Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'Adam Hesabi' to describe someone who is respectable, reliable, and has a good character.
- Means: A person of substance or a 'proper' individual.
- Used in: Praising colleagues, describing a good date, or recommending a professional.
- Don't confuse: It's not about math, even though 'Hesab' means calculation.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
A person of good character, reputable and trustworthy.
Contexte culturel
The term reflects the historical importance of the 'Bazaari' class, where a man's word and his ledger were his bond. On Persian Twitter/Instagram, 'Adam Hesabi' is used to contrast 'influencers' (who might be seen as superficial) with people of real substance. When Iranian parents ask if a suitor is an 'Adam Hesabi,' they are asking about his education, job stability, and family reputation. In universities, students use this to describe professors who are not only smart but also treat students with genuine respect.
The 'Dorost' Boost
If you want to sound like a native, say 'Adam-e dorost o hesabi.' It sounds much more natural and emphatic.
Not for Objects
Never use this for a good phone or a good car. It is strictly for human beings.
The 'Dorost' Boost
If you want to sound like a native, say 'Adam-e dorost o hesabi.' It sounds much more natural and emphatic.
Not for Objects
Never use this for a good phone or a good car. It is strictly for human beings.
The Ultimate Vouch
Calling someone an 'Adam Hesabi' in a business deal is often more powerful than a written contract in Iran.
Teste-toi
Which word completes the phrase meaning 'a respectable person'?
او یک آدم _______ است.
'Hesabi' is the correct adjective form used in this idiom.
In which situation would you MOST likely call someone an 'Adam Hesabi'?
Select the best scenario:
The phrase is used for people with integrity and professionalism.
Fill in the missing word (don't forget the Ezafe sound if writing in Pinglish).
مدیر ما واقعاً _______ حسابی است.
The phrase is 'Adam Hesabi'.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: نظرت درباره دکتر جدید چیست؟ B: __________________
This is a natural way to praise a professional's character and skill.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesاو یک آدم _______ است.
'Hesabi' is the correct adjective form used in this idiom.
Select the best scenario:
The phrase is used for people with integrity and professionalism.
مدیر ما واقعاً _______ حسابی است.
The phrase is 'Adam Hesabi'.
A: نظرت درباره دکتر جدید چیست؟ B: __________________
This is a natural way to praise a professional's character and skill.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes! Even though 'Adam' literally means 'man' in some contexts, in Persian it means 'human' or 'person.' It is gender-neutral.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Not necessarily. It's about character. A poor person can be an Adam Hesabi, and a billionaire might not be.
The most common opposite is 'Adam-e Alaki' (a fake/frivolous person).
No, that doesn't mean the opposite. Use 'Adam-e Na-hesabi' (rare) or 'Adam-e Alaki'.
No, it's a standard idiom that has been around for decades.
Yes, to describe a former colleague or what kind of worker you are.
Linguistically no, but culturally many Iranians associate his name with the phrase because he was so respected.
Add 'ha' to the end: Adam Hesabi-ha.
Yes, it is understood in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, though they might have other local equivalents.
Expressions liées
آدم درست و حسابی
similarA correct and accountable person.
با شخصیت
synonymHaving personality/character.
آدم الکی
contrastA fake or frivolous person.
کاردرست
similarSomeone who does things right.
Où l'utiliser
Job Interview Recommendation
Manager: رزومه این آقا چطور است؟ (How is this gentleman's resume?)
Employee: خیلی خوب است، او واقعاً آدم حسابی است. (It's very good; he is truly a proper person.)
First Date Feedback
Friend A: قرار دیشب چطور بود؟ (How was the date last night?)
Friend B: خیلی خوشم آمد، به نظر آدم حسابی میرسید. (I liked them a lot; they seemed like a proper person.)
Buying a Used Car
Buyer: میتوانم به فروشنده اعتماد کنم؟ (Can I trust the seller?)
Neighbor: بله، او آدم حسابی است، خیالت راحت. (Yes, he's a proper person, don't worry.)
Talking about a Teacher
Student 1: استاد جدید چطور است؟ (How is the new professor?)
Student 2: خیلی باسواده و واقعاً آدم حسابی است. (He's very knowledgeable and truly a proper person.)
Social Media Comment
User 1: ویدیو جدید این هنرمند را دیدی؟ (Did you see this artist's new video?)
User 2: بله، حرفهایش عالی بود. دمش گرم، آدم حسابی است. (Yes, his words were great. Good for him, he's a proper person.)
Family Gathering
Aunt: پسر همسایه بالاخره کار پیدا کرد؟ (Did the neighbor's son finally find a job?)
Mother: بله، او همیشه آدم حسابی بود، مطمئن بودم موفق میشود. (Yes, he was always a proper person; I was sure he'd succeed.)
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Adam' as the first man and 'Hesabi' as someone who 'counts' or 'matters.' An Adam Hesabi is a person who truly counts.
Association visuelle
Imagine a person standing tall with a giant calculator. Every time they do something good or keep a promise, the calculator shows a green 'Check' mark. They are 'calculated' to be good.
Rhyme
Adam-e Hesabi, ba shakhsiat-e naabi (A proper person, with pure character).
Story
Once there was a merchant in Tehran who never wrote down his debts because he trusted everyone. One day, he lost everything. He then met a man who kept a perfect ledger and paid every cent back on time. The merchant said, 'You are an Adam Hesabi.'
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'a stand-up guy' or 'a person of substance.' In Arabic, 'Ibn Nas' (son of people) carries a similar weight of being 'properly raised.'
Word Web
Défi
Try to identify one 'Adam Hesabi' in your life today and write three sentences in Persian explaining why they deserve this title.
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the 'e' connector: Adam-e Hesabi.
Prononciation
The 'A' is long like in 'father', the 'am' is short.
The 'H' is soft, 'sa' is long, 'bi' is like 'bee'.
Spectre de formalité
ایشان فردی بسیار محترم و فرهیخته هستند. (Describing someone's quality)
او واقعاً آدم حسابی است. (Describing someone's quality)
خیلی آدم حسابی و درسته. (Describing someone's quality)
یارو تهِ آدم حسابی بودنه! (Describing someone's quality)
The phrase combines the Persian word 'Adam' (from the Hebrew/Arabic for the first human) with 'Hesabi' (from the Arabic 'Hisab' for calculation). It emerged as a common idiom in the late Qajar and early Pahlavi periods as Iran began to modernize its bureaucracy and professional classes.
Le savais-tu ?
There is a famous Iranian scientist named Professor Mahmoud Hesabi. Many Iranians jokingly (and respectfully) associate the phrase with him because he was the ultimate 'Adam Hesabi.'
Notes culturelles
The term reflects the historical importance of the 'Bazaari' class, where a man's word and his ledger were his bond.
“حسابِ او پاک است (His account is clean).”
On Persian Twitter/Instagram, 'Adam Hesabi' is used to contrast 'influencers' (who might be seen as superficial) with people of real substance.
“ما به جای اینفلوئنسر، به آدم حسابی نیاز داریم.”
When Iranian parents ask if a suitor is an 'Adam Hesabi,' they are asking about his education, job stability, and family reputation.
“خواستگارش آدم حسابی به نظر میرسد.”
In universities, students use this to describe professors who are not only smart but also treat students with genuine respect.
“استاد فلانی واقعاً آدم حسابی است.”
Amorces de conversation
به نظر تو، ویژگیهای یک آدم حسابی چیست؟
چرا در دنیای امروز پیدا کردن آدم حسابی سخت شده است؟
اگر بخواهی یک آدم حسابی را به دوستانت معرفی کنی، چه میگویی؟
Erreurs courantes
او یک آدم حساب است.
او یک آدم حسابی است.
L1 Interference
این ماشین آدم حسابی است.
این ماشینِ درستی است.
L1 Interference
او آدم حسابی خیلی است.
او خیلی آدم حسابی است.
L1 Interference
Using it for a toddler.
Calling them 'بچه باهوش' or 'بچه خوب'.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Persona de bien
Spanish 'persona de bien' can sound slightly more traditional/conservative.
Quelqu'un de bien
French is slightly more generic, while Persian 'Hesabi' adds a flavor of 'substance/accountability'.
Ein anständiger Mensch
German focuses more on 'decency' (Anständigkeit), while Persian includes 'success/status' nuances.
まともな人 (Matomo na hito)
Japanese 'Matomo' often implies 'sanity' or 'normality' more than the Persian 'Hesabi'.
ابن ناس (Ibn Nas)
Arabic focuses on lineage/upbringing, while Persian focuses on the individual's 'accountability'.
靠谱的人 (Kàopǔ de rén)
Chinese uses a musical metaphor, Persian uses a mathematical one.
제대로 된 사람 (Jedero doen saram)
Korean emphasizes the 'process' of becoming proper.
Pessoa de bem
In Brazil, it has recently taken on some political connotations.
Spotted in the Real World
“اون آدم حسابی بود، دروغ نمیگفت.”
During a legal dispute where character is being questioned.
“چقدر این روزها به آدم حسابی نیاز داریم.”
Commonly tweeted during times of social or political crisis.
“بزرگآقا آدم حسابی است، حرفش حرف است.”
Describing the power and reliability of a patriarch.
Facile à confondre
Both contain 'Hesab'.
Mashin Hesab is a calculator (object); Adam Hesabi is a person.
Learners might think it means 'generous'.
Bi-hesab usually means 'countless' or 'disorganized,' not 'respectable.'
Questions fréquentes (10)
Yes! Even though 'Adam' literally means 'man' in some contexts, in Persian it means 'human' or 'person.' It is gender-neutral.
basic understandingIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
usage contextsNot necessarily. It's about character. A poor person can be an Adam Hesabi, and a billionaire might not be.
basic understandingThe most common opposite is 'Adam-e Alaki' (a fake/frivolous person).
comparisonsNo, that doesn't mean the opposite. Use 'Adam-e Na-hesabi' (rare) or 'Adam-e Alaki'.
grammar mechanicsNo, it's a standard idiom that has been around for decades.
usage contextsYes, to describe a former colleague or what kind of worker you are.
practical tipsLinguistically no, but culturally many Iranians associate his name with the phrase because he was so respected.
cultural usageAdd 'ha' to the end: Adam Hesabi-ha.
grammar mechanicsYes, it is understood in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, though they might have other local equivalents.
cultural usage
