Meaning
To look pale due to fear, shock, or illness.
Cultural Background
Iranians are very observant of 'chehreh' (face). It is considered polite and caring to notice if someone looks 'be-rang' (colorless) and offer them 'Chaye Nabat' (tea with rock candy) to bring the color back. In classical poetry, a 'yellow face' (rokh-e zard) is the mark of a lover suffering from separation. 'Rang be rokhsar nadashtan' is a more modern or clinical evolution of this poetic tradition. In cities like Tehran, this phrase is often used when someone is 'koof' (exhausted) from air pollution or heavy traffic, though it still implies they look physically unwell. Similar forms exist in Dari and Tajik, though they might use 'ruy' more frequently than 'rokhsar'. The sentiment of 'losing color' remains universal across the Persian-speaking world.
Use it for empathy
If you want to sound like a native speaker who cares, use this phrase instead of just saying 'Are you sick?' (Mazi?). It shows you are paying attention to their appearance.
Don't use with 'shodan'
While you can say 'rangam parid' (my color jumped), you don't usually say 'rang be rokhsar nashodam'. Stick to 'nadashtan'.
Meaning
To look pale due to fear, shock, or illness.
Use it for empathy
If you want to sound like a native speaker who cares, use this phrase instead of just saying 'Are you sick?' (Mazi?). It shows you are paying attention to their appearance.
Don't use with 'shodan'
While you can say 'rangam parid' (my color jumped), you don't usually say 'rang be rokhsar nashodam'. Stick to 'nadashtan'.
The 'Yellow' connection
If someone says 'Zard kardi' (You turned yellow), it's a more slangy way of saying the same thing.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
وقتی دزد را در خانه دیدم، از ترس رنگ به رخسار ________.
The idiom uses 'nadashtan' (to not have). Since the subject is 'I' (didam), the verb must be 'nadashtam'.
Which situation best fits the use of this idiom?
In which scenario would you say someone 'rang be rokhsar nadarad'?
The idiom is used for shock and fear, which fits the car crash scenario.
Match the Persian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
This matches the meaning of losing facial color due to shock.
Complete the dialogue.
مادر: علی! چرا اینقدر پریدهای؟ ________؟ علی: بله مامان، فکر کنم تب دارم.
The mother is noticing he looks pale (paridei) and asks if he's okay using the idiom.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesوقتی دزد را در خانه دیدم، از ترس رنگ به رخسار ________.
The idiom uses 'nadashtan' (to not have). Since the subject is 'I' (didam), the verb must be 'nadashtam'.
In which scenario would you say someone 'rang be rokhsar nadarad'?
The idiom is used for shock and fear, which fits the car crash scenario.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
This matches the meaning of losing facial color due to shock.
مادر: علی! چرا اینقدر پریدهای؟ ________؟ علی: بله مامان، فکر کنم تب دارم.
The mother is noticing he looks pale (paridei) and asks if he's okay using the idiom.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, but it's slightly more elegant than 'surat'. You'll hear it in movies, books, and polite conversation.
You can say a ghost *causes* you to have no color, but a ghost itself is just 'sefid' (white).
The opposite is 'Gol andakhtan be guneha' (to have roses on the cheeks) or 'Sorkh-o-sefid' (red and white/healthy).
Yes, if they look genuinely ill, it's a very polite way to express concern.
Related Phrases
رنگ پریدن
similarTo turn pale (literally: color jumping away)
مثل گچ شدن
synonymTo become like chalk
رنگ و رو داشتن
contrastTo look healthy and vibrant
بند آمدن زبان
builds onTo be tongue-tied from fear
