Meaning
A fatal weakness or vulnerability despite overall strength.
Cultural Background
In Iranian political discourse, 'Pashne-ye Ashil' is frequently used to describe the economy's reliance on oil. It reflects a national anxiety about structural vulnerabilities. Educated Iranians often compare Achilles to Esfandiyar from the Shahnameh. Esfandiyar was 'Ruyin-tan' (brazen-bodied/invulnerable) except for his eyes. Sports newspapers (like 'Khabar Varzeshi') use this idiom almost daily to critique the national team or popular clubs like Persepolis and Esteghlal. Using 'Pashne-ye Ashil' instead of 'Noghte-ye Za'f' marks the speaker as someone who is familiar with global history and mythology, a trait valued in Iranian intellectual circles.
Use it in Analysis
If you are writing an essay for a Persian exam, using this phrase instead of 'noghte za'f' will instantly boost your vocabulary score.
Singular vs Plural
Avoid saying 'Pashne-ye Ashil-ha'. It sounds unnatural because the myth only involves one heel.
Meaning
A fatal weakness or vulnerability despite overall strength.
Use it in Analysis
If you are writing an essay for a Persian exam, using this phrase instead of 'noghte za'f' will instantly boost your vocabulary score.
Singular vs Plural
Avoid saying 'Pashne-ye Ashil-ha'. It sounds unnatural because the myth only involves one heel.
The Shahnameh Alternative
If you want to impress an older Iranian or a literature professor, use 'Chashm-e Esfandiyar' instead.
Self-Correction
When you identify a mistake you keep making, tell your teacher: 'In pashne-ye Ashil-e man ast!' It shows great self-awareness.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
ترس از شکست، ________ ________ این ورزشکار بزرگ است.
The correct idiom is 'Pashne-ye Ashil' (Achilles' heel).
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
کدام جمله درست است؟
The idiom should refer to a single fatal flaw in an otherwise strong entity (the building).
Match the entity with its likely 'Pashne-ye Ashil'.
وصل کنید:
Each pair shows a strength/entity and its potential fatal flaw.
Complete the dialogue.
علی: چرا شرکت ورشکست شد؟ سارا: محصولاتشان عالی بود، اما ________ ________ آنها بازاریابی ضعیف بود.
The context describes a fatal weakness in a successful company.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ashil vs. Esfandiyar
Practice Bank
4 exercisesترس از شکست، ________ ________ این ورزشکار بزرگ است.
The correct idiom is 'Pashne-ye Ashil' (Achilles' heel).
کدام جمله درست است؟
The idiom should refer to a single fatal flaw in an otherwise strong entity (the building).
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each pair shows a strength/entity and its potential fatal flaw.
علی: چرا شرکت ورشکست شد؟ سارا: محصولاتشان عالی بود، اما ________ ________ آنها بازاریابی ضعیف بود.
The context describes a fatal weakness in a successful company.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsNot at all. While it's common in news, people use it in casual conversations about sports, movies, or personal habits.
No, that would be confusing. For a physical injury, just say 'pashne-ye pa-yam dard mikonad' (my heel hurts).
'Noghte-ye Za'f' is any weakness. 'Pashne-ye Ashil' is the *one* weakness that can cause total failure.
In modern Persian, it's usually written as پاشنهی آشیل (with a small 'ye').
Yes, due to the popularity of Greek history and movies like 'Troy', most Iranians know who Achilles is.
Yes, it's very common to use it for businesses, systems, or even software code.
It is always 'Ashil' (آشیل), following the French pronunciation which influenced Persian translations.
Yes, if you mean that you are very emotional or vulnerable regarding her.
Technically yes, but it's rarely used. We prefer to keep it singular to match the myth.
There isn't a single mythological opposite, but 'Noghte-ye Ghovat' (Strong point) is the standard antonym.
No, it is strictly from Greek mythology.
Yes, it's a very professional way to discuss areas for improvement.
Arabic uses 'Ka'b', but Persian uses 'Pashne', which is the native word for heel.
It depends. 'Ashil' sounds modern and international; 'Esfandiyar' sounds poetic and traditional.
Related Phrases
نقطه ضعف
synonymWeak point
چشم اسفندیار
similarEsfandiyar's eye
رگ خواب
similarSomeone's soft spot/key to control
نقطه قوت
contrastStrong point
آسیبپذیر
builds onVulnerable
