هر چه کنی به خود کنی گر همه نیک و بد کنی
hr chh kny bh khod kny gr hmh nyk o bd kny
Whatever you do, you do to yourself
Signification
Your actions, whether good or bad, will eventually affect you; karma.
Contexte culturel
This proverb is a prime example of 'Pand-nameh' (Book of Advice) style, which was a popular genre in medieval Persian literature to teach ethics to princes and commoners alike. In Sufi thought, the 'self' is the only thing that exists between the human and the divine. Therefore, any action toward 'others' is actually an action toward the 'self' because all are one. Filmmakers like Asghar Farhadi often explore the themes of this proverb, showing how small moral choices lead to inevitable, life-changing consequences. Parents use this proverb to instill a sense of 'internalized' morality in children, rather than just fear of punishment from authority.
Use the first half
In 90% of conversations, you only need to say 'Har che koni be khod koni'. The second half is for poetic effect.
Tone matters
If you say it with a smile, it's encouraging. If you say it with a frown, it's a harsh judgment.
Signification
Your actions, whether good or bad, will eventually affect you; karma.
Use the first half
In 90% of conversations, you only need to say 'Har che koni be khod koni'. The second half is for poetic effect.
Tone matters
If you say it with a smile, it's encouraging. If you say it with a frown, it's a harsh judgment.
Literary flair
Use the full couplet in a written essay to impress Persian speakers with your cultural knowledge.
Teste-toi
Complete the proverb with the correct words.
هر چه کنی به ____ کنی، گر همه ____ و بد کنی.
The standard form uses 'khod' (self) and 'nik' (good/poetic).
Which situation best fits the proverb?
A man cheats in a race and wins, but later his medal is taken away because he was caught on camera.
This situation shows a direct negative consequence for a bad action.
Choose the best response for Sara.
Ali: 'I helped the old neighbor with her groceries, and today she gave me a beautiful gift!' Sara: '_______'
The proverb is used here to show that Ali's good deed returned to him.
What is the meaning of 'Gar' in the second line?
گر همه نیک و بد کنی
'Gar' is a poetic contraction of 'Agar' (If).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesهر چه کنی به ____ کنی، گر همه ____ و بد کنی.
The standard form uses 'khod' (self) and 'nik' (good/poetic).
A man cheats in a race and wins, but later his medal is taken away because he was caught on camera.
This situation shows a direct negative consequence for a bad action.
Ali: 'I helped the old neighbor with her groceries, and today she gave me a beautiful gift!' Sara: '_______'
The proverb is used here to show that Ali's good deed returned to him.
گر همه نیک و بد کنی
'Gar' is a poetic contraction of 'Agar' (If).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsWhile it aligns with Islamic and Zoroastrian values, it is considered a secular cultural proverb used by everyone.
Yes! It is equally used to say that kindness will be rewarded.
It is a poetic form of 'Agar' (If). You won't use 'gar' in normal speech except in this proverb.
Yes, it can be seen as very confrontational or critical. Use it with peers or subordinates, or when talking about a third person.
Yes, 'koni' at the end of both lines creates a perfect rhyme.
Yes: 'هر چه کنی به خود کنی'.
Almost identical in concept, though 'Karma' is a Sanskrit term and this is a Persian poetic expression.
Only if the email is very personal or philosophical. It's usually too informal/poetic for standard business correspondence.
It sounds like 'Neek'. It means 'Good' in a formal/poetic sense.
Yes, Dari speakers in Afghanistan use this exact same proverb.
Expressions liées
از ماست که بر ماست
similarIt is from us, what is upon us.
چو نیکی کنی، نیکی آید برت
synonymWhen you do good, good comes to you.
خودکرده را تدبیر نیست
builds onThere is no remedy for what one has done to oneself.
گندم از گندم بروید، جو ز جو
similarWheat grows from wheat, barley from barley.
