کوه به کوه نمیرسد، ولی آدم به آدم میرسد
kuh be kuh nemiresad, vali adam be adam miresad
Mountains don't meet, but people do
Signification
You will eventually meet someone again, especially after a conflict.
Contexte culturel
In the traditional bazaar, reputation is everything. Merchants use this proverb to remind each other that a bad deal will eventually come back to haunt them because they will inevitably meet again. Despite being a city of 10+ million, Tehranis often feel the city is a 'village' because they constantly bump into acquaintances. This proverb is the unofficial motto of Tehrani social life. The proverb appears in various forms in folk tales where a hero and a villain meet years later in a remote location, proving that fate (Ghesmat) is unavoidable. Iranians living abroad (in LA, London, Toronto) use this phrase frequently when they meet someone from their hometown in Iran, reinforcing a sense of global community.
Use the Short Version
In casual settings, just say 'آدم به آدم میرسه' (Adam be adam mirese). It sounds more natural and native.
Watch Your Tone
If you say this with a frown, it sounds like a threat. If you say it with a smile, it's a friendly observation.
Signification
You will eventually meet someone again, especially after a conflict.
Use the Short Version
In casual settings, just say 'آدم به آدم میرسه' (Adam be adam mirese). It sounds more natural and native.
Watch Your Tone
If you say this with a frown, it sounds like a threat. If you say it with a smile, it's a friendly observation.
Teste-toi
Complete the proverb with the correct words.
کوه به کوه نمیرسد، ولی ____ به ____ میرسد.
The proverb contrasts mountains with humans (Adam).
Which situation best fits this proverb?
You meet your old boss at a wedding in a different city.
This proverb is used for unexpected reunions.
Choose the correct colloquial form.
How would you say this to a friend in a cafe?
The ending '-e' is the colloquial version of '-ad'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: سلام! تو اینجا چه کار میکنی؟ B: سلام! واقعاً دنیا کوچیکه، ________.
The context of a surprise meeting requires this proverb.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesکوه به کوه نمیرسد، ولی ____ به ____ میرسد.
The proverb contrasts mountains with humans (Adam).
You meet your old boss at a wedding in a different city.
This proverb is used for unexpected reunions.
How would you say this to a friend in a cafe?
The ending '-e' is the colloquial version of '-ad'.
A: سلام! تو اینجا چه کار میکنی؟ B: سلام! واقعاً دنیا کوچیکه، ________.
The context of a surprise meeting requires this proverb.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is a secular folk proverb, though it aligns with spiritual concepts of karma and accountability.
Yes, it's very common in business to emphasize long-term relationships.
It means 'human' or 'person'. It comes from the name Adam but is the standard word for human in Persian.
No, the first half 'Kuh be kuh nemiresad' alone doesn't make sense. You need the second half to complete the thought.
Yes, it is used in literature, journalism, and formal speeches.
It can be both. It simply implies that a meeting is inevitable.
It is a soft breathy sound at the end of the word, like 'kooh'.
The slang version is just the colloquial pronunciation 'mirese' instead of 'mi-rasad'.
Yes, especially if you haven't seen them in a long time.
Yes, when used as a warning, it is very similar.
Expressions liées
دنیا کوچک است
synonymThe world is small.
بار کج به منزل نمیرسد
similarA crooked load won't reach its destination.
از هر دستی بدهی، از همان دست میگیری
builds onWhat you give is what you get.
