This page in your language
فارسی العربية Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
B1 verb 7 min read

سوراخ کردن

soorakh kardán
Examples
Explanation سوراخ کردن in your Level:
At the A1 level, you are learning basic actions. The word 'سوراخ کردن' (surakh kardan) might seem a bit long, but it is very useful. It means 'to make a hole'. In Persian, we combine the word for hole ('سوراخ') with the verb 'to do' ('کردن'). You can use this when talking about simple things, like making a hole in a piece of paper for a binder. Because 'کردن' is a regular verb that you already know from words like 'کار کردن' (to work), conjugating it is easy. For example, 'من سوراخ می‌کنم' means 'I make a hole'. If you want to say 'I made a hole', you say 'من سوراخ کردم'. It is a straightforward, literal word that helps you describe physical changes to objects around you. Practice using it with common nouns like paper (کاغذ) or wall (دیوار).
Sign up free to read full explanation
As an A2 learner, your vocabulary is expanding to describe everyday problems and tasks. 'سوراخ کردن' is perfectly suited for this stage. You will use it to talk about minor accidents, like a nail puncturing a bicycle tire, or DIY tasks, like drilling a wall to hang a picture. At this level, you should be comfortable with the past and present tenses. You can say 'او دیوار را سوراخ کرد' (He drilled the wall) or 'من می‌خواهم کاغذ را سوراخ کنم' (I want to punch the paper). Notice how we use the object marker 'را' (ra) after the thing being pierced. This verb is very literal and does not have many confusing metaphorical meanings at this level, making it a safe and reliable addition to your active vocabulary.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the B1 level, you are expected to handle a wider variety of situations, including giving instructions or narrating detailed events. 'سوراخ کردن' (surakh kardan) becomes crucial here. It acts as an umbrella term for English verbs like pierce, drill, punch, and puncture. You will use it in medical contexts (e.g., getting an ear pierced: گوش سوراخ کردن), automotive contexts (a flat tire: لاستیک سوراخ شدن/کردن), and home repair. A key grammar point to master at this level is the distinction between the active voice (سوراخ کردن - someone makes a hole) and the passive voice (سوراخ شدن - a hole is made / it gets a puncture). Using these correctly demonstrates a solid grasp of Persian verb dynamics.
Reaching B2 means you can understand nuance and context. While 'سوراخ کردن' remains the primary verb for making a hole, you will start distinguishing it from more specific or technical synonyms. For instance, you will recognize that while you can say 'دیوار را سوراخ کردن', a construction worker might say 'مته زدن' (to drill). You will also understand that for digging holes in the ground, you must use 'حفر کردن' or 'کندن', not 'سوراخ کردن'. At this level, you can also use it in complex sentences with conditional clauses, such as 'اگر لاستیک را سوراخ کنی، باید پولش را بدهی' (If you puncture the tire, you must pay for it). Your fluency is shown by your ability to choose the right verb for the specific material and action.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C1 advanced level, your use of 'سوراخ کردن' is effortless, and you are aware of its stylistic and idiomatic potential. You understand that while it is primarily literal, it can occasionally appear in hyperbolic or figurative speech in literature or journalism (e.g., 'سوراخ کردن لایه اوزون' - depleting the ozone layer). You effortlessly navigate the causative forms, such as 'دادم گوشم را سوراخ کنند' (I had my ears pierced), showing mastery of complex verb structures. You also easily integrate it with advanced vocabulary, discussing industrial perforation, surgical punctures, or structural drilling, adjusting your register to sound completely natural and native-like.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of the language. 'سوراخ کردن' is part of your vast linguistic repertoire. You appreciate its etymological roots and its role in classical Persian literature, where related forms like 'سفتن' (to pierce, often used for pearls: در سفتن) were preferred. You can play with the language, understanding regional dialects or slang where the concept of making a hole might take on colorful, colloquial meanings (e.g., describing someone who talks too much as drilling a hole in one's head, though usually expressed differently in Persian, the concept translates). Your usage is flawless, encompassing all grammatical moods, voices, and sophisticated contexts, demonstrating absolute mastery of Persian semantics.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Examples

The Persian compound verb سوراخ کردن (surakh kardan) is an essential vocabulary item for intermediate learners, translating directly to 'to make a hole', 'to pierce', 'to drill', or 'to puncture'. It is formed by combining the noun 'سوراخ' (hole) and the light verb 'کردن' (to do/make). Understanding this word unlocks a vast array of everyday contexts, from home improvement and crafts to medical procedures and accidental damage.

Literal Meaning
To do or make a hole. It applies to any material: walls, paper, fabric, skin, or metal.

او با مته دیوار را سوراخ کرد تا تابلو را نصب کند.

He drilled a hole in the wall to hang the painting.

In daily conversations, you will hear this word when people talk about piercing their ears, a tire getting punctured on the road, or using a hole puncher for documents. It is a highly versatile verb that does not have a strict formal or informal boundary; it is the standard way to express this action across all registers of the Persian language.

Common Context: Automotive
Used when a nail or sharp object punctures a car or bicycle tire (لاستیک را سوراخ کردن).

یک میخ لاستیک ماشینم را سوراخ کرد.

A nail punctured my car's tire.

Furthermore, it can be used metaphorically in some contexts, though its literal usage is far more prevalent. For instance, creating a hole in a budget or an ozone layer depletion might use related terminology, but for physical objects, this is your go-to verb. Mastering its conjugation in the past, present, and future tenses will significantly improve your ability to narrate events and describe physical alterations to objects.

Common Context: Body Modification
Used for ear piercing or body piercing (گوش سوراخ کردن).

دیروز رفتم گوشم را سوراخ کنم.

Yesterday I went to get my ear pierced.

کاغذها را با دستگاه سوراخ کردم.

I punched holes in the papers with the machine.

مراقب باش لوله را سوراخ نکنی.

Be careful not to puncture the pipe.

Using سوراخ کردن correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of Persian sentence structure, which is typically Subject-Object-Verb (SOV). Since this is a transitive verb, it usually takes a direct object, often marked by the postposition 'را' (ra) if the object is definite. Let us explore how to construct sentences across various tenses and moods to give you a comprehensive understanding of its grammatical behavior.

Present Simple/Continuous
Formed with 'می' (mi) + present stem of kardan (کن) + personal ending. Example: سوراخ می‌کنم (I am making a hole).

او دارد کمربندش را سوراخ می‌کند چون لاغر شده است.

He is making a hole in his belt because he lost weight.

When expressing past actions, you use the past stem 'کرد' (kard). For example, 'سوراخ کردم' means 'I made a hole'. This is perhaps the most common tense you will use when reporting an accident, such as puncturing a tire, or completing a task, such as drilling a wall. The negative is formed simply by adding 'ن' (na) to the verb, resulting in 'سوراخ نکردم' (I did not make a hole).

Simple Past Tense
Used for completed actions. Example: سوراخ کرد (He/She made a hole).

دندانپزشک دندانم را سوراخ کرد تا عصب‌کشی کند.

The dentist drilled my tooth to do a root canal.

گربه مبل جدیدمان را با چنگال‌هایش سوراخ کرد.

The cat punctured our new sofa with its claws.
Subjunctive Mood
Used after verbs of wanting or necessity. Example: باید سوراخ کنم (I must make a hole).

می‌خواهم این چوب را سوراخ کنم.

I want to drill a hole in this wood.

اگر لاستیک را سوراخ کنی، باید خسارت بدهی.

If you puncture the tire, you must pay for the damage.

The verb سوراخ کردن is ubiquitous in everyday Iranian life. You will encounter it in diverse settings ranging from construction sites and auto repair shops to beauty salons and dental clinics. Its broad applicability makes it a high-frequency word that any learner aiming for B1 proficiency must master. Let us look at specific environments where this word naturally occurs in native speech.

At the Dentist (دندانپزشکی)
Dentists use this word when explaining that they need to drill a tooth to remove decay.

آقای دکتر، آیا باید دندانم را سوراخ کنید؟

Doctor, do you have to drill my tooth?

Another very common context is home improvement or DIY projects. If you are hiring a handyman (تعمیرکار) or doing it yourself, you will talk about drilling walls to hang shelves, curtains, or pictures. In this context, the tool used is a 'مته' (drill bit) or 'دریل' (power drill). The action itself, however, is always referred to using our target verb.

Home Improvement (تعمیرات خانه)
Discussing where and how to drill holes in walls or wood.

لطفاً اینجا را برای نصب پرده سوراخ کنید.

Please drill a hole here to install the curtain.

مراقب باش لوله آب را سوراخ نکنی.

Be careful not to drill into the water pipe.
Office and School (اداره و مدرسه)
Using a hole puncher (دستگاه پانچ) to organize papers.

باید این برگه‌ها را سوراخ کنم و در پوشه بگذارم.

I need to punch holes in these papers and put them in the folder.

سوزن ته گرد انگشتم را سوراخ کرد.

The pin pricked (punctured) my finger.

When learning سوراخ کردن, English speakers often encounter a few specific pitfalls. Because English has many distinct verbs for making a hole depending on the tool or context (drill, punch, prick, puncture, pierce), learners sometimes try to find separate Persian verbs for each. In reality, Persian efficiently uses this single compound verb for almost all of them. Understanding this simplification is key to fluency.

Mistake 1: Confusing Active and Passive
Learners often use 'کردن' (to do) when they mean 'شدن' (to become). If a tire gets a flat by itself, it is 'سوراخ شد', not 'سوراخ کرد'.

Incorrect: لاستیک ماشینم سوراخ کرد.
Correct: لاستیک ماشینم سوراخ شد.

My car tire got a puncture.

Another frequent error involves the preposition used with the object. In English, we say 'make a hole IN the wall'. In Persian, you directly apply the action to the object itself: 'the wall [object marker] hole make'. You do not usually say 'در دیوار سوراخ کردن' (make a hole in the wall), but rather 'دیوار را سوراخ کردن' (hole the wall).

Mistake 2: Unnecessary Prepositions
Adding 'در' (in) before the object instead of using the direct object marker 'را' (ra).

Incorrect: من در دیوار سوراخ کردم.
Correct: من دیوار را سوراخ کردم.

I drilled the wall.
Mistake 3: Over-complicating Vocabulary
Searching for the exact translation of 'perforate' or 'puncture' when 'سوراخ کردن' works perfectly.

دکتر پوست من را با سوزن سوراخ کرد.

The doctor pricked my skin with a needle.

او عمداً توپ بچه‌ها را سوراخ کرد.

He intentionally punctured the kids' ball.

نباید این پارچه ظریف را سوراخ کنی.

You shouldn't pierce this delicate fabric.

While سوراخ کردن is the most universal term for making a hole, Persian offers several nuanced alternatives depending on the specific action, material, or tool involved. Expanding your vocabulary with these synonyms will elevate your Persian from intermediate to advanced, allowing you to speak with greater precision and stylistic variety. Let us compare some of these alternatives.

پاره کردن (Pareh kardan)
Meaning 'to tear' or 'to rip'. Use this when the hole is made by tearing fabric or paper, rather than a clean puncture.

سگ شلوارم را پاره کرد.

The dog tore my pants. (Not a clean hole)

For specific industrial or mechanical actions, borrowed words or specialized verbs are often used. For example, when using an electric drill, you might hear the compound verb 'مته زدن' (mateh zadan), which literally means 'to strike a drill bit'. Similarly, in an office setting, 'پانچ کردن' (punch kardan) is a direct loan translation used specifically for paper hole punchers.

مته زدن (Mateh zadan) / دریل کردن (Deril kardan)
Specifically means to drill using a power tool. Used exclusively for hard surfaces like walls, wood, or metal.

کارگر در حال مته زدن به دیوار است.

The worker is drilling the wall.
حفر کردن (Hafr kardan)
Meaning 'to dig' or 'to excavate'. Used for making large holes in the ground, like a well or a grave.

آن‌ها یک چاه عمیق حفر کردند.

They dug a deep well.

منشی نامه‌ها را پانچ کرد.

The secretary punched the letters.

باغبان زمین را برای کاشتن درخت کند.

The gardener dug the ground to plant a tree.
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

من کاغذ را سوراخ می‌کنم.

I make a hole in the paper.

Present tense, first person singular.

2

او دیوار را سوراخ کرد.

He drilled the wall.

Simple past tense, third person singular.

3

تو باید آن را سوراخ کنی.

You must make a hole in it.

Subjunctive mood after 'باید'.

4

ما جعبه را سوراخ کردیم.

We made a hole in the box.

Past tense, first person plural.

5

آنها زمین را سوراخ نمی‌کنند.

They do not make a hole in the ground.

Negative present tense.

6

آیا تو گوشت را سوراخ کردی؟

Did you pierce your ear?

Question in the past tense.

7

من می‌خواهم کمربندم را سوراخ کنم.

I want to make a hole in my belt.

Subjunctive mood after 'می‌خواهم'.

8

او لاستیک را سوراخ کرد.

He punctured the tire.

Past tense with a specific object.

1

دیروز پدرم دیوار اتاق را سوراخ کرد تا تابلو را آویزان کند.

Yesterday my dad drilled the room's wall to hang the painting.

Past tense used in a complex sentence with a purpose clause.

2

مراقب باش با این سوزن دستت را سوراخ نکنی.

Be careful not to prick your hand with this needle.

Negative subjunctive used for a warning.

3

من نمی‌توانم این چوب سفت را سوراخ کنم.

I cannot drill this hard wood.

Ability expressed with 'نمی‌توانم' + subjunctive.

4

بچه‌ها با مداد دفترشان را سوراخ کردند.

The kids poked holes in their notebooks with pencils.

Past tense describing an accidental or mischievous action.

5

آیا دستگاهی برای سوراخ کردن کاغذ دارید؟

Do you have a machine for punching paper?

Using the infinitive form as a noun phrase.

6

لاستیک دوچرخه‌ام روی یک میخ رفت و سوراخ شد.

My bicycle tire ran over a nail and got punctured.

Contrast: using the passive 'سوراخ شد' instead of active.

7

دندانپزشک دندان خرابم را سوراخ کرد.

The dentist drilled my decayed tooth.

Specific medical context vocabulary.

8

برای نصب لوستر باید سقف را سوراخ کنیم.

To install the chandelier, we must drill the ceiling.

First person plural subjunctive for a requirement.

1

تعمیرکار از یک مته بزرگ برای سوراخ کردن بتن استفاده کرد.

The repairman used a large drill bit to drill the concrete.

Infinitive used as the object of a preposition (برای).

2

اگر بخواهی گوشواره بیندازی، اول باید گوشت را سوراخ کنی.

If you want to wear earrings, you must first pierce your ear.

Conditional sentence type 1.

3

متأسفانه گربه با چنگال‌های تیزش مبل چرمی را سوراخ کرده است.

Unfortunately, the cat has punctured the leather sofa with its sharp claws.

Present perfect tense (سوراخ کرده است).

4

آنها لوله گاز را به اشتباه سوراخ کردند که باعث نشتی شد.

They mistakenly punctured the gas pipe, which caused a leak.

Past tense in a narrative sequence.

5

من ترجیح می‌دهم خودم دیوار را سوراخ نکنم چون تجربه ندارم.

I prefer not to drill the wall myself because I have no experience.

Negative subjunctive after 'ترجیح می‌دهم'.

6

دستگاه پانچ خراب است و نمی‌تواند بیشتر از ده برگ را سوراخ کند.

The hole puncher is broken and cannot punch more than ten sheets.

Third person singular subjunctive expressing capability.

7

برای رد کردن کابل شبکه، مجبور شدیم میز را سوراخ کنیم.

To pass the network cable, we were forced to drill a hole in the desk.

Past tense indicating a forced action (مجبور شدیم).

8

پرستار رگ بیمار را برای تزریق سرم سوراخ کرد.

The nurse pierced the patient's vein to inject the IV.

Medical context, formal vocabulary.

1

پیمانکاران برای بررسی مقاومت خاک، زمین را تا عمق ده متری سوراخ کردند.

The contractors drilled the ground to a depth of ten meters to check soil resistance.

Advanced vocabulary integration (پیمانکاران, مقاومت خاک).

2

استفاده بی‌رویه از گازهای گلخانه‌ای لایه اوزون را سوراخ کرده است.

Excessive use of greenhouse gases has depleted (punctured) the ozone layer.

Metaphorical usage in an environmental context.

3

او با مته‌ای ظریف، مرواریدها را یکی‌یکی سوراخ می‌کرد تا گردنبند بسازد.

With a fine drill, she was piercing the pearls one by one to make a necklace.

Past continuous tense (سوراخ می‌کرد) indicating an ongoing past action.

4

اگر قبل از پیچ کردن، چوب را سوراخ نکنی، ممکن است ترک بخورد.

If you don't drill the wood before screwing, it might crack.

Conditional sentence with passive consequence.

5

سارقان گاوصندوق را با دستگاه جوش سوراخ کرده و محتویاتش را دزدیدند.

The thieves pierced the safe with a welding machine and stole its contents.

Conjunctive participle (سوراخ کرده) linking two past actions.

6

پزشک جراح مجبور شد جمجمه بیمار را برای کاهش فشار خون سوراخ کند.

The surgeon had to drill the patient's skull to reduce blood pressure.

Highly specific medical terminology (جمجم

Sign up free to see all examples

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!