A1 Collocation Neutral

آرزو کردن

arezoo kardan

To wish / desire

Phrase in 30 Seconds

آرزو کردن is the essential Persian compound verb used to express hopes, dreams, and well-wishes for yourself and others.

  • Means: To wish or hope for something significant (max 15 words)
  • Used in: Birthdays, New Year celebrations, and discussing life goals (max 15 words)
  • Don't confuse: With 'khastan' (to want), which is for immediate needs like food (max 15 words)
💭 (Thought) + ✨ (Magic/Hope) = آرزو کردن (To Wish)

Explanation at your level:

At this level, you just need to know that 'آرزو کردن' means 'to wish.' You use it for simple things like birthdays or saying 'I wish for a car.' It is a compound verb, so you only change the 'kardan' part. It's a great way to start expressing your feelings in Persian.
You can now use 'آرزو کردن' to talk about your future plans and simple well-wishes for friends. You should start noticing that it often leads to a 'that' (ke) clause. You are learning to distinguish it from 'khastan' (to want) and using it in social situations like holidays.
At the intermediate level, you understand the nuance between 'ārezu' (wish) and 'omid' (hope). You can conjugate the verb in various tenses like the past continuous or future. you're beginning to use the subjunctive mood correctly after the verb to express hypothetical desires and complex social well-wishes.
You are comfortable using 'آرزو کردن' in formal writing and professional contexts. You understand how it fits into the broader system of Persian compound verbs and can use related forms like 'ārezumand' or 'tamannā' to vary your register. You also recognize its use in common idioms and proverbs.
You can analyze the stylistic choice of using 'ārezu kardan' versus more poetic alternatives in literature. You understand the historical evolution from Middle Persian and can discuss the philosophical implications of 'desire' in Persian Sufi poetry, where 'ārezu' often represents the soul's longing for the divine.
You have a near-native grasp of the cognitive linguistics behind 'kardan' as a light verb. You can manipulate the phrase for rhetorical effect, using archaic or highly formal variations. You understand the deep cultural semiotics of 'wishing' within the Iranian worldview and can use the phrase with perfect pragmatic competence in any social or literary context.

Meaning

To express a longing or hope for something.

🌍

Cultural Background

During the Persian New Year, people visit elders and 'ārezu' for a 'Sāl-e Por-Barekat' (a year full of blessings). It is a time of collective wishing. On the longest night of the year, Iranians take a 'Faal' from the poetry of Hafez. The poem is often seen as an answer to a secret 'ārezu' the person made before opening the book. In Afghanistan, the phrase is used similarly, but the pronunciation might slightly differ. The sentiment of wishing for peace ('solh') is a very common usage in daily speech. Tajik Persian uses 'آرزو نمودن' (ārezu namudan) more frequently in formal writing, which is a more formal version of 'kardan'.

💡

The Birthday Rule

Always use 'Arezoo kon!' when someone is about to blow out candles. It's the most natural use of the phrase.

⚠️

Don't be too dramatic

Avoid using this verb for small things like 'I wish I had a pen.' It makes you sound like you're in a soap opera.

Meaning

To express a longing or hope for something.

💡

The Birthday Rule

Always use 'Arezoo kon!' when someone is about to blow out candles. It's the most natural use of the phrase.

⚠️

Don't be too dramatic

Avoid using this verb for small things like 'I wish I had a pen.' It makes you sound like you're in a soap opera.

💬

Ta'arof and Wishes

When someone wishes you well, always respond with 'Hamchenin barāye shomā' (The same for you).

Test Yourself

Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'ārezu kardan' in the present tense.

من برای تو موفقیت ______.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌کنم

The subject is 'من' (I), so the present tense form is 'می‌کنم'.

Which situation is appropriate for using 'ārezu kardan'?

In which scenario would you say 'آرزو می‌کنم'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Blowing out birthday candles

'آرزو کردن' is for meaningful wishes, not daily transactions.

Fill in the missing line in this dialogue.

دوست: تولدت مبارک! حالا شمع‌ها رو فوت کن. شما: مرسی! ________.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: یک آرزو کردم

After blowing out candles, it is natural to say 'I made a wish'.

Match the Persian phrase with its English meaning.

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: all

These are the basic forms and collocations of the verb.

🎉 Score: /4

Visual Learning Aids

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

Yes, Arezoo is a very common and beautiful female name in Iran and Afghanistan.

Both are used. 'Kardan' is the action of making a wish. 'Dāshtan' (to have) describes the state of having a wish in your heart.

You say 'Kāsh injā budi' or more formally 'Arezoo mikardam ke injā budi'.

Yes, usually the verb following 'ke' after 'ārezu kardan' will be in the subjunctive mood.

Yes, 'Arezoo mikonam bārān ghat' shavad' is correct and sounds very hopeful.

Related Phrases

🔗

امیدوار بودن

similar

To be hopeful

🔗

رویا دیدن

similar

To dream

🔗

دعا کردن

related

To pray

🔗

حسرت خوردن

contrast

To regret/long for the past

Where to Use It

🎂

Birthday Party

Friend: شمع‌ها رو فوت کن و آرزو کن!

Birthday Girl: یک آرزوی خیلی خوب کردم.

informal
💼

Job Interview Exit

Candidate: برای شرکت شما آرزوی موفقیت دارم.

Interviewer: ممنون، ما هم برای شما بهترین‌ها را آرزو می‌کنیم.

formal
🌱

New Year (Nowruz)

Grandpa: سال نو مبارک! چه آرزویی داری؟

Grandchild: آرزو می‌کنم امسال همه سلامت باشند.

neutral
🥂

Wedding Toast

Guest: برای این زوج جوان آرزوی خوشبختی می‌کنم.

Groom: خیلی ممنون از لطف شما.

formal
📸

Social Media Caption

Influencer: آرزو می‌کنم به تمام رویاهاتون برسید. ✨

Follower: مرسی! همچنین برای شما.

informal
👋

Saying Goodbye

Traveler: خداحافظ! برایت آرزوی سلامتی می‌کنم.

Friend: سفر بخیر، من هم برایت آرزوی موفقیت می‌کنم.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'A-Ray-Zoo'. You see a 'Ray' of light at the 'Zoo' and make a wish for the animals.

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing under a starry night sky in the desert, pointing at a shooting star and whispering 'ārezu mikonam'. The 'kardan' part is the action of pointing.

Rhyme

آرزو، آرزو، راهِ تو از هر سو (Arezoo, Arezoo, your path is from every side).

Story

A young boy named Arash found a magic lamp. Instead of asking for gold, he said 'Man ārezu mikonam' for his grandmother to be healthy. The genie was so impressed by the compound verb that he granted it instantly.

Word Web

امید (Hope)رویا (Dream)هدف (Goal)خواستن (To want)تولد (Birthday)موفقیت (Success)آینده (Future)خوشبختی (Happiness)

Challenge

Write down three things you 'ārezu mikonam' for this year in Persian and post them on your fridge.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Desear / Pedir un deseo

Spanish 'desear' can also mean sexual desire, whereas 'ārezu' is strictly aspirational.

French high

Souhaiter

French uses 'faire un vœu' specifically for the ritual of making a wish, similar to the Persian compound structure.

German moderate

Wünschen

German has a specific verb 'ersehnen' for deep, poetic longing that 'ārezu' also covers.

Japanese moderate

願う (Negau)

Japanese often uses '...tai' (want to) for personal wishes where Persian would use 'ārezu'.

Arabic high

تمنى (Tamanna)

In Arabic, 'tamanna' can sometimes imply wishing for something impossible, whereas 'ārezu' is more general.

Chinese moderate

希望 (Xīwàng)

Chinese doesn't have a separate ritualistic phrase as distinct as 'ārezu kon!' for birthdays.

Korean moderate

바라다 (Barada)

Korean uses different levels of politeness (honorifics) which Persian handles through 'Ta'arof' vocabulary.

Portuguese high

Desejar

Portuguese 'tomara que' is a common colloquial way to say 'I wish/hope' that doesn't have a direct 1:1 structural equivalent in Persian.

Easily Confused

آرزو کردن vs خواستن (Khāstan)

Both mean 'to want' or 'to wish' in English.

Use 'khāstan' for things you can actually get now (like water). Use 'ārezu kardan' for dreams and well-wishes.

آرزو کردن vs امید داشتن (Omid dāshtan)

Learners use them interchangeably for 'I hope'.

'Omid' is for things that are likely to happen. 'Arezoo' is for things you deeply desire, regardless of likelihood.

FAQ (5)

Yes, Arezoo is a very common and beautiful female name in Iran and Afghanistan.

Both are used. 'Kardan' is the action of making a wish. 'Dāshtan' (to have) describes the state of having a wish in your heart.

You say 'Kāsh injā budi' or more formally 'Arezoo mikardam ke injā budi'.

Yes, usually the verb following 'ke' after 'ārezu kardan' will be in the subjunctive mood.

Yes, 'Arezoo mikonam bārān ghat' shavad' is correct and sounds very hopeful.

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