Meaning
Asking about the duration required for a task or journey.
Cultural Background
In Tehran, traffic is a major factor. When someone says '10 minutes', they often mean '10 minutes if there is no traffic', which is rare. The concept of 'Ta'arof' means people might give you a shorter time estimate to be polite and not discourage you. In Iranian business, deadlines are often discussed with 'Ensha'Allah', emphasizing that time is subject to divine will. On Iranian Twitter/X, people often complain about how long bureaucratic processes 'zaman mibare' using this exact phrase.
Use 'Vaght' for Casualness
Replacing 'Zaman' with 'Vaght' makes you sound more like a local in informal settings.
The 'D' Drop
Always remember to drop the 'd' in 'mibarad' when speaking, or you will sound like a news anchor.
Meaning
Asking about the duration required for a task or journey.
Use 'Vaght' for Casualness
Replacing 'Zaman' with 'Vaght' makes you sound more like a local in informal settings.
The 'D' Drop
Always remember to drop the 'd' in 'mibarad' when speaking, or you will sound like a news anchor.
The 'Yek Rob' Rule
If someone says 'Yek rob' (a quarter hour), prepare for it to take at least 30 minutes.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word in this informal question.
تا فرودگاه چقدر زمان _______؟
'Mibare' is the correct verb form for 'taking time' in this context.
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask a friend how long a movie is?
Asking about a movie duration:
All options are grammatically correct, but 'tul mikeshe' and 'zaman mibare' are the most common for duration.
Complete the dialogue.
A: تعمیر کفش من چقدر زمان میبره؟ B: _________.
All these are natural responses to a question about duration.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Match: 'چقدر زمان میبره؟'
This phrase is specifically for duration.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesتا فرودگاه چقدر زمان _______؟
'Mibare' is the correct verb form for 'taking time' in this context.
Asking about a movie duration:
All options are grammatically correct, but 'tul mikeshe' and 'zaman mibare' are the most common for duration.
A: تعمیر کفش من چقدر زمان میبره؟ B: _________.
All these are natural responses to a question about duration.
Match: 'چقدر زمان میبره؟'
This phrase is specifically for duration.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is neutral. However, using 'mibarad' (formal ending) is safer if your boss is very traditional.
No, you would say 'Cheghadr tul mikeshe ta un biad?' (How long does it take for him to come?).
'Tul mikeshe' is slightly more common for 'lasting', while 'zaman mibare' is common for 'consuming time'. They are 95% interchangeable.
You say 'Kheyli zaman bord.'
No, 'chand' is for countable things like 'how many hours' (chand sa'at).
Yes, though they might prefer 'Cheghadr vaqt megirad?' in Dari.
Say 'Cheghadr dige zaman mibare?'
No, for money use 'Cheghadr mishe?' (How much does it become?).
Yes, 'zaman' is the scientific/standard word for time, while 'vaght' is more everyday.
Absolutely. It's very common in SMS and WhatsApp.
Related Phrases
طول کشیدن
synonymTo last / To take long
وقت گرفتن
similarTo take up time / To make an appointment
عجله داشتن
contrastTo be in a hurry
زمانبر
builds onTime-consuming
