B1 Idiom Neutral

پاشنه آشیل

pashneh-ye achil

Achilles' heel, a weak point

Significado

A fatal weakness or vulnerability despite overall strength.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In Iranian political discourse, 'Pashne-ye Ashil' is frequently used to describe the economy's reliance on oil. It reflects a national anxiety about structural vulnerabilities. Educated Iranians often compare Achilles to Esfandiyar from the Shahnameh. Esfandiyar was 'Ruyin-tan' (brazen-bodied/invulnerable) except for his eyes. Sports newspapers (like 'Khabar Varzeshi') use this idiom almost daily to critique the national team or popular clubs like Persepolis and Esteghlal. Using 'Pashne-ye Ashil' instead of 'Noghte-ye Za'f' marks the speaker as someone who is familiar with global history and mythology, a trait valued in Iranian intellectual circles.

🎯

Use it in Analysis

If you are writing an essay for a Persian exam, using this phrase instead of 'noghte za'f' will instantly boost your vocabulary score.

⚠️

Singular vs Plural

Avoid saying 'Pashne-ye Ashil-ha'. It sounds unnatural because the myth only involves one heel.

Significado

A fatal weakness or vulnerability despite overall strength.

🎯

Use it in Analysis

If you are writing an essay for a Persian exam, using this phrase instead of 'noghte za'f' will instantly boost your vocabulary score.

⚠️

Singular vs Plural

Avoid saying 'Pashne-ye Ashil-ha'. It sounds unnatural because the myth only involves one heel.

💬

The Shahnameh Alternative

If you want to impress an older Iranian or a literature professor, use 'Chashm-e Esfandiyar' instead.

💡

Self-Correction

When you identify a mistake you keep making, tell your teacher: 'In pashne-ye Ashil-e man ast!' It shows great self-awareness.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.

ترس از شکست، ________ ________ این ورزشکار بزرگ است.

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

The correct idiom is 'Pashne-ye Ashil' (Achilles' heel).

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?

کدام جمله درست است؟

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: پاشنه آشیل این ساختمان، پی‌ریزی ضعیف آن است.

The idiom should refer to a single fatal flaw in an otherwise strong entity (the building).

Match the entity with its likely 'Pashne-ye Ashil'.

وصل کنید:

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

Each pair shows a strength/entity and its potential fatal flaw.

Complete the dialogue.

علی: چرا شرکت ورشکست شد؟ سارا: محصولاتشان عالی بود، اما ________ ________ آن‌ها بازاریابی ضعیف بود.

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

The context describes a fatal weakness in a successful company.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Ashil vs. Esfandiyar

Achilles (Greek)
Heel پاشنه
Arrow تیر
Esfandiyar (Persian)
Eyes چشم
Double-pointed arrow تیر دو شاخه

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom. Fill Blank B1

ترس از شکست، ________ ________ این ورزشکار بزرگ است.

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

The correct idiom is 'Pashne-ye Ashil' (Achilles' heel).

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly? Choose B1

کدام جمله درست است؟

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: پاشنه آشیل این ساختمان، پی‌ریزی ضعیف آن است.

The idiom should refer to a single fatal flaw in an otherwise strong entity (the building).

Match the entity with its likely 'Pashne-ye Ashil'. Match B1

Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:

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

Each pair shows a strength/entity and its potential fatal flaw.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

علی: چرا شرکت ورشکست شد؟ سارا: محصولاتشان عالی بود، اما ________ ________ آن‌ها بازاریابی ضعیف بود.

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

The context describes a fatal weakness in a successful company.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

14 preguntas

Not at all. While it's common in news, people use it in casual conversations about sports, movies, or personal habits.

No, that would be confusing. For a physical injury, just say 'pashne-ye pa-yam dard mikonad' (my heel hurts).

'Noghte-ye Za'f' is any weakness. 'Pashne-ye Ashil' is the *one* weakness that can cause total failure.

In modern Persian, it's usually written as پاشنه‌ی آشیل (with a small 'ye').

Yes, due to the popularity of Greek history and movies like 'Troy', most Iranians know who Achilles is.

Yes, it's very common to use it for businesses, systems, or even software code.

It is always 'Ashil' (آشیل), following the French pronunciation which influenced Persian translations.

Yes, if you mean that you are very emotional or vulnerable regarding her.

Technically yes, but it's rarely used. We prefer to keep it singular to match the myth.

There isn't a single mythological opposite, but 'Noghte-ye Ghovat' (Strong point) is the standard antonym.

No, it is strictly from Greek mythology.

Yes, it's a very professional way to discuss areas for improvement.

Arabic uses 'Ka'b', but Persian uses 'Pashne', which is the native word for heel.

It depends. 'Ashil' sounds modern and international; 'Esfandiyar' sounds poetic and traditional.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

نقطه ضعف

synonym

Weak point

🔗

چشم اسفندیار

similar

Esfandiyar's eye

🔗

رگ خواب

similar

Someone's soft spot/key to control

🔗

نقطه قوت

contrast

Strong point

🔗

آسیب‌پذیر

builds on

Vulnerable

¿Te ha servido?
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!