B2 Idiom Formal

أعمى البصر والبصيرة

a'ma albasar walbasirah

Blind physically and insightfully

Significado

Lacking both physical sight and understanding or discernment.

🌍

Contexto cultural

The phrase is deeply tied to the Quranic view that the 'heart' sees more than the 'eye'. Spiritual blindness is considered a greater tragedy than physical blindness. Blind poets like Al-Ma'arri used this concept to claim they saw the 'truth' of the world better than those with sight. Journalists use this phrase to criticize 'political blindness' in the Middle East, especially regarding regional conflicts. In Sufi mysticism, 'Basira' is the goal of the spiritual path—to see the divine reality behind the physical veil.

🎯

Use for Impact

Save this phrase for the conclusion of an essay or a dramatic moment in a speech to maximize its rhetorical weight.

⚠️

Gender Matters

Remember to change 'A'ma' to 'Amya' (عمياء) when talking about a woman, or you will sound ungrammatical.

Significado

Lacking both physical sight and understanding or discernment.

🎯

Use for Impact

Save this phrase for the conclusion of an essay or a dramatic moment in a speech to maximize its rhetorical weight.

⚠️

Gender Matters

Remember to change 'A'ma' to 'Amya' (عمياء) when talking about a woman, or you will sound ungrammatical.

💬

Respect the Blind

In modern Arabic, 'Kafif' (كفيف) or 'Faqid al-basar' are preferred for physical blindness. Use 'A'ma' primarily for this idiom or in classical contexts.

Ponte a prueba

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.

الرجل الذي يظلم الناس هو شخص أعمى ___ والبصيرة.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: البصر

The standard idiom uses 'al-basar' (البصر) to pair with 'al-basira'.

Which of these best describes 'Basira'?

ما هو معنى 'البصيرة' في هذا السياق؟

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: الحكمة والفهم العميق

Basira refers to wisdom and deep understanding, not physical sight.

Match the situation to the phrase.

A politician ignores the suffering of the poor while claiming the economy is perfect.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: أعمى البصر والبصيرة

This situation perfectly illustrates a lack of both physical awareness and moral insight.

Choose the best response.

أحمد: 'لماذا خسر التاجر كل أمواله؟' سارة: 'لأنه كان...'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: أعمى البصر والبصيرة عن تقلبات السوق

The idiom explains his failure to see and understand the market.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom. Fill Blank B1

الرجل الذي يظلم الناس هو شخص أعمى ___ والبصيرة.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: البصر

The standard idiom uses 'al-basar' (البصر) to pair with 'al-basira'.

Which of these best describes 'Basira'? Choose B2

ما هو معنى 'البصيرة' في هذا السياق؟

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: الحكمة والفهم العميق

Basira refers to wisdom and deep understanding, not physical sight.

Match the situation to the phrase. situation_matching B2

A politician ignores the suffering of the poor while claiming the economy is perfect.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: أعمى البصر والبصيرة

This situation perfectly illustrates a lack of both physical awareness and moral insight.

Choose the best response. dialogue_completion B2

أحمد: 'لماذا خسر التاجر كل أمواله؟' سارة: 'لأنه كان...'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: أعمى البصر والبصيرة عن تقلبات السوق

The idiom explains his failure to see and understand the market.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It is a strong critique, but not a slur. It is used to describe a moral or intellectual failing, not to mock physical disability.

Only if you are describing a past mistake you learned from. Using it to describe others might make you sound too judgmental.

Basar is the faculty of sight; Nadar is the act of looking. Basira is the faculty of understanding.

Yes, you can just say 'أعمى البصيرة' (blind of insight).

Yes: 'عُمي البصر والبصيرة' (Umy al-basar wal-basira).

It is understood everywhere but used mostly in formal speech (MSA). Dialects have their own versions.

No, it is only used for people or entities like governments/companies.

The opposite is 'ثاقب البصيرة' (having piercing insight).

It has religious roots but is used in secular contexts today.

With a 'Sad' (ص), not a 'Sin' (س). This is a common spelling mistake.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

طمس على قلبه

synonym

To have one's heart sealed/blinded

🔗

بعيد النظر

contrast

Far-sighted/Visionary

🔗

قصير النظر

similar

Short-sighted

🔗

لا يرى أبعد من أنفه

similar

Can't see past his nose

🔗

بصيرة نافذة

builds on

Piercing insight

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