Meaning
To express that something appears to be acceptable or in good condition.
Cultural Background
Using 'seeming' verbs is a hallmark of 'Ta'arof'. It avoids being too assertive, which is considered a virtue in Persian social etiquette. In the tech and startup scene in Tehran, this phrase is used constantly during 'code reviews' or 'product demos' to give constructive, non-threatening feedback. Merchants use this phrase to validate a customer's choice without sounding like they are just trying to sell. It builds trust. In Persian literature, 'Nazar' is often contrasted with 'Yaqin' (Certainty). Using 'be nazar' shows intellectual humility.
The 'Ke' Trick
You can add 'ke' after 'mi-resad' to make it more formal: 'Be nazar mi-resad ke khub bashad.'
Subjunctive Alert
Never use 'ast' after 'be nazar mi-resad'. It's the most common mistake for intermediate learners.
Meaning
To express that something appears to be acceptable or in good condition.
The 'Ke' Trick
You can add 'ke' after 'mi-resad' to make it more formal: 'Be nazar mi-resad ke khub bashad.'
Subjunctive Alert
Never use 'ast' after 'be nazar mi-resad'. It's the most common mistake for intermediate learners.
Polite Disagreement
If you disagree, start with 'Be nazar mi-resad...' to soften the blow. It makes you sound very sophisticated.
Spoken Shortcut
In a hurry? Just say 'Be nazar khube' (Seems good). It's grammatically simplified but very common.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'to be'.
این ایده به نظر میرسد عالی ... .
The phrase 'be nazar mi-resad' requires the subjunctive form 'bashad'.
Which sentence is the most natural for a casual conversation with a friend?
Talking about a new movie:
'Be nazar mi-yâd' is the standard informal version for daily speech.
Match the Persian phrase with its English equivalent.
Phrases:
Matching the components helps understand the structure.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: نظرت درباره این پیراهن چیست؟ B: ...
B is giving an opinion about the shirt, so 'bashad' is correct.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesاین ایده به نظر میرسد عالی ... .
The phrase 'be nazar mi-resad' requires the subjunctive form 'bashad'.
Talking about a new movie:
'Be nazar mi-yâd' is the standard informal version for daily speech.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching the components helps understand the structure.
A: نظرت درباره این پیراهن چیست؟ B: ...
B is giving an opinion about the shirt, so 'bashad' is correct.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, but it usually refers to their appearance or a specific trait, e.g., 'He seems kind.'
'Mi-resad' is formal/written; 'mi-yâd' is informal/spoken.
In formal Persian, yes. In very casual speech, people sometimes use 'ast', but it's better to stick to 'bashad' or its short form 'bashe'.
Yes, that means 'In my view, it's good.' It's a very common alternative.
Add 'na' to the verb: 'به نظر نمیرسد خوب باشد' (It doesn't seem to be good).
Yes: 'به نظر میرسید خوب باشد' (It seemed to be good).
No, it just implies you are basing your opinion on appearance or limited info.
Constantly. It's the standard way to evaluate proposals and ideas.
Then just say 'Khub ast' (It is good).
Yes, if you are looking at the food but haven't tasted it yet.
Yes, 'nazar' is the most common word for opinion in Persian.
به نظر میرسد مثل یک رویا باشد.
Related Phrases
به نظر من
similarIn my opinion
ظاهراً
synonymApparently / Seemingly
به نظر آمدن
similarTo seem / To come to view
جلوه کردن
specialized formTo manifest / To show off
بنظر رسیدن
synonymTo seem
