Meaning
To touch with the lips as a sign of affection or greeting.
Cultural Background
The 'Three-Kiss' Rule: In many parts of Iran, especially Tehran, the standard greeting involves three kisses on the cheeks, alternating sides. It's often accompanied by a series of 'Ta'arof' questions about one's health. In Afghanistan, kissing the hand of a religious leader or a family patriarch is a very common sign of 'Ehtiram' (respect). It is often followed by touching the hand to one's forehead. Tajik culture shares the Persian warmth but has been influenced by Soviet-era Russian customs. You might see more formal handshakes followed by a single kiss among men in urban areas like Dushanbe. In the West, many Iranians adapt their 'Rubusi' to the local culture, sometimes reducing it to two kisses or a 'half-hug' to avoid confusing their non-Persian friends, while maintaining the full three-kiss ritual with fellow Iranians.
The Air Kiss
In 'Rubusi', you don't always have to make lip-to-skin contact. Often, it's a 'cheek-to-cheek' touch with a kissing sound made in the air.
Gender Boundaries
Always be mindful of gender. If you are unsure, a simple handshake (if they offer) or a hand over the heart is the safest bet.
Meaning
To touch with the lips as a sign of affection or greeting.
The Air Kiss
In 'Rubusi', you don't always have to make lip-to-skin contact. Often, it's a 'cheek-to-cheek' touch with a kissing sound made in the air.
Gender Boundaries
Always be mindful of gender. If you are unsure, a simple handshake (if they offer) or a hand over the heart is the safest bet.
The 'Three' Rule
If you're in a group, watch others first. If they do three kisses, follow suit. It shows you're culturally attuned!
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'Busidan' in the past tense.
من دیروز دست مادربزرگم را ________.
The sentence indicates a past action ('دیروز' - yesterday), so the past first-person singular 'بوسیدم' is correct.
Which phrase is most appropriate for ending a friendly letter?
کدام عبارت برای پایان نامه دوستانه مناسب است؟
'Ruye mah-at ra mibusam' is a classic, warm, and idiomatic way to end a letter to a loved one.
Match the action to the cultural meaning.
بوسیدن دست پدربزرگ نشانه چیست؟
Kissing the hand of an elder is a traditional sign of respect in Persian culture.
Complete the dialogue between two friends meeting after a long time.
علی: سلام رضا! خیلی خوشحالم میبینمت. رضا: من هم همینطور! بیا ________.
'Rubusi konim' (Let's do cheek-kissing) is the natural social follow-up to a warm greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Persian Kisses
Greeting
- • Cheek to cheek
- • 3 times
- • Same gender
Respect
- • Hand
- • Forehead
- • Elders
Sacred
- • Quran
- • Bread
- • Shrine
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن دیروز دست مادربزرگم را ________.
The sentence indicates a past action ('دیروز' - yesterday), so the past first-person singular 'بوسیدم' is correct.
کدام عبارت برای پایان نامه دوستانه مناسب است؟
'Ruye mah-at ra mibusam' is a classic, warm, and idiomatic way to end a letter to a loved one.
بوسیدن دست پدربزرگ نشانه چیست؟
Kissing the hand of an elder is a traditional sign of respect in Persian culture.
علی: سلام رضا! خیلی خوشحالم میبینمت. رضا: من هم همینطور! بیا ________.
'Rubusi konim' (Let's do cheek-kissing) is the natural social follow-up to a warm greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but in public, it is almost exclusively used for family and same-gender friends as a greeting.
'Bus' is standard and polite. 'Mach' is informal, like 'smacker' or 'peck' in English.
Yes, it is very common for male friends and relatives to kiss each other on the cheeks as a greeting.
Informally: 'Mikham buset konam'. Use this only with someone you are very close to!
It is a sign of 'Ehtiram' (respect) and 'Tabarruk' (seeking blessing) from the holy word.
While you can, Iranians generally don't have the same 'pet-kissing' culture as Westerners, though this is changing among younger urban generations.
Use 'Busidan' for writing/poetry and 'Bus kardan' for speaking.
It's a poetic phrase meaning 'Kissing the rain', often used in song titles or literature.
Generally no, as dating culture is more conservative and private.
Usually 2 or 3 times. Three is very traditional in Iran.
Related Phrases
بوسه
similarA kiss (noun)
ماچ
synonymKiss (informal)
روبوسی
specialized formCheek-kissing greeting
لب گرفتن
specialized formTo make out / French kiss
بوسه زدن
builds onTo plant a kiss
