A2 Expression 1 min read

لطفاً محتاط باشید

lotfan mohtāt bāshid

Please be cautious

Meaning

A polite warning or request to be careful.

Practice Bank

3 exercises
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لطفاً ___ باشید.

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Please be _____ (محتاط).

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لطفاً محتاط باشید translates to 'Please be ______'.

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The phrase 'لطفاً محتاط باشید' is a polite warning or request to be careful in Persian. It is composed of three words: 1. **'لطفاً' (lotfan):** This word means 'please' or 'kindly'. It is an adverb derived from the Arabic word 'لطف' (lotf), meaning 'kindness', 'grace', or 'favor'. The suffix '-اً' (-an) is an Arabic adverbial ending, making it 'kindly' or 'by grace'. This word has been borrowed into Persian and is very commonly used to make requests or commands polite. 2. **'محتاط' (mohtat):** This word means 'cautious', 'careful', 'prudent', or 'circumspect'. It is also of Arabic origin, derived from the root 'ح و ط' (ḥ-w-ṭ), which is associated with surrounding, encompassing, or safeguarding. The form 'محتاط' implies being in a state of 'being surrounded' or 'being guarded' against danger, hence being cautious. It entered Persian vocabulary through the extensive influence of Arabic on the Persian language, particularly in religious, scientific, and administrative contexts, and later integrated into everyday speech. 3. **'باشید' (bashid):** This is the second-person plural imperative form of the verb 'بودن' (boodan), which means 'to be'. The infinitive 'بودن' is a core Persian verb. 'باش' (bash) is the imperative stem, and '-ید' (-id) is the second-person plural ending. So, 'باشید' directly translates to 'be'. When combined, 'لطفاً محتاط باشید' literally translates to 'Kindly be cautious' or 'Please be careful'. The phrase is a direct and polite way to express a warning or a recommendation for caution. Its widespread use in Persian reflects both the linguistic influence of Arabic and the cultural emphasis on politeness in communication.

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