A2 Expression Formal

لطفاً بگید

lotfan begid

Please tell me

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential way to politely ask for information or directions in Persian without sounding demanding.

  • Means: 'Please tell [me]' or 'Please say' in a respectful manner.
  • Used in: Shops, asking for directions, or starting a conversation with strangers.
  • Don't confuse: With the singular 'begoo' which can sound rude to elders.
🙏 + 🗣️ = ℹ️ (Politeness + Speaking = Information)

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple way to say 'Please tell me'. 'Lotfan' means please. 'Begid' means say. You use it when you want to know something, like the price of an apple or where the bathroom is. It is very useful for travelers.
At the A2 level, you use 'Lotfan begid' to make polite requests. It uses the imperative form of the verb 'goftan'. Even though you are talking to one person, you use the plural ending '-id' to be polite. This is common in shops and with strangers.
As an intermediate learner, you should recognize 'Lotfan begid' as a standard consultative register. It's the bridge between informal speech and high-level formal Persian. You can use it to ask for opinions or to report what someone else said in a polite manner.
In upper-intermediate contexts, 'Lotfan begid' serves as a pragmatic marker. It can be used to redirect a conversation or to politely interrupt. Understanding the nuance between the written 'beguyid' and the spoken 'begid' is essential for natural-sounding production in professional environments.
At this level, we analyze 'Lotfan begid' through the lens of sociolinguistics and Ta'arof. It represents the 'neutral-polite' tier of the Persian honorific system. It lacks the extreme humility of 'arz kardan' but maintains a respectful distance, making it ideal for modern bureaucratic or academic interactions.
C2 mastery involves understanding the prosodic features that accompany 'Lotfan begid'. The intonation can shift it from a genuine request to a subtle demand or even a rhetorical device in a debate. One must also master the transition from this phrase into more complex subjunctive clauses that often follow it in sophisticated discourse.

Significado

A polite request for information or for someone to speak.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Ta'arof is the backbone of this phrase. Even if you are paying for a service, you use 'Lotfan begid' to show you don't view the other person as a servant. In modern Tehran, 'Lotfan begid' is often shortened in speed, but the 'id' ending is rarely dropped unless among very close friends. In Dari, 'Lotfan begoyid' is used similarly, but you might also hear 'Lutfan bageyn' which is the local dialectal variation. Tajik speakers use 'Lutfan gūyed'. The 'b-' prefix is sometimes less prominent in certain Tajik dialects compared to Iranian Persian.

🎯

The 'Agha/Khanom' Sandwich

For maximum politeness, sandwich the phrase: 'Agha (Sir), lotfan begid, dastetoon dard nakone (thanks).'

⚠️

Don't over-Ta'arof

If you are just asking for the time, 'Lotfan begid' is enough. Don't use 10-word formal poems or people will think you're joking.

Significado

A polite request for information or for someone to speak.

🎯

The 'Agha/Khanom' Sandwich

For maximum politeness, sandwich the phrase: 'Agha (Sir), lotfan begid, dastetoon dard nakone (thanks).'

⚠️

Don't over-Ta'arof

If you are just asking for the time, 'Lotfan begid' is enough. Don't use 10-word formal poems or people will think you're joking.

💬

Eye Contact

In Iran, brief eye contact followed by a slight head nod while saying 'Lotfan begid' shows sincerity.

💡

Spelling

In texts/WhatsApp, people often write 'begid' (بگید) instead of the formal 'beguyid' (بگویید). Stick to 'begid' for a modern feel.

Ponte a prueba

Complete the sentence to ask for the price politely.

لطفاً ______ این چنده؟

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

We use 'begid' for the polite/plural form in a shop.

Which sentence is the most appropriate for asking a stranger for directions?

How do you ask for the subway?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: لطفاً بگید مترو کجاست؟

'Lotfan begid' adds the necessary politeness for a stranger.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

Person A: ببخشید، من گم شدم. Person B: چطور می‌تونم کمکتون کنم؟ Person A: لطفاً ______ هتل فردوسی کجاست؟

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

The speaker is addressing one person politely.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

Match 'لطفاً به من بگید' with its best context.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Asking a teacher for feedback

It is a respectful way to ask for information from an authority figure.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Where to use 'Lotfan begid'

🚕

Travel

  • • Taxis
  • • Airports
  • • Metro
🛍️

Shopping

  • • Bazaar
  • • Mall
  • • Grocery
☕

Social

  • • Cafes
  • • New Friends
  • • Parties

Preguntas frecuentes

5 preguntas

No, it is perfect. It shows you are a polite passenger.

Yes, it is the standard way to ask a teacher to repeat or explain something.

'Beguyid' is the formal written form; 'begid' is the standard spoken form.

Usually no. It is implied that you want them to tell *you*.

It's a bit abrupt. Adding 'begid' makes it a complete, polite thought.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

میشه بگید

similar

Can you say?

🔗

بفرمایید

specialized form

Please (go ahead/speak)

🔗

توضیح دادن

builds on

To explain

🔗

خبر دادن

similar

To inform/let know

Dónde usarla

🧾

Asking for the check

Customer: ببخشید، لطفاً بگید صورتحساب چقدر میشه؟

Waiter: حتماً، الان براتون میارم.

neutral
🗺️

Lost in the city

Tourist: آقا ببخشید، لطفاً بگید خیابان ولیعصر کجاست؟

Passerby: مستقیم برید، بعد بپیچید دست راست.

formal
👕

In a clothing store

Shopper: لطفاً بگید سایز بزرگتر این رو دارید؟

Seller: بله، بذارید چک کنم.

neutral
📞

On a phone call

Caller: سلام، لطفاً به آقای احمدی بگید من تماس گرفتم.

Secretary: بله، حتماً بهشون اطلاع می‌دم.

formal
🤔

Asking for an opinion

Friend A: لطفاً بگید این لباس بهم میاد؟

Friend B: آره، خیلی قشنگه!

neutral
✈️

At the airport

Passenger: لطفاً بگید پرواز استانبول تأخیر داره؟

Staff: نه خوشبختانه، سر وقت میپره.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Lotfan' as 'Lots of fun' (being polite is fun!) and 'Begid' as 'Be good' (be good and tell me).

Visual Association

Imagine a golden key labeled 'Lotfan begid' opening a door that has a giant question mark on it.

Rhyme

Lotfan begid, ta man bedoonam (Please tell me, so that I know).

Story

You are at a busy Persian bazaar. Everyone is shouting. You tap a kind old man on the shoulder and say 'Lotfan begid'. The noise stops, he smiles, and shows you the way to the best saffron in the city.

Word Web

گفتن (to say)خواهش می‌کنم (please/you're welcome)سوال (question)جواب (answer)آدرس (address)قیمت (price)راهنمایی (guidance)

Desafío

Go to a local Persian grocery store or find a Persian speaker online and ask them 'Lotfan begid saat chande?' (Please tell me what time it is) even if you already know!

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Por favor, dígame

Spanish often attaches the pronoun to the verb (dígame), while Persian keeps it separate (be man begid).

French high

S'il vous plaît, dites-moi

French 'S'il vous plaît' is more of a clause, while 'Lotfan' is a simple adverb.

German high

Bitte sagen Sie mir

German requires the explicit pronoun 'Sie', whereas in Persian, the ending '-id' is enough.

Japanese moderate

教えてください (Oshiete kudasai)

The Japanese verb 'oshiete' implies 'teaching' or 'informing', whereas 'begid' is more general 'saying'.

Arabic high

من فضلك، قل لي (Min fadlak, qul li)

Arabic has distinct masculine and feminine forms for 'tell me', while Persian is gender-neutral.

Chinese high

请告诉我 (Qǐng gàosù wǒ)

Chinese does not have verb conjugation for politeness like the Persian '-id' ending.

Korean moderate

말해 주세요 (Malhae juseyo)

Korean uses a 'giving' auxiliary verb (juseyo) to make requests, which Persian doesn't do.

Portuguese high

Por favor, diga-me

In Brazilian Portuguese, the formal 'diga' is often replaced by informal 'me fala' in daily life, more so than in Persian.

Easily Confused

لطفاً بگید vs بگو (Begoo)

Learners use it with everyone because it's shorter.

Only use 'Begoo' if you would use 'Tu' in French or 'Du' in German.

لطفاً بگید vs بگید (Begid) vs. بگیم (Begim)

The 'd' and 'm' sounds at the end can be confused.

Begid = You (plural) say. Begim = Let us say.

Preguntas frecuentes (5)

No, it is perfect. It shows you are a polite passenger.

Yes, it is the standard way to ask a teacher to repeat or explain something.

'Beguyid' is the formal written form; 'begid' is the standard spoken form.

Usually no. It is implied that you want them to tell *you*.

It's a bit abrupt. Adding 'begid' makes it a complete, polite thought.

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