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Vocabulary
تعریف کردن

A1 verb #2,000 most common 6 min read

تعریف کردن

ta'rif kardan Top 2,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips تعریف کردن in 30 Seconds

Explanation تعریف کردن in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'تعریف کردن' is primarily used to ask someone to tell a story or to say what happened. It's a 'social' verb. You learn it as a way to engage in basic conversation. For example, 'Dastane khodet ra ta'rif kon' (Tell your story). The focus is on the simple past and present tenses of 'kardan'. You should know that it means 'to tell' in the context of a story, rather than just 'to say' (goftan). It's about sharing simple experiences like your day or a movie you saw.

At A2, you start using 'تعریف کردن' with prepositions more accurately. You learn the distinction between 'praising' (az ... ta'rif kardan) and 'telling' (baraye ... ta'rif kardan). You can describe your weekend or a trip in more detail. You begin to use it in the imperative form to encourage others to speak: 'Ta'rif kon bebinam!' (Tell me, let's see!). You also recognize it in simple texts when a character is describing a place or another person.

By B1, you are comfortable using 'تعریف کردن' in various tenses, including the subjunctive and perfect tenses. You use it to summarize plots of books or movies. You also start using it in its 'definition' sense in a classroom or work environment. You understand the cultural nuance of 'ta'rif' in the context of Iranian hospitality—knowing when someone is praising you and how to respond modestly. You can handle more complex sentence structures involving this verb.

At the B2 level, you use 'تعریف کردن' to describe abstract concepts or complex processes. You can distinguish it clearly from 'towzih dadan' (explaining) and 'sharh dadan' (elaborating). You use it in formal writing to define terms of an argument. You also understand idiomatic expressions like 'ta'rif nadareh' (it's beyond praise/it's obvious). Your usage is fluid, and you can switch between the 'storytelling', 'praising', and 'defining' meanings without hesitation.

At C1, you use 'تعریف کردن' in academic and professional discourse to provide precise definitions. You are aware of its Arabic roots and how it relates to 'ma'refat' (knowledge). You can use it to critique how something is defined in literature or law. You also pick up on subtle social cues where 'ta'rif' is used as a form of social currency or Ta'arof. You might use it in the passive voice ('ta'rif shodan') to discuss how a concept is traditionally defined in Persian culture.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of the verb's nuances. You can use it to discuss the 'definition of self' in philosophy or the 'description of reality' in high literature. You understand its etymological connections and can use synonyms like 'tabyin' or 'tasvir' to avoid repetition. You can analyze the use of 'ta'rif' in classical Persian poetry versus modern prose. Your usage is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker, utilizing it in complex rhetorical structures.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

تعریف کردن in 30 Seconds

Versatile verb for telling stories and describing events.
Means 'to praise' when used with the preposition 'az'.
Essential for defining words or concepts in academic settings.
A core part of social interaction and storytelling in Persian culture.

The Persian verb تعریف کردن (Ta'rif kardan) is a multifaceted compound verb that serves as a cornerstone of daily communication. At its most basic level, it translates to 'to define' or 'to describe,' but its usage in colloquial Persian extends far beyond these academic boundaries. When you sit down with a friend to share the highlights of your weekend, you are 'ta'rif kardan'-ing. When a teacher explains a new concept, they are 'ta'rif kardan'-ing. It captures the essence of narrative transmission—the act of taking an internal thought, memory, or concept and externalizing it for others to understand.

The Narrative Aspect: In everyday conversation, this is the most common use. It means to tell a story or recount an event. If someone says 'Ta'rif kon!' they are literally saying 'Tell me what happened!' or 'Tell me the story!'

دیروز چه اتفاقی افتاد؟ برای من تعریف کن.

Translation: What happened yesterday? Tell (describe) it to me.

The Descriptive Aspect: This involves detailing the characteristics of an object, person, or place. It is used when you want to give someone a mental picture of something they haven't seen.

او زیبایی‌های شمال را برای ما تعریف کرد.

Translation: He described the beauties of the North to us.

The Commendatory Aspect: Interestingly, 'ta'rif kardan' also means to praise or speak highly of someone. If you 'ta'rif' a chef, you are complimenting their food to others.

همه از اخلاق خوب او تعریف می‌کنند.

Translation: Everyone praises (speaks well of) his good character.

In academic contexts, it reverts to its formal Arabic root meaning: to provide a definition. 'Ta'rif-e in kalameh chist?' (What is the definition of this word?). This versatility makes it one of the most useful verbs to master early in your Persian journey. Whether you are gossiping, studying, or complimenting, this verb is your primary tool.

Using تعریف کردن correctly requires understanding its structure as a compound verb (fe'l-e morakkab). It consists of the noun 'ta'rif' (definition/description) and the auxiliary verb 'kardan' (to do/make). The conjugation happens entirely on the 'kardan' part, while 'ta'rif' remains static.

Grammatical Structure: The verb usually takes an object (what is being told) and often a recipient (to whom it is told). The recipient is marked with the preposition 'baraye' (for) or 'be' (to), though 'baraye' is more common in storytelling contexts.

من داستان را برای دوستم تعریف کردم.

Structure: [Subject] + [Object] + [Preposition] + [Recipient] + [Verb]

مادرم از دستپخت تو تعریف کرد.

Translation: My mother praised your cooking.

When using it to mean 'to define' in a formal or scientific sense, the object is usually the term being defined, followed by the 'ra' marker if it's a specific term. In the present tense, the stem of 'kardan' is 'kon'. So, 'I define' is 'ta'rif mi-kon-am'. In the past tense, the stem is 'kard', so 'I defined' is 'ta'rif kard-am'.

Common Tense Examples: Present Continuous: Daram ta'rif mikonam (I am telling/describing). Imperative: Ta'rif kon! (Tell me!). Subjunctive: Mikham ta'rif konam (I want to tell).

می‌توانی این کلمه را تعریف کنی؟

Translation: Can you define this word?

You will encounter تعریف کردن in almost every social layer of Iranian life. Because Iranian culture is deeply rooted in oral tradition and storytelling, this verb is the gateway to social bonding. In a 'Mehmuni' (party), the person who can 'khub ta'rif koneh' (tell stories well) is often the center of attention.

Social Gatherings: Friends often ask each other 'Digeh che khabar? Ta'rif kon!' (What else is new? Tell me!). Here, it functions as an invitation to share life updates or anecdotes.

بیا بنشین و از سفرت تعریف کن.

Translation: Come sit down and tell us about your trip.

Educational Settings: In schools and universities, it is the standard verb for defining terms. Textbooks will often start a chapter with 'In mafhum chenin ta'rif mishavad...' (This concept is defined as follows...).

استاد از ما خواست که دموکراسی را تعریف کنیم.

Translation: The professor asked us to define democracy.

In media, news anchors use it to describe events (gozaresh ta'rif kardan), and in literature, it's the primary verb for the narrator's action. If you're watching a Persian movie, listen for characters saying 'Ta'rif kardam barat?' (Did I tell you about...?) to introduce a flashback or a piece of gossip.

Even though تعریف کردن is an A1 level verb, its multiple meanings lead to frequent errors among learners. The most common mistake is using the wrong preposition, which completely changes the meaning of the sentence.

Preposition Confusion: Using 'az' vs 'baraye'. 'Az kasi ta'rif kardan' = To praise someone. 'Baraye kasi ta'rif kardan' = To tell someone a story. Beginners often mix these up.

Mistake: من از داستان برای او تعریف کردم.
Correct: من داستان را برای او تعریف کردم.

Confusing with 'Goftan': 'Goftan' means 'to say' or 'to tell' (information). 'Ta'rif kardan' is for 'telling' a narrative or a lengthy description. You don't 'ta'rif' a single word or a short fact; you 'ta'rif' a story.

Overusing in Academic Contexts: While it means 'to define,' in very formal papers, writers might prefer 'tabyin kardan' (to elucidate) or 'moshakhas kardan' (to specify). Using 'ta'rif kardan' is correct but can sometimes sound a bit basic in a PhD thesis.

او همیشه از خودش تعریف می‌کند.

Note: This means 'He always praises himself' (brags), not 'He always describes himself'.

Persian has a rich vocabulary for communication. Understanding the nuances between تعریف کردن and its synonyms will elevate your fluency from basic to advanced.

توضیح دادن (Towzih Dadan): Meaning: To explain. Use this when you are clarifying a reason, a 'why', or a logic. 'Ta'rif kardan' is the 'what happened', 'Towzih dadan' is 'why it happened'.

وصف کردن (Vasf Kardan): Meaning: To describe/depict. This is more poetic and visual than 'ta'rif kardan'. It's often used in literature to describe a beautiful landscape or a beloved's face.

شاعر زیبایی‌های بهار را وصف کرد.

Translation: The poet described (depicted) the beauties of spring.

شرح دادن (Sharh Dadan): Meaning: To detail/elaborate. This is more formal and systematic. You 'sharh' a plan, a project, or a historical event in detail.

تمجید کردن (Tamjid Kardan): Meaning: To glorify/extol. This is a much stronger version of the 'praising' sense of 'ta'rif kardan'. It is formal and often used for high-level honors.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Informal

Slang

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Examples by Level

داستان را تعریف کن.

Tell the story.

Imperative form of kardan.

او برای من یک قصه تعریف کرد.

He told me a story.

Simple past tense.

می‌توانی تعریف کنی چه شد؟

Can you tell (describe) what happened?

Use of 'tavanestan' + subjunctive.

من هر روز خاطراتم را تعریف می‌کنم.

I tell my memories every day.

Present habitual tense.

مادرم از من تعریف کرد.

My mother praised me.

Praising sense with 'az'.

لطفاً این کلمه را تعریف کنید.

Please define this word.

Formal imperative.

او خوب تعریف می‌کند.

He tells (stories) well.

Adverb 'khub' modifying the verb.

ما درباره سفر تعریف کردیم.

We told (stories) about the trip.

Past tense plural.

دوستم از فیلم جدید خیلی تعریف کرد.

My friend praised the new movie a lot.

Praising sense.

باید برای معلم تعریف کنی چرا دیر آمدی.

You must describe to the teacher why you were late.

Modal 'bayad' + subjunctive.

او همیشه از غذاهای همسرش تعریف می‌کند.

He always praises his wife's cooking.

Present habitual.

می‌خواهم یک خاطره جالب تعریف کنم.

I want to tell an interesting memory.

Subjunctive after 'mikhaham'.

آن‌ها از زیبایی‌های ایران تعریف کردند.

They described the beauties of Iran.

Past tense plural.

تعریف این واژه در کتاب نیست.

The definition of this word is not in the book.

Noun form 'ta'rif'.

او داشت ماجرای تصادف را تعریف می‌کرد.

He was describing the accident story.

Past continuous.

برای ما از زندگی در خارج تعریف کن.

Tell us about living abroad.

Imperative with 'az'.

اگر وقت داری، کل ماجرا را تعریف کن.

If you have time, tell the whole story.

Conditional sentence.

او چنان با دقت تعریف می‌کرد که همه ساکت شدند.

He was describing with such detail that everyone became silent.

Adverbial phrase 'ba deghat'.

پزشک وضعیت بیمار را برای خانواده‌اش تعریف کرد.

The doctor described the patient's condition to his family.

Professional context.

نباید از خودت اینقدر تعریف کنی.

You shouldn't praise yourself this much.

Negative modal.

او سعی کرد احساسش را تعریف کند اما نتوانست.

He tried to describe his feelings but couldn't.

Compound sentence.

این واژه چگونه تعریف می‌شود؟

How is this word defined?

Passive voice.

او از مهمان‌نوازی ایرانی‌ها خیلی تعریف می‌کرد.

He used to praise Iranian hospitality a lot.

Past habitual.

می‌توانید ویژگی‌های این محصول را تعریف کنید؟

Can you describe the features of this product?

Business context.

نویسنده در این فصل، فضای شهر را به خوبی تعریف کرده است.

The author has described the city's atmosphere well in this chapter.

Present perfect.

او از عملکرد همکارانش در جلسه تعریف کرد.

He praised his colleagues' performance in the meeting.

Professional praise.

تعریف دقیق این پارامترها برای پروژه ضروری است.

A precise definition of these parameters is essential for the project.

Noun use in formal context.

او ماجرا را طوری تعریف کرد که انگار خودش آنجا بوده.

He told the story as if he had been there himself.

Conjunction 'engār'.

من نمی‌خواهم از خودم تعریف کنم، اما این کار را من انجام دادم.

I don't want to praise myself, but I did this work.

Ta'arof-style modesty.

او زیبایی‌های کویر را با کلمات تعریف‌ناپذیری وصف کرد.

He described the desert's beauties with indefinable words.

Advanced vocabulary 'ta'rif-napazir'.

در این مقاله، فقر به عنوان یک پدیده اجتماعی تعریف شده است.

In this article, poverty is defined as a social phenomenon.

Passive present perfect.

او از برخورد خوب کارکنان هتل تعریف می‌کرد.

He was praising the hotel staff's good behavior.

Past continuous praise.

چالش اصلی، تعریف هویت در دنیای دیجیتال است.

The main challenge is defining identity in the digital world.

Abstract noun phrase.

او با ظرافت خاصی صحنه قتل را در رمانش تعریف می‌کند.

He describes the murder scene in his novel with a specific delicacy.

Literary description.

منتقدان از سبک جدید این کارگردان بسیار تعریف کرده‌اند.

Critics have praised this director's new style extensively.

Formal present perfect.

این نظریه، عدالت را بر اساس برابری فرصت‌ها تعریف می‌کند.

This theory defines justice based on equality of opportunities.

Academic definition.

او از سخاوت بی‌حد و حصر استادش تعریف می‌کرد.

He used to praise his professor's boundless generosity.

Advanced adjectives.

تعریف شما از خوشبختی چیست؟

What is your definition of happiness?

Philosophical inquiry.

او وقایع تاریخی را بدون غرض‌ورزی تعریف کرد.

He described historical events without bias.

Formal adverbial phrase.

در حقوق بین‌الملل، تجاوز به مرزها به وضوح تعریف شده است.

In international law, border aggression is clearly defined.

Legal context.

هستی‌شناسی در این رساله به گونه‌ای متفاوت تعریف می‌شود.

Ontology is defined differently in this treatise.

Highly formal/Academic.

او با بیانی سحرآمیز، اسطوره‌های کهن را تعریف می‌کرد.

With a magical eloquence, he would recount ancient myths.

Poetic register.

نمی‌توان هنر را در چارچوب‌های تنگ تعریف کرد.

One cannot define art within narrow frameworks.

Philosophical statement.

او از فضایل اخلاقی قدما با شور و حرارت تعریف می‌کرد.

He praised the moral virtues of the ancients with passion and fervor.

Archaic/Formal vocabulary.

بازتعریف مفاهیم سنتی در عصر مدرن امری اجتناب‌ناپذیر است.

Redefining traditional concepts in the modern era is inevitable.

Prefix 'baz-' (re-).

او چنان از معشوق تعریف می‌کرد که گویی فرشته‌ای بر زمین است.

He praised the beloved so much as if she were an angel on earth.

Simile and hyperbole.

این لغت‌نامه، واژگان را بر اساس ریشه‌شناسی تعریف می‌کند.

This dictionary defines words based on etymology.

Technical linguistic context.

او از درایت و هوشمندی رقیبش نیز تعریف کرد.

He even praised his rival's sagacity and intelligence.

High-level social etiquette.

Common Collocations

خاطره تعریف کردن

داستان تعریف کردن

ماجرا تعریف کردن

از کسی تعریف کردن

واژه را تعریف کردن

دقیق تعریف کردن

با جزئیات تعریف کردن

خواب تعریف کردن

جوک تعریف کردن

از دستپخت تعریف کردن

Common Phrases

تعریف کن ببینم!

تعریف نباشه...

خیلی تعریف شنیدم.

تعریف دقیقی ندارد.

از خودش تعریف می‌کند.

برای من تعریف نکرد.

بیا تعریف کنیم.

داشتی چی تعریف می‌کردی؟

تعریفش را شنیده‌ام.

خوب تعریف نمی‌کنی.

Often Confused With

تعریف کردن vs توضیح دادن (to explain logic)

تعریف کردن vs گفتن (to say facts)

تعریف کردن vs حرف زدن (to talk)

Idioms & Expressions

"تعریف کردن ندارد"

— It's beyond words / It's so good it doesn't need praise.

"از خود تعریف کردن"

— To brag or boast about oneself.

"تعریف از خود نباشد"

— Not to brag, but... (used before self-praise).

"تعریف و تمجید"

— High praise and accolades (often used together).

"به تعریف آمدن"

— To be worthy of description or praise.

"تعریف الکی"

— Empty or fake praise; flattery.

"دهان به تعریف گشودن"

— To start praising someone (literary).

"تعریف وارونه"

— Backhanded compliment.

"تعریف‌پذیر"

— Definable.

"تعریف‌ناپذیر"

— Indescribable / Indefinable.

Easily Confused

تعریف کردن vs توضیح دادن

Explaining 'why' vs telling 'what'.

تعریف کردن vs وصف کردن

Artistic/visual description vs narrative telling.

تعریف کردن vs شرح دادن

Detailed/formal elaboration vs general telling.

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

defining

Requires 'ra' for the term.

praising

Requires 'az'.

storytelling

Most common informal use.

Common Mistakes

Using 'az' when you mean to tell a story.
Using 'baraye' when you mean to praise someone.
Conjugating 'ta'rif' instead of 'kardan'.
Using it for short factual statements (use 'goftan' instead).
Confusing it with 'towzih dadan' in scientific contexts.

Tips

Be a storyteller

Iranians love stories. Use this verb to start your anecdotes.

Preposition check

Always remember: 'Az' for praise, 'Baraye' for telling.

Modesty

Use 'ta'rif az khod nabashe' before talking about your success.

Academic use

In exams, use it to define terms clearly.

Catch the 'az'

If you hear 'az', someone is being complimented.

Imperative

Use 'Ta'rif kon!' to encourage friends to share news.

Variety

Don't use it for every description; try 'vasf kardan' too.

Compound rule

Only conjugate the 'kardan' part.

Responding to praise

When someone 'ta'rif's you, be humble.

Travel

Use it to describe your home country to new friends.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Arabic root 'ʿ-r-f' (to know/recognize) + Persian 'kardan' (to do).

Cultural Context

Self-praise is generally frowned upon unless preceded by 'ta'rif az khod nabashe'.

Praising the host's food is a mandatory form of 'ta'rif'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"می‌توانی بهترین خاطره‌ات را تعریف کنی؟"

"از شهرت برای من تعریف کن."

"آخرین فیلمی که دیدی را تعریف کن."

"یک جوک خنده‌دار تعریف کن."

"از خانواده‌ات برایم تعریف کن."

Journal Prompts

امروز چه اتفاق جالبی افتاد؟ آن را تعریف کن.

یک نفر را که خیلی از او تعریف می‌کنند توصیف کن.

تعریف تو از موفقیت چیست؟

یکی از رویاهای دیشبت را تعریف کن.

از بهترین سفری که رفتی تعریف کن.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not exactly. It means to describe or tell a story. For explaining a reason or logic, use 'towzih dadan'.

Use 'az [person] ta'rif kardan'. For example: 'Az u ta'rif kardam'.

Yes, 'joke ta'rif kardan' is the standard way to say 'telling a joke'.

It is both. It's used in daily gossip and in academic dictionaries.

The past stem is 'kard', so 'ta'rif kardam', 'ta'rif kardi', etc.

The present stem is 'kon', used in 'ta'rif mikonam' or 'ta'rif kon'.

Yes, but 'vasf kardan' is more poetic for appearance.

Yes, it comes from the Arabic root for 'knowledge', but the compound verb is Persian.

It means something is so good it's beyond the need for description or praise.

You say 'Ta'rif-e in chist?'