مصاحبه کردن

The Persian compound verb مصاحبه کردن (mosahebeh kardan) translates directly to 'to interview' or 'to conduct an interview'. It is an essential vocabulary item for anyone navigating professional, academic, or journalistic environments in Persian-speaking countries. The word is composed of two distinct parts: the non-verbal element 'مصاحبه' (mosahebeh), which is an Arabic loanword meaning 'interview' or 'conversation', and the Persian light verb 'کردن' (kardan), meaning 'to do' or 'to make'. Understanding this structure is crucial because, like all Persian compound verbs, the two parts can be separated by other sentence elements, such as negative prefixes, tense markers, or even objects in more literary contexts. The root of the Arabic word 'مصاحبه' comes from the triconsonantal root ص-ح-ب (s-h-b), which is associated with companionship, accompanying, or conversing. In the Arabic morphological system, it falls into the 'mufa'ala' pattern, which often denotes reciprocity or a mutual action between two parties. Therefore, at its core, مصاحبه کردن implies a two-way dialogue, typically structured, where one person asks questions and the other responds. This verb is widely used in both formal and informal registers, though its primary domain is formal. Whether you are applying for a job, watching a news broadcast, or reading an academic paper, you will encounter this verb frequently. It is a CEFR B1 level word because it represents a step beyond basic survival vocabulary into the realm of professional and abstract communication. Mastery of this verb allows learners to discuss their careers, understand media, and engage in more complex social interactions.

Morphology

Compound verb consisting of an Arabic noun and a Persian light verb.

When conjugating this verb, all the inflectional changes happen to the light verb 'کردن'. For example, in the present continuous tense, it becomes 'دارم مصاحبه می‌کنم' (I am interviewing). In the simple past, it is 'مصاحبه کردم' (I interviewed). The negative prefix 'نـ' (na/ne) attaches to the light verb, making it 'مصاحبه نمی‌کنم' (I do not interview). This separation is a fundamental aspect of Persian grammar that learners must internalize. Furthermore, the verb can take different prepositions depending on the context. If you are the one conducting the interview, you use the preposition 'با' (ba - with), as in 'با او مصاحبه کردم' (I interviewed him/her). If you are the subject of the interview, the phrasing often changes to a passive construction or uses a different verb entirely, such as 'مصاحبه دادن' (to give an interview) or 'مورد مصاحبه قرار گرفتن' (to be interviewed). Understanding these nuances is key to sounding natural.

Transitivity

It is an intransitive compound verb that requires a prepositional object (usually with 'با').

In journalistic contexts, مصاحبه کردن is the standard term for a reporter talking to a source. You will often hear phrases like 'مصاحبه اختصاصی' (exclusive interview) or 'مصاحبه مطبوعاتی' (press interview). In these scenarios, the verb carries a weight of formality and official record. The interviewer is called 'مصاحبه‌کننده' (mosahebeh-konandeh) and the interviewee is 'مصاحبه‌شونده' (mosahebeh-shavandeh). These derived nouns are extremely common in media discourse. For a B1 learner, recognizing these derivations expands comprehension significantly. The verb is also central to the job-hunting process. 'مصاحبه کاری' or 'مصاحبه شغلی' both mean 'job interview'. When someone says 'رفتم مصاحبه' (I went to an interview), they are usually referring to a job interview, omitting the verb 'کردن' entirely in colloquial speech, treating 'مصاحبه' purely as a noun indicating the event.

Register

Primarily formal and professional, but widely understood and used in everyday conversation when discussing jobs or media.

To truly master this word, one must practice its various tenses and recognize its appearance in complex sentences. For instance, in the subjunctive mood, which is heavily used in Persian for desires, obligations, and possibilities, it becomes 'مصاحبه کنم'. Example: 'باید با او مصاحبه کنم' (I must interview him). The past perfect, used for actions completed before another action in the past, is 'مصاحبه کرده بودم' (I had interviewed). By drilling these forms, learners ensure they can deploy the verb accurately in any conversational or written context. The cultural weight of the word should also not be underestimated; in Iran, formal interviews (whether for university entrance, government jobs, or media) are highly structured events with specific protocols regarding dress code, politeness (ta'arof), and vocabulary. Therefore, using مصاحبه کردن often invokes this formal cultural schema.

Using مصاحبه کردن correctly involves mastering Persian compound verb syntax, prepositions, and appropriate register. Because it is a compound verb, the non-verbal part 'مصاحبه' (interview) and the verbal part 'کردن' (to do) work together but can be separated. The most critical rule for learners is that all grammatical conjugation—tense, person, and negation—applies exclusively to 'کردن'. The word 'مصاحبه' remains unchanged. For example, to say 'I am interviewing', you say 'دارم مصاحبه می‌کنم' (daram mosahebeh mikonam). To say 'I did not interview', you say 'مصاحبه نکردم' (mosahebeh nakardam). Notice how the negative prefix 'نـ' attaches to the 'ک' of 'کردن'. This is standard for all Persian compound verbs, but it requires practice to feel natural. When constructing a sentence, the typical word order is Subject + Prepositional Object + Non-verbal element + Verbal element. For instance: 'من با علی مصاحبه کردم' (I interviewed Ali). The preposition 'با' (ba), meaning 'with', is the standard preposition used to link the verb to the person being interviewed.

Syntax Rule

Subject + با + Object + مصاحبه + Conjugated form of کردن.

Another crucial aspect of using this verb is understanding the difference between conducting an interview and being interviewed. مصاحبه کردن actively means *to conduct* the interview. If you are the applicant or the person answering the questions, you technically do not 'مصاحبه کردن'. Instead, you 'مصاحبه می‌شوید' (are interviewed - passive) or you 'در مصاحبه شرکت می‌کنید' (participate in an interview). However, in very colloquial Persian, people sometimes loosely say 'فردا مصاحبه دارم' (I have an interview tomorrow) using it as a noun, which avoids the active/passive verb confusion entirely. If you want to specify giving an interview to the press, you use 'مصاحبه دادن' (to give an interview). For example, 'بازیگر به مجله مصاحبه داد' (The actor gave an interview to the magazine). This distinction is a common stumbling block for English speakers who use 'interview' for both roles.

Active vs Passive

مصاحبه کردن (Active: to conduct) vs مصاحبه شدن (Passive: to be interviewed).

In written and formal Persian, the verb can be separated by the direct object marker 'را' (ra) if 'مصاحبه' is modified by an adjective, turning it into a specific noun phrase. For example, 'او یک مصاحبه طولانی را انجام داد' (He conducted a long interview). Here, the verb 'انجام دادن' (to perform/conduct) is used instead of 'کردن' to elevate the formality. This is a common stylistic choice in journalism and literature. When 'مصاحبه' is used purely as a noun, it pairs with various adjectives: مصاحبه شغلی (job interview), مصاحبه تلویزیونی (TV interview), مصاحبه زنده (live interview). You can use these noun phrases with the verb 'داشتن' (to have) to describe your schedule: 'امروز سه تا مصاحبه کاری دارم' (Today I have three job interviews).

Formal Alternative

مصاحبه انجام دادن (to conduct an interview) is often used in news writing instead of مصاحبه کردن.

To practice using this verb, try creating sentences about different scenarios. Imagine you are a journalist: 'من هر روز با افراد مشهور مصاحبه می‌کنم' (I interview famous people every day). Imagine you are an HR manager: 'دیروز با پنج نفر مصاحبه کردم' (Yesterday I interviewed five people). Pay attention to the pronunciation; the emphasis is usually on the last syllable of 'مصاحبه' (mosaheBEH) and the conjugated part of 'کردن'. In spoken Persian, 'مصاحبه' might be pronounced slightly faster, blending into the verb, but it retains its distinct syllables. Mastering مصاحبه کردن opens up a wide range of conversational topics, allowing you to discuss current events, career progression, and media consumption with native speakers confidently.

The verb مصاحبه کردن is ubiquitous in modern Persian, appearing across a wide spectrum of daily life, from casual conversations about career prospects to highly formal news broadcasts. One of the most common places you will hear this verb is in the context of employment and human resources. In Iran, as in many places, the job market is competitive, and the 'مصاحبه کاری' (job interview) is a major life event. You will hear friends and family discussing their preparation: 'دارم برای مصاحبه آماده می‌شوم' (I am preparing for the interview) or asking about the outcome: 'مصاحبه‌ات چطور بود؟' (How was your interview?). In these contexts, the verb itself might be dropped in favor of the noun, but the concept is central. When HR professionals speak, they use the verb actively: 'ما هفته آینده با کاندیداها مصاحبه می‌کنیم' (We will interview the candidates next week). This professional context is where B1 learners will find the word most immediately useful for their own lives.

Corporate Context

Used extensively by HR departments and job seekers.

Another major domain for مصاحبه کردن is the media—television, radio, newspapers, and online platforms. News anchors frequently introduce segments by saying, 'همکارمان با وزیر مصاحبه کرده است' (Our colleague has interviewed the minister). Talk shows are essentially extended interviews, and the host is often referred to as the person who 'مصاحبه می‌کند'. In sports journalism, post-match interviews are a staple, and you will hear commentators say, 'حالا می‌رویم تا با مربی تیم مصاحبه کنیم' (Now we go to interview the team's coach). In these media contexts, the verb carries a sense of inquiry, investigation, and public record. It is not just a chat; it is a structured extraction of information for an audience. This formal usage is excellent listening practice for learners, as media interviews usually feature clear pronunciation and standard grammar.

Media Context

Standard vocabulary in news reporting, talk shows, and journalism.

Academia and research form a third significant area where this verb is prevalent. Qualitative researchers, sociologists, and students conducting fieldwork frequently use مصاحبه کردن to describe their methodology. A university student might explain their thesis by saying, 'من برای پایان‌نامه‌ام با پنجاه معلم مصاحبه کردم' (I interviewed fifty teachers for my thesis). In this context, the interview is a tool for data collection. The language surrounding it becomes highly academic, involving terms like 'مصاحبه نیمه‌ساختاریافته' (semi-structured interview) or 'سوالات مصاحبه' (interview questions). For learners aiming to study in a Persian-speaking environment, understanding this usage is non-negotiable. It bridges the gap between everyday action and scholarly pursuit.

Academic Context

Used to describe qualitative research methods and data collection.

Finally, you will hear this word in legal and bureaucratic settings. Police officers interview witnesses ('پلیس با شاهدان مصاحبه کرد'), and immigration officials interview visa applicants ('افسر سفارت با من مصاحبه کرد'). In these high-stakes environments, the word takes on a tone of interrogation or official assessment. The power dynamic is usually clear: the person who 'مصاحبه می‌کند' holds authority, while the person being interviewed must provide satisfactory answers. Understanding these various contexts—from the hopeful job seeker to the probing journalist, the meticulous researcher, and the strict official—gives the learner a comprehensive grasp of the cultural and practical weight of مصاحبه کردن in Persian society.

When learning the verb مصاحبه کردن, non-native speakers, particularly those whose first language is English, often make a specific set of predictable errors. The most prominent mistake stems from a misunderstanding of the active versus passive roles in an interview. In English, you can say 'I interviewed for a job today,' meaning you were the applicant answering the questions. If you translate this directly into Persian as 'من امروز برای یک شغل مصاحبه کردم' (Man emrooz baraye yek shoghl mosahebeh kardam), a native speaker will assume you are the hiring manager who conducted the interviews. To correctly express that you were the applicant, you must use a different phrasing, such as 'من امروز مصاحبه شغلی داشتم' (I had a job interview today) or 'من امروز در یک مصاحبه شرکت کردم' (I participated in an interview today). This distinction is absolutely crucial for clear communication and avoiding embarrassing misunderstandings in professional contexts.

Role Confusion

Using the active verb when you are the interviewee.

Another frequent error involves the choice of prepositions. In English, you interview *someone*. It is a transitive verb taking a direct object. In Persian, مصاحبه کردن is intransitive and requires the preposition 'با' (ba), meaning 'with'. Learners often try to use the direct object marker 'را' (ra), resulting in incorrect sentences like 'من او را مصاحبه کردم' (Man oo ra mosahebeh kardam). The correct formulation is 'من با او مصاحبه کردم' (Man ba oo mosahebeh kardam - I interviewed with him / I conducted an interview with him). Forgetting the preposition 'با' is a telltale sign of a non-native speaker. It is helpful to think of the literal translation as 'to make an interview *with* someone' to remember this grammatical requirement.

Preposition Error

Omitting 'با' (with) or using the direct object marker 'را' incorrectly.

Conjugation mistakes are also common, as they are with all Persian compound verbs. Beginners sometimes attempt to conjugate the noun part 'مصاحبه' or place negative prefixes on it. For example, saying 'نامصاحبه کردم' instead of the correct 'مصاحبه نکردم' (I did not interview). Furthermore, the placement of the verb in the sentence can be tricky. Persian is an SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) language, so the verbal part 'کردن' must almost always go at the very end of the clause. Placing it in the middle, English-style, leads to broken syntax: 'من مصاحبه کردم با او' is highly colloquial and grammatically awkward in writing; it should be 'من با او مصاحبه کردم'. Maintaining the integrity of the compound verb while respecting Persian word order requires practice.

Word Order

Placing the verb before the prepositional object in formal writing.

Lastly, learners sometimes overuse مصاحبه کردن for casual conversations. If you just had a chat with a friend to ask them some questions, using 'مصاحبه کردن' sounds overly formal and slightly comedic, as if you sat them down with a microphone and a clipboard. For informal questioning or chatting, verbs like 'سوال پرسیدن' (to ask questions), 'حرف زدن' (to talk), or 'گپ زدن' (to chat) are much more appropriate. Reserving 'مصاحبه کردن' for actual interviews—whether for jobs, media, or research—ensures that your Persian sounds natural and contextually accurate. By being aware of these common pitfalls—role confusion, preposition omission, conjugation errors, and register mismatch—learners can quickly elevate their proficiency and use this important verb with confidence.

Understanding the synonyms and related terms for مصاحبه کردن helps learners enrich their vocabulary and choose the exact right word for the context. While مصاحبه کردن is the standard, all-purpose verb for 'to interview', several other verbs and phrases cover similar semantic territory. One of the closest synonyms is 'گفت‌وگو کردن' (goft-o-go kardan), which means 'to converse' or 'to dialogue'. While 'مصاحبه' implies a structured Q&A, usually for an official purpose, 'گفت‌وگو' is broader. It can be a formal diplomatic dialogue or a serious discussion between colleagues. In media, you will often see 'گفت‌وگوی ویژه' (special conversation/interview) used interchangeably with 'مصاحبه اختصاصی' (exclusive interview). Using 'گفت‌وگو کردن' softens the tone, making it sound more like an exchange of ideas rather than an interrogation.

گفت‌وگو کردن

To converse, to dialogue. Broader and slightly softer than interviewing.

Another related phrase is 'پرسش و پاسخ کردن' (porsesh o pasokh kardan), which literally translates to 'to do question and answer'. This is highly descriptive and is often used in academic or panel settings where an audience asks questions and a speaker answers. It lacks the formal, one-on-one intimacy of a 'مصاحبه', but it captures the mechanical action of an interview perfectly. If a teacher is drilling students, or a politician is taking questions from a crowd, 'پرسش و پاسخ' is the accurate term. For a more interrogative tone, the verb 'بازجویی کردن' (bazjoo-yi kardan) is used. This means 'to interrogate' and is strictly reserved for police, legal, or military contexts. Using 'بازجویی کردن' instead of مصاحبه کردن in a job context would be a severe (though perhaps humorous) mistake, implying the HR manager treated the applicant like a criminal suspect.

بازجویی کردن

To interrogate. Used in police and legal contexts, not for jobs or media.

In the realm of informal conversation, verbs like 'گپ زدن' (gap zadan - to chat) or 'حرف زدن' (harf zadan - to talk) are used. If you are informally asking someone about their life, you are not 'مصاحبه کردن'; you are just 'حرف زدن'. Additionally, the verb 'مشاوره دادن/گرفتن' (moshavereh dadan/gereftan - to give/receive consultation) is related but distinct. A consultation involves advice and expertise, whereas an interview is primarily about gathering information. In medical or psychological contexts, a doctor might 'مصاحبه بالینی' (clinical interview) a patient, but they also provide 'مشاوره'. Recognizing these boundaries ensures precise communication.

گپ زدن

To chat informally. The opposite of a formal interview.

To summarize, while مصاحبه کردن is your go-to verb for structured, formal information gathering (jobs, media, research), Persian offers a rich spectrum of alternatives. Use 'گفت‌وگو کردن' for a respectful dialogue, 'پرسش و پاسخ' for a Q&A session, 'بازجویی کردن' for police interrogations, and 'گپ زدن' for friendly chats. By mastering this cluster of vocabulary, a B1 learner demonstrates a nuanced understanding of Persian social dynamics and register, moving beyond basic translations to true cultural fluency. Practice substituting these words in different sentences to feel how the tone shifts from friendly to formal to intimidating.