Bedeutung
To die or to ignore
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Estirtu' (delivering news of death) often avoids the word 'died' and uses 'passed from the world' or 'closed eyes' to soften the blow to the family. Journalists use 'көз жұму' to criticize the government's 'blindness' to social inequality, making it a key word in political activism. While Kazakhs are predominantly Muslim, the phrase 'көз жұму' coexists with Islamic terms like 'қайтыс болу' (returning to God), showing the blend of nomadic and Islamic traditions. Younger people are expected not to 'close their eyes' to the needs of the elderly, but elders might 'close their eyes' to the small mistakes of the youth out of wisdom.
Context is King
Always ensure the context makes it clear whether you mean 'death' or 'ignoring' to avoid scaring your friends!
Condolences
When someone tells you a relative 'көз жұмды', the best response is 'Иманды болсын' or 'Жатқан жері жайлы болсын'.
Bedeutung
To die or to ignore
Context is King
Always ensure the context makes it clear whether you mean 'death' or 'ignoring' to avoid scaring your friends!
Condolences
When someone tells you a relative 'көз жұмды', the best response is 'Иманды болсын' or 'Жатқан жері жайлы болсын'.
Respect the Elderly
Using this phrase for elders shows you respect Kazakh traditions of linguistic politeness.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct meaning for the sentence: 'Атам тоқсан жасында көз жұмды.'
What happened to the grandfather?
In the context of age (90 years old), 'көз жұмды' is the standard euphemism for passing away.
Fill in the blank with the correct case ending: 'Ол менің қатеме көз ______.'
He ignored my mistake.
The idiom is 'көз жұму'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: A politician is ignoring the high prices in the market.
'Көз жұму' describes the act of ignoring a social issue.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Президент халыққа көңіл айтты ма? B: Иә, ол кісінің ______ байланысты көңіл айтты.
When a president offers condolences, it is due to someone's 'passing away' (көз жұмуына).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Death Euphemisms in Kazakh
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenWhat happened to the grandfather?
In the context of age (90 years old), 'көз жұмды' is the standard euphemism for passing away.
He ignored my mistake.
The idiom is 'көз жұму'.
Situation: A politician is ignoring the high prices in the market.
'Көз жұму' describes the act of ignoring a social issue.
A: Президент халыққа көңіл айтты ма? B: Иә, ол кісінің ______ байланысты көңіл айтты.
When a president offers condolences, it is due to someone's 'passing away' (көз жұмуына).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's considered disrespectful to use human euphemisms for animals in Kazakh. Use 'өліп қалды' instead.
Yes, if you are informing colleagues about the passing of a partner, it is the most appropriate phrase.
Usually, yes. It implies you are ignoring something that *should* be addressed.
You would say 'Мен көзімді жұмып жатырмын.' The possessive 'көзімді' makes it more literal.
'Қайтыс болу' is the standard word for death. 'Көз жұму' is more poetic and descriptive.
Very often! Kazakh songs about parents or lost love frequently use this phrase.
Yes, you can say 'Мен өз қатеме көз жұмдым' (I ignored my own mistake).
It is formal when meaning death, and neutral/formal when meaning ignoring.
Yes: 'Ол бұған көз жұмады' (He will ignore this).
Younger people might use 'игнор', but 'көз жұму' is understood by everyone.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Дүниеден өту
synonymTo pass from the world
Қайтыс болу
synonymTo return (to God)
Елемеу
synonymTo ignore
Көз ашу
contrastTo open eyes / to become enlightened
Саусақ арасынан қарау
similarTo look through fingers
Жан тапсыру
similarTo give up the soul
