روشن بودن
روشن بودن en 30 secondes
- Used for lights, electronics, and engines being 'on'.
- Formed from 'roshan' (bright) and 'budan' (to be).
- Essential for daily household and technical conversations.
- Contrasts with 'khamush budan' (to be off).
The Persian verb phrase روشن بودن (Roshan budan) is a fundamental compound verb that every intermediate learner must master. At its core, it describes the state of being 'on' or 'illuminated.' Unlike English, which might use different words for a light being on versus a computer being on, Persian uses this versatile phrase for almost anything that consumes power or produces light. It is composed of the adjective روشن (bright/light/clear) and the auxiliary verb بودن (to be).
- Literal Meaning
- To be bright or to be in a state of light. This refers to the physical presence of photons or the activation of a filament.
- Functional Meaning
- To be powered on, running, or operational. This applies to electronics, engines, and heaters.
- Abstract Meaning
- In literary or formal contexts, it can mean to be clear, enlightened, or evident to the mind.
چرا چراغهای اتاق هنوز روشن هستند؟ (Why are the room lights still on?)
You will encounter this word daily. Whether you are walking into a dark house and noticing the TV is on, or checking if the car engine is running, 'Roshan budan' is the go-to expression. It carries a sense of activity and presence. In the winter, Iranians will often ask if the 'Bokhāri' (heater) is 'Roshan,' referring to the pilot light or the heating element being active.
کامپیوتر من تمام شب روشن بود. (My computer was on all night.)
Grammatically, روشن بودن functions as a stative verb phrase. Because it uses the verb 'to be' (budan), it changes according to the subject and the tense. It is most commonly used in the present indicative (hastam, hasti, ast...) and the simple past (budam, budi, bud...).
- Present Tense
- Used to describe the current state of an object. Example: 'تلویزیون روشن است' (The TV is on).
- Past Tense
- Used to describe a state that existed previously. Example: 'ماشین روشن بود' (The car was on/running).
آیا مایکروویو روشن است؟ (Is the microwave on?)
When using it with plural subjects, like 'lights' (cherāgh-hā), remember to match the verb: 'چراغها روشن هستند'. In colloquial speech, 'hastand' often becomes 'an' (cherāgh-hā roshan-an). Understanding this transition is key for B1 learners moving toward fluency. Furthermore, you can use it with adverbs of degree like 'kam-nur' (dimly) to say 'dimly lit,' though 'roshan' itself usually implies a standard operational state.
همه چراغهای خیابان روشن بودند. (All the streetlights were on.)
In the bustling streets of Tehran or in a quiet Iranian household, روشن بودن is ubiquitous. You will hear it in the kitchen when someone asks if the stove is on, in the office regarding computers, and in the car regarding the engine or headlights. It is a word of utility and safety.
- At Home
- 'کولر روشنه؟' (Is the AC on?) - A vital question during the scorching Iranian summers.
- In a Car
- 'چراغهای جلو روشن هستند.' (The headlights are on.) - Often heard as a reminder from passersby.
گوشیات هنوز روشن است؛ پیامهایت را چک کن. (Your phone is still on; check your messages.)
You might also hear it in news broadcasts referring to the 'status' of certain facilities. For instance, 'نیروگاه روشن است' (The power plant is operational/on). In a more metaphorical sense, a 'roshan' future (āyandeye roshan) is a common phrase, though there it functions as a simple adjective rather than the verb phrase 'roshan budan'.
Learners often struggle with the distinction between 'being on' and 'turning on.' Here are the most frequent pitfalls to avoid when using روشن بودن.
- Confusing State with Action
- Using 'roshan budan' when you mean 'to turn on' (roshan kardan). You cannot say 'I am on the light' in Persian.
- Incorrect Auxiliary
- Using 'shodan' (to become) instead of 'budan' (to be). 'Roshan shodan' means 'to get turned on,' which is a process, not a state.
Mistake: من چراغ را روشن بودم. (Incorrect)
Correct: من چراغ را روشن کردم. (I turned on the light.)
Another mistake is applying 'roshan' to things that are 'open' but not 'on.' For example, a window is 'bāz' (open), not 'roshan.' However, a shop can be 'bāz' (open for business) or 'dāyer' (active), but 'roshan' specifically refers to the lights or equipment inside being on.
While روشن بودن is the standard term, there are synonyms and related terms depending on the context of 'being active.'
- Dāyer Budan (دایر بودن)
- Used for institutions or businesses being 'in operation.' A hospital is 'dāyer,' but its lights are 'roshan.'
- Kār Kardan (کار کردن)
- Literally 'to work.' If a machine is 'on' and functioning, you can say 'kār mikonad' (it is working).
- Nurāni (نورانی)
- An adjective meaning 'luminous' or 'full of light,' often used in religious or poetic contexts.
دستگاه در حال کار کردن است. (The device is working/on.)
How Formal Is It?
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'Roshan' is also a very popular name in Iran, India, and Pakistan, meaning 'luminous' or 'celebrated'.
Guide de prononciation
- Pronouncing 'roshan' as 'rushan' (like Russian).
- Shortening the 'u' in 'budan'.
- Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.
- Merging the two words into one sound.
- Over-emphasizing the 'n' at the end.
Niveau de difficulté
Easy to recognize the components.
Requires correct spelling of 'roshan' and 'budan'.
Very common, though colloquial endings vary.
Can sound like one word in fast speech.
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Compound Verbs with 'Budan'
Stative verbs like 'roshan budan' describe a state.
Adjective-Noun Agreement
Roshan doesn't change, but 'budan' matches the subject.
Colloquial Contractions
Roshan ast -> Roshane.
Subjunctive Mood
Bāyad roshan bāshad (It must be on).
Past Habitual
Hamishe roshan bud (It used to be always on).
Exemples par niveau
چراغ روشن است.
The light is on.
Simple present tense: Subject + Adjective + Verb (ast).
اتاق روشن است.
The room is bright.
Here 'roshan' acts as a descriptive adjective.
تلویزیون روشن است.
The TV is on.
Common usage for electronics.
خورشید روشن است.
The sun is bright.
Describing a natural light source.
آیا رادیو روشن است؟
Is the radio on?
Question form using 'āyā'.
لامپ روشن نیست.
The lamp is not on.
Negative form 'nist'.
مانیتور روشن است.
The monitor is on.
Modern technology context.
آسمان روشن است.
The sky is bright/clear.
Describing weather or time of day.
دیروز چراغها روشن بودند.
Yesterday the lights were on.
Simple past tense (plural).
چرا کامپیوتر روشن بود؟
Why was the computer on?
Questioning a past state.
یخچال همیشه روشن است.
The fridge is always on.
Using 'hamishe' (always) to show constant state.
ماشین روشن بود اما حرکت نمیکرد.
The car was on but it wasn't moving.
Contrast using 'ammā' (but).
آیا مایکروویو روشن بود؟
Was the microwave on?
Past tense question.
همه اتاقها روشن هستند.
All the rooms are lit/bright.
Plural agreement 'hastand'.
گوشی من روشن نیست.
My phone is not on.
Possessive 'man' + negative.
بخاری روشن است، نگران نباش.
The heater is on, don't worry.
Imperative 'negarān nabāsh' added.
وقتی رسیدم، هنوز چراغهای مغازه روشن بودند.
When I arrived, the shop lights were still on.
Complex sentence with 'vaghti' (when).
او پرسید که آیا موتور ماشین روشن است یا نه.
He asked whether the car engine was on or not.
Indirect question 'āyā... yā na'.
باید مطمئن شویم که سیستم امنیتی روشن است.
We must make sure the security system is on.
Using 'motmaen shodan' (to make sure).
اگر چراغ روشن باشد، یعنی کسی در خانه است.
If the light is on, it means someone is home.
Conditional 'agar' with subjunctive 'bāshad'.
چراغهای خیابان به طور خودکار روشن هستند.
The streetlights are on automatically.
Adverbial phrase 'be tore khodkār'.
مانیتورها در تمام طول شب روشن بودهاند.
The monitors have been on all night.
Present perfect 'bude-and'.
اجاق گاز روشن بود و بوی غذا میآمد.
The stove was on and it smelled like food.
Describing a scene in the past.
فکر میکردم تلویزیون روشن است، اما اشتباه میکردم.
I thought the TV was on, but I was wrong.
Contrast of belief vs. reality.
وضعیت دستگاه نشان میدهد که مدار اصلی روشن است.
The device status indicates that the main circuit is on.
Technical context 'vaz'iyat' (status).
با وجود اینکه روز بود، تمام پروژکتورها روشن بودند.
Despite it being day, all the projectors were on.
Concession 'bā vojud-e inke'.
او همیشه چراغ مطالعهاش را روشن میگذارد.
He always leaves his reading lamp on.
Resultative use with 'gozāshtan'.
آیا میدانید چرا این چراغ هشدار روشن است؟
Do you know why this warning light is on?
Noun phrase 'cherāgh-e hoshdār'.
پیکسلهای سوخته حتی وقتی صفحه روشن است، سیاه میمانند.
Dead pixels stay black even when the screen is on.
Scientific/Technical explanation.
تأسیسات هستهای در حالت آمادهباش روشن هستند.
The nuclear facilities are on in standby mode.
Formal/Political context.
ذهن او همیشه برای یادگیری روشن است.
His mind is always 'on' (alert) for learning.
Metaphorical usage.
چراغ قوه به دلیل ضعف باتری به سختی روشن بود.
The flashlight was barely on due to low battery.
Adverbial 'be sakhti' (barely).
در متون عرفانی، قلب مؤمن همواره به نور الهی روشن است.
In mystical texts, the believer's heart is always lit by divine light.
Literary/Sufi context.
گزارشها حاکی از آن است که نیروگاه با حداکثر ظرفیت روشن است.
Reports indicate the power plant is on at maximum capacity.
Journalistic style 'hāki az'.
باید بررسی کرد که آیا زیرساختهای لازم روشن و فعال هستند.
It must be examined whether the necessary infrastructures are on and active.
Passive construction 'bāyad barrasi kard'.
تا زمانی که امید در دل ما روشن باشد، شکست نمیخوریم.
As long as hope is 'on' (alight) in our hearts, we won't fail.
Abstract metaphorical usage.
چراغهای تئاتر تا پایان اجرا روشن ماندند.
The theater lights remained on until the end of the performance.
Using 'māndan' (to remain) as a variant of 'budan'.
در این تحلیل، ابعاد پنهان موضوع برای ما روشن است.
In this analysis, the hidden dimensions of the subject are clear (on/lit) to us.
Adjective 'roshan' meaning 'clear'.
سیستمهای تهویه به دلیل نقص فنی به طور مداوم روشن بودند.
The ventilation systems were constantly on due to a technical flaw.
Causal phrase 'be dalil-e'.
آیا این لامپهای الئیدی در حالت صرفهجویی روشن هستند؟
Are these LED bulbs on in power-saving mode?
Specific technical terminology.
تجلی حقیقت در کلام او چنان است که گویی چراغی در تاریکی روشن است.
The manifestation of truth in his words is as if a lamp is lit in the darkness.
High literary 'tajalli' (manifestation).
اطمینان حاصل کنید که گرههای شبکه در وضعیت عملیاتی روشن باشند.
Ensure that the network nodes are on in an operational state.
IT/Engineering professional jargon.
افقهای روشن پیش روی ملت، ثمره مقاومت است.
The 'on'/bright horizons before the nation are the fruit of resistance.
Political rhetoric.
چراغ دانش در این مرز و بوم همواره روشن بوده و خواهد بود.
The lamp of knowledge has always been and will be 'on' in this land.
Future/Past perfect combination.
حتی در غیاب خورشید، ماه به نور او روشن است.
Even in the absence of the sun, the moon is lit by its light.
Scientific/Poetic fact.
اینکه چرا این موتور با وجود نقص فنی روشن است، معمایی است.
Why this engine is on despite a technical fault is a mystery.
Complex noun clause subject.
در فلسفه اشراق، عالم به نور حق روشن است.
In Illuminationist philosophy, the world is lit by the light of Truth.
Philosophical terminology 'Eshraq'.
آیا مانیتورهای نظارتی در تمام شعب بانکی روشن هستند؟
Are the surveillance monitors on in all bank branches?
Logistical/Security context.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— A phrase of congratulations, literally 'his/her eye is bright'.
شنیدم پسرت برگشته، چشمت روشن!
Souvent confondu avec
Means 'to be open'. You open a door, but you turn 'on' a light.
Means 'to be awake'. Used for people, not machines.
Means 'to be in operation' for businesses, whereas 'roshan' is for devices.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To have a prosperous or 'lit' household/life.
خدا را شکر که چراغ خانهاش روشن است.
Informal/Poetic— To have a positive gut feeling about something.
دلم روشن است که او برمیگردد.
Informal— To shed light on a hidden matter.
پلیس بر زوایای تاریک پرونده چراغ قوه انداخت.
Metaphorical— To start something up (often a debate or activity).
او تنور انتخابات را روشن کرد.
Political— To be lucky or have a bright destiny.
ستاره اقبال او همیشه روشن است.
LiteraryFacile à confondre
Action vs. State.
Kardan is the act of switching, Budan is the state of being on.
من چراغ را روشن کردم (Action). چراغ روشن است (State).
Process vs. State.
Shodan is 'to become' or 'to get turned on'.
چراغ روشن شد (It became on).
Adjective vs. Verb phrase.
Nurāni describes quality, Roshan budan describes status.
اتاق نورانی است (The room is luminous).
Abstract clarity.
Vāzeh is only for concepts/sight; Roshan can be literal power.
صدای شما واضح است (Your voice is clear).
Color vs. Light.
Sefid is the color white; Roshan is light/bright.
دیوار سفید است (The wall is white).
Structures de phrases
[Object] roshan ast.
Lamp roshan ast.
[Object] roshan bud.
Radio roshan bud.
Vaghti [Subject] [Verb], [Object] roshan bud.
Vaghti āmadam, cherāgh roshan bud.
Bāyad [Object] roshan bāshad.
Bāyad system roshan bāshad.
[Abstract Subject] roshan ast.
Mas'ale roshan ast.
Guyi [Object] roshan ast.
Guyi cherāghi roshan ast.
Agar [Object] roshan bāshad...
Agar cherāgh roshan bāshad, khube.
Cherā [Object] roshan ast?
Cherā computer roshan ast?
Famille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Comment l'utiliser
Extremely high in daily life.
-
Using 'roshan budan' for 'opening' a door.
→
در باز است (Dar bāz ast).
Doors are open (bāz), lights are on (roshan).
-
Saying 'Man roshan hastam' to mean 'I am smart'.
→
من روشنفکر هستم.
You must use the compound adjective for people.
-
Confusing 'roshan bud' with 'roshan kard'.
→
چراغ روشن بود (The light was on).
Bud is state, Kard is action.
-
Using 'roshan' for the color white.
→
دیوار سفید است.
Roshan means bright/light, not specifically white.
-
Omitting the auxiliary verb.
→
چراغ روشن است.
You cannot just say 'Cherāgh roshan'.
Astuces
Verb Agreement
Ensure 'budan' matches the subject in number and person.
Compound Power
Learn 'roshan' with 'kardan' and 'shodan' together.
Social Cues
Use 'Chashmat Roshan' to show you care about someone's good news.
The 'O' Sound
Keep the 'o' in 'roshan' round and clear.
Energy Saving
Iranians often remind others to turn off lights; 'roshan budan' is often followed by a 'why?'
Inner Light
Use 'dalesh roshan ast' to describe someone's hope.
Device Status
Use it for any gadget with a screen or power light.
Literary Context
In poems, 'roshan' often refers to the soul or the beloved's face.
Spelling
Don't forget the 'vāv' (و) in 'roshan'.
Colloquialism
Train your ear for 'roshane' instead of 'roshan ast'.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Roshan' as 'Rays on'. When the 'Rays' are 'on', something is 'Roshan'.
Association visuelle
Imagine a bright yellow sun (Roshan) sitting on (budan) a lamp.
Word Web
Défi
Try to find five things in your room that are 'roshan' and say them out loud in Persian.
Origine du mot
Derived from Middle Persian 'rōšn', which comes from Old Persian 'rauxšna-'. It is cognate with Latin 'lux' and English 'light'.
Sens originel : Shining, radiant, or having the quality of light.
Indo-European -> Indo-Iranian -> Iranian -> Persian.Contexte culturel
No specific sensitivities; it is a very positive and neutral term.
In English, we say 'The light is on', whereas Persian says 'The light is bright/on'. The concept is identical but the adjective 'roshan' is more descriptive.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
At Home
- تلویزیون روشنه؟
- چراغ رو روشن بذار.
- یخچال روشنه.
- بخاری رو روشن کن.
In the Car
- چراغهای جلو روشنه.
- موتور روشنه.
- کولر ماشین روشنه؟
- چراغ سقف روشنه.
Office
- مانیتورت روشنه.
- پرینتر روشنه؟
- سیستمها روشن موندن.
- چراغ اتاق کنفرانس روشنه.
Public Places
- مغازه روشنه.
- چراغهای خیابان روشن شدن.
- تابلو روشن است.
- پله برقی روشنه.
Personal Feelings
- دلم روشنه.
- فکرم روشنه.
- آینده روشنه.
- تکلیفم روشنه.
Amorces de conversation
"ببخشید، آیا چراغهای ماشین من روشن است؟"
"چرا تمام چراغهای خانه روشن هستند؟"
"آیا میدانی چطور بفهمم مودم روشن است؟"
"دلت برای این پروژه روشن است یا نه؟"
"چرا تلویزیون را روشن گذاشتی و رفتی؟"
Sujets d'écriture
امروز چه چیزهایی در زندگی شما 'روشن' (امیدوارکننده) بود؟
توصیف کنید که وقتی وارد یک اتاق روشن میشوید چه حسی دارید.
آیا ترجیح میدهید هنگام خواب چراغی روشن باشد یا در تاریکی مطلق بخوابید؟
در مورد زمانی بنویسید که 'دلتان روشن بود' و اتفاق خوبی افتاد.
چرا صرفهجویی در روشن نگه داشتن لامپها مهم است؟
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsOnly metaphorically, like 'roshan-fekr' (intellectual) or 'dalesh roshan ast' (he is optimistic). You can't say a person is 'on' literally.
The direct opposite is 'khamush budan' (to be off/extinguished).
No, but it can describe colors, like 'ābi-ye roshan' (light blue).
You say 'Cherāgh hanuz roshan ast'.
Yes, 'Āftāb roshan ast' is correct to describe a bright day.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Yes, in contexts like 'The answer is clear' (Pāsokh roshan ast).
Usually, we use 'up' or 'active' (fa'āl), but 'roshan' might be used for the server.
It's a congratulatory phrase used when someone returns or something good happens.
You say 'roshan khāhad bud'.
Teste-toi 1 questions
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Summary
The phrase 'روشن بودن' is the standard way to describe any device or light in an active state. Example: 'تلویزیون روشن است' (The TV is on). It is versatile and used from A1 to C2 levels.
- Used for lights, electronics, and engines being 'on'.
- Formed from 'roshan' (bright) and 'budan' (to be).
- Essential for daily household and technical conversations.
- Contrasts with 'khamush budan' (to be off).
Verb Agreement
Ensure 'budan' matches the subject in number and person.
Compound Power
Learn 'roshan' with 'kardan' and 'shodan' together.
Social Cues
Use 'Chashmat Roshan' to show you care about someone's good news.
The 'O' Sound
Keep the 'o' in 'roshan' round and clear.
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