شرم کردن

The Persian verb شرم کردن (sharm kardan) is a profound expression of human emotion, specifically the act of feeling ashamed or experiencing a deep sense of moral humiliation. Unlike simple shyness or social awkwardness, which is often captured by the word khejalat, شرم کردن carries a heavier weight, often linked to one's conscience, ethics, or social standing. It is the internal reaction one has when they realize they have violated a personal or societal code of conduct. In the Persian-speaking world, the concept of 'sharm' is deeply intertwined with 'abrou' (honor or face). When someone says they 'sharm' from a situation, they are indicating a loss of face or a deep internal regret that goes beyond mere embarrassment.

Social Context

Used when a person feels they have disappointed their family or community.

Moral Context

Used in religious or ethical discussions regarding sins or transgressions.

This verb is also frequently used in literature and poetry to describe the humility one feels before a great beauty or a divine presence. It suggests a shrinking of the self. In everyday modern Persian, while khejalat keshidan is more common for 'being shy', شرم کردن remains the standard for expressing genuine moral shame. If you break a promise to a close friend, you don't just feel shy; you feel شرم. It is a compound verb consisting of the noun 'sharm' (shame) and the auxiliary verb 'kardan' (to do/make).

In Persian culture, the ability to feel shame is often seen as a sign of having a 'conscience' (vojdan). Someone who does not 'sharm kardan' is often described as 'bi-sharm' (shameless), which is a significant insult. Thus, the verb is not just about a negative feeling, but also about the presence of a moral compass. In formal settings, you might hear the passive-like construction 'sharm-sar budan' (to be ashamed), but 'sharm kardan' is the active process of experiencing that emotion.

Using شرم کردن correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure as a compound verb. The noun 'sharm' remains static, while 'kardan' is conjugated according to the subject and tense. It is almost always paired with the preposition از (az), which translates to 'of' or 'from' in this context. This creates the pattern: [Subject] + [az] + [Object/Action] + [sharm kardan].

Past Tense

من شرم کردم (I felt ashamed), تو شرم کردی (You felt ashamed).

Present Tense

او شرم می‌کند (He/She feels ashamed), ما شرم می‌کنیم (We feel ashamed).

When using it with another verb, the second verb usually takes the infinitive or a gerund-like form after 'az'. For example, 'az didan-e u sharm kardam' (I felt ashamed from seeing him). It can also be used in the negative to scold someone: 'sharm nemikoni?' (Aren't you ashamed?). This is a powerful rhetorical question in Persian arguments. In more poetic or archaic settings, you might see 'sharm amadan' (shame coming), but in modern B1 level Persian, 'kardan' is the standard auxiliary.

You will encounter شرم کردن in a variety of settings, ranging from daily family disputes to high-level political discourse. In a household setting, a parent might use it to discipline a child who has been disrespectful to an elder. In the media, journalists might use it to describe the public's reaction to a corruption scandal or a social injustice. It is a word that signals a moral judgment has been made.

In News

'جامعه از این جنایت شرم کرد' (The society felt ashamed of this crime).

In Literature

Commonly used in classical poetry (Rumi, Hafez) to describe the soul's state before the Beloved.

Movies and TV dramas (especially Iranian 'Serial' dramas) use this word frequently during climactic scenes of betrayal or confession. It is also a key term in religious sermons, where the 'sharm' before God is discussed as a deterrent for sin. If you are watching an Iranian film and a character lowers their head in silence after being caught in a lie, they are likely experiencing 'sharm'.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing شرم کردن with khejalat keshidan. While both can be translated as 'to be ashamed/embarrassed', they are not interchangeable in terms of intensity. If you are just shy to speak in public, you use khejalat. If you feel you have committed a sin or a grave error, you use sharm. Using sharm for minor social shyness sounds overly dramatic or even incorrect.

Preposition Error

Do not use 'be' (to). It is always 'az' (from). 'Az u sharm kardam' is correct; 'Be u sharm kardam' is wrong.

Auxiliary Error

Confusing 'sharm kardan' with 'sharmandeh kardan'. The latter means 'to make someone else feel ashamed/obliged'.

Persian has a rich vocabulary for feelings of inadequacy or social pressure. Understanding the nuances between شرم کردن and its synonyms will greatly improve your fluency. Here is a breakdown of the most common alternatives.

خجالت کشیدن (Khejalat Keshidan)

More common for social shyness, embarrassment, or being 'bashful'.

شرمسار بودن (Sharmsar Budan)

To be in a state of shame. Often used in formal apologies.

منفعل شدن (Monfa'el Shodan)

To become passive or overwhelmed by shame/guilt in a specific moment.

While 'sharm kardan' is the action, 'sharmandeh budan' is the state of feeling indebted or apologetic. If someone does you a big favor, you might say 'sharmandeh-am' (I am ashamed/indebted), but you wouldn't say 'sharm mikonam' in that specific social context.