The Persian verb خشمگین کردن (khashmgin kardan) is a powerful compound verb used to describe the act of inciting intense anger or rage in another person. While Persian has several ways to express causing anger, this particular term carries a weight of formality and intensity. It is derived from the noun خشم (khashm), meaning 'wrath' or 'rage', combined with the auxiliary verb کردن (kardan), meaning 'to do' or 'to make'. When you use this verb, you are not just saying someone is annoyed; you are suggesting they have been pushed to a state of significant fury. It is the linguistic equivalent of 'to enrage', 'to infuriate', or 'to incense'. In daily conversation, people might use lighter terms like عصبانی کردن, but when the situation involves deep injustice, severe provocation, or a high level of emotional intensity, خشمگین کردن is the appropriate choice.
- Register and Context
- This verb is frequently found in literature, news reports, and formal discussions. It is used to describe actions that provoke the masses, such as political decisions or social injustices. In personal contexts, it implies a serious breach of respect or a deep-seated conflict.
دروغهای او تمام اعضای خانواده را خشمگین کرد.
(His lies enraged all the family members.)
Understanding the nuance of this verb requires looking at the root 'khashm'. Unlike 'asabani' (nervous/angry), 'khashm' is one of the primary emotions often associated with righteous indignation or a volcanic eruption of feeling. Therefore, خشمگین کردن is often used in narratives where a protagonist is pushed to their limit. It is a transitive verb, meaning it always requires an object—the person or group being made angry. You cannot simply 'khashmgin kardan' without someone being the recipient of that action. This makes it a 'causative' structure in essence, focusing on the source of the provocation.
- Synonym Comparison
- Compared to 'asabani kardan', 'khashmgin kardan' is more formal and implies a deeper, more lasting anger. While you might 'asabani kardan' someone by being late, you 'khashmgin kardan' them by betraying their trust.
رفتار ناعادلانه مدیر، کارمندان را خشمگین کرد.
(The manager's unfair behavior enraged the employees.)
In terms of social dynamics, using this word signals that the speaker recognizes the gravity of the emotion involved. If a journalist writes that a new law 'khashmgin kard' the public, they are signaling a potential for protest or serious backlash. It is a word that carries consequences. It is also important to note the pronunciation: 'khashm-gin'—the 'g' is hard like in 'go', and the 'n' at the end is clear. The 'kh' sound is the uvular fricative, similar to the 'ch' in 'Bach'. Mastery of this word allows a learner to move beyond basic emotional descriptors and enter the realm of nuanced, high-level Persian expression.
- Emotional Depth
- In Persian poetry and classical texts, 'khashm' is often contrasted with 'mehr' (kindness/love). To 'khashmgin kardan' someone is to disturb the balance of 'mehr'.
بیاحترامی به مقدسات، مؤمنان را خشمگین کرد.
(Disrespecting the sanctities enraged the believers.)
Using خشمگین کردن correctly requires an understanding of Persian sentence structure, particularly the use of compound verbs and direct objects. Because this is a transitive verb, you are almost always going to see the direct object marker را (ra) following the person or thing being angered. The structure typically follows: [Subject] + [Object] + [را] + [خشمگین] + [Conjugated form of کردن]. For example, in the sentence 'You made me angry', it becomes 'تو مرا خشمگین کردی' (To ma-ra khashmgin kardi). Here, 'To' is the subject, 'ma' is the object, 'ra' is the marker, and 'khashmgin kardi' is the verb. This pattern remains consistent across various tenses, though the auxiliary verb 'kardan' will change its form.
- Tense Variations
- Past: او را خشمگین کرد (He/She enraged him/her).
Present: او را خشمگین میکند (He/She enrages him/her).
Future: او را خشمگین خواهد کرد (He/She will enrage him/her).
سخنان تند او، جمعیت را خشمگین میکند.
(His sharp words enrage the crowd.)
One of the common ways to use this verb is in the passive-like causative sense. While 'khashmgin kardan' is active, its counterpart خشمگین شدن (to become enraged) is used when the focus is on the person feeling the anger rather than the person causing it. Learners often mix these up. Remember: Kardan is the action you do to someone else; Shodan is what happens to you. If you say 'Man khashmgin kardam', it means 'I enraged [someone]', not 'I got angry'. To say 'I got angry', you must say 'Man khashmgin shodam'. This distinction is vital for clear communication in Persian.
- Negative Forms
- To negate the verb, add 'na' to the auxiliary: او را خشمگین نکرد (It didn't enrage him). In the present tense: خشمگین نمیکند (It doesn't enrage).
هیچچیز نمیتواند او را خشمگین کند.
(Nothing can enrage him.)
In more complex sentences, you might use 'khashmgin kardan' in a subjunctive mood, especially after verbs expressing desire or possibility. For example, 'I don't want to enrage you' would be 'نمیخواهم تو را خشمگین کنم' (Nemi-khaham to-ra khashmgin konam). Notice how 'kardan' changes to 'konam' in the subjunctive. This verb is also frequently paired with adverbs of degree like بسیار (besyar - very) or شدیداً (shadidan - severely) to emphasize the level of rage being provoked. 'او شدیداً مرا خشمگین کرد' (He severely enraged me). Such combinations are very common in written Persian and formal speech.
- Common Subjects
- Common subjects that 'khashmgin kardan' include: بیعدالتی (injustice), دروغ (lies), خیانت (betrayal), and توهین (insult).
خیانت دوستش او را خشمگین کرد.
(His friend's betrayal enraged him.)
While خشمگین کردن might seem like a word reserved for books, it is actually quite prevalent in specific real-world contexts. One of the primary places you will encounter it is in the Iranian News Media. Headlines often use this verb to describe the public's reaction to international events, economic shifts, or political scandals. For instance, a news anchor might say, 'تصمیم جدید دولت، کشاورزان را خشمگین کرد' (The government's new decision enraged the farmers). Because news reporting aims for a certain level of formal gravitas, 'khashmgin kardan' is preferred over more colloquial terms. It paints a picture of a serious, collective emotional response that carries political weight.
- Legal and Formal Debates
- In a courtroom or a formal debate, a lawyer might argue that a certain action was intended to 'enrage' the victim, using 'khashmgin kardan' to denote intentional provocation.
گزارشهای فساد مالی، افکار عمومی را خشمگین کرده است.
(Reports of financial corruption have enraged public opinion.)
Another common venue for this word is Persian Literature and Cinema. In historical dramas or epic novels (like those inspired by the Shahnameh), characters often perform actions that 'khashmgin kardan' kings, warriors, or deities. It is a word of high drama. If you are watching a Persian movie and a character is speaking in a very serious, perhaps slightly archaic or poetic tone, they will use this verb to describe their anger. It emphasizes that the anger is not a petty grievance but a significant, world-altering emotion. In modern cinema, it's used in domestic dramas to show the breaking point of a relationship—when one partner does something so egregious that 'annoyance' doesn't cover it.
- Social Media and Activism
- On platforms like Twitter (X) or Instagram, Persian-speaking activists use 'khashmgin kardan' to describe the effect of systemic issues or tragic events on the citizenry.
ویدئوی منتشر شده، بسیاری از کاربران را خشمگین کرد.
(The released video enraged many users.)
Lastly, you will find this verb in Psychological and Self-Help Contexts. Persian podcasts or articles about anger management often use 'khashmgin kardan' to discuss triggers. A therapist might ask, 'چه چیزهایی شما را خشمگین میکند؟' (What things enrage you?). In this context, it is used as a technical term to categorize a specific level of emotional arousal. By listening for this word in these varied contexts—from the evening news to a therapist's couch—you can see how it bridges the gap between formal literary tradition and modern social analysis. It is a versatile tool for expressing the causing of profound anger.
- Educational Materials
- In Persian schoolbooks, students learn this word when reading about historical figures who were 'khashmgin' by the invasion of their land.
ظلم پادشاه، مردم را خشمگین کرد و باعث قیام شد.
(The king's tyranny enraged the people and caused an uprising.)
For English speakers learning Persian, the most frequent mistake when using خشمگین کردن involves confusing it with its intransitive counterpart, خشمگین شدن. In English, 'to anger' can sometimes be used ambiguously, but in Persian, the distinction between 'to cause anger' (kardan) and 'to become angry' (shodan) is absolute. If you say 'Man khashmgin kardam' thinking you are saying 'I got angry', a Persian speaker will be waiting for you to finish the sentence by saying *who* you made angry. Always remember: Kardan = You are the actor causing the emotion in someone else.
- The 'Ra' Omission
- Because 'khashmgin kardan' is transitive, you must use 'ra' (را) after a specific object. Saying 'او من خشمگین کرد' is grammatically incorrect. It must be 'او مرا (من را) خشمگین کرد'.
Incorrect: ترافیک من خشمگین کرد.
Correct: ترافیک مرا خشمگین کرد.
(Traffic enraged me.)
Another common error is using 'khashmgin kardan' for minor inconveniences. As mentioned, this word implies a high level of rage. If you use it because someone forgot to buy milk, you will sound overly dramatic or like a character in a 19th-century novel. For small things, use عصبانی کردن (asabani kardan) or even ناراحت کردن (narahat kardan - to upset). Using 'khashmgin kardan' correctly requires matching the intensity of the word to the intensity of the situation. It’s like using 'furious' versus 'annoyed' in English.
- Preposition Errors
- English speakers often try to use 'ba' (with) like 'He angered me with his words'. In Persian, the 'words' are usually the subject: 'سخنانش مرا خشمگین کرد'.
او با رفتارش مرا خشمگین کرد.
(He enraged me with his behavior - Correct usage of 'ba' as a means.)
Finally, watch out for the conjugation of 'kardan'. Since it's an irregular verb in the present tense (stem: 'kon'), learners sometimes forget and try to use 'kard' for everything. 'He enrages me' is 'او مرا خشمگین میکند' (mi-kon-ad), not 'mi-kard-ad'. Also, ensure you don't separate 'khashmgin' and 'kardan' too much in the sentence, as they function as a single semantic unit. Keeping them together, or at least maintaining the logical flow, is key to being understood. Avoid inserting long phrases between the adjective and the verb part of this compound verb.
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- If the subject is plural (like 'The news reports'), the verb must be plural: 'اخبار مردم را خشمگین کردند' (though in formal Persian, inanimate plurals can sometimes take singular verbs).
آن حرفها مادر را خشمگین کرد.
(Those words enraged mother.)
Persian is rich with emotional vocabulary, and خشمگین کردن has several synonyms and near-synonyms that you can use depending on the level of intensity and formality you desire. The most common alternative is عصبانی کردن (asabani kardan). This is the 'workhorse' of anger verbs. It is used for everything from mild irritation to significant anger. If you are unsure which verb to use in a daily conversation, 'asabani kardan' is usually the safest bet. It is less 'heavy' than 'khashmgin kardan' and fits better in informal or semi-formal settings.
- Comparison: Khashmgin vs. Asabani
- خشمگین کردن: Formal, intense rage, 'to enrage'.
عصبانی کردن: General, common, 'to make angry'.
تأخیر قطار مسافران را عصبانی کرد.
(The train delay made the passengers angry - Note: 'khashmgin' would be too strong here unless the delay was days long!)
For an even more formal or literary tone, you might encounter به خشم آوردن (be khashm avardan). This literally means 'to bring to rage'. It is very common in classical literature and high-level journalism. It functions almost identically to 'khashmgin kardan' but is considered slightly more sophisticated. On the other hand, if you want to describe making someone 'furious' or 'agitated' in a more physical or visible way, you can use برآشفته کردن (bar-ashofteh kardan). This implies the person is not just angry, but visibly shaken or disturbed by their anger.
- Other Nuanced Alternatives
- آزار دادن: To annoy/harass (lower intensity).
تحریک کردن: To provoke (focuses on the cause).
غضبناک کردن: To make wrathful (extremely formal/religious).
این حرفها فقط او را تحریک کرد.
(These words only provoked him.)
Understanding these alternatives allows you to 'color' your Persian speech. If you are writing a formal essay about social justice, 'khashmgin kardan' or 'be khashm avardan' will give your writing the necessary weight. If you are complaining to a friend about a noisy neighbor, 'asabani kardan' or 'kofri kardan' will sound much more natural. Learning the spectrum of anger—from 'narahat' (upset) to 'khashmgin' (enraged)—is a key milestone in reaching B2 and C1 levels of Persian proficiency. Each word carries a different cultural and emotional 'temperature'.
- Antonyms to Consider
- آرام کردن: To calm down.
خشنود کردن: To make content/happy.
تسکین دادن: To soothe.
او سعی کرد برادرش را آرام کند.
(He tried to calm his brother down.)
Examples by Level
او سگ را خشمگین کرد.
He made the dog very angry.
Subject + Object + Ra + Verb.
آیا من تو را خشمگین کردم؟
Did I make you angry?
Question form of the past tense.
برادرم مرا خشمگین کرد.
My brother made me angry.
Using 'mara' as the object.
دروغ او مادر را خشمگین کرد.
His lie made mother angry.
The subject is 'dorough' (lie).
این کار او را خشمگین میکند.
This work/action makes him angry.
Present tense: mi-kon-ad.
او گربه را خشمگین نکرد.
He did not make the cat angry.
Negative past tense: na-kard.
چرا علی را خشمگین کردی؟
Why did you make Ali angry?
Question with 'chera' (why).
من نمیخواهم او را خشمگین کنم.
I don't want to make him angry.
Subjunctive form: konam.
حرفهای بد، معلم را خشمگین کرد.
Bad words made the teacher angry.
Plural subject with a singular verb (common for inanimate).
او همیشه مرا خشمگین میکند.
He always enrages me.
Use of the frequency adverb 'hamisheh'.
فیلم دیشب تماشاگران را خشمگین کرد.
Last night's movie enraged the viewers.
Past tense with a plural object.
آیا این موضوع شما را خشمگین کرد؟
Did this matter enrage you (formal)?
Formal 'shoma' usage.
او سعی کرد کسی را خشمگین نکند.
He tried not to enrage anyone.
Infinitive structure with 'sa'y kardan'.
نتایج امتحان دانشآموزان را خشمگین کرد.
The exam results enraged the students.
Specific object 'danesh-amuzan' followed by 'ra'.
دزدی پولها، صاحب مغازه را خشمگین کرد.
Stealing the money enraged the shop owner.
Gerund-like subject 'dozdi-ye pul-ha'.
سروصدای همسایه ما را خشمگین میکند.
The neighbor's noise enrages us.
Present tense with 'ma-ra'.
بیعدالتی در جامعه مردم را خشمگین کرد.
Injustice in society enraged the people.
Abstract subject 'bi-adalati'.
نمیخواستم با این حرف تو را خشمگین کنم.
I didn't want to enrage you with this word/statement.
Subjunctive 'konam' after 'nemi-khastam'.
رفتار نژادپرستانه او همه را خشمگین کرد.
His racist behavior enraged everyone.
Adjective 'nezhad-parastaneh' modifying 'raftar'.
او با کارهای عجیبش پدرش را خشمگین میکند.
He enrages his father with his strange actions.
Present continuous sense.
گزارش دروغین خبرنگار، دولت را خشمگین کرد.
The journalist's false report enraged the government.
Compound subject with 'ezafe'.
چگونه توانستی او را اینقدر خشمگین کنی؟
How could you enrage him so much?
Use of 'chegoune' (how) and 'tavanestan'.
توهین به مقدسات، پیروان آن دین را خشمگین کرد.
Insulting the sanctities enraged the followers of that religion.
Formal vocabulary like 'moghaddasat' and 'peyrovan'.
او نباید دیگران را بیدلیل خشمگین کند.
He should not enrage others without reason.
Modal verb 'nabayad' followed by subjunctive.
سیاستهای جدید اقتصادی، بازاریان را شدیداً خشمگین کرده است.
The new economic policies have severely enraged the market traders.
Present perfect tense 'karde ast'.
او با انتشار آن ویدئو، افکار عمومی را خشمگین کرد.
By publishing that video, he enraged public opinion.
Gerund-like structure 'ba enteshar-e...'.
این تبعیضها هر انسانی را خشمگین میکند.
These discriminations enrage every human being.
Universal subject 'har ensani'.
او از اینکه نتوانسته بود رقیبش را خشمگین کند، ناراحت بود.
He was upset that he hadn't been able to enrage his rival.
Complex sentence with 'az inke' and past perfect subjunctive.
سخنان تحریکآمیز او، جمعیت را به خشم آورد.
His provocative words brought the crowd to rage (enraged them).
Synonymous phrase 'be khashm avardan'.
هیچچیز به اندازه خیانت، یک دوست را خشمگین نمیکند.
Nothing enrages a friend as much as betrayal.
Comparative structure 'be andaze-ye'.
او با خونسردی تمام، سعی در خشمگین کردن من داشت.
With total coolness, he was trying to enrage me.
Infinitival noun 'khashmgin kardan' as the object of 'sa'y dar'.
تصمیم داور مسابقه، بازیکنان و مربیان را خشمگین کرد.
The referee's decision enraged the players and coaches.
Multiple objects 'bazikonan va morabbian'.
قصور در انجام وظیفه، مدیران ارشد را خشمگین کرد.
Negligence in performing duties enraged the senior managers.
Formal vocabulary: 'ghosur', 'anjam-e vazife'.
او آگاهانه تلاش میکرد تا با انتقادهای تند، طرف مقابل را خشمگین کند.
He was consciously trying to enrage the opposite side with sharp criticisms.
Adverb 'agahane' (consciously).
این فیلم مستند، وجدان بیدار جامعه را خشمگین کرد.
This documentary film enraged the awakened conscience of society.
Metaphorical object 'vojdan-e bidar'.
برخوردهای دوگانه غرب، بسیاری از کشورهای در حال توسعه را خشمگین کرده است.
The double standards of the West have enraged many developing countries.
Political terminology: 'barkhord-ha-ye dogane'.
او با لحنی تحقیرآمیز سخن میگفت تا مخاطب را خشمگین کند.
He spoke with a humiliating tone in order to enrage the audience.
Purpose clause with 'ta'.
تخریب آثار باستانی، باستانشناسان سراسر جهان را خشمگین کرد.
The destruction of ancient monuments enraged archaeologists around the world.
Compound noun 'asar-e bastani'.
او هرگز اجازه نمیداد که مسائل کوچک او را خشمگین کند.
He never allowed small issues to enrage him.
Subjunctive in a relative-like clause.
بیانات اخیر وی، موجی از اعتراضات را برانگیخت و مردم را خشمگین کرد.
His recent statements sparked a wave of protests and enraged the people.
Related Content
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.