Signification
To engage in a useless or pointless activity; to waste effort.
Contexte culturel
In Iranian households, the 'hāvan' was traditionally a heavy brass object. The sound of it was a sign of cooking. Using it for water would be seen as a sign of madness or extreme boredom. The great poet Saadi Shirazi uses this concept to describe the futility of educating those who lack the capacity for wisdom. Iranian newspapers frequently use this idiom in headlines to criticize international treaties or domestic economic plans that show no results. In Sufi thought, focusing on the material world instead of the spiritual is often compared to futile tasks like this idiom.
Use it for stubbornness
This is the most natural way to describe trying to convince someone who won't budge.
Don't use for 'hard work'
If the work is hard but useful, don't use this. It implies the work is stupid or logically flawed.
Signification
To engage in a useless or pointless activity; to waste effort.
Use it for stubbornness
This is the most natural way to describe trying to convince someone who won't budge.
Don't use for 'hard work'
If the work is hard but useful, don't use this. It implies the work is stupid or logically flawed.
The 'Mortar' image
If you forget the word 'hāvan', just describe the action of hitting water. Iranians will understand the idiom immediately.
Saadi's influence
Mentioning that Saadi used this idiom will make you sound very educated in Persian.
Teste-toi
Which situation best describes 'آب در هاون کوبیدن'?
علی سعی میکند با یک ماشین خراب که موتور ندارد، به مسافرت برود.
Trying to drive a car without an engine is a futile and impossible task.
Complete the idiom with the correct verb.
نصیحت کردن کسی که گوش نمیدهد، مثل آب در هاون _______ است.
The standard verb for this idiom is 'kūbīdan' (to pound).
What would Reza say in this situation?
سارا: 'من باز هم به رئیس پیام دادم که حقوقم را زیاد کند، ولی او جواب نمیدهد.' رضا: 'سارا، به نظر من تو داری ...'
Reza is telling Sara that her repeated messages are a waste of effort.
Match the phrase to the meaning.
Match 'آب در هاون کوبیدن' with its best synonym.
'Talāsh-e bīhūdeh' means 'useless effort', which is the definition of the idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Productive vs. Futile
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesعلی سعی میکند با یک ماشین خراب که موتور ندارد، به مسافرت برود.
Trying to drive a car without an engine is a futile and impossible task.
نصیحت کردن کسی که گوش نمیدهد، مثل آب در هاون _______ است.
The standard verb for this idiom is 'kūbīdan' (to pound).
سارا: 'من باز هم به رئیس پیام دادم که حقوقم را زیاد کند، ولی او جواب نمیدهد.' رضا: 'سارا، به نظر من تو داری ...'
Reza is telling Sara that her repeated messages are a waste of effort.
Match 'آب در هاون کوبیدن' with its best synonym.
'Talāsh-e bīhūdeh' means 'useless effort', which is the definition of the idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsNot inherently, but it can be blunt. It's better to say 'I feel like I'm pounding water' rather than 'You are pounding water.'
Yes, if you are describing a process that isn't working. It's quite common in professional Persian.
The present tense is 'آب در هاون میکوبم' (Āb dar hāvan mikūbam).
Sometimes people just say 'آب کوبیدن' but the full version is much more common.
Only if the exercise is useless. If you are running on a treadmill that isn't moving, maybe!
No. 'Beating around the bush' is avoiding a topic. This is about doing something that has no result.
Yes, mostly for grinding saffron or small amounts of spices.
You can't call a person an 'āb dar hāvan', but you can say their *actions* are like that.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'خشت روی خشت گذاشتن' (building brick by brick) implies productive work.
Yes, it is very common in Dari Persian as well.
Yes, it's very common to describe trying to save a relationship that is already over.
Because water is the ultimate incompressible/un-grindable substance in a kitchen context.
Expressions liées
گره بر باد زدن
synonymTo tie a knot in the wind
نرود میخ آهنی در سنگ
similarAn iron nail does not go into stone
عرض خود میبری و زحمت ما میداری
builds onYou damage your own reputation and give us trouble
کوبیدن سر به دیوار
similarHitting one's head against the wall
دریا را با قاشق خالی کردن
similarEmptying the sea with a spoon
