Meaning
To be displeased, irritated, or have a complaint against a person.
Cultural Background
In Iranian families, 'shāki budan' is often used by parents to express disappointment without being overly harsh. It’s a way to say 'I have a legitimate reason to be upset.' Iranians often use this phrase to vent to a third party about a colleague, rather than confronting the colleague directly, to avoid 'breaking the face' (āberū) of the other person. On Persian Twitter, 'shāki' is a common hashtag used to complain about social issues, internet filtering, or economic problems. When dealing with bureaucracy, being 'shāki' is seen as a right. If you aren't 'shāki,' people might not take your request seriously.
Use it for 'First World Problems'
This phrase is perfect for complaining about slow Wi-Fi, cold coffee, or a late bus.
Don't forget the 'Dast'
Saying 'az to shāki-am' is okay, but 'az dastet shāki-am' is 100% more natural.
Meaning
To be displeased, irritated, or have a complaint against a person.
Use it for 'First World Problems'
This phrase is perfect for complaining about slow Wi-Fi, cold coffee, or a late bus.
Don't forget the 'Dast'
Saying 'az to shāki-am' is okay, but 'az dastet shāki-am' is 100% more natural.
Softening the blow
Add 'یه کم' (ye kam - a little) before 'shāki' to make your complaint sound less aggressive: 'یه کم از دستت شاکیام.'
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition to complete the phrase.
من واقعاً ....... دستِ برادرم شاکی هستم.
The correct preposition is 'az' as part of the 'az dast-e' construction.
Which sentence correctly expresses that the boss is annoyed with the employees?
Choose the correct sentence:
This follows the standard [Subject] + [az dast-e] + [Object] + [shāki] + [Verb] pattern.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: Your friend promised to help you move but didn't show up.
This is the most natural response to a broken promise.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا سارا با من حرف نمیزنه؟ B: چون ................................... .
'Shāki shode' (has become annoyed) explains the current state of not talking.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن واقعاً ....... دستِ برادرم شاکی هستم.
The correct preposition is 'az' as part of the 'az dast-e' construction.
Choose the correct sentence:
This follows the standard [Subject] + [az dast-e] + [Object] + [shāki] + [Verb] pattern.
Situation: Your friend promised to help you move but didn't show up.
This is the most natural response to a broken promise.
A: چرا سارا با من حرف نمیزنه؟ B: چون ................................... .
'Shāki shode' (has become annoyed) explains the current state of not talking.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's not a swear word or even particularly rude. It's a standard way to express annoyance.
Yes! You can say 'az dast-e khodam shāki-am' (I'm annoyed with myself).
Asabi is a general feeling of anger. Shāki is a specific complaint against someone's actions.
You say 'shāki nistam'.
It's better to use 'nārāzi' (dissatisfied) in a formal email, as 'shāki' is slightly more colloquial.
Usually, yes. But you can be 'shāki' at a company, a situation, or even the weather.
It is very common in Iran. In Afghanistan (Dari), they might use 'shāki' but 'az dast-e' is less common there.
Yes, but it often implies that the person's action was a bit much or the 'last straw'.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'rāzi' (satisfied/happy with) is the closest.
No, they come from different Arabic roots. 'Shak' is from 'sh-k-k', while 'shāki' is from 'sh-k-y'.
Related Phrases
گله داشتن
similarTo have a soft complaint or a grudge.
ناراضی بودن
synonymTo be dissatisfied.
کفری شدن
specialized formTo be driven crazy with anger.
شکایت کردن
builds onTo actually file a complaint or complain out loud.
