At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word 'فساد' (fesād) in complex political sentences. Instead, you might encounter its adjective form 'فاسد' (fāsid) when talking about food that is no longer good to eat. For example, 'این شیر فاسد است' (This milk is spoiled). At this stage, focus on the idea that 'fesād' means something is 'bad' or 'rotten.' You won't hear it in basic conversations about family or hobbies, but you might see it on a label for expired food. It is a good word to know to understand that some things have a limited shelf life. Just remember: if it's not good to eat, it might be 'fāsid.' If a person is 'bad' in a very serious, criminal way, they might be called 'fāsid,' but that's a bit advanced for A1. Stick to spoiled milk for now!
At the A2 level, you can start to recognize 'فساد' in the news or in simple social discussions. You might learn it alongside words like 'دولت' (government) or 'پول' (money). You should understand that 'فساد' is a noun and 'فاسد' is an adjective. You might hear someone say 'فساد بد است' (Corruption is bad) or 'او یک آدم فاسد است' (He is a corrupt person). You are beginning to move beyond just food and starting to see the word applied to people's behavior. It's important to differentiate 'فساد' from 'خراب' (kharāb). 'Kharāb' is for a broken phone; 'fesād' is for a 'broken' system or person. You might also see it in simple signs or headlines about 'fighting corruption' (مبارزه با فساد).
As a B1 learner, you should be able to use 'فساد' in sentences about social issues. This is the level where the word becomes very useful. You can discuss 'فساد اداری' (administrative corruption) or 'فساد مالی' (financial corruption). You should be able to explain why corruption is a problem for a country's economy. You will encounter this word frequently in Persian newspapers and on news websites like BBC Persian or VOA Farsi. You should also be familiar with the verb 'فاسد شدن' (to become corrupt/spoiled) and how it can be used metaphorically. For example, you can say 'قدرت زیاد باعث فساد می‌شود' (Too much power causes corruption). This level requires you to understand the nuance that 'fesād' is a systemic issue, not just a one-time mistake.
At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'فساد.' You can distinguish between different types of corruption, such as 'فساد سیستماتیک' (systemic corruption) versus individual acts of bribery. You can use the word in debates about transparency (شفافیت) and justice (عدالت). You should be comfortable with collocations like 'ریشه‌کن کردن فساد' (eradicating corruption) or 'افشای فساد' (exposing corruption). You will also start to see the word in literature or more formal essays where it might refer to the moral decay of a society. At this level, you can use the word to form complex arguments about how corruption affects the development of a nation or the trust between citizens and the state.
At the C1 level, you are expected to understand the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the word 'فساد.' You might study how the concept of 'فساد' appears in classical Persian literature or Islamic jurisprudence (where 'mofsed-e fel-arz' is a technical legal term). You should be able to use the word in academic writing, discussing the 'فساد ساختاری' (structural corruption) that might exist in various political systems. You can analyze the rhetoric used by politicians when they talk about 'fesād' and understand the subtext. Your vocabulary should include related high-level terms like 'رانت‌خواری' (rent-seeking) and 'ویژه‌خواری' (exclusive privilege-seeking), which are often discussed in the same context as 'fesād.'
At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of 'فساد.' You can appreciate the word's use in high-level political satire, complex legal documents, and deep philosophical treatises. You understand the subtle differences between 'فساد' (corruption), 'تباهی' (perdition/decay), and 'انحطاط' (decline/decadence). You can speak eloquently about the sociological causes of corruption and propose systemic solutions using sophisticated terminology. You can interpret the word in various registers, from the slang used to describe a corrupt official to the formal language of an international anti-corruption treaty. You are also aware of the poetic uses of the root F-S-D in Persian poetry, where it might represent the transience and 'corruption' of the material world compared to the spiritual realm.

فساد in 30 Seconds

  • Fesād (فساد) means corruption, decay, or depravity.
  • It is a B1 level word commonly used in politics and news.
  • It derives from an Arabic root meaning 'to become spoiled.'
  • Common types include financial (māli) and administrative (edāri) corruption.

The Persian word فساد (fesād) is a heavy-hitting noun that translates most directly to corruption, decay, or depravity. Rooted in the Arabic triliteral root F-S-D (ف-س-د), it signifies the transition of something from a healthy, functional state to a broken, rotten, or dishonest state. While in English we often distinguish between 'food spoilage' and 'political corruption,' Persian uses 'fesād' and its derivatives to cover a broad spectrum of deterioration, though in modern daily life, it is most frequently encountered in political, economic, and moral discussions.

Political & Administrative Context
This is the most common usage today. It refers to the abuse of power by officials for personal gain. Phrases like فساد اداری (administrative corruption) or فساد مالی (financial corruption) are staples of news reports and social critiques. It encompasses bribery, embezzlement, and nepotism.
Moral & Social Context
When used as فساد اخلاقی (moral corruption), it refers to behaviors that deviate from the established ethical or religious norms of society. This usage is common in legal and conservative social discourses.
Biological & Physical Context
In technical or classical Persian, it refers to the rotting of organic matter. A doctor might speak of the 'fesād' of a wound, or a chemist of the 'fesād' of a substance, meaning it has become toxic or unusable.

مبارزه با فساد سیستمی نیازمند شفافیت کامل است.

— Fighting systemic corruption requires complete transparency.

Understanding 'fesād' is crucial for anyone engaging with Persian media. It is a word that sparks strong emotions because it implies a betrayal of trust. When a society is described as having 'fesād,' it suggests that the very foundations of its institutions are crumbling. It is the opposite of صلاح (salāh), which means goodness, righteousness, or being in a proper state.

او به دلیل دست داشتن در فساد مالی بازداشت شد.

— He was arrested for involvement in financial corruption.

تجمع مردم برای اعتراض به فساد گسترده در شهرداری بود.

— The people's gathering was to protest widespread corruption in the municipality.

Using 'فساد' correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a noun and its common pairings. It is often the object of verbs like افشا کردن (to expose), ریشه‌کن کردن (to eradicate), or مبارزه کردن با (to fight against).

As a Subject
When 'fesād' acts as the subject, it often describes an active force of destruction. فساد جامعه را از درون نابود می‌کند (Corruption destroys society from within).
With Adjectives
Common adjectives include گسترده (widespread), سیستماتیک (systematic), and سازمان‌یافته (organized). For example: فساد سازمان‌یافته خطرناک‌ترین نوع آن است.

روزنامه‌نگاران نقش مهمی در افشای فساد دارند.

— Journalists play an important role in exposing corruption.

ما باید ریشه‌های فساد را در اقتصاد پیدا کنیم.

— We must find the roots of corruption in the economy.

You will encounter 'فساد' in several specific domains of Iranian and Persian-speaking life. It is not a word used in casual small talk about the weather, but it is ubiquitous in any discussion about the state of the world.

  • The News (Akhbar): Every night, news broadcasts in Iran or Tajikistan might mention 'mubāreze bā fesād' (the fight against corruption) as a government objective.
  • Podcasts & Intellectual Circles: Discussion about 'fesād-e sāxtāri' (structural corruption) is a major theme in socio-economic podcasts.
  • Legal Proceedings: In a courtroom, a prosecutor might charge someone with 'mofsed-e fel-arz' (spreading corruption on earth), which is a very serious legal term in the Islamic Republic's penal code.

اخبار امروز درباره محاکمه عاملان فساد بزرگ بانکی بود.

— Today's news was about the trial of the perpetrators of the big banking corruption.

Learners often confuse 'فساد' with other terms related to 'badness' or 'problems.' Here is how to avoid those pitfalls.

Mistaking 'Fesād' for 'Kharābi'
If your car is broken, you use خرابی (kharābi), not 'fesād.' 'Fesād' implies a moral or systemic rot. You wouldn't say the 'fesād' of a washing machine.
Using the wrong verb with 'Fasid' (the adjective)
When food goes bad, we say فاسد شدن (to become corrupt/spoiled). Beginners often try to use 'kharāb shodan,' which is okay for food, but 'fāsid shodan' is more precise for biological spoilage.

Depending on what kind of 'corruption' you are talking about, you might want to use more specific terms.

ارتشا (Erteshā)
Specifically means bribery. If you want to talk about taking or giving bribes specifically, this is the formal word.
اختلاس (Ekhtelās)
Specifically means embezzlement—stealing money from an organization you work for.
تباهی (Tabāhi)
Means ruin or destruction, often used in a poetic or highly literary sense to describe the moral decay of a person's life.

آن‌ها به جرم اختلاس و فساد مالی محاکمه شدند.

— They were tried for embezzlement and financial corruption.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root is used in the Quran to describe moral disorder on earth. In modern Persian, it has shifted from biological rot to primarily political rot.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fɛˈsɑːd/
US /fəˈsɑːd/
The stress is on the second syllable: fe-SĀD.
Rhymes With
Abād (آباد) Azād (آزاد) Dād (داد) Shād (شاد) Bād (باد) Yād (یاد) Farhād (فرهاد) E'temād (اعتماد)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing the first vowel like 'ee' (Fisād) is incorrect.
  • Shortening the second 'ā' to a short 'a' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in news, easy to recognize.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of ezafe and compound patterns.

Speaking 3/5

Used in serious discussions.

Listening 3/5

Frequent in broadcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

پول (Money) دولت (Government) بد (Bad) خراب (Broken) قانون (Law)

Learn Next

رشوه (Bribe) اختلاس (Embezzlement) شفافیت (Transparency) عدالت (Justice) حقوق (Rights)

Advanced

رانت‌خواری (Rent-seeking) ویژه‌خواری (Privilege-seeking) بروکراسی (Bureaucracy) استبداد (Tyranny)

Grammar to Know

Ezafe Construction

فسادِ مالی (Financial corruption)

Compound Verbs

مبارزه کردن (To fight) -> مبارزه با فساد

Abstract Nouns

Fesād is an abstract noun formed from the root.

Passive Voice

فساد افشا شد (Corruption was exposed)

Negative Imperative

فاسد نشو (Do not become corrupt)

Examples by Level

1

این شیر فاسد است.

This milk is spoiled.

Fāsid is the adjective form of Fesād.

2

غذای فاسد نخور.

Don't eat spoiled food.

Imperative negative verb 'nakhor'.

3

میوه فاسد شد.

The fruit became spoiled.

Simple past of 'fāsid shodan'.

4

او آدم فاسدی است.

He is a corrupt/bad person.

Adjective 'fāsid' describing a person.

5

فساد بد است.

Corruption is bad.

Simple subject-predicate sentence.

6

هوا باعث فساد نان می‌شود.

Air causes bread to spoil.

Present continuous sense of cause and effect.

7

گوشت فاسد را دور بریز.

Throw away the spoiled meat.

Compound verb 'dur rikhtan'.

8

آیا این تخم‌مرغ فاسد است؟

Is this egg spoiled?

Question form.

1

او به خاطر فساد به زندان رفت.

He went to prison because of corruption.

Preposition 'be khāter-e' (because of).

2

دولت با فساد مبارزه می‌کند.

The government fights corruption.

Present continuous 'mobāreze mikonad'.

3

ما نباید اجازه فساد بدهیم.

We must not allow corruption.

Modal verb 'nabāyad'.

4

فساد مالی در این شرکت زیاد است.

Financial corruption is high in this company.

Compound noun 'fesād-e māli'.

5

آن‌ها درباره فساد حرف می‌زنند.

They are talking about corruption.

Preposition 'darbāre-ye' (about).

6

فساد اخلاقی در فیلم‌ها نشان داده می‌شود.

Moral corruption is shown in movies.

Passive voice 'neshān dāde mishavad'.

7

پلیس جلوی فساد را می‌گیرد.

The police stop corruption.

Idiomatic 'joloy-e ... rā gereftan'.

8

کتابی درباره ریشه‌های فساد خریدم.

I bought a book about the roots of corruption.

Simple past 'kharidam'.

1

فساد اداری مانع پیشرفت کشور می‌شود.

Administrative corruption prevents the country's progress.

Subject is 'fesād-e edāri'.

2

بسیاری از مردم از فساد خسته شده‌اند.

Many people have become tired of corruption.

Present perfect 'khaste shode-and'.

3

افشای فساد توسط خبرنگار شجاعانه بود.

The exposure of corruption by the journalist was brave.

Gerund 'afshā-ye fesād'.

4

او مدعی شد که هیچ فسادی در سازمان وجود ندارد.

He claimed that no corruption exists in the organization.

Subordinate clause with 'ke'.

5

برای از بین بردن فساد، به قوانین سخت نیاز داریم.

To eliminate corruption, we need strict laws.

Infinitive 'az bin bordan' (to eliminate).

6

فساد گسترده باعث سقوط رژیم شد.

Widespread corruption caused the fall of the regime.

Adjective 'gostarde' (widespread).

7

او در یک پرونده فساد بزرگ متهم شده است.

He has been accused in a major corruption case.

Passive present perfect 'motaham shode ast'.

8

شفافیت بهترین راه برای جلوگیری از فساد است.

Transparency is the best way to prevent corruption.

Superlative 'behtarin rāh'.

1

فساد سیستماتیک اعتماد عمومی را سلب کرده است.

Systemic corruption has deprived public trust.

Verb 'salb kardan' (to deprive/take away).

2

مبارزه با فساد نباید به ابزار سیاسی تبدیل شود.

The fight against corruption should not become a political tool.

Negative modal 'nabāyad'.

3

او به جرم افساد فی‌الارض به اعدام محکوم شد.

He was sentenced to death for spreading corruption on earth.

Specific legal term 'efsād fel-arz'.

4

فساد در لایه‌های مختلف قدرت نفوذ کرده است.

Corruption has penetrated different layers of power.

Verb 'nofuz kardan' (to penetrate).

5

تحلیل‌گران معتقدند فساد ریشه در اقتصاد دولتی دارد.

Analysts believe corruption is rooted in the state economy.

Idiomatic 'rishe dāshtan dar' (to be rooted in).

6

بدون قوه قضاییه مستقل، نمی‌توان با فساد مقابله کرد.

Without an independent judiciary, one cannot confront corruption.

Conditional sense with 'bedun-e'.

7

گزارش‌های سالانه نشان‌دهنده کاهش فساد در منطقه است.

Annual reports indicate a decrease in corruption in the region.

Participial adjective 'neshān-dahande'.

8

او زندگی خود را وقف مبارزه با فساد کرد.

He dedicated his life to fighting corruption.

Verb 'vaqf kardan' (to dedicate).

1

فساد ساختاری مانع از تخصیص بهینه منابع می‌شود.

Structural corruption prevents optimal resource allocation.

Academic terminology 'takhsis-e behine'.

2

پیامدهای مخرب فساد بر محیط زیست غیرقابل انکار است.

The destructive consequences of corruption on the environment are undeniable.

Adjective 'moxarreb' (destructive).

3

برخی معتقدند فساد روغن‌کاری چرخ‌های بروکراسی است.

Some believe corruption is the greasing of the wheels of bureaucracy.

Metaphorical usage.

4

رانت‌خواری یکی از مظاهر بارز فساد در اقتصادهای رانتی است.

Rent-seeking is one of the clear manifestations of corruption in rentier economies.

Advanced term 'māzaher' (manifestations).

5

نهادینه شدن فساد منجر به فرار سرمایه از کشور می‌شود.

The institutionalization of corruption leads to capital flight from the country.

Verb 'nahādine shodan' (to become institutionalized).

6

او در کتابش به بررسی رابطه بین استبداد و فساد می‌پردازد.

In his book, he examines the relationship between tyranny and corruption.

Verb 'pardākhtan be' (to engage in/examine).

7

فساد در سطوح کلان مدیریت، کل جامعه را تحت تاثیر قرار می‌دهد.

Corruption at macro levels of management affects the entire society.

Term 'sotuh-e kalān' (macro levels).

8

افزایش هزینه‌های معاملاتی نتیجه مستقیم فساد گسترده است.

Increasing transaction costs is a direct result of widespread corruption.

Economic term 'hazine-hā-ye moāmelāti'.

1

فساد چون خوره به جان ارکان نظام افتاده است.

Corruption, like a canker, has fallen upon the soul of the system's pillars.

Simile using 'chun' (like).

2

تقلیل مفاهیم اخلاقی به نفع منافع شخصی، غایت فساد است.

The reduction of moral concepts in favor of personal interests is the ultimate end of corruption.

Philosophical phrasing.

3

او به نقد تئوریک بسترهای زاینده فساد در جوامع در حال گذار پرداخت.

He engaged in a theoretical critique of the generative contexts of corruption in societies in transition.

Highly formal 'bastar-hā-ye zāyande'.

4

پیوند نامقدس ثروت و قدرت، زهدان اصلی فساد سیاسی است.

The unholy alliance of wealth and power is the primary womb of political corruption.

Metaphorical 'zehdān' (womb).

5

عدم تقارن اطلاعاتی یکی از عوامل کلیدی در بروز فساد است.

Information asymmetry is one of the key factors in the emergence of corruption.

Technical term 'adam-e taqāmor'.

6

فساد در این مقیاس، کلیت مشروعیت نظام را با چالش مواجه می‌کند.

Corruption on this scale challenges the entirety of the system's legitimacy.

Phrase 'bā chālesh movājeh kardan'.

7

او با نگاهی تبارشناسانه به واکاوی مفهوم فساد در متون کهن نشست.

With a genealogical perspective, he sat to dissect the concept of corruption in ancient texts.

Academic 'tabārshenāsāne' (genealogical).

8

تقابل میان مصلحت عمومی و فساد خصوصی، بن‌مایه بسیاری از تراژدی‌هاست.

The conflict between public interest and private corruption is the motif of many tragedies.

Literary 'bon-māye' (motif).

Common Collocations

فساد مالی
فساد اداری
مبارزه با فساد
فساد گسترده
فساد اخلاقی
ریشه‌کن کردن فساد
فساد سیستماتیک
عوامل فساد
افشای فساد
بستر فساد

Common Phrases

فساد فی‌الارض

— A heavy legal charge meaning 'spreading corruption on earth'.

او به اتهام افساد فی‌الارض محاکمه شد.

غرق در فساد

— Deeply involved in corruption.

آن سازمان غرق در فساد است.

بوی فساد

— The 'smell' or hint of corruption.

از این معامله بوی فساد می‌آید.

شبکه فساد

— A corruption network or ring.

پلیس یک شبکه فساد را متلاشی کرد.

فساد ستیزی

— Anti-corruption (stance).

او چهره‌ای فساد ستیز دارد.

منجلاب فساد

— The 'quagmire' of corruption.

او در منجلاب فساد گرفتار شد.

فساد برانگیز

— Something that causes or incites corruption.

این قوانین فساد برانگیز هستند.

دوری از فساد

— Staying away from corruption.

دوری از فساد وظیفه هر شهروند است.

مفسد اقتصادی

— Economic disruptor/corruptor.

دادگاه مفسدان اقتصادی برگزار شد.

فساد خون

— Sepsis/Blood poisoning (Medical/Rare).

او دچار فساد خون شد.

Often Confused With

فساد vs فشار

Means 'pressure'. Sounds similar but starts with 'sh'.

فساد vs فصل

Means 'season'. Starts with 'fas' but ends with 'l'.

فساد vs فضای

Means 'space'. Starts with 'faz'.

Idioms & Expressions

"ماهی از سر گنده گردد، نی ز دم"

— The fish rots from the head; corruption starts from the top leadership.

در این شرکت، ماهی از سر گنده شده است.

Literary/Proverb
"دمش به جایی وصل است"

— His tail is connected somewhere (he has corrupt backing/protection).

او نمی‌ترسد چون دمش به جایی وصل است.

Informal
"سبیل کسی را چرب کردن"

— To grease someone's mustache (to bribe someone).

برای گرفتن مجوز، باید سبیل مدیر را چرب کنی.

Informal
"زیرمیزی دادن"

— To give something 'under the table' (to bribe).

بدون زیرمیزی دادن کارم راه نیفتاد.

Slang/Informal
"پارتی‌بازی کردن"

— To play favorites/nepotism (a form of social corruption).

او با پارتی‌بازی استخدام شد.

Common
"حق‌وحساب گرفتن"

— To take one's 'cut' (often implying a bribe).

کارمند اداره حق‌وحساب می‌خواست.

Informal
"دستش کج است"

— His hand is crooked (he is a thief/corrupt).

مواظب باش، او دستش کج است.

Informal
"آب گل‌آلود کردن"

— To muddy the water (to create confusion for corrupt gain).

او همیشه آب را گل‌آلود می‌کند تا ماهی بگیرد.

Proverbial
"پول چای"

— Tea money (a euphemism for a small bribe).

کمی پول چای به نگهبان دادم.

Informal
"خرش از پل گذشتن"

— His donkey crossed the bridge (he got what he wanted through corruption and now doesn't care).

حالا که پست را گرفت، خرش از پل گذشت.

Informal

Easily Confused

فساد vs خرابی

Both mean something is 'bad'.

Kharabi is for physical breakage; Fesād is for moral/systemic rot.

ماشین خرابی دارد، اما دولت فساد دارد.

فساد vs آلودگی

Both imply something is 'unclean'.

Aludegi is usually pollution (air/water); Fesād is ethical rot.

آلودگی هوا و فساد مالی.

فساد vs گناه

Both involve doing something wrong.

Gonah is a religious sin; Fesād is a social/systemic crime.

دروغ گناه است، اما رشوه فساد است.

فساد vs تقلب

Both involve dishonesty.

Taghalob is cheating (on a test/game); Fesād is institutional.

او در امتحان تقلب کرد، ولی رئیس دچار فساد شد.

فساد vs اشتباه

Both are negative.

Eshtebah is a mistake; Fesād is intentional dishonesty.

این یک اشتباه ساده نبود، بلکه فساد بود.

Sentence Patterns

A2

[Subject] + فساد + دارد.

این سیستم فساد دارد.

B1

مبارزه با + [Type] + فساد + لازم است.

مبارزه با فساد مالی لازم است.

B2

به دلیل + فساد + [Result].

به دلیل فساد، اقتصاد ضعیف شد.

C1

فساد + منجر به + [Noun] + می‌شود.

فساد منجر به ناامیدی می‌شود.

C2

بسترهای + [Adjective] + فساد + باید + [Verb].

بسترهای ساختاری فساد باید شناسایی شوند.

B1

او متهم به + فساد + است.

او متهم به فساد است.

A1

این + [Food] + فاسد + است.

این نان فاسد است.

B2

افشای + فساد + توسط + [Agent].

افشای فساد توسط پلیس.

Word Family

Nouns

فساد (Corruption)
مفسد (Corruptor)
افساد (Act of corrupting)

Verbs

فاسد شدن (To become spoiled/corrupt)
فاسد کردن (To corrupt something)

Adjectives

فاسد (Corrupt/Spoiled)
فسادپذیر (Perishable/Corruptible)

Related

رشوه (Bribe)
اختلاس (Embezzlement)
تقلب (Fraud)
جرم (Crime)
گناه (Sin)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in media and political discourse.

Common Mistakes
  • این گوشی فساد دارد. این گوشی خراب است.

    Fesād is not for broken objects.

  • او فساد کرد در امتحان. او در امتحان تقلب کرد.

    Use 'taghalob' for cheating in exams.

  • مبارزه به فساد. مبارزه با فساد.

    The preposition for 'mobāreze' is 'bā' (with/against).

  • فسادهای زیادی وجود دارد. فساد گسترده‌ای وجود دارد.

    Fesād is usually uncountable; use adjectives like 'gostarde' instead of pluralizing.

  • غذا فساد است. غذا فاسد است.

    Use the adjective 'fāsid' for food, not the noun 'fesād'.

Tips

Learn the Root

Learning the F-S-D root helps you understand 'fāsid' (spoiled) and 'mofsed' (corruptor).

News Watch

Watch Persian news for 10 minutes; you are almost guaranteed to hear this word.

Ezafe Use

Always use ezafe when specifying the type of corruption (e.g., Fesād-e māli).

Sensitivity

Understand that 'fesād' is a very strong accusation in Persian society.

Sound Alike

Fesād sounds like 'Sad'. Corruption makes a country 'Sad'.

Serious Tone

Use a formal register when using this word in professional settings.

Collocations

Memorize 'mobāreze bā fesād' as a single unit.

Ending

The 'd' at the end is soft but distinct.

Headlines

Look for the word in the 'Social' or 'Economy' sections of newspapers.

Food vs Politics

Remember: 'Fāsid' for food, 'Fesād' for systems.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Fesād' as a 'Fade' of 'Sad' morals. When morals fade, it is sad, and that is Fesād.

Visual Association

Imagine a shiny apple that is rotten and black on the inside. The outside is the office/government, the inside is 'fesād'.

Word Web

Government Bribery Money Rotten News Court Secret Unfair

Challenge

Try to find one news headline today containing 'فساد' and translate the context.

Word Origin

From the Arabic root F-S-D (ف-س-د).

Original meaning: To be or become bad, spoiled, or useless.

Semitic root adopted into Indo-European Persian.

Cultural Context

Be careful when accusing individuals of 'fesād' in Iran, as it is a serious legal allegation.

In English, we often use 'corruption' for politics and 'spoiled' for food. In Persian, 'fesād' bridges both, though 'kharāb' is more common for food.

The anti-corruption campaigns of various Iranian presidents. Classical poems by Saadi about the 'fesād' of unjust rulers. Modern films like 'The Salesman' or 'Leila's Brothers' that touch on social decay.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Political News

  • مبارزه با فساد
  • فساد گسترده
  • افشای فساد
  • عاملان فساد

Economic Analysis

  • فساد مالی
  • رانت و فساد
  • اقتصاد و فساد
  • هزینه فساد

Legal Proceedings

  • اتهام فساد
  • پرونده فساد
  • دادگاه فساد
  • مجازات فساد

Social Ethics

  • فساد اخلاقی
  • انحطاط و فساد
  • جامعه و فساد
  • ریشه فساد

Biological/Technical

  • فساد مواد غذایی
  • جلوگیری از فساد
  • زمان فساد
  • عامل فساد

Conversation Starters

"به نظر شما بهترین راه برای مبارزه با فساد چیست؟"

"آیا فساد در کشور شما یک مشکل بزرگ است؟"

"چگونه می‌توان از فساد در ادارات جلوگیری کرد؟"

"نقش رسانه‌ها در افشای فساد چیست؟"

"آیا تکنولوژی می‌تواند به کاهش فساد کمک کند؟"

Journal Prompts

درباره تجربه‌ای بنویسید که در آن با یک سیستم فاسد روبرو شدید.

تاثیر فساد بر زندگی مردم عادی را توصیف کنید.

اگر شما رئیس دولت بودید، چگونه با فساد مالی مبارزه می‌کردید؟

رابطه بین فقر و فساد را تحلیل کنید.

چرا برخی جوامع بیشتر از دیگران دچار فساد می‌شوند؟

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, while bribery (رشوه) is a type of 'fesād,' the word itself is broader and covers embezzlement, nepotism, and moral decay.

No, use 'خراب' (kharāb) for machines and electronics.

Yes, 'این شیر فاسد شده' is a very common way to say the milk has gone bad.

It refers to corruption within government offices, like needing to pay a bribe to get a permit.

It has religious roots, but in modern Persian, it is used more in secular, political, and legal contexts.

'Fesād' is the state of corruption (noun), while 'efsād' is the act of causing corruption (gerund).

You can say 'ضد فساد' (zed-e fesād) or 'مبارزه با فساد' (mobāreze bā fesād).

Yes, 'آدم فاسد' means a corrupt or morally depraved person.

Yes, it is a standard word in Dari and Tajiki Persian as well.

The most direct opposite is 'صلاح' (salāh) or 'سلامت' (salāmat).

Test Yourself 180 questions

writing

Write a sentence using 'فساد مالی'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing

How do you say 'The milk is spoiled' in Persian?

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Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing

Translate: 'We must fight against corruption.'

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writing

Write a short paragraph about the effects of corruption on society (3 sentences).

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writing

Use the word 'افشای فساد' in a sentence.

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writing

Translate: 'Systemic corruption is a big problem.'

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writing

Write a sentence with 'فاسد شدن'.

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writing

Translate: 'He was arrested for bribery and corruption.'

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writing

What is the opposite of 'فساد'? Use it in a sentence.

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writing

Write a sentence about 'فساد اداری'.

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writing

Translate: 'The roots of corruption are in the economy.'

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writing

Use 'مفسد اقتصادی' in a sentence.

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writing

Translate: 'Transparency prevents corruption.'

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writing

Write a sentence with 'فساد گسترده'.

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writing

Translate: 'Spoiled food is dangerous.'

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writing

Use 'ریشه‌کن کردن' and 'فساد' in one sentence.

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writing

Translate: 'The smell of corruption is everywhere.'

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writing

Write a sentence about 'فساد اخلاقی'.

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writing

Translate: 'The fight against corruption continues.'

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writing

Write a sentence with 'فاسد' (describing a person).

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speaking

Pronounce 'فساد مالی' out loud.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Corruption is bad' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Explain the difference between 'kharāb' and 'fesād' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'The milk is spoiled' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'We fight corruption' in Persian.

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speaking

Use 'fesād-e edāri' in a sentence.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Pronounce 'مبارزه با فساد' correctly.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'He is a corrupt person' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Exposing corruption' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'The roots of corruption' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Describe a corrupt system in 2 Persian sentences.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Spoiled food' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Financial corruption' in Persian.

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speaking

Pronounce 'مفسد فی‌الارض'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Anti-corruption law' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking

Say 'Transparency is good' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Widespread corruption' in Persian.

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speaking

Say 'To eliminate corruption' in Persian.

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speaking

Say 'He was arrested' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking

Say 'Corruption destroys society' in Persian.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen and write the word: 'فساد'

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listening

Listen and identify the type of corruption: 'فساد مالی'

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listening

Listen to the sentence: 'مبارزه با فساد ادامه دارد.' What is it about?

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listening

Listen: 'شیر فاسد شده است.' What happened to the milk?

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listening

Listen: 'او به جرم فساد زندانی شد.' Why was he imprisoned?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
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listening

Listen: 'فساد اداری مانع کار است.' What is the obstacle?

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listening

Listen: 'افشای فساد در اخبار.' Where was it mentioned?

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listening

Listen: 'ریشه‌های فساد عمیق است.' How are the roots described?

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listening

Listen: 'قانون ضد فساد تصویب شد.' What was passed?

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listening

Listen: 'مفسد اقتصادی محاکمه شد.' Who was tried?

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listening

Listen: 'بوی فساد می‌آید.' What does it mean?

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listening

Listen: 'فساد سیستماتیک.' What kind of corruption?

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listening

Listen: 'شفافیت علیه فساد.' What is against corruption?

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listening

Listen: 'فساد اخلاقی ممنوع است.' What is forbidden?

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listening

Listen: 'باید با فساد جنگید.' What must be done?

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writing

Translate: 'The journalist wrote an article about corruption.'

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writing

Translate: 'Don't drink spoiled water.'

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writing

Translate: 'The court is investigating the corruption case.'

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/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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