When you're learning Persian at the B1 level, you're starting to get comfortable with more nuanced expressions. "ناامید بودن" (na-omid boodan) is a great example of this.
It's a common way to express a feeling of hopelessness or despair, which is something we all experience sometimes. Understanding how to use this verb phrase will help you convey your feelings more precisely.
It's often used when talking about situations where expectations haven't been met or when facing difficult challenges.
When we want to say someone is without hope or in despair in Persian, we use the verb phrase ناامید بودن (nāomid budan). This literally translates to 'to be hopeless' or 'to be disappointed'.
It's a common and practical phrase to express this feeling. For example, you might say, من ناامید بودم (man nāomid budam) to mean 'I was without hope'. You can also use it to describe others, like او ناامید بود (u nāomid bud) meaning 'He/She was in despair'.
§ Basic Usage of ناامید بودن
Let's get straight to it. ناامید بودن (naaomid boodan) means "to be without hope" or "to be in despair." It's a verb, and you'll use it just like other compound verbs in Persian. The word ناامید (naaomid) means "hopeless" or "disappointed," and بودن (boodan) means "to be." So, literally, it means "to be hopeless."
- DEFINITION
- To be without hope or in despair.
The verb بودن (boodan) will conjugate according to the tense and subject. The ناامید part stays the same.
من ناامید هستم. (Man naaomid hastam.)
I am without hope.
آنها ناامید بودند از نتیجه. (Anha naaomid boodand az natijeh.)
They were in despair about the result.
§ Prepositions with ناامید بودن
When you're saying *why* someone is hopeless or in despair, you often use the preposition از (az), meaning "from" or "about."
او از آینده ناامید است. (Oo az ayandeh naaomid ast.)
He is without hope about the future.
چرا از زندگی ناامید شدی؟ (Chera az zendegi naaomid shodi?)
Why did you become hopeless about life?
§ Related Verbs: شدن (shodan) and کردن (kardan)
You'll also hear ناامید شدن (naaomid shodan) and ناامید کردن (naaomid kardan).
ناامید شدن (naaomid shodan): "to become hopeless" or "to get disappointed." This indicates a change of state.
وقتی خبر را شنید، ناامید شد. (Vaghti khabar ra shenid, naaomid shod.)
When he heard the news, he became hopeless (or got disappointed).
ناامید کردن (naaomid kardan): "to make someone hopeless" or "to disappoint someone." This is a transitive verb, meaning it acts on an object.
لطفاً مرا ناامید نکن! (Lotfan mara naaomid nakon!)
Please don't disappoint me!
§ Common Scenarios for Using ناامید بودن
You'll use ناامید بودن in situations where someone has lost hope or is feeling utterly dispirited. Think about:
When plans fall through:
او از لغو سفر ناامید بود. (Oo az laghv-e safar naaomid bood.)
She was disappointed about the trip's cancellation.
When facing difficulties:
بعد از آن همه تلاش، ناامید نشو! (Ba'd az an hameh talash, naaomid nasho!)
After all that effort, don't lose hope!
Practice these forms, and you'll be using ناامید بودن like a native speaker in no time. Keep going, don't be ناامید!
Grammar to Know
Present Tense Conjugation: To conjugate 'ناامید بودن' in the present tense, you use the present stem 'باش' (bash) with the appropriate personal endings. This indicates a current state of being without hope.
من ناامید هستم (man nā-omid hastam) - I am without hope.
Past Tense Conjugation: For the past tense, you use the past stem 'بود' (bud) with personal endings. This describes a past state of despair.
او ناامید بود (u nā-omid bud) - He/She was without hope.
Negative Form: To make 'ناامید بودن' negative, you add 'نـَ' (na-) before the verb stem. This means 'not to be without hope' or 'to have hope'.
ما ناامید نیستیم (mā nā-omid nistim) - We are not without hope.
Imperative Form: While less common for 'to be' verbs in this context, the imperative form 'باش' (bash) can be used to tell someone to 'be hopeful' or 'don't be without hope', often with a negative particle.
ناامید نباش! (nā-omid nabāsh!) - Don't be without hope! (Be hopeful!)
Using with Prepositions: 'ناامید بودن' often doesn't require a specific preposition in Persian when describing the state. However, it can be combined with other phrases to indicate the reason for despair.
او از نتیجه ناامید بود (u az natije nā-omid bud) - He/She was without hope *from* the result (disappointed with the result).
Examples by Level
او ناامید بود.
He was without hope.
ما ناامید نیستیم.
We are not without hope.
چرا ناامید هستی؟
Why are you without hope?
آنها ناامید نبودند.
They were not without hope.
شما ناامید هستید؟
Are you without hope?
من ناامید نیستم.
I am not without hope.
او ناامید بود، اما حالا نه.
He was without hope, but not now.
ما هرگز ناامید نیستیم.
We are never without hope.
Often Confused With
To be regretful. This is about past actions, not a lack of hope for the future.
The noun form of 'despair' or 'hopelessness'. Learners might use the noun when a verb is required.
The noun 'hope'. This is the root of 'ناامید بودن' and 'امیدوار بودن', and understanding its role helps clarify the other two.
Grammar Patterns
Easily Confused
This verb can be confused with other verbs expressing sadness or disappointment. The 'بودن' part is often misunderstood by English speakers as simply 'to be', but here it implies a state of being.
While it means 'to be without hope', it doesn't always carry the same intensity as 'despair'. It can be used for milder forms of disappointment.
بعد از شنیدن خبر بد، او ناامید بود. (Ba'd az shenidan-e khabar-e bad, u nāomid bud.) -- After hearing the bad news, he was without hope/disappointed.
This is the direct opposite of 'ناامید بودن' and learners might confuse its usage, especially the 'بودن' part. They might try to use a more direct translation of 'to hope'.
It means 'to be hopeful'. The 'وار' suffix is important here, indicating a state of being full of hope.
من امیدوارم که همه چیز خوب پیش برود. (Man omidvāram ke hame chiz khub pish beravad.) -- I am hopeful that everything will go well.
Learners might use 'ناامید بودن' when they mean 'to be sad' because both involve negative emotions.
While 'ناامید بودن' specifically means 'to be without hope', 'غمگین بودن' means 'to be sad'. You can be sad without being completely without hope.
او بعد از تماشای فیلم غمگین بود. (U ba'd az tamāshā-ye film ghamgin bud.) -- He was sad after watching the movie.
This phrase also expresses a loss of enthusiasm or hope, making it similar to 'ناامید بودن'.
'دلسرد شدن' means 'to become disheartened' or 'to lose enthusiasm'. It often implies a process of losing hope or interest, whereas 'ناامید بودن' describes the state itself.
بعد از چندین شکست، او دلسرد شد. (Ba'd az chandīn shekast, u delsard shod.) -- After several failures, he became disheartened.
This is a stronger form of sadness, which can be confused with being without hope, especially in severe cases.
'افسرده بودن' means 'to be depressed'. It's a clinical term and implies a deeper, more prolonged state of sadness and hopelessness than 'ناامید بودن'.
پزشک گفت که او افسرده است و نیاز به کمک دارد. (Pezeshk goft ke u afsorte ast va niyāz be komak dārad.) -- The doctor said that he is depressed and needs help.
Sentence Patterns
من ناامید هستم.
من ناامید هستم چون امتحان سختی داشتم. (Man nāomid hastam chun emtehān-e sakhti dāshtam.) - I am without hope because I had a difficult exam.
او ناامید است.
او ناامید است چون کار پیدا نکرد. (U nāomid ast chun kār peydā nakard.) - He/She is in despair because he/she didn't find a job.
آنها از وضعیت ناامید هستند.
آنها از وضعیت اقتصادی ناامید هستند. (Ānhā az vaz'iyat-e eqtesādi nāomid hastand.) - They are in despair about the economic situation.
ما ناامید نیستیم.
ما ناامید نیستیم و تلاش میکنیم. (Mā nāomid nistim va talāsh mikonim.) - We are not without hope and we are trying.
چرا ناامید هستی؟
چرا اینقدر ناامید هستی؟ همیشه راهی هست. (Cherā inghadar nāomid hasti? Hamishe rāhi hast.) - Why are you so in despair? There's always a way.
نباید ناامید شد.
نباید ناامید شد، باید ادامه داد. (Nābāyad nāomid shod, bāyad edāme dād.) - One shouldn't be without hope, one must continue.
فکر نمیکنم ناامید باشم.
فکر نمیکنم از آینده ناامید باشم. (Fekr nemikonam az āyandeh nāomid bāsham.) - I don't think I am without hope for the future.
ناامید بودن به هیچ کمکی نمیکند.
ناامید بودن به هیچ کمکی نمیکند، باید مثبت فکر کرد. (Nāomid budan be hich komaki nemikonad, bāyad mosbat fekr kard.) - Being in despair doesn't help at all, one must think positively.
Test Yourself 48 questions
Which word means 'sad'?
'ناراحت' means sad, which is a feeling sometimes associated with being without hope.
What is the opposite of 'happy'?
'غمگین' means sad, which is the opposite of happy.
If someone is 'خوشحال' (happy), what are they NOT?
If someone is happy, they are not sad.
The word 'آب' (water) means 'happy'.
'آب' means water, not happy. 'خوشحال' means happy.
When you are 'خسته' (tired), you might want to sleep.
Being tired often means you want to sleep.
The word 'بله' means 'no'.
'بله' means yes. 'نه' means no.
Write a short sentence saying 'I am not without hope.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
من ناامید نیستم.
Translate 'He is without hope.' into Persian.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
او ناامید است.
Write a sentence in Persian using 'ناامید' to say 'Don't be without hope.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ناامید نباش.
What is the speaker NOT?
Read this passage:
من امروز ناراحت هستم. من ناامید نیستم.
What is the speaker NOT?
The passage says 'من ناامید نیستم' which means 'I am not without hope.'
The passage says 'من ناامید نیستم' which means 'I am not without hope.'
Why might 'he' be without hope?
Read this passage:
او خیلی ناامید است. او دوست ندارد کار کند.
Why might 'he' be without hope?
The passage states 'او دوست ندارد کار کند' (He does not like to work) which is given as a reason for his despair.
The passage states 'او دوست ندارد کار کند' (He does not like to work) which is given as a reason for his despair.
Are 'we' without hope?
Read this passage:
ما امروز خوشحال هستیم. ما ناامید نیستیم.
Are 'we' without hope?
The passage clearly says 'ما ناامید نیستیم' which means 'We are not without hope.'
The passage clearly says 'ما ناامید نیستیم' which means 'We are not without hope.'
Write a short sentence about something that makes you feel hopeful, even if it's a small thing. Use simple Persian words.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
من همیشه به آینده امیدوار هستم. (I am always hopeful for the future.)
Imagine you see a friend looking sad. Write a short Persian phrase you could say to encourage them not to lose hope.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ناامید نباش! همه چیز درست میشه. (Don't be without hope! Everything will be alright.)
Describe a simple situation where someone might feel a little discouraged, and then write a short Persian sentence about how they can find hope again.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
وقتی کارها سخت می شوند، باید به دنبال راه حل باشیم. (When things get difficult, we should look for a solution.)
چرا این شخص کمی ناراحت است؟ (Why is this person a little sad?)
Read this passage:
من امروز کمی ناراحت هستم چون امتحان سختی داشتم. اما می دانم که باید تلاش کنم و ناامید نباشم. فردا روز جدیدی است.
چرا این شخص کمی ناراحت است؟ (Why is this person a little sad?)
The passage states 'من امروز کمی ناراحت هستم چون امتحان سختی داشتم.' (I am a little sad today because I had a difficult exam.)
The passage states 'من امروز کمی ناراحت هستم چون امتحان سختی داشتم.' (I am a little sad today because I had a difficult exam.)
چه چیزی این شخص را در برابر مشکلات قوی می کند؟ (What makes this person strong against problems?)
Read this passage:
او همیشه مثبت فکر می کند. حتی وقتی مشکل بزرگی دارد، ناامید نمی شود و به آینده خوب امیدوار است.
چه چیزی این شخص را در برابر مشکلات قوی می کند؟ (What makes this person strong against problems?)
The passage says 'او همیشه مثبت فکر می کند.' (He always thinks positively.)
The passage says 'او همیشه مثبت فکر می کند.' (He always thinks positively.)
وقتی احساس ناامیدی می کنیم، چه کاری باید انجام دهیم؟ (What should we do when we feel without hope?)
Read this passage:
گاهی اوقات ممکن است احساس ناامیدی کنیم. اما مهم است که به یاد داشته باشیم که همیشه راهی برای بهتر شدن وجود دارد.
وقتی احساس ناامیدی می کنیم، چه کاری باید انجام دهیم؟ (What should we do when we feel without hope?)
The passage advises 'مهم است که به یاد داشته باشیم که همیشه راهی برای بهتر شدن وجود دارد.' (It is important to remember that there is always a way to get better.)
The passage advises 'مهم است که به یاد داشته باشیم که همیشه راهی برای بهتر شدن وجود دارد.' (It is important to remember that there is always a way to get better.)
Don't be without hope, a solution will be found.
After hearing the news, he was completely without hope.
Why are you so without hope?
Read this aloud:
ناامید بودن در این شرایط طبیعی است.
Focus: ناامید بودن (naa-omid boodan)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
هرگز ناامید نباشید.
Focus: هرگز ناامید نباشید (hargaz naa-omid nabaashid)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
احساس ناامیدی میکردم.
Focus: احساس ناامیدی میکردم (ehsaas naa-omidi mikardam)
You said:
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بعد از شنیدن اخبار بد، او کاملاً ____ شد. (After hearing the bad news, he became completely ____.)
The context implies a negative emotional state after bad news. 'ناامید' (hopeless/in despair) fits best.
با وجود مشکلات زیاد، ما نباید هرگز ____. (Despite many problems, we should never ____.)
The sentence conveys a message of perseverance. 'ناامید شویم' (become hopeless/despair) is the appropriate fit, meaning we should never lose hope.
او از پیدا کردن کار بسیار ____ است. (He is very ____ about finding a job.)
If someone is struggling to find a job, they would likely be 'ناامید' (hopeless/in despair).
وقتی برای بار دهم در آزمون رد شد، بسیار ____ شد. (When he failed the exam for the tenth time, he became very ____.)
Repeated failure in an exam would naturally lead to a feeling of hopelessness. 'ناامید' (hopeless/in despair) is the correct choice.
هرچند وضعیت سخت بود، اما او هرگز ____ نشد. (Although the situation was difficult, he never became ____.)
The sentence suggests resilience in a difficult situation. 'ناامید' (hopeless/in despair) fits the context of not losing hope.
نباید اجازه دهیم مشکلات ما را ____ کنند. (We should not let problems make us ____.)
Problems often try to make us lose hope. 'ناامید' (hopeless/in despair) is the appropriate word here.
This sentence means 'Don't be discouraged by your failures.' The correct order puts the preposition 'از' (from/by) before 'شکستهایت' (your failures), followed by 'ناامید نباش' (don't be hopeless/discouraged).
The sentence translates to 'One should not despair in difficulties.' The structure places the subject 'آدم' (person/one) first, followed by 'نباید' (should not), then 'در سختیها' (in difficulties), and finally 'ناامید شود' (become hopeless/despair).
This means 'He/She was despairing after the long discussion.' 'او' (he/she) is the implicit subject, followed by 'بعد از بحث طولانی' (after the long discussion) and 'ناامید بود' (was hopeless/in despair).
Choose the sentence where someone feels ناامید (na-omid).
The phrase 'ناامید بود' directly indicates being without hope or in despair, which aligns with the definition of 'ناامید بودن'.
Which of the following situations would most likely lead to someone being ناامید (na-omid)?
Losing many opportunities and not succeeding would naturally lead to a feeling of despair or being without hope, which is the meaning of 'ناامید بودن'.
What is the opposite feeling of ناامید بودن (na-omid boodan)?
The opposite of being without hope (ناامید بودن) is being hopeful (امیدوار بودن).
اگر کسی ناامید باشد، به این معنی است که او به آینده خوشبین است. (If someone is ناامید, it means they are optimistic about the future.)
The statement is false. 'ناامید بودن' means to be without hope or in despair, which is the opposite of being optimistic about the future.
بعد از یک شکست بزرگ، طبیعی است که بعضی افراد ناامید شوند. (After a big failure, it is natural for some people to be ناامید.)
The statement is true. Experiencing a big failure can understandably lead to feelings of despair or being without hope, which is what 'ناامید بودن' signifies.
برای غلبه بر ناامیدی، باید به هیچ چیز امیدوار نبود. (To overcome despair, one should not be hopeful for anything.)
The statement is false. To overcome despair ('ناامیدی'), one typically needs to find hope, not abandon it. This statement contradicts the natural way to overcome such a feeling.
The biggest obstacle is despairing about reaching the goal.
After hearing the news, I was completely without hope.
Why are you so despairing? There is always a way to change.
Read this aloud:
هرگز از تلاش برای بهبود شرایط ناامید نشو.
Focus: تلاش، شرایط، ناامید نشو
You said:
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Read this aloud:
با وجود مشکلات زیاد، او هیچ وقت ناامید نبود.
Focus: وجود، مشکلات، ناامید نبود
You said:
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Read this aloud:
ناامید بودن به معنای شکست نیست، بلکه فرصتی برای شروع دوباره است.
Focus: شکست، فرصتی، شروع دوباره
You said:
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/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
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.
