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B1 phrase #1,500 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

به عقب

be aghab Top 1,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces به عقب en 30 secondes

Explication به عقب in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to 'به عقب' primarily as a basic directional phrase. In the early stages of learning Persian, acquiring vocabulary related to space and movement is essential for survival communication. 'به' means 'to' or 'towards', and 'عقب' means 'back' or 'behind'. Together, they form a simple, invariable phrase that tells someone where to go or where to look. Beginners will practice using this phrase with the most common verbs of motion, specifically 'رفتن' (to go) and 'آمدن' (to come). For example, a teacher might use it in a classroom setting to ask a student to step back, or it might be learned in the context of basic navigation. The focus at this level is entirely on the literal, physical meaning of the phrase. There is no need to worry about metaphorical uses or complex grammar. The phrase is treated as a fixed chunk of vocabulary. Pronunciation practice is also key here, particularly mastering the guttural 'qaf' sound in 'عقب', which can be challenging for speakers of European languages. Exercises at this level will involve simple matching, fill-in-the-blanks with basic verbs, and responding to physical commands. By mastering 'به عقب' early on, A1 learners build a solid foundation for describing their physical environment and interacting with basic instructions in a Persian-speaking context.

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As learners progress to the A2 level, their use of 'به عقب' expands from simple classroom commands to more practical, everyday scenarios. At this stage, students are learning to describe routines, give and receive directions, and talk about transportation. 'به عقب' becomes crucial in contexts like driving, parking, and navigating crowded spaces. Learners will encounter phrases like 'دنده عقب' (reverse gear) and will practice sentences such as 'ماشین را به عقب ببر' (move the car backwards). They will also start using the phrase with a wider variety of verbs, such as 'نگاه کردن' (to look) and 'کشیدن' (to pull). For instance, 'صندلی را به عقب بکش' (pull the chair back). The grammar remains relatively simple, but the sentences become longer and more contextualized. Students at the A2 level should be comfortable placing 'به عقب' correctly before the verb in a sentence. They will also begin to contrast it with its antonym, 'به جلو' (forward), to describe opposing movements. Listening exercises will feature realistic dialogues, such as a passenger guiding a driver, or someone asking for space in a line. The focus remains on the literal meaning, but the application becomes much more integrated into daily life survival skills and common social interactions.

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At the B1 level, a significant shift occurs in how learners interact with 'به عقب'. While the physical and directional uses are fully consolidated, students are now introduced to the temporal and metaphorical dimensions of the phrase. 'به عقب' is no longer just about moving through space; it is about moving through time. Learners will use it to talk about memories, history, and past experiences. Phrases like 'نگاه به عقب' (looking back) take on a reflective tone. A student might write a journal entry saying, 'وقتی به عقب نگاه می‌کنم...' (When I look back...). This requires a solid grasp of past tenses and the ability to express abstract thoughts. Furthermore, B1 learners will encounter the phrase in discussions about progress and setbacks. If a project fails, it might be described as a step 'به عقب'. This introduces a critical, evaluative use of the vocabulary. The grammar becomes more complex as the phrase is embedded in subordinate clauses and conditional sentences. Practice exercises will involve reading short narratives or opinion pieces where 'به عقب' is used metaphorically, and writing tasks that require reflecting on personal history. This level marks the transition from using the phrase merely to navigate the physical world to using it to navigate thoughts, time, and abstract concepts.

Reaching the B2 level means learners are expected to handle 'به عقب' with a high degree of fluency and nuance, particularly in professional, academic, and media contexts. The metaphorical use of the phrase as an indicator of regression or setback becomes prominent. Students will engage with news articles, political commentary, and social debates where policies or societal trends are criticized as a 'حرکت به عقب' (backward movement) or a 'گام به عقب' (step backward). They must understand the negative connotations often associated with the phrase in these contexts. Additionally, B2 learners will explore idiomatic expressions and collocations more deeply. They will differentiate between 'به عقب برگشتن' (to regress/turn back) and 'عقب‌نشینی کردن' (to retreat). The ability to use the phrase in complex argumentative writing is crucial. For example, a student might write an essay arguing why a certain economic decision is a step backwards for the country. Speaking exercises will involve debates and presentations where this vocabulary is used to evaluate progress. Listening comprehension will include authentic news broadcasts and interviews. At this stage, the phrase is a tool for critical analysis and sophisticated expression, demonstrating the learner's ability to engage with abstract and complex topics in Persian.

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At the C1 level, learners possess an advanced, near-native command of 'به عقب', utilizing it effortlessly across all registers, from highly informal colloquialisms to dense academic prose. The focus here is on stylistic variation, subtle nuances, and literary applications. C1 students will encounter the phrase in classic and contemporary Persian literature, where 'نگاه به عقب' might symbolize deep psychological introspection, trauma, or philosophical reflections on the irreversible nature of time ('زمان به عقب برنمی‌گردد'). They will understand how authors use spatial metaphors to convey complex emotional states. In socio-political discourse, learners will analyze texts that use 'به عقب' to discuss historical revisionism or systemic regression, distinguishing it from highly formal synonyms like 'قهقرا' (retrograde). They are expected to produce sophisticated texts, such as literary analyses or advanced opinion editorials, seamlessly integrating the phrase to enhance the rhetorical impact of their writing. Speaking skills at this level involve participating in high-level debates, using the phrase to articulate nuanced critiques of societal progress. The learner's understanding is so deep that they can play with the phrase, recognizing irony or sarcasm when a 'step backward' is ironically framed as progress. Mastery at C1 means the phrase is fully integrated into the learner's linguistic repertoire as a versatile rhetorical device.

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At the C2 level of proficiency, the learner's interaction with 'به عقب' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. The phrase is understood and utilized not just as a component of vocabulary, but as a conceptual anchor in complex philosophical, historical, and literary discourse. C2 learners can deconstruct the linguistic and cultural implications of 'moving backwards' within the Persian worldview. They can engage with abstract texts that challenge the linear concept of time, where 'به عقب' might represent a return to origins or a cyclical view of history. They are capable of reading dense poetry or philosophical treatises where the spatial-temporal metaphor is stretched to its limits. In production, C2 speakers use the phrase with absolute precision, instinctively knowing when to use 'به عقب' versus a more archaic or specialized term to achieve a specific stylistic effect. They can manipulate the phrase in creative writing, inventing new metaphors or subverting existing ones. Their comprehension encompasses all regional dialects and historical variations in how the concept of 'backwardness' is expressed. At this ultimate stage of language acquisition, 'به عقب' is a transparent medium through which the learner can articulate the most profound and complex ideas regarding human progress, memory, and existence.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

به عقب en 30 secondes

Directional phrase meaning 'backwards'.
Used physically for movement and driving.
Used metaphorically for time and memory.
Implies regression when discussing progress.

The phrase 'به عقب' (be aghab) is fundamentally rooted in spatial orientation, directing the subject toward the rear or backward direction. In the Persian language, spatial markers are crucial for navigating physical environments and describing movement accurately. When a speaker uses this phrase, they are explicitly instructing or describing a trajectory that reverses the standard forward momentum. This can apply to a person walking, a vehicle driving, or even the subtle movement of an object being pushed. Understanding this spatial dimension is the first step to mastering the phrase, as it forms the literal foundation upon which all other metaphorical and abstract meanings are subsequently built and expanded upon in daily communication.

Literal Meaning: The literal translation is 'to the back' or 'backwards', used primarily for physical movement.

Beyond the physical realm, the phrase takes on significant temporal implications. Moving backwards in time is a common metaphorical use, referring to reminiscing, recalling past events, or analyzing historical data. When we look 'به عقب' in a temporal sense, we are engaging with our memories and the history that precedes our current moment. This dual nature of the phrase—encompassing both space and time—makes it an incredibly versatile tool in the Persian vocabulary.

لطفاً یک قدم به عقب بروید.

Furthermore, the psychological aspect of moving backwards cannot be ignored. In contexts of personal development or project management, moving 'به عقب' often carries a negative connotation, implying regression, loss of progress, or a return to less desirable states. It suggests that the forward momentum required for success has been compromised. Conversely, taking a step back can also be a strategic move, allowing one to gain a broader perspective on a complex situation before proceeding.

ماشین را به عقب بران.

The grammatical structure is quite simple, consisting of the preposition 'به' (to/towards) and the noun 'عقب' (back/rear). This simplicity allows it to be easily attached to a wide variety of verbs of motion and perception, such as رفتن (to go), برگشتن (to return), نگاه کردن (to look), and راندن (to drive).

Grammar Note: It functions as an adverbial phrase of direction in most sentences.

In everyday conversation, you will frequently hear this phrase in situations involving traffic, parking, crowding, or giving directions.

او به عقب نگاه کرد.

It is also a staple in narrative storytelling, where characters might look back at their pursuers or reflect on their past decisions. The emotional weight of the phrase shifts depending on these contexts, ranging from mundane instructions to profound moments of introspection.

ما نباید به عقب برگردیم.

Ultimately, mastering 'به عقب' enriches a learner's ability to articulate directionality, temporal shifts, and evaluative judgments regarding progress. It is a high-frequency phrase that bridges the gap between basic physical descriptions and advanced abstract reasoning.

Usage Frequency: Highly frequent in both spoken and written Persian across all registers.

زمان به عقب برنمی‌گردد.

By internalizing its various applications, students of Persian can navigate conversations with greater fluency and cultural nuance, ensuring their intended meaning—whether literal or metaphorical—is accurately conveyed.

Using the phrase 'به عقب' correctly requires an understanding of the verbs it most commonly associates with. Because it is a directional phrase, it naturally pairs with verbs of motion. The most frequent combination is with 'رفتن' (to go), creating 'به عقب رفتن', which means to go backwards or to reverse. This is used when a person steps back, or when a vehicle is put into reverse gear.

Motion Verbs: Pairs perfectly with رفتن, راندن, and کشیدن.

Another essential pairing is with 'برگشتن' (to return/turn back). While 'برگشتن' already implies a return, adding 'به عقب' emphasizes the backward direction or a regression to a previous state.

او یک قدم به عقب برداشت.

In the context of perception, 'نگاه کردن به عقب' (looking back) is extremely common. This can be used literally, such as checking your blind spot while driving, or metaphorically, such as reflecting on your childhood. When giving commands or instructions, the imperative form of the verb is used alongside the phrase. For example, 'برو به عقب' (go back) is a direct command.

کمی به عقب برو تا جا باز شود.

It is also important to note the syntactic placement of the phrase within a Persian sentence. Typically, as an adverbial phrase of direction, it precedes the verb. However, in colloquial speech, it might occasionally follow the verb for emphasis, though this is less standard in formal writing.

Syntax: Usually placed immediately before the main verb of the sentence.

In more abstract contexts, such as discussing the economy or societal progress, 'حرکت به عقب' (backward movement) functions as a noun phrase denoting regression.

این تصمیم یک گام به عقب است.

This usage is highly prevalent in journalism and academic writing, where evaluating the trajectory of events is necessary. When practicing this phrase, learners should focus on integrating it with different tenses. For instance, 'او به عقب رفت' (He went backwards - past tense) versus 'او به عقب خواهد رفت' (He will go backwards - future tense).

بدون نگاه به عقب به راهش ادامه داد.

The flexibility of the phrase means it does not change form regardless of the subject's gender or number, making it a reliable and static vocabulary item.

Invariability: The phrase remains constant and does not conjugate or agree with the subject.

صندلی را به عقب بکش.

By mastering these common collocations and syntactic rules, learners can confidently deploy 'به عقب' in a wide array of communicative scenarios, from simple physical directions to complex metaphorical evaluations of time and progress.

The phrase 'به عقب' is ubiquitous in Persian-speaking environments, echoing through various facets of daily life, media, and literature. One of the most common places you will hear it is in the context of transportation and traffic. When a driver is trying to park, a passenger or a bystander might guide them by saying 'بیا به عقب' (come backwards/reverse).

Traffic Context: Essential for giving directions to drivers, especially when parking or maneuvering.

Similarly, in crowded public spaces like the Tehran Metro or busy bazaars, you might hear security personnel or citizens asking people to move back to clear a path: 'لطفاً بروید به عقب' (Please go backwards).

همه مسافران به عقب حرکت کنند.

Beyond physical navigation, the phrase is a staple in sports commentary. When a football team is losing its offensive momentum and passing the ball towards their own defenders, the commentator will describe this as passing 'به عقب'. In the realm of politics and news media, the phrase takes on a critical tone. Pundits and journalists frequently use it to describe policies or societal shifts that they view as regressive. A new law might be criticized as a 'بازگشت به عقب' (return backwards), implying a loss of hard-won progress.

این قانون یک گام به عقب برای جامعه است.

Political Discourse: Used to critique policies that undo previous advancements or reforms.

In cinema and literature, 'نگاه به عقب' (looking back) is a powerful motif. Characters reflecting on their past, narrators recounting historical events, or protagonists dealing with trauma all involve this metaphorical backward glance.

با نگاهی به عقب، اشتباهاتم را می‌بینم.

You will also encounter it in educational settings. A teacher might ask students to flip back to a previous page in a textbook, or a historian might invite the audience to travel back in time to understand a specific era.

بیایید چند قرن به عقب برگردیم.

Even in technology, the concept of a 'back button' on a web browser or 'undoing' an action in software is conceptually linked to moving 'به عقب'.

Technology: Relates to reversing actions, going to previous pages, or undoing commands.

برای لغو، یک مرحله به عقب بروید.

Because it spans the physical, temporal, political, and digital realms, 'به عقب' is an indispensable phrase that learners will encounter constantly, making its mastery essential for comprehensive fluency in Persian.

While 'به عقب' is relatively straightforward, learners often make specific errors when integrating it into more complex sentences. One of the most frequent mistakes involves redundant prepositions. Because 'به' already means 'to' or 'towards', adding another directional preposition before it is grammatically incorrect. For instance, saying 'از به عقب' or 'در به عقب' is a common error among beginners trying to translate directly from their native languages.

Redundancy: Avoid stacking prepositions; 'به' is sufficient on its own to indicate direction.

Another issue arises with verb selection. Learners sometimes use static verbs with 'به عقب', which implies motion. Saying 'من به عقب هستم' (I am to the back) sounds unnatural; the correct phrasing for a static position would be 'من در عقب هستم' (I am in the back).

درست: او به عقب رفت. غلط: او به عقب بود.

Pronunciation can also be a stumbling block. The letter 'ق' (qaf) in 'عقب' is pronounced deep in the throat, similar to a voiced uvular stop or fricative, depending on the dialect. English speakers often mispronounce it as a hard 'g' or a 'k', which can sometimes lead to confusion or simply mark the speaker as a novice.

Pronunciation: Practice the guttural 'qaf' sound to sound more like a native speaker.

تلفظ صحیح به عقب نیاز به تمرین دارد.

Furthermore, learners sometimes confuse 'به عقب' with 'پشت سر' (behind one's head/back). While both relate to the rear, 'به عقب' is a general direction, whereas 'پشت سر' specifically refers to the space immediately behind a person. Saying 'به عقب من نگاه کن' instead of 'پشت سر من نگاه کن' is a subtle but noticeable semantic error.

نگاه کن چه چیزی به عقب می‌رود.

Metaphorical Misuse: Ensure the context supports the metaphorical use of regression before applying it.

Finally, in written Persian, ensure that the spacing is correct. It should be written as two separate words: 'به عقب', not joined together as 'به‌عقب' or 'بعقب', although the latter might appear in very old or informal texts.

املای صحیح به عقب با فاصله است.

همیشه قبل از دنده عقب، به عقب نگاه کنید.

By paying attention to prepositional usage, verb pairing, pronunciation, semantic nuances, and orthography, learners can avoid these common pitfalls and use the phrase with native-like accuracy and confidence.

In Persian, there are several words and phrases that share semantic territory with 'به عقب', each carrying its own specific nuance and appropriate context. Understanding these alternatives is crucial for expanding one's vocabulary and speaking with greater precision. One of the most common synonyms is 'به پشت' (to the back). While very similar, 'به پشت' often implies a more physical, bodily orientation, such as falling flat on one's back, whereas 'به عقب' is more about the general trajectory of movement.

به پشت vs به عقب: 'به پشت' is often bodily (falling on the back), while 'به عقب' is directional.

Another related term is 'پس' (back/behind). This is an older, more literary root word that appears in compound verbs like 'پس رفتن' (to recede/regress) or 'پس دادن' (to give back). 'پس' is less commonly used on its own as a standalone directional instruction in modern spoken Persian compared to 'به عقب'.

او به جای پیشرفت، به عقب برگشت.

For highly formal or academic contexts, the word 'قهقرا' (retrograde/regression) is used. When someone says 'سیر قهقرایی' (retrograde motion), it means a severe movement backward, usually in terms of societal or intellectual decay. It is a much stronger and more specific term than the neutral 'به عقب'.

جامعه نباید به عقب و قهقرا برود.

عقب‌گرد: A military term meaning 'about-face', also used metaphorically for a sudden change in policy.

'عقب‌گرد' is another excellent alternative. Originally a military command for 'about-face', it is widely used in journalism to describe a sudden reversal in policy or opinion. While 'به عقب' describes the direction, 'عقب‌گرد' encapsulates the entire action of turning back.

دولت یک به عقب و عقب‌گرد آشکار داشت.

Additionally, the phrase 'پشت سر' (behind the head) is used when referring to the space immediately behind someone. If someone is following you, they are 'پشت سر' you, not necessarily 'به عقب' you, though if you turn to look at them, you are looking 'به عقب'.

او به عقب نگاه کرد تا دوستش را ببیند.

بازگشت: Means 'return', focusing on the destination rather than just the backward direction.

هیچ راهی برای رفتن به عقب نیست.

By differentiating between these synonyms and related terms, learners can elevate their Persian from basic functional communication to highly expressive and contextually accurate discourse, ensuring they choose the exact right word for the physical, metaphorical, or academic situation at hand.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Prepositions of direction (به, از, تا)

Imperative verbs for giving commands

Adverbial placement in Persian syntax

Using 'وقتی' (when) for temporal clauses

Compound verbs with directional prefixes

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Exemples par niveau

برو به عقب.

Go backwards.

Imperative form of 'رفتن' (to go) with the directional phrase.

من به عقب می‌روم.

I am going backwards.

Present continuous tense.

لطفاً به عقب بروید.

Please go backwards.

Formal imperative.

او به عقب نگاه کرد.

He/She looked backwards.

Simple past tense with 'نگاه کردن'.

یک قدم به عقب.

One step backwards.

Noun phrase indicating measurement of movement.

بیا به عقب.

Come backwards.

Imperative of 'آمدن' (to come).

به عقب نرو.

Do not go backwards.

Negative imperative.

آنها به عقب رفتند.

They went backwards.

Plural subject in simple past.

ماشین را به عقب بران.

Drive the car backwards (reverse).

Using 'راندن' (to drive) for vehicles.

صندلی‌ات را کمی به عقب بکش.

Pull your chair back a little.

Using 'کشیدن' (to pull) with an object.

در صف، یک نفر به عقب رفت.

In the line, one person went backwards.

Contextualizing movement in a daily situation.

مراقب باش وقتی به عقب می‌روی.

Be careful when you go backwards.

Subordinate clause with 'وقتی' (when).

او نتوانست به عقب برگردد.

He/She could not turn back.

Using modal verb 'توانستن' (can/could) in negative past.

دوربین را به عقب ببر.

Move the camera backwards.

Using 'بردن' (to take/move) with an object.

سگ به عقب پرید.

The dog jumped backwards.

Using action verbs like 'پریدن' (to jump).

لطفاً همه به عقب حرکت کنند.

Please, everyone move backwards.

Formal instruction using 'حرکت کردن' (to move).

وقتی به عقب نگاه می‌کنم، خاطرات خوبی دارم.

When I look back, I have good memories.

Metaphorical use of 'looking back' in time.

این تصمیم یک قدم به عقب بود.

This decision was a step backwards.

Using the phrase to indicate regression or failure.

ما نباید به عقب برگردیم؛ باید پیشرفت کنیم.

We must not go backwards; we must progress.

Contrasting 'به عقب' with 'پیشرفت' (progress).

زمان هرگز به عقب برنمی‌گردد.

Time never goes backwards.

Philosophical/factual statement about time.

او در زندگی‌اش خیلی به عقب افتاد.

He fell far behind in his life.

Using 'عقب افتادن' to mean falling behind in progress.

با نگاهی به عقب، متوجه اشتباهم شدم.

Looking back, I realized my mistake.

Adverbial phrase 'با نگاهی به' (with a look at).

پروژه ما یک ماه به عقب افتاد.

Our project was delayed by a month.

Using the phrase to indicate a delay in a schedule.

او بدون نگاه به عقب، شهر را ترک کرد.

He left the city without looking back.

Using 'بدون' (without) to show determination.

سیاست‌های جدید باعث حرکت به عقب در اقتصاد شد.

The new policies caused a backward movement in the economy.

Using 'حرکت به عقب' as a noun phrase in a formal context.

عقب‌نشینی و بازگشت به عقب در این مرحله غیرممکن است.

Retreating and going backwards at this stage is impossible.

Pairing synonyms for emphasis in a complex sentence.

منتقدان این قانون را یک گام بزرگ به عقب می‌دانند.

Critics consider this law a major step backwards.

Using 'دانستن' (to consider/know) to express opinion.

برای درک مشکل، باید چند سال به عقب برگردیم و تاریخ را بررسی کنیم.

To understand the problem, we must go back a few years and examine history.

Using the phrase to navigate historical timelines.

توسعه نیافتگی نوعی حرکت به عقب در دنیای مدرن است.

Underdevelopment is a kind of backward movement in the modern world.

Abstract academic discussion.

او با نگاهی انتقادی به عقب، عملکرد تیم را ارزیابی کرد.

With a critical look back, he evaluated the team's performance.

Adding adjectives like 'انتقادی' (critical) to the look.

ترس از شکست باعث شد او یک قدم به عقب بردارد.

Fear of failure caused him to take a step back.

Psychological context of hesitation or withdrawal.

این فناوری ما را دهه‌ها به عقب می‌برد.

This technology takes us decades backwards.

Hyperbolic use to express extreme regression.

سیر تحولات نشان می‌دهد که جامعه در حال یک بازگشت به عقب تاریخی است.

The course of events shows that society is undergoing a historical regression.

Advanced sociological vocabulary and complex sentence structure.

نویسنده با فلاش‌بک‌های متعدد، خواننده را مدام به عقب می‌کشاند.

With numerous flashbacks, the author constantly drags the reader backwards.

Literary analysis context.

در مواجهه با بحران، غریزه بقا گاهی انسان را به عقب و رفتارهای بدوی سوق می‌دهد.

In the face of crisis, the survival instinct sometimes drives humans backwards to primitive behaviors.

Psychological and evolutionary context.

هرگونه مماشات در این زمینه، مترادف با حرکت به عقب خواهد بود.

Any appeasement in this matter will be synonymous with moving backwards.

Formal political discourse.

او در نوستالژی غرق شده بود و نگاهش پیوسته به عقب و گذشته‌ای دست‌نیافتنی بود.

He was drowning in nostalgia, his gaze constantly backwards toward an unattainable past.

Poetic and emotive use of the phrase.

رکود تورمی فعلی، اقتصاد کشور را سال‌ها به عقب رانده است.

The current stagflation has driven the country's economy backwards by years.

Advanced economic terminology.

گاهی برای جهش به جلو، ناگزیر از برداشتن چند گام به عقب هستیم.

Sometimes, to leap forward, we are inevitably forced to take a few steps backward.

Idiomatic expression of strategic retreat.

تحلیل‌گران این توافق را نه یک پیشرفت، بلکه یک عقب‌گرد و نگاه به عقب تفسیر کردند.

Analysts interpreted this agreement not as progress, but as a retreat and a look backwards.

Using multiple related terms (عقب‌گرد, نگاه به عقب) for rhetorical effect.

درنگرستن به عقب، نه از سر حسرت، که برای استخراج معنا از دل ویرانه‌های زمان است.

Looking back is not out of regret, but to extract meaning from the heart of the ruins of time.

Highly literary and philosophical sentence structure.

مفهوم زمان در این اثر خطی نیست؛ راوی در یک هزارتوی زمانی مدام به عقب و جلو پرتاب می‌شود.

The concept of time in this work is not linear; the narrator is constantly thrown backwards and forwards in a temporal labyrinth.

Advanced literary criticism.

ارتجاع فکری، خطرناک‌ترین نوع حرکت به عقب است که پایه‌های تمدن را سست می‌کند.

Intellectual reactionism is the most dangerous kind of backward movement that weakens the foundations of civilization.

Deep socio-political and philosophical commentary.

او با طنزی تلخ، پیشرفت‌های تکنولوژیک را صرفاً ابزاری برای تسریع حرکت بشریت به عقب توصیف کرد.

With bitter irony, he described technological advancements merely as a tool to accelerate humanity's backward movement.

Expressing complex irony and critical theory.

حافظه تاریخی قوم، با هر بحران، ناخودآگاه به عقب و به سوی اسطوره‌های کهن پناه می‌برد.

The historical memory of the people, with every crisis, unconsciously takes refuge backwards towards ancient myths.

Anthropological and cultural analysis.

سیاستمدار کهنه‌کار می‌دانست که در شطرنج قدرت، گاهی یک حرکت به عقب، مقدمه مات کردن حریف است.

The veteran politician knew that in the chess of power, sometimes a backward move is the prelude to checkmating the opponent.

Metaphorical use in strategic analysis.

در این بن‌بست اگزیستانسیال، نه راهی به پیش بود و نه توانی برای بازگشت به عقب.

In this existential dead end, there was neither a way forward nor the strength to return backwards.

Existential philosophy context.

نوستالژی افراطی، جامعه را در یک فلج تحلیلی گرفتار کرده و نگاه به عقب را جایگزین چشم‌انداز آینده می‌سازد.

Extreme nostalgia traps society in analytical paralysis, replacing the vision of the future with a look backwards.

Advanced sociological critique.

Collocations courantes

حرکت به عقب

نگاه به عقب

برگشتن به عقب

راندن به عقب

قدم به عقب

رفتن به عقب

کشیدن به عقب

گام به عقب

افتادن به عقب

رانندگی به عقب

Phrases Courantes

یک قدم به عقب

نگاهی به عقب

بازگشت به عقب

دنده عقب

حرکت رو به عقب

بدون نگاه به عقب

به عقب برگشتن

به عقب راندن

به عقب کشیدن

سیر به عقب

Souvent confondu avec

به عقب vs پشت سر (Behind the head/person)

به عقب vs گذشته (The past)

به عقب vs پس (Then/Back)

Expressions idiomatiques

"یک قدم به جلو، دو قدم به عقب"

"نگاه به عقب داشتن"

"به عقب راندن کسی"

"پل‌های پشت سر را خراب کردن (related concept)"

"به گذشته برگشتن"

"درجا زدن و به عقب رفتن"

"عقب‌گرد زدن"

"چرخ زمان را به عقب برگرداندن"

"به عقب پرتاب شدن"

"عقب‌نشینی تاکتیکی"

Facile à confondre

به عقب vs

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

literal vs metaphorical

The literal use is neutral, but the metaphorical use regarding progress is almost always negative.

omission of preposition

In highly colloquial Tehrani Persian, the preposition 'به' is often dropped entirely, resulting in just 'عقب' (e.g., 'برو عقب' instead of 'برو به عقب').

Erreurs courantes

Using 'به عقب' to mean 'in the past' (e.g., saying 'در به عقب' instead of 'در گذشته').
Writing it as a single word 'به‌عقب' instead of two separate words.
Pronouncing the 'ق' as a hard English 'k', which sounds unnatural.
Stacking prepositions, such as saying 'به سمت به عقب' instead of just 'به عقب' or 'به سمت عقب'.
Using it with static verbs like 'بودن' (to be) to describe location, instead of 'در عقب'.

Astuces

Verb Placement

Always place 'به عقب' before the main verb in formal writing. For example, 'او به عقب رفت' is correct, while 'او رفت به عقب' is colloquial.

Mastering the Qaf

Practice the 'ق' sound by gargling slightly. It's the same sound as the 'gh' in 'قرمه‌سبزی' (Ghormeh Sabzi).

Collocation Focus

Memorize 'به عقب' with its most common verbs: رفتن (to go), برگشتن (to return), and نگاه کردن (to look).

Driving Context

If you are in Iran, you will hear 'عقب' constantly when cars are parking. It's a high-frequency survival word for navigating streets.

Metaphorical Use

In essays, use 'یک گام به عقب' (a step backward) to sound more sophisticated when criticizing a bad decision.

Dropping the Preposition

When listening to native speakers, be prepared to hear just 'عقب' instead of 'به عقب' in fast-paced conversations.

Expressing Regret

Use 'کاش می‌توانستم به عقب برگردم' (I wish I could go back) to express deep regret about a past event.

Journalistic Tone

In news articles, look for 'عقب‌گرد' as a stronger, single-word alternative to 'حرکت به عقب'.

Physical Action

When practicing the word, physically take a step back. Associating the word with body movement helps lock it into memory.

Avoid Double Prepositions

Never say 'از به عقب'. Choose one preposition based on what you want to say ('از عقب' = from the back, 'به عقب' = to the back).

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine a CAB (ghab) driving backwards. 'Be a-ghab' means to go backwards.

Origine du mot

Arabic root ع-ق-ب ('-q-b)

Contexte culturel

In Iranian driving culture, 'دنده عقب' (reverse gear) is a common phrase, and you will often hear people directing drivers with 'بیا، بیا، خوبه' (come, come, good) while they are moving 'به عقب'.

When asking someone to move back in a crowded place, it is polite to add 'لطفاً' (please) and use the plural/formal verb 'بروید' instead of 'برو'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"وقتی به عقب نگاه می‌کنی، بهترین خاطره‌ات چیست؟"

"آیا فکر می‌کنی جامعه ما رو به جلو است یا به عقب؟"

"چرا گاهی در زندگی به عقب برمی‌گردیم؟"

"تفاوت بین نگاه به عقب و حسرت خوردن چیست؟"

"چگونه می‌توانیم از حرکت به عقب در کار جلوگیری کنیم؟"

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a time you had to take a step backwards to succeed.

Describe a historical event that felt like a move backwards for humanity.

Reflect on your language learning journey: have you ever felt you were moving backwards?

Write a story about a character who can only walk backwards.

Discuss the phrase 'Time never goes backwards' and what it means to you.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Not directly as a noun. You cannot say 'در به عقب' to mean 'in the past'. You must use 'در گذشته'. However, you can say 'نگاه به عقب' to mean 'looking back at the past'.

It is written as two separate words: 'به' and 'عقب'. Writing them together as 'به‌عقب' is considered a typographical error in standard Persian orthography.

The specific term for reverse gear in a car is 'دنده عقب' (dandeh aghab). You don't use the preposition 'به' in this specific compound noun.

Yes, in very informal, spoken Persian, especially when giving quick commands like 'برو عقب' (go back) or 'بیا عقب' (come back), the 'به' is frequently omitted.

The most direct antonym is 'به جلو' (be jolow), which means 'forward' or 'to the front'.

No, 'به عقب' is an adverbial phrase and remains completely invariable regardless of the subject's gender, number, or the tense of the verb.

Absolutely. 'سفر به عقب در زمان' (traveling backwards in time) is the perfect and natural way to express this concept in Persian.

On its own, it is a direct command and can sound rude. To make it polite, add 'لطفاً' (please) and use the formal verb: 'لطفاً به عقب بروید'.

It is a voiced uvular stop or fricative, similar to the French 'r' but pronounced deeper in the throat. It is not a hard English 'k' or 'g'.

Yes, 'حرکت به عقب' (backward movement) is a very common phrase in journalism to describe economic recession or policy failures.

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Teste-toi 200 questions

writing

Write a sentence telling someone to step back.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

لطفاً یک قدم به عقب بروید.