Meaning
Labor that requires a great deal of effort, energy, or persistence.
Cultural Background
The phrase 'Khaste nabāshid' (May you not be tired) is the most common way to acknowledge someone's hard work. It is used even for small tasks like a taxi driver finishing a trip. In Dari Persian, 'کار سخت' is also used, but you might hear 'کار دشوار' more frequently in formal media. Tajik speakers use the same roots but might write it in Cyrillic (кор-и сахт). The cultural value of manual labor is highly emphasized in Soviet-era Tajik literature. Second-generation Iranians often use 'Kār-e sakht' to describe the struggle of their parents who immigrated, blending it with English 'hard work' concepts.
The Ezafe Connection
Always remember the small 'e' sound between the words. Without it, it sounds like two separate words.
Don't say 'Sakht Kār'
English speakers often put the adjective first. In Persian, it's always 'Kār-e sakht'.
Meaning
Labor that requires a great deal of effort, energy, or persistence.
The Ezafe Connection
Always remember the small 'e' sound between the words. Without it, it sounds like two separate words.
Don't say 'Sakht Kār'
English speakers often put the adjective first. In Persian, it's always 'Kār-e sakht'.
Use with 'Khaste Nabāshid'
If you see someone doing 'kār-e sakht', saying 'Khaste nabāshid' is the best way to sound like a native.
Zahmat vs Kār-e sakht
Use 'Zahmat' when you want to be polite about someone doing something for you.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'hard work'.
برای موفقیت در کنکور، باید ________ انجام داد.
'Kār-e sakht' is the standard collocation for the effort needed for exams.
Which sentence is more natural?
How do you say 'My father has a hard job'?
The adjective 'sakht' must follow the noun 'kār' with an Ezafe.
Match the Persian phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are all related to the concept of working hard.
Complete the dialogue.
A: خسته نباشی! B: ممنون، امروز ________ زیادی داشتم.
The response 'Khaste nabāshid' usually follows a period of hard work.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Sakht vs. Doshvār
Practice Bank
4 exercisesبرای موفقیت در کنکور، باید ________ انجام داد.
'Kār-e sakht' is the standard collocation for the effort needed for exams.
How do you say 'My father has a hard job'?
The adjective 'sakht' must follow the noun 'kār' with an Ezafe.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all related to the concept of working hard.
A: خسته نباشی! B: ممنون، امروز ________ زیادی داشتم.
The response 'Khaste nabāshid' usually follows a period of hard work.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, it can be used for mental effort, studying, or even emotional labor.
'Sakht' is more common and can mean physical hardness or effort. 'Doshvār' is more formal and usually means complex.
Yes, but it's more natural to say 'man ziād kār mikonam' or 'kār-e man sakht ast'.
Usually positive, as it implies dedication, but can be negative if complaining about exhaustion.
You say 'ādam-e porkār' (full-of-work person) or 'ādam-e zahmatkesh'.
Yes, literally it means hard like a diamond or a rock.
Yes, very frequently in performance reviews and project discussions.
No, for a difficult person you would use 'ādam-e sakht-gir' or 'ādam-e moshkel-pasand'.
'Kār-e āsān' (easy work) or 'kār-e rāhat'.
Yes, often to describe the 'hard work' of the heart or the soul.
Yes, it's very common to text 'kāram sakht bud' (my work was hard).
Yes, 'dahan-servis' is a very vulgar way to say a task was extremely hard.
Related Phrases
تلاش بی وقفه
similarNon-stop effort
زحمت کشیدن
builds onTo toil / To take trouble
کار آسان
contrastEasy work
پشتکار
similarPerseverance
عرق ریختن
specialized formTo sweat (metaphorically)
