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Vocabulary
بدون موفقیت

B2 adverb 8 min read

بدون موفقیت

bedune movafaghiyat

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips بدون موفقیت in 30 Seconds

Explanation بدون موفقیت in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'بدون موفقیت' (bedun-e movaffaghiyat) yet. It is a long and formal phrase. Instead, you would use simple words like 'نه' (no) or 'نشد' (it didn't happen). For example, if you tried to buy bread but the shop was closed, you would say 'نان نبود' (There was no bread). 'بدون موفقیت' is like saying 'unsuccessfully' in English—it is too complex for a beginner. However, you can recognize the word 'موفقیت' (success) because it is a very positive and common word in Persian culture. Just remember: 'bedun' means 'without'. So, 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat' means 'without success'.

At the A2 level, you are starting to build longer sentences. You might know the word 'bedun' (without) from phrases like 'bedun-e shekar' (without sugar). Now, you can add 'movaffaghiyat' (success) to your vocabulary. You might use it in a very simple way to describe something that didn't work. For example: 'Man talash kardam, ama bedun-e movaffaghiyat bud' (I tried, but it was without success). It is better to use this in your writing than in speaking at this level. It helps you sound more organized. Remember to always use the 'e' sound (ezafe) between 'bedun' and 'movaffaghiyat'.

At the B1 level, you should start using 'بدون موفقیت' to make your Persian sound more professional and less like a child's. Instead of just saying 'I couldn't do it,' you can say 'I tried to do it without success.' This phrase is very useful for describing your experiences, like looking for a job or trying to learn a difficult grammar point. You will see this phrase often in Persian news websites or in short stories. It usually comes after a verb that shows effort, like 'جست‌وجو کردن' (to search) or 'سعی کردن' (to try). It is a key phrase for moving into intermediate-level reporting.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'بدون موفقیت' naturally in formal contexts. You should understand that it is an adverbial phrase used to provide an objective summary of a failed action. You should be able to distinguish it from 'namovaffagh' (unsuccessful) and 'bi-natije' (resultless). At this level, you can use it to describe complex situations, such as 'The government's efforts to control inflation were without success.' You should also be comfortable using its opposite, 'ba movaffaghiyat' (successfully), in the same sentence structures. This is a hallmark of a proficient upper-intermediate speaker.

At the C1 level, 'بدون موفقیت' is a standard part of your academic and professional lexicon. You should use it to maintain a neutral, objective tone in essays and presentations. You might also encounter it in legal documents or high-level political analysis. At this stage, you should also be aware of more literary alternatives like 'بی‌ثمر' (fruitless) or 'عقیم ماندن' (to remain sterile/fruitless) and know when to choose 'بدون موفقیت' over them for the sake of clarity and modern professional style. You understand the subtle shift in tone it provides compared to more emotive words for failure.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 'بدون موفقیت'. You can use it with perfect placement to create rhythm and emphasis in your speech and writing. You understand its historical and linguistic roots (the Arabic 'movaffaghiyat'). You can use it sarcastically in high-level literature or use it to provide a clinical analysis in a scientific paper. You are also aware of how this phrase functions in different dialects of Persian (Farsi, Dari, Tajiki) and can adapt your usage accordingly. It is no longer a 'new word' but a versatile tool in your extensive linguistic toolkit.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

بدون موفقیت in 30 Seconds

Formal Persian phrase for 'unsuccessfully'.
Used to describe failed efforts in news and reports.
Requires the ezafe 'e' after 'bedun'.
Pairs with verbs like search, try, and apply.

The Persian adverbial phrase بدون موفقیت (pronounced 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat') translates literally to 'without success.' In the landscape of Persian linguistics, this phrase serves as a formal and precise way to describe an action that was performed but failed to yield the desired outcome. It is a compound structure consisting of the preposition بدون (without), the ezafe connector -e, and the noun موفقیت (success). While everyday conversation might favor simpler terms like 'nashod' (it didn't happen), بدون موفقیت is the standard in journalism, academic writing, and professional reporting.

Grammatical Composition: This is an adverbial prepositional phrase. It functions to modify a verb, explaining the manner or result of an action. For example, in the sentence 'They searched without success,' the phrase tells us how the searching ended.
Register and Nuance: It carries a tone of objective observation. Unlike 'bi-natije' (fruitless), which can sound slightly more poetic or frustrated, 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat' is clinically descriptive. It is frequently used in medical reports, legal summaries, and news broadcasts regarding failed negotiations or rescue missions.

پلیس ساعت‌ها منطقه را جست‌وجو کرد، اما بدون موفقیت بازگشت.
(The police searched the area for hours, but returned without success.)

When you use this phrase, you are signaling to your listener that you are providing a factual account. It is often paired with verbs of seeking, trying, or experimenting. In a business context, if a marketing campaign did not reach its targets, a manager would likely use this phrase in a report to maintain a professional distance from the failure while still being clear about the outcome. It is also an essential phrase for B2-level learners who are moving beyond basic 'yes/no' outcomes and into descriptive storytelling and reporting.

تیم پزشکی برای احیای بیمار تلاش کرد، اما متأسفانه بدون موفقیت بود.
(The medical team tried to revive the patient, but unfortunately, it was without success.)

Synonym Comparison: While 'bi-natije' (without result) is often interchangeable, 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat' specifically highlights the lack of 'victory' or 'achievement' in a task that had a specific goal.

Mastering the use of بدون موفقیت requires understanding its placement in a sentence. Typically, it functions as an adverbial modifier that follows the verb or appears at the end of a clause to provide closure to an unsuccessful action. It is frequently preceded by the conjunction 'اما' (but) or 'ولی' (but/yet), as it usually introduces a contrast between the effort made and the lack of result.

Placement after the Verb: In formal reports, you might see it used to describe a process: 'The experiment was conducted without success.' In Persian: 'آزمایش بدون موفقیت انجام شد.'
As a Predicate Adjective/Phrase: It can follow the verb 'budan' (to be): 'تلاش‌های ما بدون موفقیت بود' (Our efforts were without success).

او چندین بار برای دریافت ویزا اقدام کرد، اما هر بار بدون موفقیت بود.
(He applied for a visa several times, but each time was without success.)

One of the most common patterns is [Subject] + [Action] + [But] + [بدون موفقیت] + [Verb]. This structure highlights the struggle. For example, 'The climber tried to reach the summit but returned without success.' This narrative arc is very common in Persian literature and news. It is also important to note that this phrase is almost never used in the first person in informal settings—one wouldn't usually say 'I cooked dinner without success' to a friend; they would simply say 'the dinner didn't turn out well.'

مذاکرات صلح پس از سه روز بدون موفقیت به پایان رسید.
(The peace negotiations ended without success after three days.)

Furthermore, بدون موفقیت can be used to describe technical failures. In the world of technology and IT in Iran, when a software update or a connection attempt fails, the log might read 'اتصال بدون موفقیت بود' (The connection was without success). This illustrates the word's versatility across different domains of modern Persian life.

Common Verb Pairings

جست‌وجو کردن (To search)
تلاش کردن (To try)
اقدام کردن (To take action)
پایان یافتن (To end)

If you turn on the news in Iran, Afghanistan, or Tajikistan, you are almost guaranteed to hear بدون موفقیت. It is the bread and butter of formal reportage. News anchors use it to summarize failed diplomatic missions, unsuccessful police raids, or sports teams that didn't manage to qualify for a tournament. It provides a level of formality that 'nashod' or 'bakhtan' (to lose) simply does not offer.

تلاش‌های امدادگران برای یافتن کوهنوردان مفقود شده تا کنون بدون موفقیت بوده است.
(Rescue workers' efforts to find the missing climbers have so far been without success.)

In academic settings, researchers use this phrase in their 'Results' sections. If an experiment did not prove a hypothesis, the Persian paper will state that the methodology was applied 'بدون موفقیت'. This usage is crucial for students of Persian who wish to read academic journals or technical documentation. It is also found in literature, particularly in historical accounts of failed revolutions or unsuccessful sieges.

Interestingly, you might also hear this in a professional workplace. When a project manager in Tehran is giving a presentation about a failed bid or an unsuccessful partnership attempt, they will use بدون موفقیت to maintain a professional and objective tone. It avoids placing blame on individuals and focuses on the outcome of the process itself. This makes it a 'safe' word in corporate Persian.

Domain: Legal and Police Reports: Often used when a suspect has not been found or a piece of evidence has not been recovered despite efforts.
Domain: Medicine: Used when a specific treatment or surgery did not produce the intended result.

داروی جدید بر روی گروه اول آزمایش شد اما بدون موفقیت بود.
(The new drug was tested on the first group but was without success.)

The most common mistake learners make with بدون موفقیت is confusing it with the adjective ناموفق (na-movaffagh). While they both relate to failure, they are used differently. ناموفق is an adjective used to describe a person or a thing (e.g., 'a failing student' or 'an unsuccessful attempt'), whereas بدون موفقیت is an adverbial phrase describing *how* an action was performed.

Mistake 1: Omitting the Ezafe: Saying 'bedun movaffaghiyat' instead of 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat'. In Persian, the preposition 'bedun' almost always requires an ezafe when followed by a noun.
Mistake 2: Incorrect Word Order: Placing it before the subject. It should follow the action or be part of the predicate.

اشتباه: او بدون موفقیت مرد بود. (Wrong: He was a without success man.)
درست: او مردی ناموفق بود. (Right: He was an unsuccessful man.)

Another error is using it in overly casual situations. If you tell your mother that you tried to find your socks 'بدون موفقیت', she might think you are being sarcastic or overly dramatic. In casual speech, just say 'peydash nakardam' (I didn't find it). Use this phrase for 'big' things—exams, jobs, searches, experiments.

Finally, ensure you don't confuse it with بی‌موفقیت. While 'bi-' also means 'without', 'bedun-e' is much more standard for this specific noun. 'Bi-movaffaghiyat' is rare and sounds unnatural to a native speaker's ear. Stick to 'bedun-e' for the noun 'movaffaghiyat'.

In Persian, there are several ways to express the idea of failing or being unsuccessful. Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey. بدون موفقیت is the most formal and descriptive. Here are its cousins:

بی‌نتیجه (Bi-natije): Meaning 'without result' or 'fruitless.' This is the closest synonym. It is used when an action leads to nothing at all.
Example: مذاکرات بی‌نتیجه ماند. (The negotiations remained fruitless.)
ناموفق (Na-movaffagh): Meaning 'unsuccessful.' As discussed, this is an adjective. Use it to describe the attempt itself.
Example: یک تلاش ناموفق. (An unsuccessful attempt.)
بی‌ثمر (Bi-samar): Meaning 'without fruit' or 'unproductive.' This is more poetic and literary. It implies that energy was spent but nothing grew from it.

تلاش‌های او برای آشتی دادن آن‌ها بی‌ثمر بود.
(His efforts to reconcile them were fruitless.)

If you want to be very informal, you can use the verb شکست خوردن (shekast khordan), which means 'to eat a break' or 'to be defeated/fail.' This is much stronger and more personal than the neutral بدون موفقیت. If a team loses a match, they 'shekast khordan.' If a plan didn't work out, it was 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat.'

Another alternative is به جایی نرسیدن (be jaayi na-residan), literally 'to not arrive anywhere.' This is a common idiom used in both formal and informal Persian to indicate that a process or discussion did not lead to a conclusion. 'مذاکرات به جایی نرسید' (The negotiations got nowhere).

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'movaffaghiyat' is abstract. In ancient Persian, 'piruzi' was more common, but 'movaffaghiyat' became the standard for 'success' in modern administrative and formal contexts.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /bɛduːnɛ movæfæɢiːjæt/

US /beɪduːneɪ moʊvæfɑːɡiːjæt/

The primary stress is on the last syllable of 'movaffaghiyat' (yat).

Rhymes With

عافیت (afiyat) تربیت (tarbiyat) واقعیت (vaghe'iyat) عاقبت (aghebat) جمعیت (jam'iyat) شخصیت (shakhsiyat) وضعیت (vaz'iyat) اهمیت (ahammiyat)

Common Errors

Omitting the ezafe (saying bedun movaffaghiyat)
Mispronouncing the 'gh' as a hard 'g'
Putting stress on the first syllable of bedun
Confusing movaffaghiyat with movafaghat (agreement)
Pronouncing the 'v' like a 'w'

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

Easy to recognize in text due to common components.

Writing 6/5

Requires correct ezafe usage and formal context.

Speaking 7/5

Long phrase to pronounce fluently in conversation.

Listening 5/5

Clear components make it easy to hear in news.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

بدون (without) موفقیت (success) اما (but) تلاش (effort) سعی (attempt)

Learn Next

بی‌نتیجه (fruitless) با موفقیت (successfully) موفقیت‌آمیز (successful) شکست (failure) پیروزی (victory)

Advanced

عقیم ماندن (to remain sterile/fruitless) به بن‌بست رسیدن (to reach a dead end) توفیق (divine success) مساعی (efforts)

Grammar to Know

The Ezafe Construction

بدونِ موفقیت (bedun-e movaffaghiyat). The 'e' connects the preposition to the noun.

Adverbial Placement

او بدون موفقیت بازگشت. Adverbs often precede the verb.

Compound Verbs with 'Budan'

تلاش ما بدون موفقیت بود. Using 'to be' to describe the state of an action.

Contrastive Conjunctions

سعی کرد، اما بدون موفقیت. Using 'ama' (but) to show the gap between effort and result.

Nominalization

موفقیت (Success) is the noun form of the root W-F-Q.

Examples by Level

من تلاش کردم، اما بدون موفقیت بود.

I tried, but it was without success.

Simple past tense + bedun-e movaffaghiyat.

او به دنبال کلید گشت، بدون موفقیت.

He looked for the key, without success.

Adverbial use at the end of the sentence.

کتاب را خواندم اما بدون موفقیت.

I read the book but without success (understanding it).

Shortened sentence.

تلاش ما بدون موفقیت بود.

Our effort was without success.

Noun + possessive + bedun-e movaffaghiyat.

او زنگ زد، اما بدون موفقیت.

He called, but without success.

Simple verb + but + phrase.

بازی بدون موفقیت تمام شد.

The game ended without success.

Subject + adverbial phrase + verb.

او سعی کرد بخوابد، بدون موفقیت.

He tried to sleep, without success.

Infinitive + phrase.

جست‌وجو بدون موفقیت بود.

The search was without success.

Simple noun as subject.

ساعت‌ها منتظر ماندیم، اما بدون موفقیت.

We waited for hours, but without success.

Adding time duration.

او برای کار جدید اقدام کرد، اما بدون موفقیت.

He applied for a new job, but without success.

Prepositional phrase 'baraye kar'.

آن‌ها سعی کردند در را باز کنند، بدون موفقیت.

They tried to open the door, without success.

Compound verb 'sa'y kardan'.

تیم ما بدون موفقیت به خانه برگشت.

Our team returned home without success.

Adverbial placement before the verb.

او درس خواند، اما امتحان بدون موفقیت بود.

He studied, but the exam was without success.

Two clauses joined by 'ama'.

پلیس مرد را پیدا کرد؟ نه، بدون موفقیت بود.

Did the police find the man? No, it was without success.

Use in dialogue.

آشپزی من امروز بدون موفقیت بود.

My cooking today was without success.

Possessive 'man' + 'emruz'.

او خواست حرف بزند، اما بدون موفقیت.

He wanted to speak, but without success.

Modal verb 'khastan'.

دانشمندان برای ماه‌ها روی این پروژه کار کردند، اما بدون موفقیت.

Scientists worked on this project for months, but without success.

Complex time phrases.

تلاش‌های دولت برای کاهش تورم تا کنون بدون موفقیت بوده است.

The government's efforts to reduce inflation have so far been without success.

Present perfect tense 'bude ast'.

او سعی داشت والدینش را راضی کند، اما بدون موفقیت.

He was trying to convince his parents, but without success.

Past progressive 'sa'y dasht'.

مذاکرات بین دو شرکت بدون موفقیت به پایان رسید.

Negotiations between the two companies ended without success.

Formal verb 'be payan rasid'.

او چندین بار رمز عبور را وارد کرد، اما بدون موفقیت بود.

He entered the password several times, but it was without success.

Use in tech context.

جست‌وجوی پلیس برای یافتن سارق بدون موفقیت ادامه دارد.

The police search to find the thief continues without success.

Subject + prepositional phrase + adverb + verb.

او سعی کرد سیگار را ترک کند، اما بدون موفقیت بود.

He tried to quit smoking, but it was without success.

Infinitive as object.

برنامه فضایی این کشور بدون موفقیت متوقف شد.

The country's space program was stopped without success.

Passive voice 'motevaghef shod'.

عملیات نجات به دلیل شرایط بد جوی بدون موفقیت متوقف گردید.

The rescue operation was halted without success due to bad weather conditions.

Formal passive 'motavaghef gardid'.

کوشش‌های دیپلماتیک برای برقراری آتش‌بس بدون موفقیت باقی ماند.

Diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire remained without success.

Verb 'baaghi mandan'.

او تلاش کرد تا نظر مدیر را تغییر دهد، اما بدون موفقیت.

He tried to change the manager's opinion, but without success.

Subjunctive 'ta... taghyir dehad'.

پروژه بازسازی بافت فرسوده شهر بدون موفقیت رها شد.

The project to renovate the city's worn-out fabric was abandoned without success.

Specific vocabulary 'baft-e farsude'.

درمان‌های دارویی برای این بیماری خاص بدون موفقیت گزارش شده است.

Medical treatments for this specific disease have been reported without success.

Reporting verb 'gozaresh shode ast'.

تلاش برای صعود به قله اورست در این فصل بدون موفقیت بود.

The attempt to climb Mount Everest this season was without success.

Noun 'so'ud' (climbing).

او سعی کرد از طریق قانونی اقدام کند، اما بدون موفقیت.

He tried to take action through legal means, but without success.

Adverbial phrase 'az tarigh-e ghanuni'.

مبارزه با فساد اداری در آن سازمان بدون موفقیت پیش رفت.

The fight against administrative corruption in that organization proceeded without success.

Verb 'pish raft' (proceeded).

تمامی مساعی جمیله برای حل مناقشات مرزی بدون موفقیت به بن‌بست رسید.

All good offices (efforts) to resolve border disputes reached a dead end without success.

Archaic/Formal 'mosa'i-ye jamile'.

تلاش‌های مکرر برای اصلاح ساختار اقتصادی کشور بدون موفقیت عقیم ماند.

Repeated efforts to reform the country's economic structure remained sterile without success.

Literary verb 'aghim mandan'.

پژوهش‌های اخیر در زمینه مهار انرژی هسته‌ای بدون موفقیت چشمگیری پایان یافت.

Recent research in the field of nuclear energy containment ended without significant success.

Adding adjective 'cheshmgir'.

او سعی کرد با استفاده از نفوذ سیاسی خود قانون را تغییر دهد، اما بدون موفقیت.

He tried to change the law using his political influence, but without success.

Complex gerund 'ba estefade az'.

مذاکرات هسته‌ای پس از دورهای طولانی و فشرده، بدون موفقیت ملموسی خاتمه یافت.

The nuclear negotiations ended without tangible success after long and intensive rounds.

Adjective 'malmus' (tangible).

تلاش برای احیای دریاچه ارومیه تا به امروز بدون موفقیت قطعی دنبال شده است.

The effort to revive Lake Urmia has been followed without definitive success to this day.

Passive 'donbal shode ast'.

اصلاحات آموزشی پیشنهادی به دلیل مخالفت‌های گسترده بدون موفقیت ماند.

The proposed educational reforms remained without success due to widespread opposition.

Causal phrase 'be dalil-e'.

سعی وافر نویسنده برای چاپ کتابش در آن زمان بدون موفقیت سپری شد.

The author's immense effort to publish his book at that time passed without success.

Formal adjective 'vafar'.

تکاپوی بی‌وقفه وی در راستای اعاده حیثیت، بدون موفقیت در محاکم قضایی به فرجام نرسید.

His incessant struggle for restoration of reputation did not reach a conclusion in the courts without success.

Highly formal 'takapu' and 'a'ade-ye haysiyat'.

پروژه آرمان‌گرایانه وی برای استقرار عدالت اجتماعی بدون موفقیت در نطفه خفه شد.

His idealistic project for establishing social justice was nipped in the bud without success.

Idiom 'dar notfe khafe shodan'.

تمامی تدابیر اتخاذ شده جهت مهار بحران ارزی بدون موفقیت به شکست انجامید.

All measures taken to contain the currency crisis resulted in failure without success.

Complex participle 'etkhaz shode'.

سعی بلیغ او در تبیین نظریه جدیدش بدون موفقیت در محافل آکادمیک با بی‌مهری مواجه شد.

His eloquent attempt to explain his new theory was met with indifference in academic circles without success.

Formal 'sa'y-e baligh'.

تلاش‌های مذبوحانه برای نجات رژیم پیشین بدون موفقیت به وقوع انقلاب منجر شد.

Desperate efforts to save the former regime resulted in the occurrence of the revolution without success.

Strong adjective 'mazbuhane'.

کوشش در جهت تلفیق سنت و مدرنیته در معماری معاصر بدون موفقیت غایی باقی مانده است.

Efforts toward integrating tradition and modernity in contemporary architecture have remained without ultimate success.

Abstract concept 'talfigh'.

تلاش برای برقراری دموکراسی در آن منطقه آشوب‌زده بدون موفقیت پایدار عقیم ماند.

The attempt to establish democracy in that crisis-ridden region remained sterile without lasting success.

Compound adjective 'ashub-zade'.

سعی در بازخوانی متون کهن با رویکردی ساختارشکنانه بدون موفقیت در جامعه علمی تلقی شد.

The attempt to re-read ancient texts with a deconstructive approach was regarded as without success in the scientific community.

Academic 'bazkhani' and 'sakhtar-shekanane'.

Common Collocations

تلاش بدون موفقیت

جست‌وجو بدون موفقیت

مذاکره بدون موفقیت

آزمایش بدون موفقیت

اقدام بدون موفقیت

درمان بدون موفقیت

صعود بدون موفقیت

تماس بدون موفقیت

کوشش بدون موفقیت

عملیات بدون موفقیت

Common Phrases

تا کنون بدون موفقیت

— So far without success. Used for ongoing situations.

تلاش‌ها تا کنون بدون موفقیت بوده است.

متأسفانه بدون موفقیت

— Unfortunately without success. Adds a polite tone.

متأسفانه بدون موفقیت بازگشتند.

کاملاً بدون موفقیت

— Completely without success. Emphasizes total failure.

این طرح کاملاً بدون موفقیت بود.

ظاهراً بدون موفقیت

— Apparently without success. Used for observations.

ظاهراً بدون موفقیت به نظر می‌رسد.

بدون موفقیت باقی ماندن

— To remain without success.

پرونده بدون موفقیت باقی ماند.

بدون موفقیت سپری شدن

— To pass without success (usually time).

روزها بدون موفقیت سپری شد.

بدون موفقیت خاتمه یافتن

— To end without success.

جلسه بدون موفقیت خاتمه یافت.

بدون موفقیت گزارش شدن

— To be reported as unsuccessful.

نتیجه بدون موفقیت گزارش شد.

بدون موفقیت رها کردن

— To abandon something without success.

کار را بدون موفقیت رها کرد.

بدون موفقیت پیش رفتن

— To proceed without success.

امور بدون موفقیت پیش رفت.

Often Confused With

بدون موفقیت vs ناموفق

Namovaffagh is an adjective (unsuccessful person), while Bedun-e movaffaghiyat is an adverbial phrase (unsuccessfully).

بدون موفقیت vs بی‌موفقیت

Bi-movaffaghiyat is rarely used and sounds unnatural compared to Bedun-e movaffaghiyat.

بدون موفقیت vs بدون موافقت

Bedun-e movafaghat means 'without agreement'. Don't mix up success and agreement!

Idioms & Expressions

"به سنگ خوردن"

— To hit a stone; meaning a plan failed completely.

تیرش به سنگ خورد.

Informal

"نقش بر آب شدن"

— To become a drawing on water; meaning plans vanished.

نقشه‌هایش نقش بر آب شد.

Literary

"دست از پا درازتر برگشتن"

— To return with hands longer than legs; meaning returning empty-handed.

او دست از پا درازتر برگشت.

Informal/Idiomatic

"به بن‌بست رسیدن"

— To reach a dead end.

مذاکرات به بن‌بست رسید.

Neutral

"آب در هاون کوبیدن"

— To pound water in a mortar; to do something useless.

این کار مثل آب در هاون کوبیدن است.

Informal/Literary

"پنبه شدن رشته‌ها"

— Threads becoming cotton again; all work undone.

رشته‌هایش پنبه شد.

Informal

"در نطفه خفه شدن"

— To be strangled in the embryo; to fail at the very start.

قیام در نطفه خفه شد.

Formal

"شکست مفتضحانه"

— A scandalous or shameful failure.

آن‌ها شکست مفتضحانه‌ای خوردند.

Neutral

"بی‌گدار به آب زدن"

— To go into water without a ford; to act blindly and fail.

بی‌گدار به آب نزن.

Informal

"دست خالی ماندن"

— To remain empty-handed.

در نهایت دست خالی ماند.

Neutral

Easily Confused

بدون موفقیت vs موفقیت

Sounds like 'movafaghat' (agreement).

Movaffaghiyat is success; Movafaghat is agreement/consent.

او با موفقیت (success) در آزمون قبول شد، اما بدون موافقت (agreement) پدرش.

بدون موفقیت vs بی‌نتیجه

Means the same thing.

Bi-natije means 'no result'; Bedun-e movaffaghiyat means 'no success'. They are often interchangeable but 'success' implies a goal was set.

جلسه بی‌نتیجه (no result) بود چون کسی نیامد.

بدون موفقیت vs شکست

Both relate to not winning.

Shekast is the noun for 'failure/defeat'. Bedun-e movaffaghiyat is more neutral and less harsh.

او شکست خورد (He failed/was defeated).

بدون موفقیت vs ناکام

Both mean failing to reach a goal.

Nakam is literary and often used for personal desires/love. Bedun-e movaffaghiyat is for tasks/actions.

او در رسیدن به آرزویش ناکام ماند.

بدون موفقیت vs عقیم

Both mean fruitless.

Aghim is very formal and usually describes plans or reforms that didn't start or grow.

طرح اصلاحات عقیم ماند.

Sentence Patterns

من [Verb] اما بدون موفقیت بود.

من گشتم اما بدون موفقیت بود.

تلاش برای [Noun] بدون موفقیت پایان یافت.

تلاش برای صلح بدون موفقیت پایان یافت.

[Subject] مکرراً [Verb]، ولی بدون موفقیت.

او مکرراً زنگ زد، ولی بدون موفقیت.

جست‌وجو برای [Noun] تا کنون بدون موفقیت بوده است.

جست‌وجو برای هواپیما تا کنون بدون موفقیت بوده است.

علیرغم [Noun]، این اقدام بدون موفقیت ماند.

علیرغم هزینه‌های زیاد، این اقدام بدون موفقیت ماند.

مذاکرات به دلیل [Reason] بدون موفقیت خاتمه یافت.

مذاکرات به دلیل اختلافات بدون موفقیت خاتمه یافت.

تمامی مساعی در این راستا بدون موفقیت ملموس سپری شد.

کوشش‌های مذکور بدون موفقیت در نطفه عقیم ماند.

Word Family

Nouns

موفقیت (success)

توفیق (divine success/grace)

موفق (successful person)

Verbs

موفق شدن (to become successful)

توفیق یافتن (to achieve success - formal)

Adjectives

موفق (successful)

ناموفق (unsuccessful)

موفقیت‌آمیز (successful - for events)

شکست (failure)

نتیجه (result)

تلاش (effort)

پیروزی (victory)

سعی (attempt)

How to Use It

frequency

Very frequent in written Persian, news, and formal speech.

Common Mistakes

او مردی بدون موفقیت است. → او مردی ناموفق است.
You should use the adjective 'namovaffagh' to describe a person, not the adverbial phrase.
بدون موفقیت بود امتحان. → امتحان بدون موفقیت بود.
The subject should usually come before the adverbial phrase in this structure.
bedun movaffaghiyat → bedun-e movaffaghiyat
The ezafe 'e' is missing. Prepositions like 'bedun' need it before a noun.
تلاش‌های او بدون موفقیت‌ها بود. → تلاش‌های او بدون موفقیت بود.
Keep 'movaffaghiyat' in the singular form within this fixed phrase.
او بدون موفقیت موافقت کرد. → او بدون موفقیت سعی کرد.
The phrase describes a failure to achieve a goal, not the manner of agreeing to something.

Tips

The Ezafe Rule

Always remember to add the small 'e' sound after 'bedun'. It connects the 'without' to the 'success'. Without it, the phrase is grammatically incomplete.

Use in Writing

When writing an email or a report in Persian, use 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat' instead of 'nashod' to sound more professional and educated.

Verb Pairing

Pair this phrase with 'sa'y kardan' (to try) or 'jostoju kardan' (to search). These are the most natural combinations in Persian.

News Listening

When listening to the news, notice how anchors use this phrase to summarize events. It will help you understand the 'flow' of formal reporting.

The 'Gh' Sound

The 'gh' in 'movaffaghiyat' is a soft uvular sound, like the French 'r' but softer. Don't pronounce it as a hard 'g' like in 'go'.

Alternative

If you find 'movaffaghiyat' too hard to say, try 'bi-natije'. It's shorter and means almost the same thing (without result).

Polite Failure

Use this phrase to explain why you couldn't do something a boss asked. It sounds like you tried hard but the circumstances didn't allow for success.

Research Results

In scientific Persian, if an experiment doesn't work, this is the standard phrase to use in your 'Results' section.

Association

Associate 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat' with a 'rejection letter'. It’s the formal outcome of an attempt.

Newspapers

Look for this phrase in the headlines of Iranian newspapers like 'Etela'at' or 'Keyhan' when they report on international talks.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Bedun' as 'Be-done' (as in 'not done') and 'Movaffaghiyat' as 'Move-forward-yet'. So, 'Not done moving forward yet' = Without success.

Visual Association

Imagine a person trying to push a giant boulder up a hill, but the boulder keeps rolling back. That action is 'bedun-e movaffaghiyat'.

Word Web

تلاش شکست نتیجه موفقیت سعی پایان گزارش اقدام

Challenge

Write three sentences about things you tried to do this week that were 'بدون موفقیت', such as fixing a leaky faucet or learning a new song.

Word Origin

Composed of the Persian preposition 'bedun' (without) and the Arabic-derived noun 'movaffaghiyat' (success).

Original meaning: 'Movaffaghiyat' comes from the Arabic root W-F-Q, meaning to agree, to fit, or to be granted success by God.

Persian (Indo-European) + Arabic (Semitic) loanword.

Cultural Context

It is a neutral term and is generally safe to use in all contexts. It is more polite than saying someone 'failed' (shekast khord).

In English, 'unsuccessfully' is often used in writing but 'didn't work' is used in speech. 'Bedun-e movaffaghiyat' mirrors this distinction.

Used in news reports about the Iran-Iraq war (failed operations). Common in medical dramas on Iranian TV. Frequently seen in official government statements.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

News Reporting

مذاکرات بدون موفقیت بود
جست‌وجو بدون موفقیت ادامه دارد
تلاش‌های امدادگران بدون موفقیت
عملیات بدون موفقیت متوقف شد

Medical Reports

درمان بدون موفقیت بود
جراحی بدون موفقیت انجام شد
تلاش برای احیا بدون موفقیت
دارو بدون موفقیت آزمایش شد

Academic Writing

آزمایش بدون موفقیت پایان یافت
فرضیه بدون موفقیت بررسی شد
پژوهش بدون موفقیت ملموس
روش جدید بدون موفقیت بود

Technology

اتصال بدون موفقیت بود
نصب برنامه بدون موفقیت
بروزرسانی بدون موفقیت
تلاش برای ورود بدون موفقیت

Daily Formal Life

تلاش برای تماس بدون موفقیت
جست‌وجوی کلید بدون موفقیت
اقدام برای ویزا بدون موفقیت
سعی برای متقاعد کردن بدون موفقیت

Conversation Starters

"آیا تا به حال تلاشی برای یادگیری چیزی داشته‌اید که بدون موفقیت باشد؟ (Have you ever tried to learn something unsuccessfully?)"

"چرا بعضی از مذاکرات بدون موفقیت پایان می‌یابند؟ (Why do some negotiations end without success?)"

"اگر پروژه‌ای بدون موفقیت باشد، چه کار می‌کنید؟ (What do you do if a project is without success?)"

"آخرین باری که برای پیدا کردن چیزی بدون موفقیت جست‌وجو کردید کی بود؟ (When was the last time you searched for something unsuccessfully?)"

"آیا فکر می‌کنید تلاش بدون موفقیت بهتر از تلاش نکردن است؟ (Do you think trying unsuccessfully is better than not trying?)"

Journal Prompts

درباره زمانی بنویسید که برای رسیدن به یک هدف تلاش کردید اما بدون موفقیت بود. چه درس‌هایی گرفتید؟ (Write about a time you tried for a goal unsuccessfully. What lessons did you learn?)

تفاوت بین یک تلاش 'بدون موفقیت' و یک 'شکست کامل' را شرح دهید. (Describe the difference between an 'unsuccessful' effort and a 'total failure'.)

چگونه می‌توانیم بعد از یک اقدام بدون موفقیت، دوباره انگیزه پیدا کنیم؟ (How can we find motivation again after an unsuccessful action?)

یک گزارش خبری کوتاه درباره گم شدن یک شیء و جست‌وجوی بدون موفقیت برای آن بنویسید. (Write a short news report about a lost object and the unsuccessful search for it.)

آیا در تاریخ ایران، واقعه‌ای را می‌شناسید که با تلاشی بدون موفقیت شروع شده باشد؟ (Do you know any event in Iranian history that started with an unsuccessful effort?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

'Namovaffagh' is an adjective used to describe a person or an object (e.g., an unsuccessful attempt). 'Bedun-e movaffaghiyat' is an adverbial phrase used to describe how an action ended (e.g., he searched unsuccessfully). You cannot say 'a bedun-e movaffaghiyat man', you must say 'a namovaffagh man'.

It is less common in casual conversation. In daily life, people usually say 'nashod' (it didn't happen) or 'natunestam' (I couldn't). However, if you are talking about something serious like a job interview or a medical treatment, it is appropriate.

While 'bi' also means 'without', it is much more standard to use 'bedun-e' with the noun 'movaffaghiyat'. 'Bi-movaffaghiyat' sounds slightly unnatural to native speakers.

Not always, but it often does. It can also come before the verb: 'او بدون موفقیت بازگشت' (He returned without success). It acts as an adverbial modifier.

Yes, it describes a failure or a lack of success. However, it is a neutral and polite way to state a negative outcome without being overly pessimistic.

The direct opposite is 'ba movaffaghiyat' (با موفقیت), which means 'successfully'. For example: 'او با موفقیت امتحان را گذراند' (He passed the exam successfully).

No, you don't use it to describe a person's character. You use it for actions. To call a person unsuccessful, use 'namovaffagh'.

Yes, in standard Persian grammar, the preposition 'bedun' requires the ezafe (the short 'e' sound) when it is followed by a noun like 'movaffaghiyat'.

Yes, it is perfectly understood and used in Dari as well, with the same meaning and formality.

Yes, it is very common in sports journalism to describe a team's failed attempt to score or win a championship.