sabır
sabır en 30 secondes
- Sabır is the Turkish word for 'patience,' signifying endurance and calm waiting.
- It is a noun, but often used as 'sabretmek' (to be patient) or 'sabırlı' (patient person).
- Culturally, it is a highly valued virtue often linked to spiritual and moral strength.
- Grammatically, it undergoes vowel elision (sabrım, sabrı) when adding vowel-initial suffixes.
The Turkish word sabır is a cornerstone of Turkish social fabric, representing far more than the simple English translation of 'patience.' It encompasses endurance, fortitude, and a stoic acceptance of time or hardship. In Turkey, patience is not just a personality trait but a highly regarded moral virtue often discussed in both secular and spiritual contexts. When you use sabır, you are speaking about the internal strength required to wait for a desired outcome without becoming frustrated or giving up. It is the quiet power of the soul that allows one to withstand the trials of life, whether it is waiting for a bus in the chaotic traffic of Istanbul or waiting for a loved one to recover from an illness.
- Spiritual Context
- In many Turkish households, sabır is viewed through a lens of faith, where enduring difficulty with grace is seen as a test of character. It is often paired with 'tevekkül' (trust in God's plan).
- Daily Endurance
- On a mundane level, you will hear people mutter 'sabır' to themselves when dealing with bureaucracy, slow service, or repetitive questions. It acts as a self-soothing mantra.
Gerçek başarı için çok çalışmak ve sabır göstermek gerekir.
The word is frequently used in the context of growth and timing. For example, a gardener must have sabır for the seeds to sprout, and a student must have sabır to master a new language like Turkish. It is the bridge between the present effort and the future reward. Turkish culture places a heavy emphasis on the 'ripening' process (olgunlaşma), where time and sabır are the essential ingredients for wisdom and quality.
Bu zor günlerde sabır en büyük dostumuzdur.
Linguistically, sabır is a noun, but it frequently combines with verbs to form expressive phrases. You don't just 'have' patience; you 'draw' it (sabır çekmek), you 'show' it (sabır göstermek), or it 'overflows' (sabır taşmak). This dynamic nature of the word suggests that patience is an active engagement with time, not just a passive waiting period. It is an emotional resource that can be depleted or replenished. When someone says 'Sabrım tükendi' (My patience is exhausted), they are signaling a serious emotional threshold has been crossed.
- The 'Sabır Taşı' Concept
- In Turkish folklore, there is a concept called 'sabır taşı' (patience stone), a mythical stone that listens to people's woes until it finally cracks from the weight of their suffering. This highlights how deeply the concept is embedded in the Turkish psyche.
Onun sabır dolu bekleyişi sonunda meyvesini verdi.
Using sabır correctly in Turkish involves understanding its grammatical role as a noun and its common pairings with auxiliary verbs. Because it is a loanword from Arabic, it follows certain phonological rules, such as dropping the 'ı' when a suffix starting with a vowel is added (sabrım, sabrı), a process known as vowel elision (ünlü düşmesi). This is a critical point for B1 learners to master to sound natural.
- The Verb Form: Sabretmek
- Instead of saying 'sabır yap' (which is incorrect), Turkish uses the compound verb sabretmek. This is formed by sabır + etmek. Example: 'Lütfen biraz sabret' (Please be patient for a bit).
- The Adjective: Sabırlı
- To describe a person, use the suffix '-lı'. 'Sabırlı bir öğretmen' (A patient teacher). Its opposite is 'sabırsız' (impatient).
Öğretmenimiz çok sabırlı bir insandır, her şeyi tek tek açıklar.
When sabır is the subject of a sentence, it often acts as an entity that can be lost or tested. For instance, 'Sabrım taşıyor' (My patience is overflowing/running out) is a very common idiomatic expression used when someone is reaching their limit. Similarly, 'Sabır dilemek' (to wish for patience) is used in difficult times like funerals or stressful projects.
Bu işi bitirmek için peygamber sabrı lazım.
In formal writing, you might see sabır used in the context of 'metanet' (fortitude). For example, 'Tüm aileye sabır ve metanet diliyoruz' (We wish the whole family patience and fortitude). In informal speech, it's often used as an exclamation: 'Sabır, ya Rabbim!' (Patience, oh my Lord!) when someone is being particularly annoying.
- Common Suffixes
- -sız (sabırsız - impatient), -la (sabırla - with patience), -sızlık (sabırsızlık - impatience).
Çocuklar dondurma sırasını sabırsızlıkla bekliyorlardı.
In Turkey, sabır is omnipresent. You will hear it in the kitchen, in the office, on the street, and in popular media. It is one of those words that carries the weight of history and culture in every syllable. If you are learning Turkish, understanding the context of where you hear this word will give you deep insight into the Turkish way of life.
- In the Kitchen
- Turkish cuisine is slow. Whether it's making 'mantı' (tiny dumplings) or brewing the perfect pot of tea, elders will often say, 'Yemek sabır işidir' (Cooking is a matter of patience). You cannot rush the flavor.
- In Traffic
- If you are in a taxi in Istanbul during rush hour, you might hear the driver sigh and say 'Ya sabır' as they look at the gridlock. It's a way of letting out steam without getting into a confrontation.
'Hadi ama, biraz daha sabret, az kaldı!'
You will also encounter sabır in Turkish music and TV dramas (dizis). Song lyrics often revolve around the sabır required for a distant lover to return or for a broken heart to heal. In dramas, a wise grandmother figure might counsel a hot-headed protagonist by saying, 'Evladım, sabır her kapının anahtarıdır' (My child, patience is the key to every door).
Büyükannem her zaman 'sabır acıdır ama meyvesi tatlıdır' derdi.
In religious contexts, particularly during the month of Ramadan, sabır is the dominant theme. Fasting is seen as a physical and spiritual exercise in sabır. You are not just refraining from food; you are practicing the discipline of waiting and controlling your impulses. This makes the word feel sacred to many.
- Art and Craft
- Traditional Turkish arts like 'Ebru' (marbling) or 'Tezhip' (illumination) are often described as 'sabır sanatı' (the art of patience) because they require meticulous, slow work that cannot be hurried.
Bu nakışı bitirmek aylar sürdü, tam bir sabır işi.
Even though sabır seems straightforward, English speakers often make specific errors when translating their mental models of 'patience' directly into Turkish. Understanding these pitfalls will help you transition from a B1 learner to a more advanced speaker.
- Mistake 1: The 'Sabır Yapmak' Error
- English speakers often want to use 'yapmak' (to do/make) with nouns. However, you never 'do' patience in Turkish. You 'show' it (sabır göstermek) or you 'be patient' (sabretmek). Saying 'sabır yap' sounds very foreign and incorrect.
- Mistake 2: Missing the Vowel Drop
- As mentioned before, failing to drop the 'ı' in 'sabrım' or 'sabrı' is a very common mistake. Learners often say 'sabırım' or 'sabırı'. While understandable, it marks you as a beginner.
Benim hiç sabırım yok.
Benim hiç sabrım yok.
Another mistake is using sabır when 'beklemek' (to wait) is more appropriate. While sabır involves waiting, it is the *attitude* of waiting. If you just want to say 'Wait for me,' use 'Beni bekle.' If you want to say 'Wait for me patiently,' you could say 'Sabırla beni bekle,' but using just sabır in place of a simple 'wait' command is a category error.
Onunla tanışmak için sabırsızlanıyorum.
Finally, learners sometimes confuse sabır with tahammül. If you are enduring a loud neighbor, you are showing tahammül (tolerance/endurance). If you are waiting for a slow process to finish, you are showing sabır. Using sabır for things you actively dislike and are forced to endure can sometimes sound slightly off, though the two overlap significantly in daily speech.
- Register Errors
- Using 'Ya sabır' in a very formal business meeting might be seen as slightly unprofessional or overly emotional. Stick to 'Sabrınız için teşekkürler' (Thank you for your patience) in formal settings.
While sabır is the most common word for patience, Turkish offers a rich palette of synonyms and related terms that can add precision to your speech. Depending on whether you mean 'endurance,' 'perseverance,' or 'tolerance,' you might choose a different word.
- Tahammül vs. Sabır
- Tahammül: Refers to the capacity to endure something unpleasant or painful. It's more about 'bearing' a burden.
Sabır: More about the virtue of waiting and the internal calm during a process. - Sebat vs. Sabır
- Sebat: This means perseverance or persistence in a task or a decision. It's 'staying the course.' While sabır is the emotional state, sebat is the action of not giving up.
Başarı için sadece sabır yetmez, sebat da gerekir.
Another interesting alternative is metanet. This word specifically refers to 'fortitude' or 'composure' in the face of great disaster or grief. It's a very high-register, formal word. You will hear it on the news or in formal condolences. Then there is tüketmek, often used with patience as 'sabrını tüketmek' (to exhaust one's patience).
Bu acıya metanetle göğüs gerdi.
In some contexts, you might use 'hoşgörü' (tolerance/understanding). While sabır is about waiting, hoşgörü is about accepting someone else's flaws or mistakes without getting angry. If a child breaks a vase, you might show hoşgörü (forgiveness/tolerance) and sabır (patience in teaching them better).
- Summary of Alternatives
-
- Metanet: Strength in grief.
- Sebat: Persistence in a goal.
- Tahammül: Bearing a burden.
- Hoşgörü: Tolerance of others.
Onun bu konudaki sebatı takdire şayan.
Exemples par niveau
Lütfen biraz sabırlı ol.
Please be a bit patient.
Adjective 'sabırlı' used with 'ol' (be).
O çocuk hiç sabırlı değil.
That child is not patient at all.
Negative form 'değil' used with 'sabırlı'.
Annem çok sabırlı biridir.
My mother is a very patient person.
Using 'sabırlı' as an attributive adjective.
Sabır iyidir.
Patience is good.
Simple noun-adjective sentence.
Sırada sabırla bekliyoruz.
We are waiting in line with patience.
Adverbial use 'sabırla' (with patience).
Sabırsız olma!
Don't be impatient!
Negative imperative of 'sabırsız olmak'.
Öğretmen sabırlı konuşuyor.
The teacher is speaking patiently.
Adjective used as an adverb.
Kedi sabırla bekliyor.
The cat is waiting patiently.
Subject-adverb-verb structure.
Biraz daha sabretmelisin.
You should be patient a bit more.
Compound verb 'sabretmek' with necessity suffix '-meli'.
Sabrım kalmadı.
I have no patience left.
Vowel drop in 'sabrım' (my patience).
Ona karşı çok sabırlı davrandım.
I acted very patiently towards him/her.
Dative case 'ona karşı' + 'sabırlı davranmak'.
Sabret, her şey güzel olacak.
Be patient, everything will be beautiful.
Imperative of 'sabretmek'.
Onun sabrı çok geniş.
His/her patience is very wide (meaning they are very patient).
Possessive 'sabrı' with vowel drop.
Sabırsızlık kötü bir huydur.
Impatience is a bad habit.
Noun 'sabırsızlık' formed with '-lık'.
Bu iş için sabır gerekiyor.
Patience is required for this job.
Noun 'sabır' as the subject of 'gerekmek'.
Bana sabır ver!
Give me patience!
Direct object 'sabır' with imperative 'ver'.
Sabrın sonu selamettir.
The end of patience is peace.
Genitive-possessive construction 'sabrın sonu'.
Artık sabrım taşmaya başladı.
My patience has started to overflow now.
Idiom 'sabır taşmak' with 'başlamak'.
Sabretmekten başka çaremiz yok.
We have no choice other than to be patient.
Ablative '-den' + 'başka' with infinitive 'sabretmek'.
O kadar sabırlı ki kimse onu kızdıramaz.
He is so patient that no one can make him angry.
Result clause with 'o kadar... ki'.
Sabrınızı taşırmak istemem.
I wouldn't want to make your patience overflow.
Causative 'taşırmak' (to make overflow).
Zorluklara sabırla göğüs gerdiler.
They faced difficulties with patience.
Idiom 'göğüs germek' (to breast/face) with 'sabırla'.
Onun bu sabrına hayran kaldım.
I was amazed by this patience of his.
Dative case 'sabrına' with 'hayran kalmak'.
Sabır acıdır ama meyvesi tatlıdır.
Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.
Classic Turkish proverb.
Sabır, başarının en önemli anahtarıdır.
Patience is the most important key to success.
Abstract noun as subject in a definition sentence.
Müşterinin kabalığına büyük bir sabırla karşılık verdi.
He/She responded to the customer's rudeness with great patience.
Dative 'kabalığına' + 'karşılık vermek'.
Sabrederek her engeli aşabilirsin.
You can overcome every obstacle by being patient.
Adverbial suffix '-erek' (by doing) on 'sabretmek'.
Onun sabrını denemeye kalkma.
Don't try to test his/her patience.
Negative imperative 'kalkma' (don't attempt).
Bu proje için peygamber sabrı lazım.
One needs the patience of a prophet for this project.
Idiom 'peygamber sabrı' (infinite patience).
Sabırsızlığı yüzünden birçok fırsatı kaçırdı.
He/She missed many opportunities because of his/her impatience.
Postposition 'yüzünden' (because of) with 'sabırsızlığı'.
Sabır dilemekten başka yapacak bir şey yok.
There is nothing to do other than wish for patience.
Ablative '-den' + 'başka' with 'sabır dilemek'.
O, tam bir sabır küpüdür.
He/She is a total 'cube of patience' (very patient).
Metaphorical noun phrase 'sabır küpü'.
Toplumun sabrını zorlayan bu kararlar geri alınmalı.
These decisions that push the society's patience should be rescinded.
Relative clause 'sabrını zorlayan' (that pushes the patience).
Sabır ve metanet, felaket anlarında en büyük sığınağımızdır.
Patience and fortitude are our greatest refuge in times of disaster.
Pairing 'sabır' with 'metanet' for formal register.
Yazar, karakterin içsel sabrını ustalıkla betimlemiş.
The author masterfully depicted the character's internal patience.
Accusative 'sabrını' as the object of 'betimlemek'.
Sabretmenin erdemi üzerine uzun bir söyleşi yaptık.
We had a long conversation on the virtue of being patient.
Genitive 'sabretmenin' modifying 'erdemi'.
Onun bu bitmek bilmeyen sabrı herkesi şaşırtıyor.
This never-ending patience of his surprises everyone.
Compound adjective 'bitmek bilmeyen' (never-ending).
Sabır sınırlarını zorlayan bu süreç nihayet sona erdi.
This process that pushed the limits of patience finally ended.
Noun phrase 'sabır sınırları' (limits of patience).
Eski metinlerde 'sabır' kavramı farklı boyutlarıyla ele alınır.
In old texts, the concept of 'patience' is handled with different dimensions.
Passive 'ele alınır' (is handled/discussed).
Sabırsızlıkla beklenen sonuçlar açıklandı.
The results, which were awaited with impatience, were announced.
Adverbial 'sabırsızlıkla' modifying 'beklenen'.
Sabır, ruhun sükunete erdiği o gizemli eşiktir.
Patience is that mysterious threshold where the soul reaches tranquility.
Complex relative clause with 'erdiği'.
Mevlana'ya göre sabır, aklın karanlıktan aydınlığa çıkışıdır.
According to Rumi, patience is the mind's exit from darkness to light.
Philosophical attribution using 'göre'.
Siyasetçinin sabrı, stratejik bir deha örneği olarak görüldü.
The politician's patience was seen as an example of strategic genius.
Genitive 'siyasetçinin sabrı' as the subject.
Sabrın tecelli ettiği bu eser, yılların emeğini yansıtıyor.
This work, in which patience is manifested, reflects years of labor.
High-register verb 'tecelli etmek' (to manifest).
Onun metaneti, sabrın en asil halini temsil ediyordu.
His/Her fortitude represented the most noble form of patience.
Superlative 'en asil hali' (most noble state).
Sabır, pasif bir bekleyiş değil, aktif bir dirençtir.
Patience is not a passive waiting, but an active resistance.
Contrastive 'değil... -dir' structure.
Geleneksel sanatlarda sabır, teknikten daha önceliklidir.
In traditional arts, patience is more prior than technique.
Comparative 'daha öncelikli' (more prior/important).
Sabır küpü olan bu dervişin hikayesi dilden dile dolaşır.
The story of this dervish, who is a 'cube of patience,' circulates from tongue to tongue.
Idiomatic 'dilden dile dolaşmak' (to circulate).
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— Patience leads to a peaceful/safe outcome. Used to encourage someone to keep waiting.
Merak etme, sabrın sonu selamettir.
— May God give you patience. Used as a condolence or when someone is in a difficult situation.
İşlerin çok yoğunmuş, Allah sabır versin.
— Oh, patience! Used as an exclamation when someone is being annoying or a situation is frustrating.
Yine mi aynı hata? Ya sabır!
— Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Meaning the process is hard but the result is worth it.
Ders çalışmak zor ama sabır acıdır, meyvesi tatlıdır.
— My patience is overflowing. Used to warn someone that you are about to lose your temper.
Lütfen sus, artık sabrım taşıyor.
— With patience, even an unripe grape becomes halvah (sweet). Meaning patience can achieve the impossible.
Yavaş yavaş öğreneceksin, sabırla koruk helva olur.
— The patience of a prophet. Refers to immense, almost superhuman patience.
Bu çocukla başa çıkmak için peygamber sabrı lazım.
— To wish someone patience. A standard social phrase for difficult times.
Tüm depremzedelere sabır diliyoruz.
— To test someone's patience. Often used when someone is being provocative.
Benim sabrımı deneme!
— Patience stone. A person who endures a great deal of suffering without complaining.
Zavallı kadın tam bir sabır taşıydı.
Expressions idiomatiques
Summary
Sabır is more than just waiting; it is an active moral virtue in Turkish culture. Always remember the vowel drop rule (sabrım, not sabırım) and use the compound verb 'sabretmek' to sound natural. Example: 'Sabır acıdır ama meyvesi tatlıdır' (Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet).
- Sabır is the Turkish word for 'patience,' signifying endurance and calm waiting.
- It is a noun, but often used as 'sabretmek' (to be patient) or 'sabırlı' (patient person).
- Culturally, it is a highly valued virtue often linked to spiritual and moral strength.
- Grammatically, it undergoes vowel elision (sabrım, sabrı) when adding vowel-initial suffixes.
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