Signification
To avert one's gaze from someone, often to show disinterest or politeness.
Contexte culturel
In Iran, staring is often considered 'hiz-bazi' (being a creep) if done to a stranger of the opposite sex. 'Cheshm bardashtan' is thus a vital social tool for maintaining 'adab' (politeness). Classical poets use the 'eye' as a metaphor for the soul's desire. To not be able to 'remove the eye' is to be spiritually captive to beauty. Iranian parents are often very protective. The phrase 'cheshm azat bar-nemidaram' is a common expression of this deep, sometimes overprotective, care. In Iranian cinema, directors like Abbas Kiarostami often use long shots where characters *don't* remove their eyes from a landscape, emphasizing a meditative state.
Use it in the negative
90% of the time, you'll use this in the negative ('nemitoonam cheshm bardaram') to express awe. It's much more common than the positive form.
Preposition check
Always use 'az'. If you use 'be', you are saying 'to pick up an eye to someone', which makes no sense.
Signification
To avert one's gaze from someone, often to show disinterest or politeness.
Use it in the negative
90% of the time, you'll use this in the negative ('nemitoonam cheshm bardaram') to express awe. It's much more common than the positive form.
Preposition check
Always use 'az'. If you use 'be', you are saying 'to pick up an eye to someone', which makes no sense.
The 'Ta'arof' link
Averting your eyes is a form of visual Ta'arof. It shows you aren't being intrusive.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct preposition and verb form.
من نمیتوانم چشم ... این تابلوی زیبا ... (Present tense)
The preposition is 'az' and the verb 'nemitoonam' requires the subjunctive 'bardashtam'.
Which sentence is the most polite way to say you looked away to give someone privacy?
کدام جمله مودبانهتر است؟
Option B uses the idiom in a formal/polite register, which is culturally appropriate.
Complete the dialogue.
مادر: چرا بچه گریه میکنه؟ پدر: ببخشید، یک لحظه ...
The father is admitting he stopped supervising the child for a moment.
Match the sentence to the situation.
Match: 'نمیتوانم چشم از او بردارم'
The idiom in the negative is used for intense admiration.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesمن نمیتوانم چشم ... این تابلوی زیبا ... (Present tense)
The preposition is 'az' and the verb 'nemitoonam' requires the subjunctive 'bardashtam'.
کدام جمله مودبانهتر است؟
Option B uses the idiom in a formal/polite register, which is culturally appropriate.
مادر: چرا بچه گریه میکنه؟ پدر: ببخشید، یک لحظه ...
The father is admitting he stopped supervising the child for a moment.
Match: 'نمیتوانم چشم از او بردارم'
The idiom in the negative is used for intense admiration.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsYes! You can say 'I can't take my eyes off this car' or 'this painting'. It's very common for beautiful objects.
It can be quite direct. If a stranger is staring, it's a firm way to tell them to stop. To be more polite, you might say 'Mishe lotfan negah nakonid?'
'Negah kardan' is just 'to look'. 'Cheshm bardashtan' is about the *act of stopping* or the *inability to stop* looking.
In the present: 'Ma cheshm bar-nemidarim'. In the past: 'Ma cheshm bardashtim'.
Expressions liées
چشم دوختن
contrastTo fix one's eyes on something (literally: to sew the eyes).
چشمپوشی کردن
similarTo overlook or forgive.
نگاه گرفتن
synonymTo take away one's look.
زُل زدن
contrastTo stare blankly or rudely.
