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A2 noun #9,500 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

زشتی

Q: How do you pluralize 'zashti'?

The plural is 'زشتیها' (zashti-ha), meaning 'uglinesses' or 'ugly things'.

zashti Top 9,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces زشتی en 30 secondes

Explication زشتی in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 'زشتی' (zashti) as the opposite of 'زیبایی' (zibayi), which means beauty. Just as you learn that a flower is 'ziba' (beautiful), you might learn that a trash can or a messy room has 'zashti' (ugliness). However, at this very beginning stage, you will mostly use the adjective 'zesht' (ugly). You use 'zashti' when you want to name the quality itself. For example, 'The ugliness of this color' (زشتیِ این رنگ). It is a simple noun. Think of it like adding '-ness' to 'ugly.' If you know 'zesht,' just add the 'ee' sound at the end to get 'zashti.' This word helps you talk about things you don't like looking at. It is a basic building block for expressing your opinions about the world around you in a simple way.

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At the A2 level, you start to use 'زشتی' (zashti) to describe more than just things you see. You can use it to talk about 'ugly' behavior. For example, if someone is mean, you can talk about the 'ugliness' of their behavior (زشتیِ رفتار). This is a very common way to use the word in Iran. You will also see it used in simple stories to contrast good and bad characters. You should practice the 'Ezafe' construction with this word, which means adding the '-ye' sound when you connect it to another word, like 'zashti-ye in otagh' (the ugliness of this room). At this level, 'zashti' helps you move from just describing objects to evaluating simple social situations and expressing your feelings about what is right and wrong in a basic way.

At the B1 level, 'زشتی' (zashti) becomes a tool for more complex discussion. You might use it in an essay to talk about social problems. For instance, you could discuss the 'ugliness of poverty' (زشتیِ فقر) or the 'ugliness of war' (زشتیِ جنگ). You are now moving into abstract concepts. You will notice that 'zashti' is often used in newspapers and on the news to criticize actions or events. You should also start to recognize it in Persian poetry or proverbs where it is contrasted with 'zibayi' (beauty) to talk about the human soul. At this stage, you should be comfortable using 'zashti' as a subject or an object in a sentence, and you should be able to explain why something possesses 'zashti' using more varied vocabulary.

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At the B2 level, you should understand the nuance between 'زشتی' (zashti) and its synonyms like 'napasandi' (unpleasantness). You will encounter 'zashti' in more sophisticated literature and opinion pieces. You might use it to describe the 'ugliness' of a political scandal or a complex social phenomenon. At this level, you should be able to use the word in debates, perhaps arguing about whether 'ugliness' in art can have a purpose. You will also see it used in psychological contexts, such as the 'ugliness of the ego' (زشتیِ نفس). Your use of the word should reflect an understanding of its moral weight in Persian culture, where 'zashti' is often seen as a lack of harmony or a departure from the natural, 'beautiful' state of things.

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At the C1 level, 'زشتی' (zashti) is used in philosophical and aesthetic discourse. You will read texts where authors explore the 'phenomenology of ugliness' or the 'aesthetics of ugliness' (زیبایی‌شناسیِ زشتی). You should be able to discuss how 'zashti' is used as a literary device in the works of famous Persian writers like Sadegh Hedayat, who often focused on the dark and 'ugly' sides of life. You will also encounter the more formal Arabic synonym 'qubh' (moral vileness) and should be able to distinguish when to use 'zashti' versus 'qubh' based on the register of your writing. Your mastery of 'zashti' at this level involves understanding its deep roots in Persian ethical philosophy and its role in defining the boundaries of social and moral acceptability.

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At the C2 level, your understanding of 'زشتی' (zashti) is near-native. You can appreciate the subtle ways it is used in classical Persian poetry (like Rumi or Saadi) to describe the spiritual 'ugliness' that veils the divine beauty. You can use the word in highly academic or creative writing to discuss complex themes of existence, morality, and art. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its related terms. You can engage in deep critiques of society or art using 'zashti' and its most obscure synonyms with perfect precision. At this level, 'zashti' is not just a word for you, but a concept that you can manipulate to express the most profound and nuanced observations about the human condition and the universe.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

زشتی en 30 secondes

Zashti means 'ugliness' or 'unattractiveness' in Persian.
It is the abstract noun form of the adjective 'zesht'.
It is used for both physical appearance and moral conduct.
It is the direct antonym of 'zibayi' (beauty).

The Persian word زشتی (pronounced 'zashti') is an abstract noun derived from the adjective زشت (zesht), which means 'ugly' or 'unpleasant.' In the Persian language, the suffix '-i' (ی) is a prolific tool used to transform adjectives into abstract nouns, similar to the English suffixes '-ness' or '-ity.' Therefore, زشتی literally translates to 'ugliness.' However, its application in Persian culture and language extends far beyond mere physical appearance. While it can certainly describe the lack of aesthetic appeal in an object, a building, or a person, it is most frequently employed to describe moral or ethical repulsiveness. In Persian thought, which is deeply influenced by centuries of ethical literature and poetry, the concept of 'ugliness' is often the antithesis of 'goodness' and 'divine beauty.' When a Persian speaker refers to the زشتی of an act, they are commenting on its indecency, its lack of honor, or its offensive nature.

Physical Context: Used to describe things that are visually unappealing, such as 'the ugliness of the old ruins' (زشتیِ خرابه‌های قدیمی).
Moral Context: Used to describe behaviors like lying, betrayal, or cruelty. For example, 'the ugliness of a lie' (زشتیِ دروغ).
Social Context: Used in public discourse to criticize social injustices or 'ugly' realities like poverty or corruption.

او همیشه سعی می‌کرد زشتی کارهای خود را بپوشاند.

Translation: He always tried to cover up the ugliness of his actions.

Understanding زشتی requires recognizing the Persian obsession with 'Adab' (etiquette/culture). An act that lacks 'Adab' is often described through its 'zashti.' It is not just that the act is wrong (ghalat), but that it is aesthetically and morally offensive to the observer. This word is a staple in Persian pedagogy; parents use it to teach children which behaviors are socially unacceptable. If a child speaks rudely, a parent might say, 'Did you see the زشتی of your words?' This frames the behavior not just as a broken rule, but as a stain on the child's character and the environment.

زشتی این ساختمان کل منظره شهر را خراب کرده است.

Translation: The ugliness of this building has ruined the entire city view.

In literary circles, زشتی is discussed in contrast to زیبایی (beauty). Persian philosophers often argue that زشتی does not have an independent existence but is merely the absence of beauty or light. This metaphysical perspective means that when you use this word, you are often implying a lack of something that should be there. It is a word of critique, a word of evaluation, and a word of profound observation. Whether you are discussing art, ethics, or urban planning, زشتی allows you to express a deep-seated distaste for the lack of harmony and grace.

Using زشتی effectively in Persian involves understanding its role as a noun that often takes the 'Ezafe' construction (the short '-e' sound added to the end of a word to link it to its modifier or possessor). Because زشتی ends in the letter 'ی' (ye), when it is the first part of an Ezafe construction, we add a small 'ye' sound or a 'Hamze' to bridge it to the next word, often written as زشتیِ. For example, 'the ugliness of the world' becomes زشتیِ دنیا. Mastering this grammatical link is crucial for sounding natural.

هنرمند با نقاشی خود، زشتی فقر را به تصویر کشید.

Translation: The artist, through his painting, depicted the ugliness of poverty.

As a Subject: 'Ugliness is not just on the outside.' (زشتی فقط در ظاهر نیست.)
As an Object: 'I cannot ignore this ugliness.' (من نمی‌توانم این زشتی را نادیده بگیرم.)
With Prepositions: 'He spoke about the ugliness of war.' (او درباره زشتیِ جنگ صحبت کرد.)

In more advanced contexts, زشتی is paired with verbs like پوشاندن (to cover), زدودن (to wipe away/remove), or نمایان کردن (to make manifest). For instance, 'to remove ugliness from the city' (زدودن زشتی از شهر) is a common phrase in municipal planning or social reform discussions. It is also used in the context of 'confessing' or 'realizing' a fault. One might say, 'I finally realized the زشتی of my behavior' (بالاخره به زشتیِ رفتارم پی بردم). Here, the word functions as a mirror for self-reflection.

هیچ چیز نمی‌تواند زشتیِ خیانت را توجیه کند.

Translation: Nothing can justify the ugliness of betrayal.

Furthermore, زشتی can be used in comparative structures, though it is more common to use the adjective 'zesht-tar' (uglier). However, in formal writing, one might compare the 'degree of ugliness' (میزان زشتی). For example, 'The ugliness of this crime is far greater than the previous one.' This usage is common in legal or journalistic Persian, where precise evaluation of actions is required. By using the noun form, the speaker elevates the tone from a simple descriptive statement to a more profound categorical judgment.

You will encounter the word زشتی in a variety of settings, ranging from high-brow literature to evening news broadcasts and even in heated interpersonal arguments. In the realm of Persian media, particularly in news reports concerning social issues, زشتی is a frequent guest. News anchors might discuss the 'ugliness of child labor' or the 'ugliness of environmental destruction.' In these cases, the word is used to evoke a sense of moral indignation and to call for collective action. It serves as a linguistic signal that what is being discussed is not just a 'problem,' but something that offends the very sensibilities of society.

در اخبار امروز، درباره زشتیِ اعتیاد در جامعه صحبت شد.

Translation: In today's news, the ugliness of addiction in society was discussed.

Literature & Poetry: Classical poets often contrast the 'ugliness' of the ego or the material world with the 'beauty' of the beloved or the spiritual path.
Daily Conversations: Used when someone is shocked by a rude comment: 'I was surprised by the ugliness of his tone.'
Art Criticism: Critics might discuss how an artist uses 'ugliness' as a tool to provoke thought or represent reality.

In a domestic setting, زشتی is often heard during moral instruction. Persian culture places a high value on 'sharm' (modesty/shame) and 'haya' (decency). When these are violated, the resulting state is described as زشتی. A grandmother might scold a grandchild for being greedy by saying, 'Do you not see the زشتی of being so selfish?' This usage is deeply rooted in the Persian pedagogical tradition of using aesthetic categories to teach ethics. To be a 'good' person is to be 'beautiful' (ziba) in character, and to be 'bad' is to be 'ugly' (zesht).

او با مهربانی خود، زشتیِ آن محیط را از بین برد.

Translation: With her kindness, she eliminated the ugliness of that environment.

Finally, in the digital age, you will see زشتی used in social media comments and blog posts to critique everything from poor graphic design to political scandals. When a celebrity or politician behaves poorly, netizens might trend phrases about the 'ugliness of their actions.' It is a versatile word that bridges the gap between the ancient ethical traditions of the Persian-speaking world and the modern, fast-paced reality of the 21st century. Whether it's a 13th-century poem or a 21st-century tweet, زشتی remains the primary vessel for expressing disapproval of that which lacks grace.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with زشتی is confusing its usage with other words for 'badness' or 'evil.' While بدی (badi) means 'badness' and شر (sharr) means 'evil,' زشتی specifically carries an aesthetic or social weight. For example, if you say 'the badness of the food,' you should use بدیِ غذا. If you say زشتیِ غذا, it implies the food looks repulsive or was served in an offensive manner. Beginners often use زشتی as a generic synonym for anything negative, but it is important to remember that it almost always implies a visual or moral 'eyesore.'

اشتباه: زشتیِ این هوا مرا مریض کرد.

Correct: بدیِ این هوا (The badness of this weather). Use 'zashti' only if the sky looks visually 'ugly' or polluted.

Confusing with 'Dirty': Don't use زشتی for 'dirtiness.' Use کثیفی (kasifi) instead. Something can be dirty but not necessarily 'ugly' in the moral sense.
Ezafe Placement: Forgetting the 'ye' sound when connecting زشتی to another noun. It's 'zashti-ye' not just 'zashti.'
Overusing in Informal Speech: In very casual slang, people might just say 'cheghadr zeshte' (how ugly) instead of using the noun زشتی.

Another mistake involves the intensity of the word. زشتی is quite a strong word. If you find a sweater slightly unattractive, using زشتی might sound overly dramatic. In such cases, a milder word like ناپسندی (napasandi - unacceptability/dislike) or simply saying 'it's not beautiful' (زیبا نیست) is better. Using زشتی for minor inconveniences can make you sound like a Victorian novelist or a very strict schoolmaster. Reserve it for things that truly offend the senses or the soul.

درست: او به زشتیِ گناهانش اعتراف کرد.

Translation: He confessed to the ugliness of his sins. (Appropriate moral use).

Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the pluralization. While زشتی‌ها (zashti-ha - uglinesses) is grammatically correct and used to refer to 'various ugly things or aspects,' it is much less common than the singular form. If you are talking about the many bad things in the world, you might say 'the uglinesses of the world' (زشتی‌های دنیا), but for most contexts, the singular زشتی covers the general concept. Stick to the singular unless you are specifically listing distinct instances of ugliness.

While زشتی is the most common word for ugliness, Persian offers a rich palette of synonyms, each with its own nuance. Understanding these alternatives will help you choose the right word for the right level of formality and the specific type of 'ugliness' you wish to describe. The most formal and academic synonym is قبح (qubh). This word, of Arabic origin, is used almost exclusively in legal, religious, and philosophical contexts to describe the 'moral vileness' or 'impermissibility' of an act. You wouldn't use قبح to describe an ugly painting, but you would use it to discuss the 'moral ugliness' of a crime.

قبح (Qubh): Extreme moral ugliness or vileness. Used in law and theology. Example: 'The vileness of this action is clear' (قبح این عمل آشکار است).
ناپسندی (Napasandi): Unacceptability or unpleasantness. A milder alternative. Example: 'The unpleasantness of his behavior' (ناپسندیِ رفتار او).
بدقیافگی (Bad-ghiyafegi): Specifically refers to physical 'ill-favoredness' or having an ugly face/appearance.
شناعت (Shana'at): Atrocity or heinousness. Used for very severe moral or physical repulsiveness. Example: 'The heinousness of the crime' (شناعت جنایت).

Another interesting alternative is کراهت (karahat), which translates to 'abhorrence' or 'repugnance.' This word is often used when something is so ugly or unpleasant that it causes a physical or emotional reaction of disgust. If a room is decorated in a way that is truly painful to look at, you might speak of the کراهت of the decor. In contrast, زشتی is more of a general statement of fact. Choosing between these words depends on whether you want to focus on the quality of the object (زشتی) or the reaction it elicits (کراهت).

نویسنده به جای کلمه زشتی، از واژه «قبح» استفاده کرد تا متن رسمی‌تر شود.

Translation: The author used the word 'qubh' instead of 'zashti' to make the text more formal.

Finally, for something that is 'ugly' because it is messy or disorganized, you might use آشفتگی (ashoftegi - turmoil/disarray). While not a direct synonym for ugliness, a 'zashti' in a room is often caused by 'ashoftegi.' In summary, while زشتی is your reliable 'all-purpose' word for ugliness, being aware of قبح, ناپسندی, and شناعت will allow you to navigate the complex social and literary landscapes of Iran with much greater precision and sophistication.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

In some ancient Iranian dialects, the root of 'zesht' was related to concepts of fear and trembling, suggesting that 'ugliness' was something that caused a physical reaction of dread.

Guide de prononciation

UK /zeʃ.tiː/

US /zeʃ.tiː/

The stress is on the second syllable: zashti-EE.

Rime avec

کشتی (kashti - ship/wrestling) دشتی (dashti - of the plain/field) هشتی (hashti - octagonal vestibule) گشتی (gashti - patrol/tour) سرنوشتی (sarneveshti - of fate) بهشتی (beheshti - heavenly) نوشتی (neveshti - you wrote) برگشتی (bargashti - return)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'e' as 'a' (zashti instead of zeshti - though 'zashti' is the standard noun form, the adjective is 'zesht').
Making the final 'i' too short.
Confusing the 'sh' sound with 's'.
Not using the 'ye' bridge in Ezafe constructions.
Pronouncing the 't' too far back in the mouth (it should be against the teeth).

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Easy to recognize but nuances in literature can be tricky.

Écriture 4/5

Requires correct Ezafe usage (zashti-ye).

Expression orale 2/5

Simple to pronounce once 'zesht' is known.

Écoute 3/5

Can be confused with 'kashti' (ship) in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

زشت (ugly) زیبا (beautiful) رفتار (behavior) دروغ (lie) بد (bad)

Apprends ensuite

قبح (vileness) زیبایی‌شناسی (aesthetics) اخلاق (ethics) ناپسندی (unpleasantness) فضیلت (virtue)

Avancé

استتیک (Aesthetics) پلشتی (Filth/Ugliness) شنیع (Heinous) منکر (Abominable) مکروه (Detestable)

Grammaire à connaître

Noun Formation with '-i'

زشت (Ugly) -> زشتی (Ugliness)

Ezafe with words ending in 'ye'

زشتیِ او (His ugliness) - adding the 'ye' sound bridge.

Abstract Nouns as Subjects

زشتی پیروز نخواهد شد. (Ugliness will not be victorious.)

Comparison of Abstract Qualities

زشتیِ این کار بیشتر از آن است. (The ugliness of this act is more than that.)

Negative Copula with Nouns

این زشتی نیست، واقعیت است. (This is not ugliness, it is reality.)

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Exemples par niveau

زشتی این مداد زیاد است.

The ugliness of this pencil is much.

Simple subject-predicate structure.

او زشتی را دوست ندارد.

He does not like ugliness.

Zashti used as a direct object with 'ra'.

این رنگ زشتی دارد.

This color has ugliness.

Using the verb 'dashtan' (to have) with a noun.

زشتیِ این کیف را ببین.

Look at the ugliness of this bag.

Ezafe construction linking 'zashti' and 'kif'.

من زشتی را در این عکس می‌بینم.

I see ugliness in this photo.

Simple present tense with 'mi-binam'.

زشتی بد است.

Ugliness is bad.

Basic 'A is B' sentence.

این خانه زشتیِ زیادی دارد.

This house has a lot of ugliness.

Using 'ziyadi' to modify 'zashti'.

آیا زشتی را می‌شناسی؟

Do you know ugliness?

Question form using 'aya'.

زشتیِ رفتار او همه را ناراحت کرد.

The ugliness of his behavior made everyone sad.

Moral usage of 'zashti' with a past tense verb.

ما باید زشتی را از این پارک دور کنیم.

We must remove the ugliness from this park.

Using the modal 'bayad' (must).

زشتیِ دروغ خیلی زیاد است.

The ugliness of a lie is very much.

Abstract noun modified by another noun.

او درباره زشتیِ جنگ یک کتاب نوشت.

He wrote a book about the ugliness of war.

Using the preposition 'darbare-ye' (about).

زشتیِ این شهر به خاطر دود است.

The ugliness of this city is because of the smoke.

Using 'be khatere' (because of).

من زشتیِ کارهایم را فهمیدم.

I understood the ugliness of my actions.

Past tense 'fahmidam' with complex object.

زشتیِ ظاهر مهم نیست.

The ugliness of appearance is not important.

Negative 'nist' (is not).

آن‌ها زشتیِ این دیوار را با نقاشی پوشاندند.

They covered the ugliness of this wall with a painting.

Using 'ba' (with) as an instrumental preposition.

نویسنده در این داستان، زشتیِ فقر را به خوبی نشان می‌دهد.

The author shows the ugliness of poverty well in this story.

Adverbial 'be khubi' (well).

زشتیِ برخی از قوانین قدیمی برای همه آشکار شده است.

The ugliness of some old laws has become clear to everyone.

Present perfect tense 'ashkar shode ast'.

او سعی می‌کند زشتیِ باطن خود را پشت لبخندش پنهان کند.

He tries to hide the ugliness of his inner self behind his smile.

Using 'posht-e' (behind) as a preposition.

زشتیِ این ساختمان با محیط اطرافش همخوانی ندارد.

The ugliness of this building does not match its surroundings.

Verb 'hamkhani dashtan' (to match/harmony).

ما نباید اجازه دهیم زشتیِ کینه در قلبمان بماند.

We should not let the ugliness of grudge stay in our hearts.

Subjunctive 'bemânad' after 'ejâze dâdan'.

زشتیِ خیانت هرگز فراموش نمی‌شود.

The ugliness of betrayal is never forgotten.

Passive voice 'farâmush nemi-shavad'.

او با دیدن زشتیِ آن صحنه، چشمانش را بست.

Seeing the ugliness of that scene, he closed his eyes.

Gerund-like structure with 'ba didan-e'.

زشتیِ کلام او باعث شد که همه از او دوری کنند.

The ugliness of his words caused everyone to avoid him.

Using 'ba'es shod' (caused/became the reason).

زشتیِ این فاجعه انسانی فراتر از کلمات است.

The ugliness of this human tragedy is beyond words.

Prepositional phrase 'farâtar az' (beyond).

او به زشتیِ عمیق این بی‌عدالتی اعتراض کرد.

He protested the deep ugliness of this injustice.

Adjective 'amigh' (deep) modifying the noun.

زشتیِ برخی از رفتارهای اجتماعی ریشه در جهل دارد.

The ugliness of some social behaviors is rooted in ignorance.

Idiomatic 'rishe dar ... dâshtan' (to be rooted in).

هنر می‌تواند زشتی را به زیبایی تبدیل کند.

Art can transform ugliness into beauty.

Verb 'tabdil kardan' (to transform/convert).

زشتیِ دنیای مادی در برابر زیباییِ روح هیچ است.

The ugliness of the material world is nothing compared to the beauty of the soul.

Comparative structure 'dar barâbar-e' (in comparison to).

او با تمام وجود زشتیِ حرص و طمع را حس می‌کرد.

With his whole being, he felt the ugliness of greed and avarice.

Idiom 'ba tamâm-e vojud' (with all one's being).

زشتیِ این منظره نتیجه‌ی سال‌ها بی‌توجهی است.

The ugliness of this landscape is the result of years of neglect.

Compound noun 'bi-tavajohi' (neglect).

او در اشعارش به زشتیِ ریاکاری حمله می‌کند.

In his poems, he attacks the ugliness of hypocrisy.

Verb 'hamle kardan' (to attack).

زشتی در این مکتب فلسفی، به عنوان فقدان نور تعریف می‌شود.

Ugliness in this philosophical school is defined as the absence of light.

Passive 'ta'rif mi-shavad' and specialized vocabulary.

او زشتیِ اگزیستانسیال تنهایی را در آثارش به تصویر می‌کشد.

He depicts the existential ugliness of loneliness in his works.

Complex adjective 'existential' and literary 'be tasvir keshidan'.

زشتیِ این بنای معماری، تضاد شدیدی با بافت تاریخی شهر دارد.

The ugliness of this architectural structure has a sharp contrast with the city's historical fabric.

Technical terms 'bafte tarikhi' (historical fabric).

نویسنده با ظرافت، زشتیِ نهفته در لایه‌های جامعه را آشکار می‌کند.

The author subtly reveals the ugliness hidden within the layers of society.

Adjective 'nahofte' (hidden/latent).

زشتیِ اخلاقی گاهی در پوشش کلمات زیبا پنهان می‌شود.

Moral ugliness is sometimes hidden under the cover of beautiful words.

Abstract concept 'zashti-ye akhlaghi'.

او به تحلیل زشتیِ پوچ‌گرایی در ادبیات معاصر پرداخت.

He proceeded to analyze the ugliness of nihilism in contemporary literature.

Verb 'be ... pardâkhtan' (to proceed/engage in).

زشتیِ این صحنه چنان بود که هیچ هنرمندی قادر به ترسیم آن نبود.

The ugliness of this scene was such that no artist was able to draw it.

Correlative 'chonân ... ke' (such ... that).

او از زشتیِ مطلق به عنوان یک ابزار هنری استفاده می‌کند.

He uses absolute ugliness as an artistic tool.

Concept of 'zashti-ye motlagh' (absolute ugliness).

زشتیِ این تراژدی، در بطن خود، نوعی زیباییِ غم‌انگیز نهفته دارد.

The ugliness of this tragedy, at its core, holds a kind of sad beauty.

Complex sentence with internal clauses and 'dar batn-e' (at the core).

او در رساله‌ی خود به تقابل دیالکتیکی زیبایی و زشتی می‌پردازد.

In his treatise, he addresses the dialectical opposition of beauty and ugliness.

Highly academic 'taghabol-e dialektiki' (dialectical opposition).

زشتیِ این کنش سیاسی، مشروعیت کل نظام را زیر سوال برد.

The ugliness of this political action called the legitimacy of the entire system into question.

Idiomatic 'zir-e soal bordan' (to call into question).

شاعر با استفاده از استعاره، زشتیِ زمانه را به چالش می‌کشد.

The poet, using metaphor, challenges the ugliness of the era.

Literary 'be chalesh keshidan' (to challenge).

زشتیِ این واقعه، زخمی عمیق بر پیکره‌ی تاریخ باقی گذاشت.

The ugliness of this event left a deep wound on the body of history.

Metaphorical 'peykar-e tarikh' (body of history).

او معتقد است که زشتیِ بصری در شهرها، بازتابی از زشتیِ درونیِ ساکنان است.

He believes that visual ugliness in cities is a reflection of the internal ugliness of the residents.

Complex belief structure with 'mo'taghed ast ke'.

زشتیِ این اندیشه چنان است که هیچ خردی آن را برنمی‌تابد.

The ugliness of this thought is such that no wisdom can tolerate it.

Archaic/Formal verb 'bar-natâbidan' (not to tolerate).

او در پی زدودن زشتیِ تعصب از ساحت اندیشه است.

He seeks to remove the ugliness of prejudice from the realm of thought.

Formal 'dar pey-ye' (in pursuit of) and 'sâhat' (realm/domain).

Collocations courantes

زشتیِ رفتار

زشتیِ دروغ

زشتیِ جنگ

زشتیِ فقر

زشتیِ کلام

پوشاندن زشتی

زدودن زشتی

زشتیِ مطلق

میزان زشتی

زشتی و زیبایی

Phrases Courantes

زشتی کار

— The wrongness or offensiveness of an action.

آیا زشتی کارت را می‌فهمی؟

زشتی چهره

— The lack of beauty in someone's face.

او نگران زشتی چهره‌اش در پیری بود.

زشتی منظر

— The ugliness of a view or scenery.

ساختمان‌های بلند باعث زشتی منظر کوهستان شدند.

زشتیِ باطن

— Inner ugliness or bad character.

زشتی باطن از زشتی ظاهر بدتر است.

زشتیِ گناه

— The vileness or offensiveness of a sin.

او همیشه از زشتی گناه می‌ترسید.

زشتیِ کینه

— The unpleasant nature of holding a grudge.

زشتی کینه قلب را سیاه می‌کند.

زشتیِ محیط

— The unpleasantness of an environment.

زشتی محیط کار روی روحیه او اثر گذاشت.

زشتیِ سخن

— The offensiveness or rudeness of speech.

زشتی سخن او همه را متعجب کرد.

زشتیِ عمل

— The indecency of an act.

زشتی عمل او غیرقابل بخشش است.

زشتیِ دنیا

— The dark or unpleasant aspects of life/the world.

او از زشتی‌های دنیا خسته شده بود.

Souvent confondu avec

زشتی vs بدی (Badi)

Badi is generic 'badness'; Zashti is specifically 'ugliness' (visual or moral).

زشتی vs کثیفی (Kasifi)

Kasifi is 'dirtiness'; Zashti is 'ugliness'. A dirty thing can be beautiful, but an ugly thing is inherently unattractive.

زشتی vs قبح (Qubh)

Qubh is much more formal and restricted to moral/legal vileness.

Expressions idiomatiques

"زشتی‌اش به چشم نمی‌آید"

— Its ugliness is not noticed (usually because of other good qualities).

او آنقدر مهربان است که زشتی‌اش به چشم نمی‌آید.

Informal

"زشتیِ کار را دیدن"

— To realize how wrong or offensive an action was.

بالاخره زشتی کارت را دیدی؟

Neutral

"زشتی‌اش را شستن"

— To make up for a bad deed or to clean up an ugly situation.

او سعی کرد با عذرخواهی زشتیِ حرفش را بشوید.

Informal

"زشتی و پلشتی"

— A rhyming phrase meaning total ugliness and filth.

خانه پر از زشتی و پلشتی بود.

Literary/Informal

"پرده بر زشتی کشیدن"

— To hide or cover up a flaw or a bad act.

او می‌خواست با پول، پرده بر زشتیِ کارهایش بکشد.

Literary

"زشتیِ آن به تو می‌ماند"

— The shame/ugliness of that act will stick to you.

این کار را نکن، زشتی‌اش به تو می‌ماند.

Informal

"زشتیِ فقر را چشیدن"

— To experience the harsh and unpleasant reality of poverty.

او از کودکی زشتیِ فقر را چشیده بود.

Literary

"زشتیِ خود را در آینه دیدن"

— To face one's own faults or bad character.

او بالاخره زشتیِ خود را در آینه حقیقت دید.

Literary

"زشتی از سر و رویش می‌بارد"

— He/It is incredibly ugly (literally: ugliness rains from his head and face).

این ساختمان زشتی از سر و رویش می‌بارد.

Informal/Slang

"زشتیِ کلام را گرفتن"

— To soften a rude or harsh statement.

او سعی کرد با شوخی، زشتیِ کلامش را بگیرد.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

زشتی vs کشتی

Sounds similar.

Kashti means ship or wrestling; Zashti means ugliness.

کشتی در دریاست، اما زشتی در دل.

زشتی vs دشتی

Rhymes and sounds similar.

Dashti means related to the plain/field; Zashti means ugliness.

گل‌های دشتی زشتی ندارند.

زشتی vs هشتی

Rhymes.

Hashti is a part of traditional Persian architecture; Zashti is ugliness.

در هشتیِ خانه هیچ زشتی‌ای نبود.

زشتی vs گشتی

Rhymes.

Gashti means a patrol or you turned/toured; Zashti is ugliness.

تو در شهر گشتی و زشتی‌ها را دیدی.

زشتی vs نوشتی

Rhymes.

Neveshti means 'you wrote'; Zashti is ugliness.

تو درباره زشتیِ جنگ نوشتی.

Structures de phrases

[Noun] + زشتی + دارد.

این اتاق زشتی دارد.

زشتیِ + [Noun] + را + [Verb].

زشتیِ دروغ را ببین.

[Noun] + به + زشتیِ + [Noun] + اشاره کرد.

او به زشتیِ فقر اشاره کرد.

هیچ چیز + زشتیِ + [Noun] + را + توجیه نمی‌کند.

هیچ چیز زشتیِ خیانت را توجیه نمی‌کند.

زشتی + در + [Context] + به معنای + [Definition] + است.

زشتی در فلسفه به معنای فقدان هماهنگی است.

نویسنده + زشتیِ + [Abstract Noun] + را + ترسیم می‌کند.

نویسنده زشتیِ تنهایی را ترسیم می‌کند.

زشتیِ + [Noun] + در + بطنِ + [Noun] + نهفته است.

زشتیِ این کنش در بطنِ نیتِ او نهفته است.

[Noun] + در پی + زدودنِ + زشتی + از + [Noun] + است.

او در پی زدودنِ زشتی از ساحتِ هنر است.

Famille de mots

Noms

زشت‌رویی (ugliness of face)

زشت‌کاری (evil-doing)

زشت‌گویی (foul-mouthedness)

Verbes

زشت کردن (to make ugly)

زشت شدن (to become ugly)

زشت شمردن (to consider ugly/repulsive)

Adjectifs

زشت (ugly)

زشت‌تر (uglier)

زشت‌ترین (ugliest)

نازشت (not ugly - rare)

Apparenté

پلیدی

کثیفی

ناپسندی

بدی

قبح

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in both speech and writing, especially regarding behavior.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'zashti' for 'kashti' (ship). → کشتی (kashti)
These are two different words. 'Zashti' starts with 'Z', 'Kashti' starts with 'K'.
Forgetting the Ezafe bridge: 'zashti in otagh'. → زشتیِ این اتاق (zashti-ye in otagh)
Nouns ending in 'ye' need a 'ye' or 'hamze' bridge when connected to a modifier.
Using 'zashti' to mean 'dirty'. → کثیفی (kasifi)
Something can be ugly without being dirty, and vice-versa. Use 'kasifi' for dirt.
Calling a person 'zashti' to their face. → Use milder terms or avoid physical criticism.
This is extremely offensive and socially unacceptable in Persian culture.
Using 'zashti' for generic 'badness' like 'bad weather'. → بدیِ هوا (badi-ye hava)
Use 'badi' for general badness; reserve 'zashti' for visual or moral repulsiveness.

Astuces

Abstract Power

Use 'zashti' to add weight to your criticism. Saying 'the ugliness of poverty' sounds more impactful than just saying 'poverty is bad'.

The Ezafe Bridge

Always remember the '-ye' sound when connecting 'zashti' to another word. It's 'zashti-ye', not just 'zashti'.

Synonym Choice

Use 'zashti' for general ugliness, 'qubh' for moral crimes, and 'napasandi' for things that are just unpleasant.

Moral Aesthetics

Remember that in Persian culture, calling an act 'ugly' is a very strong moral judgment.

Stress the 'ee'

Placing the stress on the final 'i' helps distinguish the noun 'zashti' from the adjective 'zesht'.

Literary Contrast

Pair 'zashti' with 'zibayi' in your writing to create a classical Persian literary feel.

Contextual Clues

If you hear 'zashti' in a news report, it's almost certainly about a social or political problem.

Softening the Blow

If you must talk about something unpleasant, using 'zashti' can sometimes sound more objective than just saying 'it's bad'.

The 'Zesht' Root

If you know 'zesht' (ugly), you already know 90% of 'zashti'. Just add the 'i' for the noun.

Level Up

Try using 'zashti' in your journal to describe complex emotions or social issues you observe.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of the word 'Zest'. If someone has a 'Zesht' (ugly) personality, they have the opposite of 'Zest' for life. Add an 'i' to get the noun 'Zashti'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a beautiful painting being splashed with black ink. The ink represents the 'Zashti' (ugliness) covering the beauty.

Word Web

زشت (Adjective) زیبایی (Antonym) دروغ (Common context) جنگ (Common context) رفتار (Common context) قبح (Synonym) ظاهر (Physical) باطن (Moral)

Défi

Try to find three things today that you would describe as having 'zashti'—one physical, one behavioral, and one in the news. Write them down in Persian.

Origine du mot

The word comes from the Middle Persian (Pahlavi) word 'zisht', which meant 'hateful', 'repulsive', or 'ugly'. It has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning for over a millennium.

Sens originel : Hateful or repulsive.

Indo-European -> Indo-Iranian -> Iranian -> West Iranian -> Persian.

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using this word about people's physical appearance; it is highly offensive. Use it freely for abstract concepts like 'war' or 'lies'.

English speakers often use 'ugliness' for physical things, but Persian speakers use 'zashti' much more frequently for moral and social critiques.

The poem 'The Ugly and the Beautiful' (Zesht o Ziba). Saadi's Gulistan where he discusses the 'zashti' of a harsh voice. Modern Iranian cinema's focus on 'social ugliness'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Ethical Discussion

زشتیِ غیبت
زشتیِ ظلم
زشتیِ طمع
زشتیِ بی‌وفایی

Art & Architecture

زشتیِ بنا
زشتیِ طرح
زشتیِ رنگ‌بندی
زشتیِ ترکیب‌بندی

Social Critique

زشتیِ اعتیاد
زشتیِ تبعیض
زشتیِ فقر
زشتیِ بی‌سوادی

Daily Life

زشتیِ اتاق
زشتیِ لباس
زشتیِ هوا
زشتیِ برخورد

Literature

زشتیِ نفس
زشتیِ روزگار
زشتیِ دنیا
زشتیِ مرگ

Amorces de conversation

"به نظر شما زشتیِ باطن بدتر است یا زشتیِ ظاهر؟ (Do you think inner ugliness is worse or outer ugliness?)"

"چطور می‌توانیم زشتی را از شهرهایمان پاک کنیم؟ (How can we remove ugliness from our cities?)"

"آیا زشتی در هنر می‌تواند معنای خاصی داشته باشد؟ (Can ugliness in art have a specific meaning?)"

"زشتیِ کدام رفتار اجتماعی بیشتر شما را آزار می‌دهد؟ (The ugliness of which social behavior bothers you the most?)"

"آیا تا به حال به زشتیِ یک دروغ فکر کرده‌اید؟ (Have you ever thought about the ugliness of a lie?)"

Sujets d'écriture

امروز چه زشتی‌ای در محیط اطرافت دیدی و چطور می‌توانی آن را به زیبایی تبدیل کنی؟ (What ugliness did you see in your surroundings today and how can you turn it into beauty?)

درباره زمانی بنویس که به زشتیِ یکی از کارهای خودت پی بردی. (Write about a time you realized the ugliness of one of your own actions.)

آیا زشتی واقعاً وجود دارد یا فقط نبودِ زیبایی است؟ (Does ugliness really exist or is it just the absence of beauty?)

نقش زشتی در داستان‌ها و فیلم‌های مورد علاقه‌ات چیست؟ (What is the role of ugliness in your favorite stories and movies?)

چگونه زشتیِ فقر بر روحیه انسان‌ها تاثیر می‌گذارد؟ (How does the ugliness of poverty affect the human spirit?)

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, while it can describe physical looks, it is very frequently used to describe moral or ethical repulsiveness, such as the 'ugliness' of a lie or a crime.

You say 'زشتیِ اتاق' (zashti-ye otagh). Don't forget the 'ye' sound bridge (Ezafe) between the two words.

Yes, it's quite common, though in casual speech people might just use the adjective 'zesht' (ugly) more often.

The opposite is 'زیبایی' (zibayi), which means beauty.

Technically yes, but it is considered very rude and insulting. It's better to use it for abstract concepts or objects.

Yes, very often. Poets use it to contrast the ugly world or ego with spiritual beauty.

Yes, 'قبح' (qubh) is a more formal, Arabic-rooted synonym used in legal or philosophical contexts.

The plural is 'زشتی‌ها' (zashti-ha), meaning 'uglinesses' or 'ugly things'.

Yes, in phrases like 'زشتیِ کار' (the ugliness of the act), it specifically refers to the badness or indecency of behavior.

No, 'ship' is 'کشتی' (kashti). They rhyme but have different starting letters and meanings.

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