Significado
Direct experience is more reliable and impactful than secondhand information.
Contexto cultural
This proverb is deeply tied to the concept of 'Eyn-al-Yaqin' (Certainty by Sight), a philosophical and mystical idea that seeing something creates a higher level of truth than just knowing about it. Tajik speakers use this exact same proverb, as they share the same classical Persian literary heritage. It is often used in schools to encourage students to do practical experiments. In Dari, the proverb is equally common. It is often used in political discourse when citizens are skeptical of government promises. Iranians value face-to-face meetings. A phone call or email is 'hearing,' but a meeting is 'seeing.' This proverb justifies why business deals often take long and require multiple in-person visits.
Use it for emphasis
Use this phrase at the *end* of a sentence to provide a strong, wise conclusion to your point.
Don't modernize the verb
Never say 'Shenidan key ast...'. It sounds like a mistake rather than a proverb.
Significado
Direct experience is more reliable and impactful than secondhand information.
Use it for emphasis
Use this phrase at the *end* of a sentence to provide a strong, wise conclusion to your point.
Don't modernize the verb
Never say 'Shenidan key ast...'. It sounds like a mistake rather than a proverb.
The 'Aha!' Moment
This is the perfect phrase for an 'Aha!' moment when you finally see something you've only heard about.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the proverb with the correct archaic verb form.
شنیدن کی ____ مانند دیدن
The proverb uses the archaic form 'bovad' (بود) which is essential for its poetic meter.
In which situation is this proverb MOST appropriate?
You are standing at the edge of the Caspian Sea after hearing about it for years.
The proverb is used to highlight the superiority of direct experience over verbal descriptions.
What does the word 'key' (کی) mean in this specific proverb?
معنی 'کی' در این ضربالمثل چیست؟
In classical Persian proverbs, 'key' often acts as a rhetorical question that implies a negative answer.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
سارا: 'میگویند این فیلم برنده جایزه شده و خیلی تاثیرگذار است.' علی: 'بله، ولی تا خودمان نبینیم نمیتوانیم نظر بدهیم؛ ________.'
Ali is saying they need to see the film themselves to judge, which perfectly matches the proverb.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Hearing vs. Seeing in Persian Culture
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosشنیدن کی ____ مانند دیدن
The proverb uses the archaic form 'bovad' (بود) which is essential for its poetic meter.
You are standing at the edge of the Caspian Sea after hearing about it for years.
The proverb is used to highlight the superiority of direct experience over verbal descriptions.
معنی 'کی' در این ضربالمثل چیست؟
In classical Persian proverbs, 'key' often acts as a rhetorical question that implies a negative answer.
سارا: 'میگویند این فیلم برنده جایزه شده و خیلی تاثیرگذار است.' علی: 'بله، ولی تا خودمان نبینیم نمیتوانیم نظر بدهیم؛ ________.'
Ali is saying they need to see the film themselves to judge, which perfectly matches the proverb.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNot at all! While it's poetic, it's very common among friends when talking about travel, movies, or rumors.
Yes, it's very effective when you want to suggest a demo or a meeting to prove a point.
'Key' is the more formal/poetic version of 'when.' In this proverb, it's used rhetorically.
It can, but usually, it's more about the limitations of words rather than the person's honesty.
Sometimes people just say the first two words 'Shenidan key...' and let the listener finish it in their head.
Yes, if you heard a place was a mess and you finally see it, you can use it ironically.
Yes, many traditional and even some pop songs use this line to talk about the beauty of the beloved.
It's 'Bo-vad'. The 'o' is short, and the 'a' is like 'apple'.
No, it's from Persian poetry, though it aligns with some Islamic concepts of witnessing.
Yes! It's a 'power phrase' that makes you sound much more fluent than you are.
Frases relacionadas
حلوا حلوا گفتن دهن شیرین نمیشود
similarSaying 'halva, halva' doesn't make the mouth sweet.
دو صد گفته چون نیم کردار نیست
similarTwo hundred words are not worth half an action.
از شنیدن تا دیدن بسیار است
synonymThere is a great distance from hearing to seeing.
چشمبسته باور کردن
contrastTo believe with closed eyes.
