Meaning
Expressing the significance of something to oneself.
Cultural Background
In Iran, stating that something is important to you is often a way to signal sincerity (Sedaaghat). It moves the conversation away from the ritualized politeness of Ta'arof. In Dari Persian, the phrase is identical, but the pronunciation of 'mohem' might have a more distinct 'h' sound. It is used heavily in community negotiations. Tajik Persian (written in Cyrillic) uses 'Ин барои ман муҳим аст'. The usage is similar but often influenced by Russian structures in formal settings. For Iranians living abroad, this phrase is frequently used to discuss the importance of maintaining cultural heritage and language with their children.
Use 'Kheyli'
Iranians love emphasis. Adding 'kheyli' (very) before 'mohem' makes you sound much more natural and passionate.
Don't say 'be man'
English speakers often say 'mohem be man' because of 'important TO me'. This is a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker. Always use 'barā-ye'.
Meaning
Expressing the significance of something to oneself.
Use 'Kheyli'
Iranians love emphasis. Adding 'kheyli' (very) before 'mohem' makes you sound much more natural and passionate.
Don't say 'be man'
English speakers often say 'mohem be man' because of 'important TO me'. This is a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker. Always use 'barā-ye'.
Sincerity over Ta'arof
If you really need something, don't be afraid to use this phrase. It's a polite but firm way to end a cycle of Ta'arof.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition to say 'This is important for me.'
این ____ من مهم است.
In Persian, we use 'برای' (barā-ye) to indicate who something is important to.
Which one is the correct informal/spoken version?
How do you say 'This is important to me' in a casual way?
'برام' is the contraction of 'برای من' and 'مهمه' is the contraction of 'مهم است'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا اینقدر درس میخونی؟ B: چون آیندهام ________.
The context implies the person is studying because their future is important to them.
Match the sentence to the situation.
'وقتشناسی برای من مهم است.'
Punctuality (وقتشناسی) is a common professional value discussed in interviews.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs Informal
Practice Bank
4 exercisesاین ____ من مهم است.
In Persian, we use 'برای' (barā-ye) to indicate who something is important to.
How do you say 'This is important to me' in a casual way?
'برام' is the contraction of 'برای من' and 'مهمه' is the contraction of 'مهم است'.
A: چرا اینقدر درس میخونی؟ B: چون آیندهام ________.
The context implies the person is studying because their future is important to them.
'وقتشناسی برای من مهم است.'
Punctuality (وقتشناسی) is a common professional value discussed in interviews.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! That is the most common spoken form. It's the contraction of 'Mohem ast barā-ye man'.
Yes, you can say 'To barā-ye man mohemi' (You are important to me).
'Mohem' means important (value), while 'zaruri' means necessary (requirement).
If the subjects are plural, use 'mohem hastand'. Example: 'Inhā barā-ye man mohem hastand.'
Absolutely. It is professional and clear.
Yes, but it sounds like a strong preference. 'Taste is important to me.'
The opposite is 'bi-ahammiyat' (unimportant) or simply 'mohem nist' (it's not important).
Usually, yes, because the verb 'ast' follows it at the end of the sentence.
Young people might say 'vājibe' (it's obligatory/vital) for things they really care about.
You can say 'unghadr-hā ham mohem nist'.
Related Phrases
اهمیت داشتن
synonymTo have importance
ارزش داشتن
similarTo be worth it / To have value
حیاتی بودن
specialized formTo be vital
بیاهمیت
contrastUnimportant
اولویت داشتن
builds onTo have priority
