At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'khireh shodan' is a special way of looking. Think of it as 'looking very much.' While you usually use 'negah kardan' (to look), you use 'khireh shodan' when your eyes stay in one place. You must remember to use the word 'be' (to) after it. For example, 'Man be mah khireh shodam' (I stared at the moon). It is a compound verb, which means it has two parts. The first part 'khireh' stays the same, and the second part 'shodan' changes like 'shodam', 'shodi', 'shod'. Don't worry about the deep meanings yet; just use it when you want to say someone is looking at something for a long time without moving their eyes.
As an A2 learner, you should start using 'khireh shodan' to describe reactions. If you see something beautiful or strange, you don't just look; you 'khireh' at it. You should be able to conjugate it in the simple past and present. For instance, 'Chera be man khireh shodi?' (Why did you stare at me?). You should also know that 'khireh' means 'fixed' or 'dazzled.' This helps you remember that the verb describes a gaze that is stuck. Practice using it with simple objects like 'the TV,' 'a photo,' or 'a person.' Also, notice that in Persian, we don't say 'I stared him,' we say 'I became stared TO him.' This 'be' is very important for your grammar scores.
At the B1 level, you are expected to understand the nuance between 'khireh shodan' and its informal counterpart 'zol zadan.' You should use 'khireh shodan' in your writing and formal speaking. You can now use it in more complex tenses, such as the past continuous ('khireh shodeh boodam') to describe what you were doing when something else happened. You should also understand that this verb can imply emotions like wonder, shock, or being lost in thought. For example, 'He was staring at the sea, thinking about his life.' This level requires you to use the verb naturally in stories or when describing a scene in detail, moving beyond just simple subject-verb-object sentences.
At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with the metaphorical and literary uses of 'khireh shodan.' You might encounter it in news reports or literature where it describes a collective focus, such as 'The eyes of the world are staring at this election.' You should also be able to distinguish it from 'khireh kardan' (to dazzle/blind). For example, 'The bright light dazzled my eyes' versus 'I stared at the light.' You should also start using adverbs to modify the stare, like 'khireh shodan-e toolani' (long staring) or 'khireh shodan-e ba deghat' (staring carefully). Your understanding of the social implications—when it is polite or rude to stare in Iranian culture—should also be developing.
At the C1 level, you should have a deep grasp of the etymological roots and the poetic weight of 'khireh shodan.' You can use it to discuss complex psychological states or artistic themes. You should be able to recognize it in classical poetry where it might signify spiritual intoxication or total focus on the Divine. You should also be familiar with related idiomatic expressions like 'cheshm khireh mandan' (to die or be in total shock). Your use of the verb should be flawless in terms of register, choosing between the formal 'khireh shodan' and the poetic 'cheshm dookhtan' or the clinical 'nezareh kardan' depending on the context of your discourse.
At the C2 level, you are a master of the verb's nuances. You understand its role in the history of the Persian language and how its usage has evolved. You can use it in academic writing to describe visual perception or in creative writing to evoke specific moods. You are aware of the subtle differences between 'khireh shodan' and other verbs of vision like 'varandaz kardan' (sizing up) or 'esteregh-e sam' (eavesdropping, but for the eyes). You can use the verb to create complex imagery and understand its psychological underpinnings in Persian prose. You can also explain to others why 'khireh' is used in specific compound adjectives or related forms in old Persian texts.

خیره شدن in 30 Sekunden

  • A Persian compound verb meaning to stare or gaze intently at something, often due to surprise or deep thought.
  • Grammatically requires the preposition 'be' (to) and uses 'shodan' as its auxiliary component for conjugation.
  • Commonly used in literature to describe wonder and in daily life to caution against rude staring.
  • Distinguished from 'zol zadan' (informal/rude) and 'khireh kardan' (to dazzle or blind someone).

The Persian verb خیره شدن (khireh shodan) is a compound verb that translates most directly to 'to gaze,' 'to stare,' or 'to look intently.' In the Persian linguistic landscape, it conveys a sense of visual fixation that goes beyond a simple glance. While the basic verb for 'to look' is نگاه کردن (negah kardan), خیره شدن implies a duration and intensity that suggests wonder, shock, deep thought, or sometimes even social impropriety. It is categorized as a B1 level word because while it is common, it requires an understanding of compound verb structures and the specific emotional nuances it carries in different social contexts.

Core Concept
The act of holding one's gaze fixed on a single point or person without blinking or turning away, often driven by an internal emotional state like admiration or disbelief.

In daily Persian life, you might use this word when describing someone captivated by a beautiful sunset or someone who is lost in thought, staring into space. However, it is also used to describe the act of 'staring' in a way that might be considered rude. In Iranian culture, which values modesty and polite social boundaries (Ta'arof), خیره شدن to a stranger can be seen as intrusive. Therefore, the word carries a weight of intentionality. It isn't just seeing; it is the active commitment of the eyes to an object.

او به عکس قدیمی مادرش خیره شد و آه کشید.

(He stared at his mother's old photo and sighed.)
Grammatical Structure
It consists of the adjective 'خیره' (khireh - fixed/dazzled) and the auxiliary verb 'شدن' (shodan - to become). It always takes the preposition 'به' (be) to indicate what is being stared at.

When you are 'khireh,' you are essentially 'becoming fixed.' This etymological root helps learners understand why the eyes don't move. In a modern context, you might hear a parent telling a child, 'به مردم خیره نشو' (Don't stare at people), emphasizing the social etiquette surrounding visual attention. Conversely, in a scientific context, it could describe an astronomer gazing at stars. The versatility of the word across formal and informal registers makes it a vital addition to any intermediate learner's vocabulary.

دانشمند به میکروسکوپ خیره شده بود تا سلول‌ها را ببیند.

(The scientist was staring into the microscope to see the cells.)
Emotional Nuance
It often implies a state of being 'dazzled' or 'stunned.' If something is too bright or too shocking, your gaze becomes 'khireh' as a physical reaction to the intensity of the stimulus.

Mastering خیره شدن requires focusing on the preposition به (be). In English, we 'stare at' something; in Persian, the structure is identical. The verb follows the standard conjugation patterns for compound verbs where only the second part (شدن) changes according to tense, person, and number. For example, in the present continuous, it becomes دارم خیره می‌شوم, and in the simple past, خیره شدم.

Transitive Usage
Subject + به + Object + خیره + (Conjugated Shodan). Example: من به دریا خیره شدم (I stared at the sea).

One of the most common ways this verb appears is in the past continuous tense to set a scene in a story. 'او ساعت‌ها به پنجره خیره شده بود' (He had been staring at the window for hours). This creates a sense of melancholy or deep contemplation. It is also used in the negative imperative to correct behavior: 'خیره نشو!' (Don't stare!). This is a short, sharp command used frequently in social settings where someone's gaze has lingered too long on another person.

بچه‌ها با تعجب به شعبده‌باز خیره شدند.

(The children stared at the magician with surprise.)

When using the verb in more formal or literary contexts, you might see it combined with adverbs of manner. For instance, 'خیره شدن با دقت' (to stare with precision/carefully) or 'خیره شدن از سر ترس' (to stare out of fear). The verb can also be used metaphorically. One can 'stare at a problem' (به مشکل خیره شدن), meaning to focus intensely on finding a solution, although this is less common than the literal physical act.

Common Tenses
Present: خیره می‌شوم (I stare); Past: خیره شدم (I stared); Perfect: خیره شده‌ام (I have stared).

چرا به من این‌طور خیره شده‌ای؟

(Why are you staring at me like this?)

In complex sentences, خیره شدن can be the primary action that leads to another. 'آنقدر به خورشید خیره شد که چشم‌هایش سوخت' (He stared at the sun so much that his eyes burned). Here, the verb establishes the cause. In Persian, the word order is flexible, but the 'be' (preposition) almost always immediately precedes the object of the gaze.

You will encounter خیره شدن in a variety of environments, ranging from the high-brow atmosphere of a Tehran art gallery to the casual chatter of a family dinner. In literature, especially classical Persian poetry, the concept of being 'khireh' is often associated with the 'eyewitness' of divine beauty. Poets like Hafez or Rumi might describe a soul staring at the light of truth. In modern Iranian cinema, directors often use long, silent shots where characters are 'khireh' to the horizon, symbolizing a longing for a better future or reflection on the past.

In Modern Media
News anchors might use it when discussing a public reaction to a major event: 'همه جهان به این اتفاق خیره شده است' (The whole world is staring/focused on this event).

In everyday speech, the informal version زل زدن (zol zadan) is more common when talking to friends. If you say 'خیره شدن' in a very casual setting, it might sound slightly poetic or formal. However, in written Persian—such as novels, news articles, and formal emails—خیره شدن is the standard. If you are watching a Persian drama, pay attention to scenes of romantic tension; the dialogue will often skip words, but the stage directions would describe the actors as 'khireh' to each other.

در نمایشگاه، مردم به تابلوهای مدرن خیره شده بودند.

(In the exhibition, people were staring at the modern paintings.)

Psychologically, the word is used in Persian translations of medical or psychological texts to describe 'the male gaze' or 'fixed gaze' in clinical observations. It's a word that bridges the gap between the physical act of seeing and the internal state of the mind. Whether it's a child staring at a toy shop window or a philosopher staring at the stars, خیره شدن captures that moment of total visual absorption.

او به افق خیره شد و به آینده فکر کرد.

(He stared at the horizon and thought about the future.)

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers learning Persian is the omission of the preposition به (be). In English, we can sometimes 'gaze something' (though rare), but in Persian, you must always gaze *to* something. Saying 'من او را خیره شدم' (I stared him) is grammatically incorrect; it must be 'من به او خیره شدم'. This is a fundamental rule of Persian compound verbs that take specific prepositions.

Preposition Error
Incorrect: به کتاب خیره کرد (He stared the book). Correct: به کتاب خیره شد (He stared at the book). Note that 'shodan' is the auxiliary, not 'kardan'.

Another mistake is confusing خیره شدن with خیره کردن. While they look similar, خیره کردن (khireh kardan) is transitive and means 'to dazzle' or 'to make someone else's eyes fixated.' For example, 'نور خورشید چشمم را خیره کرد' (The sunlight dazzled my eyes). Learners often use 'kardan' when they mean they themselves are doing the staring. Remember: you *become* (shodan) staring, you don't *do* (kardan) staring.

اشتباه: من به عکس خیره کردم. درست: من به عکس خیره شدم.

(Wrong: I 'did' stare at the photo. Right: I 'became' staring at the photo.)

Learners also struggle with the register. Using خیره شدن in a very slangy, street-level conversation might make you sound like you're reading from a book. In those cases, the term زل زدن (zol zadan) is much more appropriate. However, using زل زدن in a formal essay would be considered too colloquial. Distinguishing between these two is key to sounding like a native speaker.

Register Confusion
Formal: خیره شدن (Khireh shodan). Informal: زل زدن (Zol zadan). Use the former for writing and the latter for chatting with friends.

چرا داری به من زل می‌زنی؟

(Informal: Why are you staring/gawking at me?)

Persian is rich with verbs related to vision. Understanding the subtle differences between them will elevate your fluency. While خیره شدن is the standard for 'staring,' there are several alternatives depending on the intensity, duration, and purpose of the gaze.

نگاه کردن (Negah Kardan)
The most general term. It just means 'to look.' It doesn't imply any specific duration or intensity.
زل زدن (Zol Zadan)
The informal equivalent of 'khireh shodan.' It often carries a slightly negative connotation, like 'gawking' or staring rudely.
تماشا کردن (Tamasha Kardan)
To watch or observe. Usually used for movies, landscapes, or performances where there is something active to see.

In literary Persian, you might encounter چشم دوختن (cheshm dookhtan), which literally means 'to sew the eyes.' This is a very poetic way of saying someone is staring intently or waiting expectantly for something. It's even more intense than خیره شدن. Another sophisticated alternative is نظاره کردن (nezareh kardan), which means 'to behold' or 'to contemplate,' often used in a philosophical or artistic context.

او به جاده چشم دوخته بود تا ماشین پدرش را ببیند.

(Literary: He had his eyes 'sewn' to the road to see his father's car.)

Finally, consider برانداز کردن (barandaz kardan), which means 'to look someone up and down' or 'to size someone up.' This is a specific type of staring used when evaluating someone's appearance or status. While خیره شدن can be accidental or out of wonder, برانداز کردن is always intentional and often critical.

زن با دقت لباس‌های او را برانداز کرد.

(The woman carefully sized up his clothes.)

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The root 'khireh' is also the basis for 'khireh-sar', which means 'stubborn'. This is because a stubborn person's head is 'fixed' or 'stuck' on one idea, just like a staring eye is stuck on one object.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /xiː.ɾe ʃo.dæn/
US /xiː.reɪ ʃoʊ.dæn/
The primary stress is on the first syllable of the second word: sho-DAN. In the first word, the stress is on the first syllable: KHI-reh.
Reimt sich auf
تیره شدن (tireh shodan) چیره شدن (chireh shodan) خیره شدن (khireh shodan) دیره (direh) شیره (shireh) زیره (zireh) گیره (gireh) خمیره (khamireh)
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing 'kh' as a simple 'k'. It needs to be raspy.
  • Making the 'h' at the end of 'khireh' too loud; it should be soft.
  • Missing the 'o' sound in 'shodan' and making it sound like 'shudan'.
  • Stress on the 'khireh' part instead of the 'shodan' part in the full verb.
  • Pronouncing 'shodan' like the English word 'show-dan'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Easy to recognize in texts but requires understanding compound verb structures.

Schreiben 4/5

Requires remembering the preposition 'be' and correct 'shodan' conjugation.

Sprechen 3/5

The 'kh' sound can be tricky for beginners, but the word is common.

Hören 3/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to hear in conversation.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

نگاه کردن (to look) شدن (to become) چشم (eye) به (to/at) دیدن (to see)

Als Nächstes lernen

خیره کننده (dazzling) تماشا کردن (to watch) زل زدن (to stare - informal) برانداز کردن (to size up) چشم دوختن (to fix eyes)

Fortgeschritten

نظاره‌گر (observer) مبهوت (stunned) بصیرت (insight) چشم‌انداز (perspective/outlook) دیدگاه (viewpoint)

Wichtige Grammatik

Compound Verb Conjugation

In 'خیره شدن', only 'شدن' changes: خیره می‌شوم, خیره شدم, خیره بشو.

Prepositional Requirement

Always use 'به' (be) for the object of the stare: به او خیره شد.

Past Continuous Formation

داشت + [شناسه] + خیره می‌شد: داشت به من خیره می‌شد.

Subjunctive Mood

باید به او خیره بشوم (I must stare at him).

Negative Imperative

The 'ن' (na) goes before 'shodan': خیره نشو!

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

من به گربه خیره شدم.

I stared at the cat.

Simple past tense: khireh + shodam.

2

او به گل خیره شد.

He/she stared at the flower.

Third person singular: khireh + shod.

3

ما به ماه خیره شدیم.

We stared at the moon.

First person plural: khireh + shodim.

4

آن‌ها به آب خیره شدند.

They stared at the water.

Third person plural: khireh + shodand.

5

به من خیره نشو.

Don't stare at me.

Negative imperative: khireh + nasho.

6

بچه به اسباب‌بازی خیره شد.

The child stared at the toy.

Subject (bache) + preposition (be) + object.

7

من همیشه به ستاره‌ها خیره می‌شوم.

I always stare at the stars.

Present habitual: mi + shavam.

8

چرا به دیوار خیره شده‌ای؟

Why are you staring at the wall?

Present perfect: shodeh-i.

1

او با تعجب به من خیره شد.

He stared at me with surprise.

Adverbial phrase 'ba ta'ajob' (with surprise).

2

سارا به عکس قدیمی خیره شده است.

Sara has stared at the old photo.

Present perfect tense.

3

ما نباید به غریبه‌ها خیره شویم.

We shouldn't stare at strangers.

Modal 'nabayad' + subjunctive 'shovim'.

4

گربه به پرنده خیره شده بود.

The cat had been staring at the bird.

Past perfect tense.

5

وقتی او را دیدم، خیره شدم.

When I saw him, I stared.

Temporal clause 'vaghti...'.

6

او به چشم‌های من خیره شد.

He stared into my eyes.

Preposition 'be' used for 'into'.

7

همه به کیک تولد خیره شدند.

Everyone stared at the birthday cake.

Collective subject 'hameh'.

8

او ساعت‌ها به دریا خیره می‌شد.

He used to stare at the sea for hours.

Past habitual tense.

1

او بدون اینکه حرفی بزند، به زمین خیره شد.

Without saying a word, he stared at the ground.

Conjunction 'bedoon-e inkeh' (without).

2

مردم به ساختمان در حال سوختن خیره شده بودند.

People were staring at the burning building.

Past continuous/perfect state.

3

او به نقشه خیره شد تا راه را پیدا کند.

He stared at the map to find the way.

Purpose clause 'ta... konad'.

4

چرا به این تابلوی عجیب خیره شده‌ای؟

Why are you staring at this strange painting?

Interrogative with present perfect.

5

او به افق خیره شد و آهی کشید.

He stared at the horizon and sighed.

Compound sentence with 'va' (and).

6

بچه‌ها با کنجکاوی به تلویزیون خیره می‌شوند.

Children stare at the TV with curiosity.

Adverbial 'ba konjkavi'.

7

او به آینه خیره شد و خودش را برانداز کرد.

He stared in the mirror and sized himself up.

Use of two verbs of vision.

8

خیره شدن به خورشید برای چشم ضرر دارد.

Staring at the sun is harmful to the eyes.

Gerund/Infinitive as subject.

1

او آنقدر به صفحه مانیتور خیره شد که سردرد گرفت.

He stared at the monitor so much that he got a headache.

Result clause 'anghadr... keh'.

2

پلیس به متهم خیره شد تا حقیقت را بفهمد.

The police stared at the suspect to find the truth.

Intentional action description.

3

او به فضای خالی خیره شده و در فکر فرو رفته بود.

He was staring into empty space and was lost in thought.

Passive/State construction 'dar fekr foroo rafteh'.

4

گردشگران به عظمت تخت جمشید خیره ماندند.

The tourists remained staring at the majesty of Persepolis.

Use of 'khireh mandan' for continuous state.

5

او به جای جواب دادن، فقط به من خیره شد.

Instead of answering, he just stared at me.

Prepositional phrase 'be jay-e'.

6

چشم‌هایش از ترس به در خیره شده بود.

His eyes were fixed on the door out of fear.

Metonymy: eyes as the subject.

7

او به شعله‌های آتش خیره شد و خاطراتش را مرور کرد.

He stared at the flames and reviewed his memories.

Narrative past.

8

نباید به معلولیت دیگران خیره شد.

One should not stare at others' disabilities.

Impersonal 'nabayad'.

1

فیلسوف به اعماق وجود خویش خیره گشت.

The philosopher gazed into the depths of his own being.

Formal 'gashtan' instead of 'shodan'.

2

او با نگاهی نافذ به چشمان رقیبش خیره شد.

He stared into his rival's eyes with a piercing gaze.

Complex noun phrase 'negahi-ye nafez'.

3

جهان به پیشرفت‌های سریع تکنولوژی خیره شده است.

The world is staring at the rapid advances in technology.

Metaphorical/Abstract subject.

4

او به نقطه‌ای نامعلوم در دوردست خیره شده بود.

He was staring at an unknown point in the distance.

Advanced descriptive adjectives.

5

شاعر به زیبایی بی حد و حصر معشوق خیره ماند.

The poet remained dazzled by the boundless beauty of the beloved.

Literary 'bi had va hasr'.

6

او به متن قدیمی خیره شد تا رمز آن را بگشاید.

He stared at the ancient text to unlock its code.

Formal verb 'goshayand'.

7

خیره شدن به ابدیت، بن‌مایه بسیاری از اشعار اوست.

Gazing at eternity is the motif of many of his poems.

Gerund as a thematic subject.

8

او مبهوت و خیره به صحنه جنایت نگریست.

He looked at the crime scene, stunned and staring.

Double adjectives 'mabhoot va khireh'.

1

در آن لحظه استعلایی، او به حقیقت مطلق خیره گشت.

In that transcendental moment, he gazed upon the absolute truth.

Philosophical terminology 'este'laayi'.

2

چشمان مرگ‌زده‌اش به سقف خیره مانده بود.

His death-stricken eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.

Compound adjective 'marg-zadeh'.

3

او به مغاک تنهایی خویش خیره شد.

He stared into the abyss of his own loneliness.

Metaphorical 'maghak' (abyss).

4

تاریخ به جنایات هولناک بشری خیره شده است.

History stands staring at the horrific crimes of humanity.

Personification of 'Tarikh'.

5

او با نگاهی حاکی از انزجار به دشمنش خیره شد.

He stared at his enemy with a gaze indicative of loathing.

Formal 'haki az' (indicative of).

6

خیره شدن به انوار الهی، غایت سلوک عرفانی است.

Gazing at divine lights is the ultimate goal of the mystical journey.

Sufi terminology 'solook-e erfani'.

7

او به تضادهای درونی جامعه خیره گشته بود.

He had become focused on the internal contradictions of society.

Sociological context.

8

نگاهش به افق‌های دوردست و دست‌نیافتنی خیره ماند.

His gaze remained fixed on distant and unreachable horizons.

Abstract adjectives.

Häufige Kollokationen

خیره شدن به افق
خیره شدن با تعجب
خیره شدن به چشمان
خیره شدن به مانیتور
خیره شدن به نقطه ای
خیره شدن از سر ترس
خیره شدن به عکس
خیره شدن به آینده
خیره شدن بی هدف
خیره شدن به منظره

Häufige Phrasen

خیره ماندن چشم

— When eyes stay fixed, often referring to a person who has died or is in deep shock.

چشمانش به سقف خیره ماند.

خیره به دیوار

— Staring at the wall; usually implies being depressed or very bored.

تمام روز خیره به دیوار بود.

خیره به راه

— Staring at the path; waiting for someone to arrive.

مادر خیره به راه بود تا پسرش بیاید.

خیره به دهان کسی

— Staring at someone's mouth; waiting intensely for them to speak or agree.

همه خیره به دهان رئیس بودند.

خیره به فضا

— Staring into space; being lost in thought.

او خیره به فضا بود و متوجه من نشد.

خیره به نور

— Staring at light; often used when someone is dazzled.

به نور مستقیم خیره نشو.

خیره به صفحه

— Staring at a page or screen; focused reading or working.

ساعت‌ها به صفحه کتاب خیره شد.

خیره به آینه

— Staring in the mirror; self-reflection or vanity.

او به آینه خیره شد تا موهایش را درست کند.

خیره به حقیقت

— Facing the truth intensely.

او به حقیقت تلخ خیره شد.

خیره به ابدیت

— Gazing at eternity; a common poetic theme.

عارف به ابدیت خیره گشت.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

خیره شدن vs خیره کردن

This means 'to dazzle' (transitive). You dazzle someone else's eyes. 'Khireh shodan' is something you do yourself.

خیره شدن vs نگاه کردن

A general look. 'Khireh shodan' is much more intense and longer in duration.

خیره شدن vs دیدن

To see (involuntary). 'Khireh shodan' is an active, intentional stare.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"چشم خیره کردن"

— To dazzle someone or to make them stare in amazement.

زیبایی‌اش چشم‌ها را خیره می‌کرد.

Formal/Literary
"خیره ماندن به چیزی"

— To be unable to look away due to shock or wonder.

او به آن همه ثروت خیره ماند.

Neutral
"نگاه خیره"

— A fixed or piercing gaze.

نگاه خیره او مرا ترساند.

Neutral
"خیره سری"

— Stubbornness or being headstrong (related to the root 'khireh' as fixed/unyielding).

خیره سری او باعث مشکلات زیادی شد.

Neutral/Formal
"بهت و خیرگی"

— A state of being stunned and staring.

او در بهت و خیرگی فرو رفت.

Formal
"خیره به در ماندن"

— To wait longingly for someone's return.

پیرزن سال‌ها خیره به در ماند.

Literary
"خیره شدن به خورشید با الک"

— Trying to hide something obvious (similar to 'covering the sun with a sieve').

نمی‌توانی با دروغ به خورشید خیره شوی.

Idiomatic/Rare
"خیره شدن به پوچی"

— Staring at nothingness; existential dread.

او به پوچی زندگی‌اش خیره شد.

Philosophical
"خیره شدن به چشم مرگ"

— To face death bravely or directly.

سرباز به چشم مرگ خیره شد.

Literary
"خیره شدن به گوی بلورین"

— Trying to predict the future.

او به گوی بلورین خیره شد تا آینده را ببیند.

Metaphorical

Leicht verwechselbar

خیره شدن vs خیره کننده

It's the adjective form.

It describes something that makes you stare (dazzling), while 'khireh shodan' is the act of staring.

منظره خیره کننده بود و من به آن خیره شدم.

خیره شدن vs خیره سر

Uses the same root 'khireh'.

It means stubborn, not related to the act of looking.

او پسر خیره سری است.

خیره شدن vs تیره

Sounds similar (tireh vs khireh).

Tireh means dark or gloomy. Khireh means staring.

در آن شب تیره، او به ستاره‌ها خیره شد.

خیره شدن vs چیره

Sounds similar (chireh vs khireh).

Chireh means dominant or victorious.

او بر ترس خود چیره شد.

خیره شدن vs خیره ماندن

Very close in meaning.

Khireh shodan is the action of starting to stare; khireh mandan is the state of continuing to stare.

او برای دقایقی خیره ماند.

Satzmuster

A1

[Subject] به [Noun] خیره شد.

علی به کتاب خیره شد.

A2

[Subject] با [Emotion] به [Noun] خیره شد.

مریم با خوشحالی به هدیه خیره شد.

B1

[Subject] داشت به [Noun] خیره می‌شد که [Action].

من داشتم به پنجره خیره می‌شدم که باران گرفت.

B2

آنقدر به [Noun] خیره شد که [Result].

آنقدر به خورشید خیره شد که چشمش درد گرفت.

C1

[Subject] مبهوت و خیره به [Noun] نگریست.

او مبهوت و خیره به دریای طوفانی نگریست.

C2

خیره شدن به [Abstract Concept]، [Predicate].

خیره شدن به اعماق تاریخ، بصیرت می‌بخشد.

B1

نباید به [Noun] خیره شد.

نباید به اشتباهات دیگران خیره شد.

A2

چرا به [Noun] خیره شده‌ای؟

چرا به من خیره شده‌ای؟

Wortfamilie

Substantive

خیرگی (khiregi - staring/dazzlement)
خیره سری (khireh-sari - stubbornness)

Verben

خیره کردن (khireh kardan - to dazzle)
خیره گشتن (khireh gashtan - formal to stare)

Adjektive

خیره (khireh - staring/fixed)
خیره کننده (khireh-konandeh - dazzling/stunning)

Verwandt

نگاه (negah)
چشم (cheshm)
بصیرت (basirat)
منظره (manzareh)
تماشا (tamasha)

So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in both written and spoken Persian, though the informal 'zol zadan' is more frequent in daily street speech.

Häufige Fehler
  • من او را خیره شدم. من به او خیره شدم.

    You must use the preposition 'be' (to/at). 'Khireh shodan' is intransitive in this sense.

  • او به من خیره کرد. او به من خیره شد.

    The auxiliary verb is 'shodan' (to become), not 'kardan' (to do). 'Khireh kardan' means to dazzle someone else.

  • من دارم فیلم را خیره می‌شوم. من دارم فیلم را تماشا می‌کنم.

    Use 'tamasha kardan' for watching movies. 'Khireh shodan' is for a fixed stare, not following a narrative.

  • خورشید چشمم را خیره شد. خورشید چشمم را خیره کرد.

    When something else (like the sun) makes your eyes dazzled, use the transitive 'kardan'.

  • او زل شد. او زل زد.

    The informal synonym 'zol' uses 'zadan' as its auxiliary, not 'shodan'.

Tipps

The 'Be' Rule

Always remember the preposition 'be'. Without it, the sentence feels incomplete to a native ear. Think of it as 'staring TO' instead of 'staring AT'.

The Soft 'H'

The 'h' at the end of 'khireh' is a 'he-ye jami', which is pronounced softly. Don't drop it completely, but don't overemphasize it either.

Formal vs Informal

Use 'khireh shodan' in your Persian class or when writing an essay. Use 'zol zadan' when you're hanging out with Persian friends.

Social Cues

In Iran, if you find yourself 'khireh' to someone, it's polite to quickly look away and perhaps offer a small nod or 'salaam' if caught, to break the tension.

Not for 'Watching'

Remember: 'khireh shodan' is static. If the thing you are looking at is moving and you are following it, use 'tamasha kardan' or 'donbal kardan' with your eyes.

Stubborn Eyes

Connect 'khireh' (staring) with 'khireh-sar' (stubborn). Both involve being 'stuck'—one with eyes, one with the head/mind.

Descriptive Power

In stories, use 'khireh shodan' to show, not tell. Instead of saying a character is 'shocked', describe them as 'khireh' to the news.

Auxiliary Verbs

Focus on the 'shodan' part. Persian has many compound verbs with 'shodan'. Identifying 'khireh' as the specific adjective will help you decode the meaning.

The 'Key' to Staring

Imagine a 'Key' turning in your eye, locking it in place. 'Key-reh' (Khireh) means your gaze is locked.

Emphasizing Intensity

You can repeat the word for emphasis: 'khireh-khireh negah kardan' means to stare very, very intently.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Khireh' as 'Key-Ray'. If you lock your eyes (Key) on a Ray of light, you are 'khireh shodan'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a bright light bulb. When you look at it, your eyes get stuck or 'khireh'. Or imagine a cat staring at a goldfish bowl.

Word Web

Eyes Fixed Stare Dazzle Shock Wonder Preposition: Be Auxiliary: Shodan

Herausforderung

Try to use 'khireh shodan' three times today: once for something beautiful, once for something shocking, and once to tell someone not to stare.

Wortherkunft

The word 'khireh' comes from Middle Persian (Pahlavi) 'hīrag', meaning stunned, dazzled, or confused. It is linked to the concept of being overwhelmed by light or emotion.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To be dazzled or blinded by light, which evolved into the act of staring fixedly.

Indo-European -> Indo-Iranian -> Iranian -> Persian

Kultureller Kontext

Avoid staring at people in public transport in Iran, as it can be interpreted as aggressive or overly curious.

English speakers use 'stare' which can be neutral or rude. 'Khireh shodan' is similar but has a stronger literary connection to 'wonder'.

The concept of 'Khiregi' in the works of Sadegh Hedayat. Classical poems by Saadi about gazing at the moon. The 'fixed gaze' in Iranian New Wave cinema (e.g., Abbas Kiarostami).

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Art Gallery

  • به تابلو خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن به جزئیات
  • با تحسین خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن به رنگ‌ها

Nature/Travel

  • به دریا خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن به کوه‌ها
  • به غروب خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن به جاده

Social Settings

  • به مردم خیره نشو
  • خیره شدن به غریبه‌ها
  • با تعجب خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن به لباس کسی

Work/Study

  • به مانیتور خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن به کتاب
  • به تخته خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن به کدها

Emotions

  • از ترس خیره شدن
  • با عشق خیره شدن
  • خیره شدن از روی خشم
  • با اندوه خیره شدن

Gesprächseinstiege

"آیا تا به حال به ستاره‌ها خیره شده‌ای و به خدا فکر کرده‌ای؟"

"چرا بعضی‌ها در مترو به بقیه خیره می‌شوند؟"

"وقتی به یک تابلوی نقاشی خیره می‌شوی، چه احساسی داری؟"

"آیا می‌توانی برای مدت طولانی به یک نقطه خیره شوی بدون اینکه پلک بزنی؟"

"بهترین منظره‌ای که تا به حال به آن خیره شده‌ای کجا بوده است؟"

Tagebuch-Impulse

امروز به چه چیزی خیره شدی که باعث شد متوقف شوی و فکر کنی؟

تفاوت بین نگاه کردن معمولی و خیره شدن را در زندگی خود توصیف کنید.

اگر می‌توانستی برای همیشه به یک منظره خیره شوی، آن منظره چه بود؟

درباره زمانی بنویسید که کسی به شما خیره شده بود و شما احساس عجیبی داشتید.

چگونه خیره شدن به طبیعت می‌تواند به آرامش ذهن کمک کند؟

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Not necessarily. It depends on the context. Staring at a beautiful landscape or a painting is perfectly fine and often implies admiration. However, staring at a person, especially a stranger, is generally considered rude in Iranian culture, much like in many other cultures. Use it carefully when referring to people.

'Khireh shodan' is the standard and more formal way to say 'to stare.' 'Zol zadan' is very informal and is used in casual conversation. 'Zol zadan' also has a slightly more negative nuance, often implying a rude or mindless gawk.

Usually, no. For movies or shows, 'tamasha kardan' (to watch) is used. 'Khireh shodan' would imply you are staring at the screen itself (perhaps in shock) rather than following the story of the movie.

Yes, usually you stare *at* something. Even if the object is not mentioned, it is implied. Grammatically, it almost always takes the preposition 'be'.

You can use 'khireh shodam' if you mean your eyes became fixed due to light, but often 'cheshmam khireh shod' (my eye became dazzled) or 'khireh shodam' in a passive sense is used. 'Khireh konandeh' is the adjective for 'dazzling'.

Yes, it is very common in both classical and modern poetry to describe wonder, spiritual intoxication, or being captivated by the beauty of the beloved.

Yes, you can say 'gorbeh be moosh khireh shod' (the cat stared at the mouse). It is used for any living being that can look.

The present stem is 'khireh sho'. You use this to form the present tense (khireh mi-shavam) and the imperative (khireh sho!).

Yes, usually in the context of looking in a mirror: 'be khodash dar ayeneh khireh shod'.

You would say 'Zol nazan!' (زل نزن). 'Khireh nasho' is a bit more formal but still understood.

Teste dich selbst 200 Fragen

writing

Write a sentence in Persian saying 'I stared at the sea for an hour.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate to Persian: 'Why are you staring at that old photo?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Use 'khireh shodan' and 'ba ta'ajob' (with surprise) in one sentence.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a formal sentence about a scientist staring at a microscope.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'Don't stare at the sun; it's bad for your eyes.'

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe a person lost in thought using 'khireh be faza'.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a poetic sentence about staring at the moon.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'The world is staring at the new technology.'

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Make a question asking 'At what are you staring?'

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Use the negative imperative 'khireh nasho' in a social context.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'He stared at the map to find the way.'

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe a cat staring at a bird.

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writing

Translate: 'His eyes remained fixed on the door.'

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writing

Write a sentence using 'khireh shodan' in the past continuous tense.

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writing

Translate: 'I have never stared at anyone like this.'

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writing

Write a sentence about a child staring at a toy shop window.

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writing

Translate: 'The philosopher gazed into the depths of history.'

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writing

Use 'mabhoot' and 'khireh' in a sentence about a magic show.

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writing

Translate: 'Why did you stare at me so rudely?'

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writing

Write a sentence about staring at a fire in winter.

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speaking

Pronounce the word 'خیره شدن' correctly.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Don't stare at me' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Ask a friend 'Why are you staring at the wall?'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Explain the difference between 'khireh shodan' and 'zol zadan' in Persian (simple).

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Describe a beautiful sunset you stared at.

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speaking

Tell someone 'Don't stare at the sun.'

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say 'I stared at him with surprise.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Read this sentence aloud: 'او به عکس‌های قدیمی خیره شده بود.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Use the word in a sentence about an art gallery.

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speaking

Talk about a time you were lost in thought (khireh be faza).

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'The child stared at the cat.'

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speaking

Say 'We were staring at the moon.'

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speaking

Ask 'At what are they staring?'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say 'I stared at the map to find the way.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say 'His eyes remained fixed on the horizon.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say 'Don't stare at people in the subway.'

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Say 'I have been staring at this problem for hours.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'The scientist gazed at the stars.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'She stared at me without saying anything.'

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speaking

Say 'Staring at nature is relaxing.'

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen to: 'او به من خیره شد.' What did he do?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'به خورشید خیره نشو.' What is the advice?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'چرا به آن عکس خیره شده‌ای؟' What is the speaker asking about?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'او با تعجب به ساختمان خیره شده بود.' How was he staring?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'چشمانش به در خیره ماند.' What happened to his eyes?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'نباید به معلولیت دیگران خیره شد.' What should we not stare at?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'او به اعماق وجودش خیره گشت.' Who is being described?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'بچه به اسباب‌بازی خیره شد.' Who is the subject?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'ما به ستاره‌ها خیره شدیم.' What were they looking at?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'آنقدر به مانیتور خیره شد که سردرد گرفت.' What was the result?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'او خیره به فضا بود.' What was his state?

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'خیره شدن به دریا آرامش می‌دهد.' What gives peace?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'او مبهوت به صحنه خیره شد.' What is the first word?

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'به من زل نزن!' Is this formal or informal?

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

Listen to: 'او به افق خیره شد.' Where did he look?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

/ 200 correct

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