Meaning
To pay attention to sounds or speech.
Cultural Background
Listening is a key part of 'Ta'arof'. Even if you disagree, you must listen patiently to the end before offering a polite counter-argument. The 'ear' is a symbol of the seeker in Sufism. One must 'listen' to the reed flute (Ney) to understand the soul's longing for God. Podcasts have exploded in popularity in Iran (e.g., ChannelB, Radio Marz). 'Gush dādan' is now a major part of the daily commute in Tehran traffic. Respect for elders is shown by 'gush dādan' to their stories, even if you have heard them many times before.
The 'Be' Rule
Always remember the 'be' (به). You never just 'listen music', you 'listen TO music'.
Hear vs Listen
If you use 'gush dādan' for a loud thunderclap, people will think you were waiting for the thunder to happen!
Meaning
To pay attention to sounds or speech.
The 'Be' Rule
Always remember the 'be' (به). You never just 'listen music', you 'listen TO music'.
Hear vs Listen
If you use 'gush dādan' for a loud thunderclap, people will think you were waiting for the thunder to happen!
Spoken Shortcut
In Tehran, use 'gush kardan' to sound more like a local in casual settings.
Active Cues
When listening to an Iranian, say 'Baleh' or 'Sahih' every now and then to show you are still 'giving your ear'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'gush dādan' in the present tense.
من هر روز به اخبار ______.
The sentence says 'every day' (har ruz), which requires the present habitual tense.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct option:
The verb 'gush dādan' requires the preposition 'be'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا تکالیفت را انجام ندادی؟ B: ببخشید، به حرفهای شما ______.
The speaker is explaining why they didn't do their homework in the past.
Match the verb to the situation.
You are at a concert and focusing on the singer.
Focusing on a sound source is 'gush dādan'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Listen vs Hear in Persian
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن هر روز به اخبار ______.
The sentence says 'every day' (har ruz), which requires the present habitual tense.
Select the correct option:
The verb 'gush dādan' requires the preposition 'be'.
A: چرا تکالیفت را انجام ندادی؟ B: ببخشید، به حرفهای شما ______.
The speaker is explaining why they didn't do their homework in the past.
You are at a concert and focusing on the singer.
Focusing on a sound source is 'gush dādan'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsUsually, we use 'tamāshā kardan' (to watch) for movies, but you can say you are 'listening' to the dialogue if you are focusing on the language.
They are 99% interchangeable. 'Dādan' is slightly more formal/standard, while 'kardan' is very common in speech.
No, 'gush' is related to 'acoustic'. There is no etymological link to 'ghost'.
You can say 'Be harfam gush bede!' (Listen to my words!)
In Old Persian, yes, but in Modern Persian, we almost exclusively use compound verbs like 'gush dādan'.
Yes, 'be harfe kasi gush dādan' is the standard way to say you are obeying or following someone's advice.
It always takes 'be' (به).
You say 'Sarāpā gusham' (I am an ear from head to toe).
To an elder, yes. Use 'Gush بدهید' (Gush bedahid) or 'Gush farā dehid' to be polite.
Yes, the 'ne' prefix goes on the 'dādan' part: 'gush ne-midaham'.
Related Phrases
گوش کردن
similarTo listen (informal)
شنیدن
contrastTo hear
گوش فرا دادن
specialized formTo listen intently/formally
گوش ایستادن
similarTo eavesdrop
گوشمالی دادن
builds onTo punish/admonish
