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ناتمام

A2 adjective #4,000 most common 7 min read

ناتمام

natamam Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips ناتمام in 30 Seconds

Explanation ناتمام in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 'nātamām' as 'not finished.' You use it for simple things. For example, if you are reading a book and you stop at page 10, the book is 'nātamām.' If you are eating an apple and you stop, the apple is 'nātamām.' It is an easy word to remember because 'tamām' means 'finish' or 'all done,' and 'nā' means 'no.' So, 'nā-tamām' is 'no-finish.' In A1, you will mostly see it in very simple sentences like 'The book is incomplete' (Ketāb nātamām ast). It is a useful word to tell your teacher if you didn't finish your homework. You can say 'Mashq-e man nātamām ast.' This helps the teacher understand that you started but did not reach the end.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'nātamām' with the 'Ezafe' construction to describe nouns more naturally. Instead of just saying 'The work is unfinished,' you might say 'I have some unfinished work' (Man kami kār-e nātamām dāram). At this level, you can use it to describe common daily activities, like a movie you didn't finish watching or a conversation that was cut short because the bus arrived. You are also learning the difference between 'nātamām' and 'tamām.' You might use it in the past tense, such as 'The building remained unfinished' (Sākhtemān nātamām mānd). This level is about moving from simple labels to describing situations in your life that are currently in progress or stalled.

At the B1 level, you start to use 'nātamām' in more professional and social contexts. You might use it to discuss projects at work or school, such as 'The research project is incomplete due to a lack of data.' You also begin to see the word in news articles or more complex stories. At this stage, you should be able to distinguish 'nātamām' from 'nāqes' (defective). You might use it in compound sentences, like 'Because I was sick, my trip to Isfahan remained unfinished.' You are also becoming aware of the emotional tone the word can carry in Persian culture—the sense of something left hanging in the air. You can use it to describe more abstract things like a 'half-told story' or an 'interrupted dream.'

At the B2 level, 'nātamām' becomes a tool for nuanced expression. You can use it to describe complex societal issues, such as 'unfinished political reforms' or 'incomplete justice.' You will encounter the word in modern Persian literature and film reviews, where it might describe an 'open ending' (pāyān-e nātamām). You should be comfortable using the word in its various forms and understanding its role in more sophisticated grammatical structures, like the subjunctive or passive voice. For example, 'It is possible that the building will remain unfinished for years.' You also start to recognize the word's synonyms like 'nime-tamām' and know when to use the more formal 'nātamām' versus the more colloquial 'nime-kāre.'

At the C1 level, you use 'nātamām' to engage with philosophical and literary themes. You might analyze a poem by Hafez or a modern writer like Sadegh Hedayat and discuss the 'nātamām' (incomplete) nature of human desire or the 'unfinished' state of the soul. In academic writing, you would use it to describe gaps in existing literature or theories that are 'nātamām' in their explanatory power. You understand the historical weight of the word when applied to ancient monuments like Persepolis, parts of which are famously 'nātamām.' Your vocabulary is rich enough to use the word as part of a larger rhetorical strategy to evoke a specific mood of longing or existential uncertainty.

At the C2 level, 'nātamām' is fully integrated into your mastery of Persian. You can use it with absolute precision in high-level legal, political, or philosophical discourse. You might discuss the 'ontological incompleteness' of a work of art or the 'unfinished business' of historical reconciliation. You are sensitive to the most subtle connotations of the word—how its use in a specific poetic meter might change its impact. You can effortlessly switch between 'nātamām' and its most obscure synonyms to suit the specific stylistic demands of your writing or speech. You appreciate the word not just as a descriptor of state, but as a recurring motif in the Persian intellectual tradition, representing the eternal quest for meaning that never truly reaches a 'tamām' (end).

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

ناتمام in 30 Seconds

Nātamām means 'incomplete' or 'unfinished' in Persian.
It combines 'nā' (not) and 'tamām' (finished/complete).
Used for physical tasks, books, buildings, and abstract emotions.
Distinct from 'nāqes' which implies a defect or missing part.

The Persian word ناتمام (nātamām) is a powerful adjective that translates to 'incomplete,' 'unfinished,' or 'undone.' It is a compound word formed by the negative prefix نا- (nā-), which functions much like the English 'un-' or 'in-', and the word تمام (tamām), meaning 'complete' or 'finished.' Understanding this word is essential for any learner because it covers both physical objects and abstract concepts, ranging from a half-eaten meal to a life cut short by tragedy.

Structural Breakdown: The word consists of 'Nā' (negation) + 'Tamām' (completion). In Persian grammar, this prefix is prolific, used to create opposites for many adjectives. While 'Tamām' itself is an Arabic loanword that has been fully Persianized, the prefix 'Nā' is of pure Indo-European origin, showing the beautiful hybrid nature of modern Persian.

این یک پروژه ناتمام است که نیاز به بودجه بیشتری دارد.

Translation: This is an unfinished project that needs more budget.

In daily life, Iranians use ناتمام to describe anything that hasn't reached its logical or intended conclusion. It carries a specific weight in Persian literature and music, often referring to the 'unfinished story' of a lover or a 'half-written poem.' Unlike the word ناقص (nāqes), which implies a defect or something being 'broken' or 'flawed,' ناتمام focuses strictly on the state of completion. A book can be ناتمام because the author died, but it is ناقص if pages are missing from the print.

Emotional Resonance: There is a certain melancholy associated with 'nātamām' in Persian culture. It suggests a lack of closure. Whether it is a 'harf-e nātamām' (an unsaid or cut-off word) or a 'safar-e nātamām' (an interrupted journey), the word evokes the Zeigarnik effect—the psychological phenomenon where people remember uncompleted tasks better than completed ones.

او با یک لبخند ناتمام از اتاق خارج شد.

Translation: He left the room with an incomplete (fading/interrupted) smile.

Using ناتمام correctly requires an understanding of Persian adjective placement and the Ezafe construction. In Persian, adjectives usually follow the noun they modify, linked by a short 'e' sound. For example, 'unfinished work' becomes kār-e nātamām. However, when used as a predicate (e.g., 'The work is unfinished'), it appears at the end of the sentence before the verb.

Grammar Rule: The Ezafe: When you want to say 'an unfinished book,' you say 'ketāb-e nātamām.' The '-e' (Ezafe) connects the noun 'ketāb' to the adjective 'nātamām.' If the noun ends in a vowel, a 'ye' sound is added (e.g., 'prozhe-ye nātamām').

بسیاری از ساختمان‌های این شهر ناتمام رها شده‌اند.

Translation: Many of the buildings in this city have been left unfinished.

One interesting aspect of ناتمام is its flexibility in register. It is perfectly acceptable in a formal government report about 'infrastructure projects' (prozheh-hā-ye zir-sākhti-ye nātamām) and equally at home in a romantic poem about 'unfinished love' (eshq-e nātamām). It is an essential tool for expressing frustration with bureaucracy or the beauty of an evolving process.

Common Contexts: 1. Literature: Unfinished manuscripts. 2. Construction: Half-built houses. 3. Conversations: Interrupted thoughts. 4. Tasks: Homework or office work that is still pending.

داستان زندگی او ناتمام ماند.

Translation: The story of his life remained unfinished (implying an early death).

In Iran, you are likely to encounter ناتمام in several specific environments. First and foremost is the news. Iranian media frequently discusses 'نیمه‌تمام' (nime-tamām) or 'ناتمام' (nātamām) development projects, usually referring to hospitals, roads, or dams that have stalled due to lack of funding. If you are walking through a city like Tehran or Karaj, you might see concrete skeletons of buildings; these are the physical embodiments of 'nātamām.'

The Academic Setting: In universities, a professor might mark a thesis as 'nātamām' if the research is not yet conclusive. Students often complain about 'takālif-e nātamām' (unfinished assignments) during exam season. It is a formal way to state that the work is in progress but currently lacks completion.

گزارش‌های خبری از هزاران پروژه ناتمام در کشور خبر می‌دهند.

Translation: News reports inform of thousands of unfinished projects in the country.

Another common place to hear this word is in the world of Persian arts. Iran has a rich tradition of calligraphy and painting. Sometimes, an artist intentionally leaves a work ناتمام to symbolize the infinity of God or the imperfection of man. In cinema, an 'open ending' is often described as a 'pāyān-e nātamām' (an unfinished/open ending), leaving the audience to ponder the outcome.

Cultural Nuance: Iranians value 'completeness' in hospitality. If you leave a host's house without finishing your tea, they might jokingly or politely say your visit was 'nātamām' to encourage you to stay longer or return soon.

Learning Persian involves navigating many words that seem similar but have distinct nuances. The most common mistake English speakers make is confusing ناتمام (nātamām) with ناقص (nāqes). While both can be translated as 'incomplete' in English, their usage in Persian is quite different.

Nātamām vs. Nāqes: Think of 'nātamām' as 'not yet finished' (quantity of time/progress) and 'nāqes' as 'flawed or missing a piece' (quality/integrity). If you are writing a letter and stop halfway, it is 'nātamām.' If you finish the letter but forget to include the address, it is 'nāqes.'

اشتباه: این پازل ناتمام است چون یک قطعه‌اش گم شده.

Correction: It should be 'ناقص' (nāqes) because a piece is missing. 'Nātamām' would mean you haven't finished putting it together yet.

Another error is using ناتمام when you mean 'not enough' (kam). For example, if you don't have enough money for a ticket, you wouldn't say your money is 'nātamām.' You would say 'pūlam kam ast' (my money is little/insufficient). ناتمام specifically implies that a process of completion was started but not concluded.

Register Confusion: In very casual slang, people rarely use 'nātamām.' They might say 'nesfe-nime' (half-half/incomplete). Using 'nātamām' in a very casual setting among close friends might sound slightly formal or poetic, though it's never technically 'wrong.'

To sound more like a native speaker, it is helpful to know the synonyms and related terms for ناتمام. Depending on the context—whether you are talking about a task, a physical object, or a feeling—there might be a better word choice.

1. نیمه‌کاره (Nime-kāre): Literally 'half-work.' This is the most common colloquial alternative. If you leave a job half-done, you say 'kār rā nime-kāre rahā kardam' (I left the work half-done). It is more common for physical labor or chores.
2. ناقص (Nāqes): As discussed, this means 'defective' or 'lacking a part.' Use this for data sets with missing values, sets of dishes with a broken cup, or an argument that lacks logic.
3. ناتمام‌مانده (Nātamām-mānde): A more descriptive version meaning 'that which has remained unfinished.' This is often used for historical projects or ancient ruins.

او کارهایش را همیشه نیمه‌کاره رها می‌کند.

Translation: He always leaves his tasks half-done (incomplete).

If you want to express the opposite, you have several choices: تمام (tamām - finished), کامل (kāmel - complete/perfect), or به پایان رسیده (be pāyān reside - reached the end). Choosing between these depends on whether you are emphasizing the end of a process or the perfection of the result.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The prefix 'nā-' is cognate with the English 'no' and 'un-', showing the deep historical links between Persian and English.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /nɑːtæˈmɒːm/

US /nɑːtæˈmɑːm/

Primary stress is on the last syllable: nā-ta-MĀM.

Rhymes With

Tamām (finished) Salām (hello) Dām (trap) Bām (roof) Kām (palate) Gām (step) Khām (raw) Nām (name)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'nā' as a short 'na'.
Putting stress on the first syllable.
Merging the 't' and 'm' sounds too quickly.
Ignoring the long 'ā' sound in the middle.
Confusing the pronunciation with the Arabic 'tamām' which has different vowel lengths.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to the common prefix 'nā-' and root 'tamām'.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct spelling of 'tamām' with the letter 'te' and 'mim'.

Speaking 2/5

Simple pronunciation with clear syllables.

Listening 2/5

Commonly heard in news and media.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

تمام (tamām) نا (nā) کار (kār) کتاب (ketāb) است (ast)

Learn Next

ناقص (nāqes) کامل (kāmel) نیمه‌کاره (nime-kāre) پایان (pāyān) انجام (anjām)

Advanced

فرجام (farjām) اختتام (ekhtetām) مختوم (makhtum) نقصان (noqsān)

Grammar to Know

The Prefix 'Nā-'

نادرست (incorrect), ناخوش (unwell), نامعلوم (unknown).

Ezafe Construction

کتابِ ناتمام (The unfinished book).

Adjective as Predicate

این کار ناتمام است. (This work is unfinished.)

Past Participle + māndan

ناتمام ماند (It remained unfinished).

Adjective Agreement

Persian adjectives do not change for gender or number (usually).

Examples by Level

کتاب ناتمام است.

The book is unfinished.

Simple predicate adjective.

غذا ناتمام ماند.

The food remained unfinished.

Using 'mānd' (remained) with the adjective.

این یک نقاشی ناتمام است.

This is an unfinished painting.

Ezafe construction linking painting and unfinished.

مشق من ناتمام است.

My homework is incomplete.

Possessive 'man' and predicate adjective.

او یک نامه ناتمام نوشت.

He wrote an unfinished letter.

Past tense verb with an adjective-noun phrase.

بازی ناتمام بود.

The game was unfinished.

Past tense of 'to be' (bud).

چای ناتمام است.

The tea is unfinished.

Simple noun-adjective-verb structure.

داستان ناتمام است.

The story is unfinished.

Basic descriptive sentence.

من کارهای ناتمام زیادی دارم.

I have many unfinished tasks.

Plural noun with Ezafe and adjective.

فیلم به دلیل قطع برق ناتمام ماند.

The movie remained unfinished due to a power cut.

Using 'be dalil-e' (due to) to explain the state.

او با یک جمله ناتمام از اتاق رفت.

He left the room with an unfinished sentence.

Prepositional phrase with an adjective.

ساختمان ناتمام در کوچه ما است.

The unfinished building is in our alley.

Definite noun phrase.

آیا این پروژه هنوز ناتمام است؟

Is this project still unfinished?

Question form with 'hanuz' (still).

سفر ما به خاطر باران ناتمام ماند.

Our trip remained unfinished because of the rain.

Abstract use of 'nātamām' for a journey.

او ناهارش را ناتمام گذاشت و رفت.

He left his lunch unfinished and went.

Using 'gozāsht' (left/placed) as a transitive verb.

این یک لیست ناتمام از خریدها است.

This is an incomplete list of purchases.

Indefinite noun phrase.

گزارش ناتمام او باعث تاخیر در جلسه شد.

His incomplete report caused a delay in the meeting.

Adjective phrase acting as the subject.

بسیاری از رویاهای او ناتمام ماندند.

Many of his dreams remained unfinished.

Plural agreement with the verb 'māndand'.

او همیشه کارهایش را ناتمام رها می‌کند.

He always leaves his tasks unfinished.

Using 'rahā kardan' (to abandon/leave).

یک طرح ناتمام برای بازسازی پارک وجود دارد.

There is an unfinished plan for the park's renovation.

Existential 'vojud dārad'.

گفتگوی ما درباره آینده ناتمام ماند.

Our conversation about the future remained unfinished.

Abstract noun modified by a prepositional phrase.

این کتاب ناتمام بعد از مرگ نویسنده چاپ شد.

This unfinished book was published after the author's death.

Passive construction 'chāp shod'.

او از وضعیت ناتمام پروژه شکایت کرد.

He complained about the unfinished state of the project.

Using 'vaz'iyyat' (state/condition).

تحقیقات به دلیل کمبود بودجه ناتمام است.

The research is incomplete due to budget shortages.

Causal explanation.

این فیلم با یک پایان ناتمام تماشاگران را متعجب کرد.

This film surprised the viewers with an open (unfinished) ending.

Using 'pāyān-e nātamām' for 'open ending'.

او در میان یک سمفونی ناتمام از دنیا رفت.

He passed away in the middle of an unfinished symphony.

Literary/Historical context.

اصلاحات اقتصادی در این کشور ناتمام رها شده است.

Economic reforms in this country have been left unfinished.

Present perfect passive 'rahā shodeh ast'.

او احساس می‌کرد که زندگی‌اش ناتمام است.

He felt that his life was incomplete.

Mental state verb 'ehsās kardan'.

ساخت این سد به مدت ده سال ناتمام مانده است.

The construction of this dam has remained unfinished for ten years.

Present perfect 'māndeh ast' with a duration.

او با یک لبخند ناتمام که بر لبانش خشک شده بود، به من نگریست.

He looked at me with a half-formed smile that had frozen on his lips.

Complex descriptive relative clause.

پرونده قضایی او به دلیل نبود مدارک ناتمام بسته شد.

His judicial case was closed as incomplete due to lack of evidence.

Legal context.

او از اینکه حرفش ناتمام مانده بود، عصبانی شد.

He became angry that his words had remained unfinished (he was interrupted).

Subordinate clause with 'az inke'.

در فلسفه او، انسان موجودی همیشه ناتمام است.

In his philosophy, man is an eternally unfinished being.

Philosophical usage.

این نسخه خطی ناتمام، دریچه‌ای به ذهن نویسنده باز می‌کند.

This unfinished manuscript opens a window into the author's mind.

Metaphorical language.

او به بررسی پروژه‌های ناتمام دوران قاجار پرداخت.

He set out to investigate the unfinished projects of the Qajar era.

Historical academic context.

ساختار ناتمام این شعر، نشان‌دهنده آشفتگی ذهنی شاعر است.

The unfinished structure of this poem reflects the poet's mental turmoil.

Literary analysis.

او معتقد است که هر اثر هنری بزرگ، به نوعی ناتمام است.

He believes that every great work of art is, in a way, unfinished.

Aesthetic theory.

او با کوله‌باری از آرزوهای ناتمام به وطن بازگشت.

He returned to his homeland with a heavy load of unfinished dreams.

Idiomatic 'kule-bār' (heavy load/knapsack).

عدم قطعیت در فیزیک کوانتوم، تصویری ناتمام از واقعیت ارائه می‌دهد.

Uncertainty in quantum physics presents an incomplete picture of reality.

Scientific context.

او در جستجوی نیمه ناتمام خویش به سفر رفت.

He went on a journey in search of his incomplete half.

Mystical/Poetic usage.

پروژه مدرنیته در بسیاری از جوامع در حال توسعه، ناتمام مانده است.

The project of modernity has remained unfinished in many developing societies.

Sociological discourse.

او با مهارتی خاص، ناتمام بودن را به عنوان یک سبک هنری برگزید.

With specific skill, he chose 'incompleteness' as an artistic style.

Abstract noun usage of the adjective.

این سمفونی ناتمام، نمادی از تلاش بی‌پایان بشر برای کمال است.

This unfinished symphony is a symbol of humanity's endless struggle for perfection.

Symbolic and high-register language.

او در یادداشت‌های ناتمام خود به تضادهای درونی‌اش اشاره کرده است.

In his unfinished notes, he has alluded to his internal contradictions.

Psychological analysis.

دیالوگ‌های ناتمام در نمایشنامه، فضای تعلیق را تشدید می‌کنند.

The unfinished dialogues in the play intensify the atmosphere of suspense.

Theatrical criticism.

او میراث ناتمام پدرش را در زمینه حقوق بشر دنبال کرد.

He followed his father's unfinished legacy in the field of human rights.

Political/Legacy context.

این نظریه به دلیل ابهامات بسیار، ناتمام و غیرقابل استناد است.

This theory, due to many ambiguities, is incomplete and cannot be cited.

Formal academic critique.

او در غروبی ناتمام، به افقی نگریست که هرگز به پایان نمی‌رسید.

In an unfinished sunset, he gazed at an horizon that never ended.

Highly poetic/Metaphysical.

Common Collocations

کار ناتمام

پروژه ناتمام

ساختمان ناتمام

داستان ناتمام

جمله ناتمام

لبخند ناتمام

سفر ناتمام

سمفونی ناتمام

پرونده ناتمام

تحقیقات ناتمام

Common Phrases

ناتمام ماندن

— To remain unfinished or incomplete.

به دلیل باران، مسابقه ناتمام ماند.

ناتمام گذاشتن

— To leave something unfinished on purpose or by necessity.

او شام خود را ناتمام گذاشت.

حرف ناتمام

— An unsaid word or an interrupted statement.

هزاران حرف ناتمام در دل داشت.

رویای ناتمام

— An unfulfilled dream or goal.

او با رویاهای ناتمام از این دنیا رفت.

عشق ناتمام

— A love story that didn't reach its conclusion.

عشق ناتمام آن‌ها سال‌ها ادامه داشت.

نقشه ناتمام

— An incomplete map or a plan that wasn't finalized.

آن‌ها با یک نقشه ناتمام به کوه رفتند.

فهرست ناتمام

— An incomplete list.

این یک فهرست ناتمام از برندگان است.

تکالیف ناتمام

— Unfinished homework or duties.

دانش‌آموز تکالیف ناتمام خود را انجام داد.

وعده ناتمام

— An unfulfilled or incomplete promise.

او همیشه با وعده‌های ناتمام ما را امیدوار می‌کند.

زندگی ناتمام

— A life cut short.

کتاب درباره زندگی ناتمام یک سرباز است.

Often Confused With

ناتمام vs ناقص (nāqes)

Nāqes means something is missing a part or is defective. Nātamām means it's not finished yet.

ناتمام vs نیمه‌کاره (nime-kāre)

Nime-kāre is more colloquial and specifically refers to work or tasks.

ناتمام vs کم (kam)

Kam means 'little' or 'not enough.' Don't use nātamām for quantities like sugar or money.

Idioms & Expressions

"قصه ناتمام"

— Referring to a situation or problem that never seems to end or resolve.

بدهی‌های این شرکت مثل یک قصه ناتمام است.

Informal/Metaphorical

"نیمه ناتمام"

— Used to describe someone's 'other half' or a part of themselves they feel is missing.

او در جستجوی نیمه ناتمام خود بود.

Poetic

"کار ناتمام داشتن با کسی"

— To have 'unfinished business' with someone, often implying a conflict.

من هنوز با او یک کار ناتمام دارم.

Neutral/Informal

"دفتر ناتمام"

— A metaphor for a life or career that ended too soon.

مرگ او دفتر ناتمام آرزوهایش بود.

Literary

"ساز ناتمام"

— A metaphor for a plan or task that was interrupted right at the start.

برنامه‌های ما با یک ساز ناتمام شروع شد.

Poetic

"راه ناتمام"

— A path or goal that one must continue for someone else.

ما باید راه ناتمام او را ادامه دهیم.

Political/Inspirational

"فصل ناتمام"

— A period of time that didn't feel complete.

آن سال‌ها مثل یک فصل ناتمام در زندگی من بود.

Literary

"صدای ناتمام"

— A voice that was silenced before it could say its piece.

او صدای ناتمام نسل خود بود.

Journalistic

"طرح ناتمام تقدیر"

— The 'unfinished plan of fate,' used for unexpected tragedies.

این حادثه طرح ناتمام تقدیر بود.

Formal/Poetic

"خواب ناتمام"

— Being woken up before finishing a dream; or an unfulfilled ambition.

او از یک خواب ناتمام پرید.

Neutral

Easily Confused

ناتمام vs تمام (tamām)

Opposite meaning.

Tamām means finished; Nātamām means not finished.

فیلم تمام شد (The movie finished) vs فیلم ناتمام ماند (The movie remained unfinished).

ناتمام vs نقص (naqs)

Similar root sound.

Naqs is a noun meaning 'defect.' Nātamām is an adjective.

این ماشین نقص فنی دارد.

ناتمام vs پایان (pāyān)

Both relate to the end of something.

Pāyān is the noun 'end.' Nātamām describes the lack of an end.

پایان داستان ناتمام بود.

ناتمام vs کامل (kāmel)

Opposite concept.

Kāmel means complete/perfect.

این یک ست کامل است.

ناتمام vs موقتی (movaqqati)

Both imply something isn't final.

Movaqqati means 'temporary.' Nātamām means 'incomplete.'

این یک راه حل موقتی است.

Sentence Patterns

[Noun] [nātamām] ast.

این کتاب ناتمام است.

[Noun]-e [nātamām] dāram.

من یک پروژه ناتمام دارم.

[Noun] be dalil-e [Reason] ناتمام ماند.

بازی به دلیل باران ناتمام ماند.

Ba'd az [Event], [Noun] ناتمام رها شد.

بعد از جنگ، ساختمان ناتمام رها شد.

In [Noun]-e ناتمام, [Description].

این نسخه ناتمام، رازی را فاش می‌کند.

Mafhum-e [Abstract Noun]-e ناتمام در [Context].

مفهوم هویت ناتمام در ادبیات معاصر.

[Noun] rā [nātamām] gozāshtan.

او شام را ناتمام گذاشت.

[Noun]-hā-ye [nātamām]-e [Person].

کارهای ناتمام من تمام شد.

Word Family

Nouns

تمام (completion)

تمامی (totality)

اتمام (finishing/ending)

Verbs

تمام کردن (to finish)

تمام شدن (to be finished)

به اتمام رساندن (to bring to completion)

Adjectives

تمام (complete)

کامل (perfect)

تمامی (entire)

ناقص (defective)

نیمه‌کاره (half-done)

پایان (end)

انجام (performance)

فرجام (conclusion)

How to Use It

frequency

Highly frequent in both written and spoken Persian.

Common Mistakes

Using 'nātamām' for 'not enough money'. → Pūlam kam ast.
Nātamām refers to a process, not a quantity of money.
Saying 'nātamām kār'. → Kār-e nātamām.
Adjectives must follow the noun in Persian.
Confusing 'nātamām' with 'nāqes' for a broken toy. → Asbāb-bāzi nāqes ast.
If a toy is missing a wheel, it is 'nāqes', not 'nātamām'.
Using 'nātamām' as a verb. → Kār rā tamām nakardam.
Nātamām is an adjective. You cannot say 'I nātamāmed the work'.
Pronouncing it 'na-tamam' with short vowels. → Nā-ta-mām.
The first and last vowels are long 'ā' sounds.

Tips

The Prefix Rule

Remember that 'nā-' is a very powerful prefix in Persian. Once you learn 'nātamām', you can easily learn 'nā-omid' (hopeless) and 'nā-pāk' (unclean).

Context Matters

Use 'nātamām' for stories, books, and projects. Use 'nime-kāre' for cleaning the house or fixing a car.

The Long A

Make sure to pronounce the 'ā' in 'mām' long. It should sound like the 'a' in 'hall' or 'ball'.

Verb Pairing

It is almost always paired with 'māndan' (to remain) or 'gozāshtan' (to leave/put).

Open Endings

If you watch an Iranian movie that doesn't have a clear ending, you can tell your friends it had a 'pāyān-e nātamām'.

Ezafe

Don't forget the Ezafe! It's 'kār-e nātamām', not 'kār nātamām'.

Frustration

You can use this word to express frustration about bureaucracy: 'In prozhe hamishe nātamāme!' (This project is always unfinished!)

News Keywords

If you hear 'nātamām' on the news, they are likely talking about the economy or construction.

Tamām is Done

Just remember: Tamām = Done. Nā-Tamām = Not Done.

Subjunctive

Try using it with 'momken ast' (it is possible): 'Momken ast kār nātamām bemānad' (It is possible the work will remain unfinished).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'No-Tamām'. If 'Tamām' is what you say when you finish a meal, 'Nā-Tamām' is what you say when you're not done yet.

Visual Association

Imagine a skyscraper with cranes still on top and missing windows—that is a 'sākhtemān-e nātamām'.

Word Web

Ketāb (book) Kār (work) Prozhe (project) Dāstān (story) Sākhtemān (building) Jomle (sentence) Eshq (love) Safar (journey)

Challenge

Try to find three things in your room right now that are 'nātamām' and name them in Persian.

Word Origin

A combination of the Persian negative prefix 'nā-' and the Arabic loanword 'tamām'.

Original meaning: Not finished; not having reached the state of 'tamām' (perfection/completion).

Indo-European (prefix) + Semitic (root).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but when describing a person's life as 'nātamām,' it usually implies a tragic or early death.

Equivalent to 'unfinished business' or 'incomplete,' but often carries more poetic weight in Persian.

The concept of the 'Unfinished Symphony' (Samfoni-ye Nātamām) is widely known in Iran. Modern Iranian films often use 'pāyān-e nātamām' (open endings) to reflect societal uncertainties. Scholars often discuss the 'nātamām' nature of the Persian constitutional revolution.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Construction

ساختمان ناتمام
پروژه نیمه‌تمام
اسکلت ناتمام
کارگاه ناتمام

Literature

نسخه خطی ناتمام
رمان ناتمام
شعر ناتمام
فصل ناتمام

Daily Life

غذای ناتمام
خواب ناتمام
نامه ناتمام
خرید ناتمام

Work/Office

وظایف ناتمام
گزارش ناتمام
جلسه ناتمام
ایمیل ناتمام

Relationships

حرف‌های ناتمام
عشق ناتمام
رابطه ناتمام
دیدار ناتمام

Conversation Starters

"آیا تا به حال کتابی را ناتمام رها کرده‌اید؟ (Have you ever left a book unfinished?)"

"چرا بسیاری از پروژه‌های ساختمانی در این شهر ناتمام هستند؟ (Why are many construction projects in this city unfinished?)"

"با کارهای ناتمام خود در پایان روز چه می‌کنید؟ (What do you do with your unfinished tasks at the end of the day?)"

"آیا سمفونی ناتمام شوبرت را شنیده‌اید؟ (Have you heard Schubert's Unfinished Symphony?)"

"یک داستان ناتمام از زندگی خودتان تعریف کنید. (Tell an unfinished story from your own life.)"

Journal Prompts

بزرگترین پروژه ناتمام زندگی شما چیست و چرا؟ (What is the biggest unfinished project of your life and why?)

احساس خود را وقتی یک گفتگو ناتمام می‌ماند توصیف کنید. (Describe your feeling when a conversation remains unfinished.)

لیستی از کارهای ناتمام هفته گذشته تهیه کنید. (Make a list of unfinished tasks from last week.)

اگر می‌توانستید یک کار ناتمام از گذشته را تمام کنید، آن چه بود؟ (If you could finish one unfinished task from the past, what would it be?)

درباره یک ساختمان ناتمام که هر روز می‌بینید داستانی بنویسید. (Write a story about an unfinished building you see every day.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Usually no, unless you are speaking poetically about their life or potential being cut short. You wouldn't call a person 'nātamām' to mean they are stupid or incomplete.

Yes, it is the closest equivalent. It covers both the literal (unfinished building) and the figurative (unfinished conversation).

They are almost identical. 'Nime-tamām' literally means 'half-finished' and is very common in news reports about construction.

You can say 'Kāram rā tamām nakardam' or 'Kāram nātamām mānd'.

Yes, it is a perfectly formal and professional word.

No, for a broken object, use 'shekasteh' (broken) or 'nāqes' (if a part is missing).

The most direct opposites are 'tamām' (finished) or 'kāmel' (complete).

As an adjective, it doesn't change. You would say 'kārhā-ye nātamām' (unfinished tasks).

No, it is strictly an adjective. To use it as a noun, you'd say 'nātamām budan' (the state of being unfinished).

Extremely often. It is a favorite word for poets to describe unfulfilled desires.