Meaning
To be calm, fearless, or unfazed by a stressful or dangerous situation.
Cultural Background
In Iranian culture, showing too much emotion in public (especially fear) can be seen as a sign of weakness. This idiom praises the 'unshakable' individual. Classical poets like Rumi often use water as a metaphor for the soul. A 'still' soul reflects the light of God better than a 'turbulent' one. Iranians use this idiom sarcastically on Twitter to describe politicians who seem indifferent to economic inflation. In Tehran, the pronunciation 'tokuun nemikhore' is much more common than the formal 'takan nemikhorad'.
Use it for 'Cool' Characters
If you are watching a movie and the hero is walking away from an explosion without looking back, that is the perfect time to say 'آب تو دلش تکان نمیخوره'.
Don't use for 'Cold' People
Be careful; if you use it when someone *should* be helping but isn't, it can sound like you are calling them heartless.
Meaning
To be calm, fearless, or unfazed by a stressful or dangerous situation.
Use it for 'Cool' Characters
If you are watching a movie and the hero is walking away from an explosion without looking back, that is the perfect time to say 'آب تو دلش تکان نمیخوره'.
Don't use for 'Cold' People
Be careful; if you use it when someone *should* be helping but isn't, it can sound like you are calling them heartless.
The 'Del' Connection
Remember that 'del' is the center of everything in Persian. Most idioms about emotions will involve this word.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
با اینکه هواپیما تکانهای شدیدی داشت، آب تو دل خلبان ________.
The idiom is used in the negative to show the pilot remained calm despite the turbulence.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'آب تو دلش تکان نمیخورد'?
کدام موقعیت برای این ضربالمثل مناسب است؟
The idiom describes someone who stays calm during a stressful event like an accident.
Match the Persian phrase with its English equivalent.
عبارات را به هم وصل کنید.
These are all related to emotional states in Persian.
Complete the dialogue.
سارا: 'فردا باید جلوی ۱۰۰ نفر سخنرانی کنی، نگران نیستی؟' علی: 'نه بابا، ________.'
Ali is expressing that he is not worried about the speech.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesبا اینکه هواپیما تکانهای شدیدی داشت، آب تو دل خلبان ________.
The idiom is used in the negative to show the pilot remained calm despite the turbulence.
کدام موقعیت برای این ضربالمثل مناسب است؟
The idiom describes someone who stays calm during a stressful event like an accident.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all related to emotional states in Persian.
سارا: 'فردا باید جلوی ۱۰۰ نفر سخنرانی کنی، نگران نیستی؟' علی: 'نه بابا، ________.'
Ali is expressing that he is not worried about the speech.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! 'آب تو دلم تکان نخورد' is a great way to brag about your bravery.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
The opposite is 'دست و پایش را گم کرد' (He lost his hands and feet/panicked).
Literally, yes. Figuratively, it means internal stability.
Usually, it's for stressful or negative events where you *should* be worried.
'Takan' is a noun meaning 'shake', and 'takan khordan' is the compound verb.
'Del' is the poetic and emotional center; 'shekam' is just the physical stomach.
It's grammatically correct but sounds very weird to native speakers. Avoid it.
This idiom is the perfect equivalent!
Yes, frequently in modern and classical Persian literature.
Related Phrases
خونسرد بودن
synonymTo be cold-blooded or composed.
خم به ابرو نیاوردن
similarTo not even frown or show a sign of pain.
دلش قرص است
builds onHis heart is firm/solid (he is confident).
دست و پا گم کردن
contrastTo lose one's hands and feet (to panic).
عین خیالش نبود
similarIt wasn't even like a thought to him.
