Significado
I cannot accept or comprehend something; it doesn't make sense or seems unbelievable to me.
Contexto cultural
In Tehran, this phrase is often delivered with a specific facial expression: raised eyebrows and a slight tilt of the head. It's a sign of being 'street smart'. Negotiation is an art in Iran. Merchants might use this to reject a low-ball offer, implying the price offered is 'illogical' for the quality of the goods. While modern slang uses 'Kat', classical poetry often used 'Ganjidan' (to fit). The shift to 'Raftan' (to go) marks the evolution into modern Tehrani dialect. Users frequently use this phrase to call out 'fake news' or hypocritical statements by public figures, often accompanied by skeptical memes.
The 'Aslan' Boost
Add 'Aslan' (اصلاً) at the beginning for maximum impact. 'Aslan to katam nemire' sounds much more native and firm.
Watch the Suffix
Don't forget the '-am'. If you just say 'To kat nemire', it sounds incomplete and confusing.
Significado
I cannot accept or comprehend something; it doesn't make sense or seems unbelievable to me.
The 'Aslan' Boost
Add 'Aslan' (اصلاً) at the beginning for maximum impact. 'Aslan to katam nemire' sounds much more native and firm.
Watch the Suffix
Don't forget the '-am'. If you just say 'To kat nemire', it sounds incomplete and confusing.
Body Language
Squint your eyes slightly when saying it to convey that you are scrutinizing the other person's logic.
Past Tense
Use 'To katam naraft' (It didn't go in) when talking about a story someone told you yesterday that you rejected.
Teste-se
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
هر چی میگه دروغه، اصلاً تو ______ نمیره.
The speaker is talking about their own disbelief, so the first-person suffix '-am' is needed.
Which situation is most appropriate for using 'To katam nemire'?
In which scenario would you say this?
The phrase is informal and used for skepticism/disbelief.
Finish the dialogue naturally.
A: علی میگه ماشینش رو فروخته که به خیریه کمک کنه. B: چی؟! علی؟! اون که خیلی خسیسه! ...
The context of a stingy person suddenly being charitable creates disbelief, which is the perfect trigger for the idiom.
Match the feeling to the phrase.
Match 'Indignation at unfairness' with the correct variation.
This expresses the refusal to accept an unfair or illogical situation.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Katam vs. Mokham
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosهر چی میگه دروغه، اصلاً تو ______ نمیره.
The speaker is talking about their own disbelief, so the first-person suffix '-am' is needed.
In which scenario would you say this?
The phrase is informal and used for skepticism/disbelief.
A: علی میگه ماشینش رو فروخته که به خیریه کمک کنه. B: چی؟! علی؟! اون که خیلی خسیسه! ...
The context of a stingy person suddenly being charitable creates disbelief, which is the perfect trigger for the idiom.
Match 'Indignation at unfairness' with the correct variation.
This expresses the refusal to accept an unfair or illogical situation.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
12 perguntasNo, it's almost never used outside of this idiom in modern Persian. Most people don't even know its literal meaning.
Only if you have a very close, friendly relationship. Otherwise, it's too blunt and could be seen as disrespectful.
'Mokham' (my brain) is more modern and 'street'. 'Katam' is more classic slang and slightly more common across all age groups.
Only in informal writing like texting, social media, or dialogue in a novel. Never in formal essays.
Technically yes, but it implies the subject is stupid or illogical, not that you are struggling. Use 'Motovajjeh nemisham' instead.
Use the third-person suffix: 'To katesh nemire' (تو کتش نمیره).
It is primarily an Iranian Persian (Farsi) idiom. Dari and Tajik speakers might understand it but use different expressions.
Rarely. You could say 'To katam raft' (I finally accepted it), but it's 99% used in the negative.
It's 'sharply informal'. It's not a swear word, but it's a direct challenge to someone's honesty or logic.
No. If a key doesn't fit, use 'Nemire toosh'.
It's B2 because it requires understanding of idiomatic slang and cultural nuance.
It visualizes the information as a traveler trying to enter a gate (the kat).
Frases relacionadas
تو مخم نمیره
synonymIt doesn't go into my brain.
باورم نمیشه
similarI can't believe it.
خالی نبند
builds onDon't lie / Don't exaggerate.
حرفِ مفت
contrastNonsense / Cheap talk.
قانع نشدم
specialized formI am not convinced.
