Meaning
To anticipate someone's arrival or an event with great expectation.
Cultural Background
Telling a guest 'Cheshm be rahetun budim' is the ultimate compliment. It suggests their visit was the highlight of your day. The phrase is a staple in classical poetry (Rumi, Hafez) and modern poetry (Nima Yooshij), representing the soul's longing for the divine or a beloved. For families of missing soldiers, this phrase is not just an idiom but a lifestyle of decades-long hope. During the Persian New Year, being 'cheshm be rah' for the 'Amu Nowruz' (Uncle Nowruz) or family visits is a shared national experience.
Use it for guests
When someone arrives at your house, say 'Cheshm be rahetun budim' to immediately make them feel welcome.
Don't use for objects
Avoid using it for your Amazon package unless you want to sound like you're in a soap opera.
Meaning
To anticipate someone's arrival or an event with great expectation.
Use it for guests
When someone arrives at your house, say 'Cheshm be rahetun budim' to immediately make them feel welcome.
Don't use for objects
Avoid using it for your Amazon package unless you want to sound like you're in a soap opera.
Poetic flair
Using this instead of 'montazer' makes you sound much more fluent and culturally aware.
Singular Eye
Remember: it's always 'cheshm' (singular), never 'cheshm-ha' (plural).
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
من چشم ... راه برادرم هستم که از سفر میآید.
The standard preposition for this idiom is 'be' (to/at).
Which situation is most appropriate for 'cheshm be rah budan'?
In which case should you use this phrase?
This idiom is for emotional, significant waiting, especially for people.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb.
مادر: 'سارا، چرا دم پنجره نشستی؟' سارا: 'چون من چشم به راه علی ...'
Sara is talking about herself, so the verb must be 'hastam' (I am).
Match the Persian phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Each phrase has a different level of intensity and context.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to use 'Cheshm be rah'
People
- • Family
- • Friends
- • Guests
Nature
- • Rain
- • Spring
- • Sunrise
Life Events
- • News
- • Results
- • Holidays
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن چشم ... راه برادرم هستم که از سفر میآید.
The standard preposition for this idiom is 'be' (to/at).
In which case should you use this phrase?
This idiom is for emotional, significant waiting, especially for people.
مادر: 'سارا، چرا دم پنجره نشستی؟' سارا: 'چون من چشم به راه علی ...'
Sara is talking about herself, so the verb must be 'hastam' (I am).
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each phrase has a different level of intensity and context.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsTechnically yes, but it sounds very dramatic. Use 'montazer' for public transport.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss (to show eagerness for a project) or your child.
'Cheshm-entezar' is an adjective, while 'cheshm be rah budan' is the verb phrase. They mean the same thing.
Usually yes, but it can also mean anxious waiting for something scary, like a storm.
Use the past tense of budan: 'Cheshm be rah budam'.
Yes, 'Cheshmam be dar khoshk shod' (My eye dried to the door).
Yes, to show you are looking forward to a meeting: 'Cheshm be rahe didare shoma hastim'.
Because in the past, travelers were seen on the road long before they reached the door.
Yes, it means 'I became expectant' or 'I started waiting'.
Yes, it is common in Dari and Tajiki Persian as well.
Related Phrases
منتظر بودن
similarTo wait
چشم به در دوختن
specialized formTo stare at the door
انتظار کشیدن
synonymTo pull/draw expectation
بیصبرانه منتظر بودن
similarTo wait impatiently
