دوست داشتن
دوست داشتن in 30 Seconds
- Fundamental Persian verb for expressing 'like' and 'love'.
- A compound verb using 'dūst' (friend) and 'dāštan' (to have).
- Used for everything from food preferences to romantic affection.
- Does not use the 'mi' prefix in the present tense.
- Intensity and Context
- Unlike English, which often distinguishes sharply between 'liking' a pizza and 'loving' a spouse, Persian uses 'دوست داشتن' for both. The intensity is conveyed through adverbs like 'خیلی' (very) or through the context of the relationship. While 'عاشق بودن' (to be in love) exists for romantic passion, 'دوست داشتن' is the standard for long-term, stable love and general preferences.
من گربه ها را دوست دارم چون آنها آرام هستند.
- Social Dynamics
- In Iranian culture, expressing 'liking' is often tied to 'Ta'arof' (ritual politeness). Saying you like something someone else owns might prompt them to offer it to you as a gift. Therefore, 'دوست داشتن' carries a weight of social responsibility. It is also used to express hobbies, food preferences, and career choices, making it one of the most versatile verbs for a beginner to master. It bridges the gap between mere preference and deep emotional commitment.
آیا تو موسیقی سنتی را دوست داری؟
مادرم همیشه مرا دوست داشت.
- Grammatical Composition
- As a compound verb, the conjugation happens only on the 'داشتن' part. The word 'دوست' remains static. For example, in the past tense, it becomes 'دوست داشتم' (I liked), and in the present, it becomes 'دوست دارم' (I like). This structure is vital for learners to grasp because it applies to thousands of other Persian verbs. Understanding 'دوست داشتن' is a gateway to understanding the Persian verbal system as a whole.
ما سفر کردن را خیلی دوست داریم.
او هیچوقت سبزیجات دوست نداشت.
- Present Tense Conjugation
- To conjugate in the present tense, we use the present stem of 'داشتن', which is 'دار' (dār). The prefixes and suffixes are then attached. I like: دوست دارم (dūst dāram); You like: دوست داری (dūst dārī); He/She likes: دوست دارد (dūst dārad); We like: دوست داریم (dūst dārīm); You (plural) like: دوست دارید (dūst dārīd); They like: دوست دارند (dūst dārand).
من تو را خیلی دوست دارم.
- Past Tense and Negation
- The past stem is 'داشت' (dāšt). For negation, we add the prefix 'نـ' (na-) to the 'داشتن' part. I didn't like: دوست نداشتم (dūst nadāštam). I don't like: دوست ندارم (dūst nadāram). Note that for the verb 'داشتن' and its compounds in the present tense, we do not use the 'می' (mī) prefix that other verbs use for the continuous present. It is simply 'دوست دارم', never 'دوست میدارم' in modern spoken Persian.
آنها فیلمهای اکشن را دوست ندارند.
آیا قبلاً این غذا را دوست داشتی؟
- Using Infinitives as Objects
- If you want to say you like 'doing' something, you use the infinitive form of the second verb. For example, 'reading' is 'خواندن' (khāndan). 'I like reading' becomes 'من خواندن را دوست دارم'. This is a very structured way to express hobbies. You can also use the subjunctive mood for more complex sentences, but for beginners, the infinitive + را + دوست داشتن is the most efficient pattern.
برادرم فوتبال بازی کردن را دوست دارد.
ما پیادهروی در پارک را دوست داریم.
- In Pop Culture and Music
- Persian music is heavily centered around themes of love and longing. You will find 'دوست داشتن' in the titles of countless songs. Unlike the more dramatic 'عشق' (eshgh - passion), 'دوست داشتن' often represents a more enduring, gentle, and reliable form of affection. It’s the word used in wedding vows and in letters to old friends. When a singer says 'دوستت دارم'، they are expressing a deep, soul-level appreciation.
در ترانههای ایرانی، خواننده میگوید: «من تو را بیشتر از جانم دوست دارم».
- Daily Social Interactions
- When shopping in a bazaar, if you point to a fabric and say 'این را دوست دارم'، the merchant will immediately understand your preference and might start showing you similar items. In restaurants, waiters might ask, 'کدام غذا را بیشتر دوست دارید؟' (Which food do you like more?). It is the standard way to navigate choices and preferences in a polite society. It is less formal than 'پسندیدن' (to approve/like) and more personal than 'مایل بودن' (to be inclined/wish).
ببخشید، من این رنگ را دوست ندارم. آیا رنگ دیگری دارید؟
بچهها، کی بستنی دوست دارد؟
- Literature and Poetry
- Even in classical literature, while 'Ishq' is the dominant theme, the concept of 'Dūst' (the Friend) is central to Sufi poetry. Poets like Rumi and Hafez use the word 'Dūst' to refer to the Divine. Therefore, the verb 'دوست داشتن' carries a spiritual echo for many Persians, implying a connection that goes beyond the physical world. When you use this word, you are tapping into a linguistic tradition that has celebrated 'the friend' for over a millennium.
سهراب سپهری میگوید: «من چه سبزم امروز و چه اندازه تنم هوشیار است! نکند اندوهی، سر رسد از پس کوه. چه کسی میگوید: پشت ویترینها تنهاست؟ من که دوست دارم...»
- The 'Mi' Prefix Error
- One of the most common mistakes is adding 'می' (mī) to the present tense. In standard Persian, most verbs take 'می' to show the present (e.g., میروم - I go). However, 'داشتن' and its compounds (like 'دوست داشتن') are exceptions. Saying 'دوست میدارم' is archaic and poetic; in modern speech, it sounds very strange. Always say 'دوست دارم'.
اشتباه: من قهوه
میدوست دارم. درست: من قهوه دوست دارم.
- Omitting the Object Marker 'Ra'
- Because 'liking' often involves specific things, the 'را' (rā) particle is crucial. Beginners often forget it. If you say 'من این کتاب دوست دارم', it sounds incomplete. It must be 'من این کتاب را دوست دارم'. If the object is general (like 'books' in general), you can omit 'ra', but for specific nouns, it is mandatory.
اشتباه: من علی
دوست دارم. درست: من علی را دوست دارم.
- Confusing 'Like' with 'Love'
- While 'دوست داشتن' covers both, English speakers sometimes use 'عاشق بودن' (to be in love) for things they just really like (e.g., 'I love this pizza'). In Persian, 'عاشق بودن' is very intense and usually reserved for romantic love or spiritual devotion. Using it for food or movies can sound overly dramatic or 'Tehrangeles' (diaspora) style. Stick to 'خیلی دوست داشتن' for high-level liking.
بجای «عاشق این همبرگر هستم»، بگویید: «این همبرگر را خیلی دوست دارم».
- Negative Conjugation Placement
- In compound verbs, the negative 'نـ' prefix must go on the light verb (the second part). Some learners try to put it on 'دوست' or between the two words incorrectly. It is always 'دوست ندارم', never 'نهدوست دارم' or 'دوست نهدارم'.
اشتباه: من
نهدوست دارمورزش کنم. درست: من ورزش کردن را دوست ندارم.
- پسندیدن (Pasandīdan)
- This verb means 'to approve of' or 'to find pleasing'. It is often used when shopping or selecting something based on quality or aesthetics. While 'دوست داشتن' is emotional, 'پسندیدن' is more evaluative. Example: 'من این لباس را پسندیدم' (I found this dress pleasing/I liked it).
- عاشق بودن (Āšeq būdan)
- Meaning 'to be in love', this is much stronger than 'دوست داشتن'. It implies passion and obsession. It is used for romantic partners or intense hobbies. Example: 'او عاشق نقاشی است' (He is in love with painting).
تفاوت: «دوست داشتن» عمیق و پایدار است، اما «عاشق بودن» پرشور و هیجانی است.
- مایل بودن (Māyel būdan)
- Meaning 'to be inclined' or 'to wish', this is a formal alternative. You might hear this in business settings or polite invitations. Example: 'آیا مایل هستید چای بنوشید؟' (Would you be inclined to drink tea? / Would you like some tea?).
- ارادت داشتن (Erādat dāštan)
- This is a very formal way to say you 'like' or 'respect' someone, often used in Ta'arof. It literally means 'to have devotion/sincerity towards someone'. It is a way to show humility. Example: 'به شما ارادت دارم' (I have devotion to you / I like/respect you).
من به جای «دوست دارم»، در جلسات رسمی میگویم: «بسیار مایل هستم که...»
- لذت بردن (Lezzat bordan)
- Meaning 'to enjoy'. While you might 'like' a movie, you 'enjoy' the experience of watching it. Example: 'از فیلم لذت بردم' (I enjoyed the movie). It focuses on the pleasure derived from the activity.
ما از قدم زدن در باران لذت میبریم.
Examples by Level
من سیب دوست دارم.
I like apples.
Simple present: Subject + Object + Verb.
آیا تو گربه دوست داری؟
Do you like cats?
Question form using 'آیا' (āyā).
مادرم را دوست دارم.
I love my mother.
Use of 'را' (rā) for a specific person.
ما بستنی دوست داریم.
We like ice cream.
Plural 'we' conjugation.
او کتاب دوست ندارد.
He/she doesn't like books.
Negative form 'دوست ندارد'.
آنها تهران را دوست دارند.
They like Tehran.
Plural 'they' conjugation.
من رنگ آبی را دوست دارم.
I like the color blue.
Specific object with 'را'.
شما چه میوهای دوست دارید؟
What fruit do you like?
Question with 'چه' (what).
من فوتبال بازی کردن را دوست دارم.
I like playing football.
Verb + Infinitive + را.
او قبلاً این خانه را دوست داشت.
He/she liked this house before.
Simple past tense.
ما سفر کردن به شمال را خیلی دوست داریم.
We like traveling to the north very much.
Use of 'خیلی' (very) for emphasis.
آیا شما موسیقی سنتی دوست داشتید؟
Did you like traditional music?
Past tense question plural.
من چای را بیشتر از قهوه دوست دارم.
I like tea more than coffee.
Comparison using 'بیشتر از'.
برادرم سگها را دوست نداشت.
My brother didn't like dogs.
Negative past tense.
آنها پیادهروی در شب را دوست دارند.
They like walking at night.
Compound object (walking at night).
من این فیلم را اصلاً دوست ندارم.
I don't like this movie at all.
Use of 'اصلاً' (at all) for negation.
دوست دارم که فردا به کتابخانه بروم.
I would like to go to the library tomorrow.
Subjunctive mood after 'دوست دارم که'.
او همیشه میگفت که مرا دوست دارد.
He/she always used to say that they love/like me.
Reported speech with 'که'.
ما دوست داشتیم در یک شهر بزرگ زندگی کنیم.
We liked/wanted to live in a big city.
Past tense followed by subjunctive.
آیا دوست داری با من به مهمانی بیایی؟
Would you like to come to the party with me?
Subjunctive question.
من آدمهایی را که صادق هستند دوست دارم.
I like people who are honest.
Relative clause with 'که'.
او از اینکه به او کمک کردی، تو را دوست دارد.
He/she likes you because you helped them.
Reasoning with 'از اینکه'.
دوست ندارم که کسی در کارم دخالت کند.
I don't like it when someone interferes in my work.
Negative subjunctive construction.
شما دوست دارید در آینده چه کاره شوید؟
What would you like to become in the future?
Future intent with present tense.
من همیشه به فرهنگ و هنر ایران ارادت داشته و آن را دوست داشتهام.
I have always had devotion to and liked Iranian culture and art.
Present perfect tense.
او طوری حرف میزند که انگار همه را دوست دارد.
He talks in a way as if he likes everyone.
Hypothetical 'انگار' (as if).
ما دوست داشتیم که شرایط بهتر میشد.
We wished/would have liked for conditions to become better.
Conditional past wish.
بسیاری از مردم این سبک معماری را دوست ندارند.
Many people do not like this style of architecture.
Formal subject 'بسیاری از مردم'.
من آن کتابی را که هدیه دادی، خیلی دوست داشتم.
I really liked that book that you gave as a gift.
Past tense with relative clause.
آیا فکر میکنی او واقعاً تو را دوست دارد؟
Do you think he/she really loves/likes you?
Embedded question.
او با وجود تمام سختیها، زندگی را دوست داشت.
Despite all the hardships, he/she loved life.
Contrastive 'با وجود'.
دوست داشتنِ بی قید و شرط، کار آسانی نیست.
Unconditional loving is not an easy task.
Infinitive as a subject (Gerund equivalent).
در ادبیات عرفانی، دوست داشتن به معنای فنا شدن در معشوق است.
In mystical literature, loving means being annihilated in the beloved.
Academic/Literary definition.
او چنان به وطن خود عشق میورزید که گویی آن را بیش از خود دوست میداشت.
He loved his homeland so much that it was as if he liked it more than himself.
Literary past 'میداشت' and 'عشق ورزیدن'.
اینکه بخواهیم همه ما را دوست داشته باشند، خواسته معقولی نیست.
Wanting everyone to like us is not a reasonable desire.
Complex clausal subject.
او همواره از بازگشت به خاطراتی که دوست داشت، پرهیز میکرد.
He always avoided returning to the memories he loved.
Participial phrase and past tense.
دوست داشتن در این سیاق، بیشتر به معنای احترام متقابل است.
Liking in this context means more of a mutual respect.
Nuanced semantic analysis.
آیا میتوان بدون شناخت عمیق، کسی را واقعاً دوست داشت؟
Can one really love someone without deep knowledge?
Philosophical inquiry.
او با لحنی که نشاندهنده عدم تمایل بود، گفت که این طرح را دوست ندارد.
With a tone indicating a lack of inclination, he said he doesn't like this plan.
Descriptive formal narrative.
مفهوم دوست داشتن در اشعار حافظ با مفاهیم زمینی تفاوت دارد.
The concept of loving in Hafez's poems differs from earthly concepts.
Literary comparison.
تحلیل هرمنوتیکِ فعل «دوست داشتن» در متون کلاسیک، لایههای پنهانی از معنا را آشکار میسازد.
Hermeneutic analysis of the verb 'to love' in classical texts reveals hidden layers of meaning.
High-level academic discourse.
وی در رسالهی خود، تمایز ظریفی میان «دوست داشتن» و «میل مفرط» قائل شده است.
In his treatise, he has made a subtle distinction between 'loving' and 'excessive desire'.
Formal present perfect with complex vocabulary.
تجلیِ دوست داشتن در ساحتِ هنر، فراتر از یک حسِ گذراست.
The manifestation of loving in the realm of art is beyond a fleeting feeling.
Metaphysical/Philosophical register.
او با ظرافتی بینظیر، پارادوکسهای موجود در مفهوم دوست داشتن را به تصویر میکشد.
With unique delicacy, he portrays the paradoxes present in the concept of loving.
Advanced literary criticism.
آیا دوست داشتن، فینفسه، یک عملِ ارادی است یا یک انفعالِ روحی؟
Is loving, in itself, a volitional act or a spiritual passion?
Ontological question using Arabic-derived terms.
سیاستمدار با زیرکی از پاسخ به اینکه آیا سیاستهای جدید را دوست دارد یا خیر، طفره رفت.
The politician cleverly evaded answering whether he likes the new policies or not.
Complex narrative with political nuance.
در این منظومه، دوست داشتن به مثابهی پلی میان امرِ قدسی و امرِ عرفی تلقی میشود.
In this poetic cycle, loving is considered as a bridge between the sacred and the profane.
Literary theory terminology.
او مدعی بود که دوست داشتنِ حقیقی، مستلزمِ گذشتن از خویشتن است.
He claimed that true loving requires transcending the self.
Ethical/Philosophical claim.
Summary
The verb 'دوست داشتن' is the most versatile way to express positive feelings in Persian. It translates to both 'like' and 'love'. Example: 'من تو را دوست دارم' (I love/like you). Remember to conjugate only the 'dāštan' part.
- Fundamental Persian verb for expressing 'like' and 'love'.
- A compound verb using 'dūst' (friend) and 'dāštan' (to have).
- Used for everything from food preferences to romantic affection.
- Does not use the 'mi' prefix in the present tense.
Example
من دوست دارم کتاب بخوانم.
Related Content
Related Phrases
More emotions words
عاشق
A1Feeling or showing love; deeply in love.
عاشق بودن
A2To love, to be in love
عاشق شدن
A2To develop strong romantic feelings for someone.
عاشقانه
B1Lovingly, romantically; in a loving or romantic way.
عاطفه
A2Affection, emotion, sentiment.
اعتقاد
A2A strong belief or faith.
اعتماد
A2Trust, confidence, reliance.
اعتماد کردن
A2To trust; to rely on.
عجب
B1An exclamation of wonder, surprise, or amazement; how strange! amazing!
عجول
A1Impatient; having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked.