباره زمانی بنویسید که احساس گناه کردید. (Write about a time you felt guilty.)

آیا گناه و جرم همیشه یکی هستند؟ (Are sin and crime always the same?)

نقش بخشش در پاک کردن گناهان چیست؟ (What is the role of forgiveness in cleansing sins?)

چگونه مفهوم گناه در طول تاریخ تغییر کرده است؟ (How has the concept of sin changed throughout history?)

تفاوت گناه در ادیان مختلف را بررسی کنید. (Examine the difference of sin in different religions.)

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No, it usually means 'I am pitiful' or 'I am innocent.' To say 'I sinned,' use 'Gonāh kardam'.

No, it is used very commonly in secular contexts to express empathy or guilt.

The most common opposite is 'Savāb' (spiritual merit).

No, use 'Eshtebāh' or 'Khatā' for that.

You can say 'Gonāhkār' or 'Moqasser' (at fault).

Yes, in a religious context, it is very strong. In a social context, 'Gonāh dārad' is gentle.

They are called 'Gonāhān-e Kabireh'.

In modern Persian, 'Jorm' is preferred for crime, but 'Gonāh' can be used poetically or archaically.

No, it is of Persian origin (Middle Persian 'wināh').

You say 'Bi-gonāh'.

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