وجهه
وجهه en 30 secondes
- Vajheh (وجهه) is a formal Persian noun meaning reputation, prestige, or public image.
- It is primarily used in professional, political, and social contexts to describe standing.
- Commonly paired with verbs like 'hefz kardan' (preserve) and 'takhrib kardan' (destroy).
- It differs from 'shohrat' (fame) by focusing on the quality of one's image.
The Persian word وجهه (pronounced 'vaj-heh') is a sophisticated noun that translates primarily to 'reputation,' 'prestige,' or 'public image.' While the English word 'reputation' can be used in almost any context, vajheh is specifically tied to the social or professional standing an individual, organization, or country holds in the eyes of others. It originates from the Arabic root meaning 'face' or 'aspect,' which provides a beautiful metaphor: it is the 'face' you present to the world. In the Iranian cultural context, which places a high value on social standing and the concept of 'saving face,' this word carries significant weight. It is not merely about being known (which would be shohrat or fame), but about the quality and dignity of that recognition.
- Professional Context
- In business, a company might spend millions to improve its vajheh after a scandal. It refers to the brand's integrity and how trustworthy it appears to the public.
- Political Context
- Diplomats often talk about the vajheh-ye beyn-ol-melali (international image) of a nation, referring to its standing and influence in global affairs.
این رسوایی بزرگ، وجهه شرکت را به شدت تخریب کرد.
Understanding vajheh requires understanding that it is something built over years but can be lost in a moment. Unlike 'prestige' which can sometimes feel elitist, vajheh is a necessity for anyone operating in a social sphere. Whether you are a teacher, a doctor, or a local shopkeeper, your vajheh determines how much people trust your word and your work. It is often paired with verbs like 'built' (sakhtan), 'protected' (hefz kardan), or 'damaged' (khadshedar kardan).
او به عنوان یک استاد دانشگاه، وجهه بسیار خوبی در میان دانشجویان دارد.
- Social Nuance
- In Iranian culture, maintaining one's vajheh is often linked to the concept of 'aberu' (honor/credit). However, vajheh is more formal and public-facing, whereas 'aberu' is more personal and family-oriented.
دولت تلاش میکند وجهه خود را در عرصه بینالمللی بهبود بخشد.
Using وجهه correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a noun and the common verbs it associates with. In Persian, nouns like vajheh often form the core of a sentence's meaning regarding social perception. You will frequently find it used with the 'ezafe' construction (the short 'e' sound) to link it to a possessor, such as vajheh-ye man (my reputation) or vajheh-ye sherkat (the company's reputation).
- Building Reputation
- To say someone has built a reputation, use 'kasb kardan' (to acquire) or 'sakhtan' (to build). Example: 'He acquired a good reputation.' (او وجهه خوبی کسب کرد.)
صداقت او باعث شد که وجهه مثبتی در جامعه داشته باشد.
When discussing the loss or damage of a reputation, Persian speakers use powerful verbs like 'takhrib kardan' (to destroy/demolish) or 'khadshedar kardan' (to scratch/mar). These words emphasize the fragility of one's public standing. If you do something that 'looks bad,' you might say 'in kar vajheh-ye khubi nadarad' (this action doesn't have a good image/looks bad).
- Maintaining/Saving Face
- The verb 'hefz kardan' (to protect/preserve) is the standard partner for vajheh when discussing the effort to keep one's status intact.
مدیر عامل برای حفظ وجهه سازمان، تمام مسئولیت را بر عهده گرفت.
In formal writing, you might encounter vajheh in the context of 'vajheh-ye ghanuni' (legal standing or legal aspect). However, in everyday B2-level Persian, the focus remains on social and professional prestige. It is a word that helps you discuss complex social dynamics, making it essential for professional conversations and news comprehension.
رفتار غیرحرفهای او به وجهه کل تیم آسیب زد.
- Formal vs. Informal
- While 'vajheh' is formal, it is used in neutral daily speech when discussing careers or social standing. In very slang contexts, people might use 'shakhsiat' (personality) or 'aberu', but 'vajheh' remains the most precise term for 'image'.
You are most likely to encounter وجهه in professional environments, news broadcasts, and serious social discussions. It is a staple of Persian media. When a journalist discusses a politician's standing or a company's market position, vajheh is the go-to term. For example, during an election cycle, analysts frequently discuss the vajheh-ye mardomi (popular image) of the candidates.
- In the Office
- During a meeting about branding or public relations (PR), you will hear: 'We need to work on our public image.' (ما باید روی وجهه عمومی خود کار کنیم.)
اخبار دیشب درباره وجهه اقتصادی کشور در جهان بود.
In academic settings, professors might use it to discuss the 'standing' of a particular theory or the 'prestige' of an institution. In the legal world, it refers to the 'aspect' or 'standing' of a case. However, its most frequent 'real-world' use among Persian speakers is in the context of social etiquette and professional ethics. If someone acts in a way that is beneath their station, a bystander might whisper, 'In baraye vajheh-ye un khub nist' (This isn't good for their image).
- In Literature and Opinion Pieces
- Modern Persian literature and editorials often use vajheh to critique social hypocrisy or to praise someone's unwavering integrity.
این جایزه بینالمللی، وجهه علمی دانشگاه ما را ارتقا داد.
Finally, in the world of social media, 'vajheh' is used when discussing influencers and their 'personal brand.' While the word 'brand' has been borrowed into Persian, vajheh is still used to describe the underlying reputation that the brand represents. If an influencer is caught in a lie, people will say their vajheh is ruined.
One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using وجهه is confusing it with other words for 'face' or 'reputation.' Because vajheh is derived from the Arabic word for 'face,' learners sometimes try to use it literally. You cannot say 'I washed my وجهه' or 'Your وجهه is beautiful' (referring to physical features). For physical face, use soorat or chehreh.
- Confusing with 'Shohrat'
- Mistake: Using 'vajheh' to mean 'fame.' If someone is just famous but has a bad reputation, they have high 'shohrat' but low 'vajheh.' They are not interchangeable.
غلط: او وجهه زیادی در اینستاگرام دارد (به معنی مشهور بودن).
Another common pitfall is the pronunciation. The final 'h' (ه) in vajheh is a 'silent h' or 'he-ye maktuub,' which in modern Persian functions as a vowel 'e.' However, because it is spelled with a 'h,' some learners try to pronounce a heavy 'h' sound at the end. It should sound like 'vaj-he,' ending in a short 'e' sound, similar to the end of the English word 'cafe' but shorter.
- The Ezafe Trap
- When adding a possessive, you must add a 'ye' sound: 'vajheh-ye man.' Many beginners forget this and say 'vajheh man,' which is grammatically incorrect.
اشتباه: او برای شستن وجهه خود به حمام رفت.
Lastly, remember that vajheh is a noun of 'standing.' It is passive. You don't 'do' a vajheh; you 'have' one, 'build' one, or 'lose' one. Avoid using it as a verb. Some learners try to force it into a verb construction where it doesn't belong. Stick to the collocations mentioned in the previous sections to sound natural.
To truly master وجهه, you must understand where it sits in the cluster of Persian words related to reputation and character. Persian has a rich vocabulary for social standing, and choosing the right word depends entirely on the context—whether it's legal, social, personal, or professional.
- Vajheh vs. Aberu
- Vajheh: Public image, prestige, professional standing. (More formal).
Aberu: Personal honor, dignity, 'face' in a moral sense. (More personal/intense).
- Vajheh vs. Shohrat
- Vajheh: Quality of reputation (Good/Bad).
Shohrat: Level of fame (How many people know you).
او هنرمند مشهوری است (شهرت)، اما وجهه خوبی در بین همکارانش ندارد.
Other alternatives include e'tebar (credit/credibility) and shakhsiat (personality/character). E'tebar is often used in financial or academic contexts (like 'credit' in a bank or 'credibility' of a source). Shakhsiat refers to the internal character, though it can sometimes be used to mean 'status' (e.g., 'a high-ranking personality').
- Vajheh vs. Heysiat
- Heysiat: Prestige or dignity, often used in legal or very formal social contexts. It is very close to vajheh but feels slightly more old-fashioned or heavy.
برای یک تاجر، وجهه و اعتبار از پول مهمتر است.
In summary, use vajheh when you want to sound professional and focus on the 'image' or 'standing' of someone in a larger group. Use aberu for personal honor, shohrat for fame, and e'tebar for trust/credibility. Mastering these distinctions will make your Persian sound much more nuanced and native-like.
Guide de prononciation
- Pronouncing the final 'h' heavily like a breathy sound.
- Making the final 'e' sound like 'ay' as in 'stay'.
- Confusing the 'j' (ج) sound with 'zh' (ژ).
- Lengthening the first 'a' vowel too much.
- Forgetting to link it with the 'ezafe' (ye) when followed by another word.
Exemples par niveau
او وجهه خوبی دارد.
He has a good reputation.
Simple subject + noun + adjective + verb.
این وجهه بد است.
This image is bad.
Demonstrative pronoun usage.
آیا او وجهه خوبی در مدرسه دارد؟
Does he have a good reputation in school?
Interrogative sentence structure.
وجهه من مهم است.
My reputation is important.
Possessive ezafe: وجهه من.
او وجهه مهربانی دارد.
He has a kind image.
Adjective 'kind' modifying 'reputation'.
وجهه این رستوران عالی است.
The reputation of this restaurant is excellent.
Ezafe connecting noun to noun.
نام او وجهه خوبی دارد.
His name has a good reputation.
Subject is 'his name'.
ما وجهه خوبی میخواهیم.
We want a good reputation.
First person plural subject.
او در محله وجهه خوبی کسب کرده است.
He has acquired a good reputation in the neighborhood.
Present perfect tense: کسب کرده است.
این کار برای وجهه شما خوب نیست.
This action is not good for your reputation.
Preposition 'baraye' (for).
همه به وجهه او احترام میگذارند.
Everyone respects his reputation.
Compound verb: احترام گذاشتن.
وجهه شرکت ما در خطر است.
Our company's reputation is in danger.
Prepositional phrase 'dar khatar' (in danger).
او سعی میکند وجهه خود را حفظ کند.
He tries to preserve his reputation.
Infinitive construction: سعی میکند ... حفظ کند.
دروغ گفتن وجهه را خراب میکند.
Lying ruins the reputation.
Gerund as subject: دروغ گفتن.
او وجهه یک معلم دلسوز را دارد.
She has the image of a compassionate teacher.
Noun-noun ezafe: وجهه یک معلم.
آیا وجهه عمومی او مثبت است؟
Is his public image positive?
Adjective 'omumi' (public).
مدیر جدید وجهه سازمان را تغییر داد.
The new manager changed the organization's image.
Simple past tense.
او برای حفظ وجهه حرفهای خود، سخت تلاش میکند.
He works hard to maintain his professional reputation.
Purpose clause with 'baraye'.
این شایعات به وجهه او آسیب زد.
These rumors damaged his reputation.
Compound verb: آسیب زدن.
وجهه بینالمللی این کشور در حال بهبود است.
The international image of this country is improving.
Continuous tense: در حال بهبود است.
او همیشه نگران وجهه خود در میان دوستانش است.
He is always worried about his image among his friends.
Adjective 'negaran' (worried) + preposition 'az/darbareh'.
یک اشتباه کوچک میتواند وجهه شما را تخریب کند.
A small mistake can destroy your reputation.
Modal verb: میتواند.
او وجهه بسیار مذهبی در جامعه دارد.
He has a very religious image in society.
Adjective 'mazhabi' (religious).
ما باید روی وجهه تجاری خود بیشتر کار کنیم.
We need to work more on our commercial reputation.
Subjunctive mood: کار کنیم.
رسوایی مالی اخیر، وجهه بانک را به شدت خدشهدار کرد.
The recent financial scandal severely marred the bank's reputation.
Advanced verb: خدشهدار کردن.
او با رفتارش وجهه کل خانواده را زیر سوال برد.
With his behavior, he brought the whole family's reputation into question.
Idiomatic phrase: زیر سوال بردن.
وجهه دموکراتیک این نهاد باید تقویت شود.
The democratic image of this institution must be strengthened.
Passive voice: تقویت شود.
او وجهه خود را فدای حقیقت کرد.
He sacrificed his reputation for the truth.
Compound verb: فدا کردن.
این سیاستمدار وجهه بسیار کاریزماتیکی دارد.
This politician has a very charismatic image.
Loanword: کاریزماتیک.
تلاشهای او برای بازسازی وجههاش بینتیجه بود.
His efforts to rebuild his reputation were fruitless.
Noun 'baz-sazi' (reconstruction).
وجهه علمی او در سطح جهانی شناخته شده است.
His scientific reputation is recognized globally.
Passive participle: شناخته شده.
او نگران بود که این خبر وجهه او را نزد مردم خراب کند.
He was worried that this news would ruin his reputation with the people.
Subordinate clause with 'ke'.
وجهه حقوقی این پرونده هنوز ابهاماتی دارد.
The legal aspect of this case still has ambiguities.
Technical use of 'vajheh' as 'aspect'.
تخریب وجهه رقیب، استراتژی اصلی آنها در انتخابات بود.
Destroying the rival's reputation was their main strategy in the election.
Gerund construction: تخریب وجهه.
او با ظرافت خاصی وجهه خود را در محافل روشنفکری حفظ کرده است.
He has maintained his reputation in intellectual circles with a particular elegance.
Adverbial phrase: با ظرافت خاصی.
این بحران، وجهه اخلاقی جامعه را به چالش کشیده است.
This crisis has challenged the moral image of society.
Idiom: به چالش کشیدن.
وجهه نمادین این بنا برای تاریخ ما بسیار حیاتی است.
The symbolic aspect of this building is vital for our history.
Adjective 'namadin' (symbolic).
او تلاش کرد تا از وجهه خود به عنوان یک مصلح اجتماعی دفاع کند.
He tried to defend his reputation as a social reformer.
Prepositional phrase: به عنوان یک...
وجهه عمومی او پس از انتشار کتابش به کلی تغییر کرد.
His public image completely changed after the publication of his book.
Adverbial phrase: به کلی (completely).
سیاستهای ریاضتی به وجهه دولت در میان طبقه کارگر لطمه زد.
Austerity policies hurt the government's image among the working class.
Verb: لطمه زدن (to damage/hurt).
وجهه هستیشناسانه این نظریه در فلسفه معاصر مورد بحث است.
The ontological aspect of this theory is debated in contemporary philosophy.
Highly technical adjective: هستیشناسانه (ontological).
او در پی آن است که وجههای قدسی به اقدامات خود ببخشد.
He seeks to give a sacred image to his actions.
Subjunctive with 'bakhshidan'.
تقلیل مفاهیم اخلاقی به وجهه و پرستیژ، از ویژگیهای دنیای مدرن است.
The reduction of moral concepts to reputation and prestige is a characteristic of the modern world.
Complex noun phrase as subject.
او وجههای متناقض از خود در تاریخ به جای گذاشته است.
He has left a contradictory image of himself in history.
Adjective 'motenaghez' (contradictory).
وجهه زیباییشناختی این اثر بر جنبههای فنی آن غلبه دارد.
The aesthetic aspect of this work prevails over its technical aspects.
Verb: غلبه داشتن (to prevail/overcome).
او مدعی است که وجهه عمومی، تنها برداشتی سطحی از حقیقت است.
He claims that public image is only a superficial perception of truth.
Noun 'bardasht' (perception/interpretation).
تحکیم وجهه سیاسی در گرو تعاملات سازنده با نهادهای مدنی است.
Strengthening political standing depends on constructive interactions with civil institutions.
Idiom: در گروِ (dependent on).
وجهه تراژیک زندگی او در آثار متأخرش به خوبی نمایان است.
The tragic aspect of his life is well-apparent in his later works.
Adjective 'namayan' (apparent).
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— It doesn't look good; it's socially unacceptable.
تنهایی رفتن به آنجا وجهه خوبی ندارد.
— To use one's reputation to achieve something.
او از وجهه خود مایه گذاشت تا وام بگیرد.
— To focus all efforts on something (formal).
او خدمت به خلق را وجهه همت خود قرار داد.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To keep up appearances or maintain one's 'vajheh' despite poverty or hardship.
او با وجود فقر، صورت خود را با سیلی سرخ نگه میدارد تا وجههاش حفظ شود.
Informal/Idiomatic— To cause a public scandal that ruins 'vajheh'.
او با آن رفتار، آبروریزی بزرگی کرد.
General— The main goal or focus of one's efforts.
او پیشرفت علمی را وجهه همت خود قرار داد.
Formal— To lose value or reputation (like a coin losing its currency).
پس از آن ماجرا، او دیگر از سکه افتاد و وجههاش را از دست داد.
Informal— Reputation and disgrace.
او دیگر پروای نام و ننگ ندارد و به وجههاش اهمیت نمیدهد.
Literary— Honorable reputation (literally 'white-facedness').
او با موفقیت در این کار، باعث سفیدرویی و افزایش وجهه خانواده شد.
Literary— To become notoriously famous (bad reputation).
او به خاطر کارهای عجیبش در شهر انگشتنما شده و وجههاش خراب گشته است.
General— To act shamelessly, destroying the 'vajheh' of a situation.
او در جلسه پردهدری کرد و وجهه همه را برد.
Formal— To ruin oneself or one's reputation (very informal).
با این کار خاک بر سر وجهه خودت کردی!
Slang— To reject someone's request, potentially hurting their 'vajheh'.
او خواهش من را رد کرد و روی من را زمین انداخت.
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Summary
The word 'وجهه' is your 'social face.' While 'shohrat' is how many people know you, 'vajheh' is how much they respect you. For example: 'A scandal can destroy a company's وجهه (reputation) even if it remains famous.'
- Vajheh (وجهه) is a formal Persian noun meaning reputation, prestige, or public image.
- It is primarily used in professional, political, and social contexts to describe standing.
- Commonly paired with verbs like 'hefz kardan' (preserve) and 'takhrib kardan' (destroy).
- It differs from 'shohrat' (fame) by focusing on the quality of one's image.
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