A2 verb Neutral #2,800 most common 3 min read

دیر کردن

dir kardan dīr kardan
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Overview

The Persian phrase 'دیر کردن' (deir kardan) literally translates to 'to do late' or 'to make late,' and it commonly means 'to be late' or 'to arrive/act after the expected time.' This verb is highly versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts, from everyday situations to more formal settings.

Etymology and Structure:

  • دیر (deir): This is an adverb meaning 'late' or 'slowly.' It's a fundamental word in Persian, appearing in many other temporal expressions.
  • کردن (kardan): This is a common light verb (also known as a auxiliary verb or general verb) meaning 'to do' or 'to make.' In Persian, many verbs are formed by combining a noun, adjective, or adverb with a light verb like 'کردن,' 'شدن' (shodan - to become), or 'داشتن' (dāshtan - to have).

Conjugation:

Like all Persian verbs, 'دیر کردن' conjugates according to tense, mood, and person. The 'کردن' part is the one that conjugates, while 'دیر' remains unchanged. Here are some examples:

  • Present Simple:
  • من دیر می‌کنم (man deir mikonam) - I am late / I get late.
  • او دیر می‌کند (u deir mikonad) - He/She is late / He/She gets late.
  • Past Simple:
  • من دیر کردم (man deir kardam) - I was late.
  • آنها دیر کردند (ānhā deir kardand) - They were late.
  • Present Perfect:
  • من دیر کرده‌ام (man deir karde'am) - I have been late.
  • Past Perfect:
  • او دیر کرده بود (u deir karde bud) - He/She had been late.
  • Imperative:
  • دیر نکن! (deir nakon!) - Don't be late!
  • دیر نکنید! (deir nakonid!) - Don't be late! (plural/formal)

Usage and Nuances:

  1. 1General Lateness: This is the most straightforward use. It refers to being behind schedule for an appointment, event, or task.
  • Example: “متاسفم، دیر کردم.” (Motasefam, deir kardam.) - "I'm sorry, I'm late."
  • Example: “چرا دیر کردی؟” (Cherā deir kardi?) - “Why were you late?”
  1. 1Delayed Action/Event: It can also describe something happening later than anticipated.
  • Example: “پرواز دیر کرد.” (Parvāz deir kard.) - “The flight was delayed.” (Literally: The flight made late itself).
  • Example: “باران دیر شروع شد.” (Bārān deir shoru' shod.) - “The rain started late.”
  1. 1Figurative Use (Less Common, but possible): In some contexts, 'دیر کردن' can imply procrastination or putting something off, though there are more specific verbs for that (e.g., 'به تعویق انداختن' - be ta'viq andākhtan - to postpone).

Common Phrases and Expressions:

  • دیر رسیدن (deir residan): To arrive late. While 'دیر کردن' can imply arriving late, 'دیر رسیدن' explicitly states arrival.
  • Example: “من به جلسه دیر رسیدم.” (Man be jalse deir residam.) - “I arrived late to the meeting.”
  • دیر وقت (deir vaght): Late at night/day.
  • Example: “او دیر وقت به خانه آمد.” (U deir vaght be khāne āmad.) - “He came home late at night.”
  • دیر شدن (deir shodan): To become late, often used impersonally or to emphasize the state of being late rather than the act of causing lateness.
  • Example: “دیر شده است.” (Deir shode ast.) - "It's late." (Implying time has passed and it's past the expected time).

Cultural Context:

In some cultural contexts, punctuality can vary. While being 'دیر کردن' is generally seen as undesirable, the degree of its negative impact can depend on the specific situation and relationship. For formal appointments, punctuality is highly valued, but in more casual social gatherings, a slight delay might be more acceptable.

In summary, 'دیر کردن' is a fundamental and frequently used Persian verb that conveys the concept of being late, delayed, or acting after the expected time. Its understanding is crucial for effective communication in Persian, covering a wide array of daily situations.

Examples

1

دیر نکن!

Speaking to a friend.

Don't be late!

2

او برای قرار ملاقاتش دیر کرد.

Describing a past event.

He was late for his appointment.

3

چرا همیشه دیر می‌کنی؟

Expressing frustration to someone who is habitually late.

Why are you always late?

4

اتوبوس دیر کرده است.

Referring to a delayed public transport.

The bus is late.

5

اگر دیر کنی، نمایش را از دست می‌دهی.

Giving a warning about consequences of being late.

If you are late, you will miss the show.

Common Collocations

دیر کردن سر قرار
دیر کردن برای کار
دیر کردن در پرداخت
دیر کردن اتوبوس

Often Confused With

دیر کردن vs دیر آمدن

While both 'دیر کردن' and 'دیر آمدن' mean 'to be late' or 'to come late', 'دیر کردن' often implies an action of causing delay or being delayed, and can be used transitively or intransitively. 'دیر آمدن' more specifically refers to the act of arriving late. 'دیر کردن' has a broader usage, for example, one can 'دیر کردن در انجام کار' (to delay in doing work), whereas 'دیر آمدن' would not fit in that context. 'دیر کردن' can also be used reflexively for someone being late.

Grammar Patterns

فاعل + دیر کردن (intransitive: e.g., من دیر کردم - I was late) فاعل + مفعول + را + دیر کردن (transitive, less common but possible, implying causing something to be late: e.g., او کار را دیر کرد - He delayed the work) دیر شدن (passive: e.g., کار دیر شد - The work was delayed/became late)

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The verb 'دیر کردن' is commonly used in everyday conversation. It is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. It is often used with the preposition 'به' (be) followed by the place or event one is late for, or with 'سر' (sar) to indicate being late for an appointment or a specific time. For example, 'به جلسه دیر کردم' (be jaleseh dir kardam) means 'I was late for the meeting.' or 'سر قرار دیر کردم' (sar gharar dir kardam) means 'I was late for the appointment.' It can also be used to express being late in general, as in 'چرا دیر کردی؟' (cherâ dir kardi?) meaning 'Why were you late?'. The past tense is formed with the auxiliary verb 'کردن' (kardan) conjugated, and the present stem 'کن' (kon) is used for present and imperative forms. The noun form 'دیرکرد' (dirkard) refers to a delay or lateness, often used in a more formal or administrative context, such as 'جریمه دیرکرد' (jarimeh-ye dirkard) meaning 'late penalty'.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake for English speakers learning Persian is confusing 'دیر کردن' (dir kardan - to be late) with 'دیروز' (dirooz - yesterday). While both share the 'دیر' root, their meanings and usage are quite different. 'دیر کردن' always implies tardiness or delay, whereas 'دیروز' specifically refers to the day before today. Another mistake can be using 'دیر' as a standalone adjective for 'late' in all contexts, when sometimes 'دیر وقت' (dir vaght - late in time/late hour) or other constructions might be more natural, depending on whether you're describing an action, a person, or a time of day. For example, you wouldn't say 'او دیر است' (oo dir ast - he is late) to mean he is a late person; you would say 'او دیر کرد' (oo dir kard - he was late) or 'او دیر می آید' (oo dir mi-ayad - he comes late). The verb 'کردن' (kardan - to do) is crucial here. Also, ensure correct verb conjugation with 'کردن' when using it to express 'to be late' for different subjects and tenses.

Word Origin

From Middle Persian دیر (dēr, “late, long time”). Related to Old Persian duvara- (“far, distant”).

Cultural Context

In Persian culture, punctuality is generally valued, especially in formal settings and business environments. However, there can be a more relaxed approach to time in social contexts among close friends and family, where 'دیر کردن' (to be late) might be tolerated to a certain extent. Being significantly late without prior notice, even in informal settings, can still be seen as disrespectful. In some situations, especially when visiting elders or someone of higher social standing, arriving slightly late might even be perceived as a sign of humility, though this is not a universal rule and depends heavily on the specific context and relationship dynamics. The concept of 'Iranian time' sometimes refers to a more flexible interpretation of scheduled times, though this stereotype is not always accurate and can vary greatly across individuals and regions within Iran.

Memory Tip

Visualize a 'deer' running 'late' for an appointment, perhaps because it was 'dilly-dallying'. The sound of 'دیر' (dir) is similar to 'deer'.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

'دیر کردن' (dir kardan) is a Persian verb that means 'to be late,' 'to delay,' or 'to postpone.' It is used when someone or something arrives or happens after the expected or scheduled time. The phrase implies a deviation from the agreed-upon timeline, often leading to consequences such as missed opportunities, inconveniences, or disruptions to plans. It can refer to a person arriving late for an appointment, a task being delayed beyond its deadline, or an event being postponed to a later date. The context often clarifies the specific nuance of being late, whether it's a minor tardiness or a significant delay.

'دیر کردن' is a compound verb in Persian, meaning it consists of an adjective ('دیر' - dir, meaning late) and the verb 'کردن' (kardan, meaning to do/to make). The verb 'کردن' is conjugated according to tense, person, and number. For example, in the present tense: 'من دیر می‌کنم' (man dir mikonam - I am late), 'تو دیر می‌کنی' (to dir mikoni - you are late), 'او دیر می‌کند' (u dir mikonad - he/she is late). In the past tense: 'من دیر کردم' (man dir kardam - I was late), 'تو دیر کردی' (to dir kardi - you were late), 'او دیر کرد' (u dir kard - he/she was late). The adjective 'دیر' remains unchanged.

Certainly! Here are a few examples of 'دیر کردن' in sentences: 1. 'لطفاً دیر نکن.' (Lotfan dir nakon.) - 'Please don't be late.' 2. 'او همیشه سر کار دیر می‌کند.' (U hamishe sar-e kar dir mikonad.) - 'He/she is always late for work.' 3. 'قطار دیر کرد.' (Ghatar dir kard.) - 'The train was late.' 4. 'نمی‌خواهم برای مهمانی دیر کنم.' (Nemikhaham baraye mehmuni dir konam.) - 'I don't want to be late for the party.' 5. 'کارها به دلیل مشکلات فنی دیر شد.' (Karha be dalil-e moshkelat-e fanni dir shod.) - 'The tasks were delayed due to technical problems.'

While 'دیر کردن' is the most common way to express being late, there are some related phrases and nuances. For simply being late, 'تأخیر داشتن' (ta'khir dashtan - to have a delay) can be used, often referring to inanimate objects or events. For example, 'پرواز تأخیر داشت' (parvaz ta'khir dasht - the flight had a delay). Another related concept is 'به موقع نرسیدن' (be moghe narasidan - not arriving on time). If the delay is intentional or a postponement, one might use phrases like 'عقب انداختن' (aghab andakhtan - to postpone/put off) or 'به تعویق انداختن' (be ta'viq andakhtan - to defer/postpone). Each of these carries a slightly different shade of meaning, with 'دیر کردن' being the general and most widely applicable term for tardiness.

Test Yourself

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اگر دیر ____، اتوبوس را از دست می‌دهید.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
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او همیشه سر وقت می‌آید و هیچوقت دیر نمی‌____.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
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متاسفم که دیر ____؛ ترافیک سنگین بود.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Score: /3

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