قرض دادن

The Persian phrase قرض دادن (gharz dādan) is a fundamental compound verb used to describe the act of lending or allowing someone else to use your property with the expectation that it will be returned. In Iranian culture, this action carries significant social weight, often tied to the concepts of trust, community, and mutual aid. Whether you are lending a small amount of money to a friend for coffee or providing a neighbor with a tool they lack, this phrase is the standard way to express the transaction from the lender's perspective. It consists of two parts: 'gharz', which means 'loan' or 'debt' (derived from Arabic), and 'dādan', which is the Persian verb for 'to give'. Together, they literally mean 'to give a loan'.

Social Nuance

In Iran, lending is often seen through the lens of 'gharz-al-hasana' (a beautiful loan), which implies a benevolent act without interest. While 'gharz dādan' is used for money, it is equally common for physical objects like books or clothes.

Lending is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Iranian hospitality and friendship. If a friend asks for something, it is often considered polite to offer it before they even have to ask, using phrases related to 'gharz dādan'. However, it is also important to distinguish this from 'amānat dādan', which implies giving something for safekeeping. When you 'gharz' something, you are giving it for the other person's use. In modern contexts, this word is used in banks, among family members, and in casual daily interactions. Understanding how to conjugate 'dādan' is key to using this phrase correctly across different tenses and moods.

Financial Context

When dealing with banks, 'vām dādan' is more common for formal loans, but 'gharz dādan' remains the go-to for informal, interest-free lending between individuals.

The psychology of 'gharz dādan' in Iran often involves 'Ta'arof'. For instance, if someone admires your pen, you might say 'ghābel nadārad' (it's not worthy of you), which is a signal that you are willing to give or lend it. While 'gharz dādan' is the literal act, the social performance around it is equally important for learners to grasp. You will hear this phrase in markets when vendors might lend a tool to a neighboring shopkeeper, or in schools when students share stationery. It is a word of cooperation and reliability.

Etymology

The word 'gharz' is an Arabic loanword meaning 'cut' or 'segment', referring to a piece of wealth cut off to be given temporarily. 'Dādan' is a pure Persian verb with Indo-European roots.

To use قرض دادن correctly, you must treat it as a compound verb. This means only the second part, 'dādan', changes according to the tense, person, and number, while 'gharz' remains constant. The basic structure for a sentence is: [Subject] + [Object] + [be + Recipient] + [Conjugated form of dādan]. For example, in the past tense: 'Man (I) ketāb-rā (the book) be sārā (to Sara) dādam (gave)'. Adding 'gharz' makes it 'Man ketāb-rā be sārā gharz dādam'. This structure is very consistent in Persian.

Present Tense

The present stem of 'dādan' is 'deh'. To say 'I lend', you use 'gharz mi-deham'. For 'he/she lends', use 'gharz mi-dehad'.

In the future tense, you use the auxiliary verb 'khāhad' followed by the short infinitive. 'Man be to gharz khāham dād' (I will lend to you). In colloquial Persian, however, the present continuous is often used for the future: 'Fardā behet gharz midam' (I'll lend it to you tomorrow). When using negatives, the 'na-' prefix attaches to the 'mi-' or the verb: 'gharz nemi-deham' (I do not lend). It is also important to note that 'gharz' can be used as a noun on its own, but as a verb, it must be paired with 'dādan'.

Imperative Form

To tell someone 'Lend!', use 'gharz bede' (singular/informal) or 'gharz bedahid' (plural/formal).

When constructing complex sentences, such as those using 'want' or 'must', the verb 'gharz dādan' goes into the subjunctive mood. 'Mi-khāham be to gharz be-deham' (I want to lend to you). Notice how the 'be-' prefix is added to the stem 'deh'. This is a common area of struggle for A2 learners, but mastering this pattern allows you to express needs and desires related to sharing and lending effectively. Furthermore, in polite conversation, you might use the verb 'amānat dādan' instead if you want to emphasize that the item is precious and should be handled with care.

Compound Structure

The stress in 'gharz dādan' is typically on the 'gharz' part in affirmative sentences, but shifts to the prefix in negative or imperative forms.

You will encounter قرض دادن in a variety of everyday settings in Iran. One of the most common places is within the family and circle of friends. Since communal living and mutual support are highly valued, the act of lending is constant. You'll hear it at the dinner table when someone asks to use a phone charger, or in a dormitory when students share textbooks. It reflects the Iranian value of being 'dast-o-del bāz' (generous), as lending is a step toward that ideal. In these informal settings, the verb is often shortened or conjugated quickly in colloquial speech.

In the Bazaar

Shopkeepers often lend change (small bills) or equipment to their neighbors. You might hear: 'Hāji, ye lahze in tarāzu-ro gharz midi?' (Haji, can you lend me this scale for a second?)

Another place you will hear this is in educational environments. Students frequently lend pens, notebooks, and even class notes. In a university setting, the phrase is everywhere. Professors might even use it metaphorically, such as 'lending an ear' (though the Persian equivalent for that specifically is 'goosh dādan', the concept of temporary 'giving' is similar). In literature and movies, 'gharz dādan' often appears in plots involving financial struggle or the testing of a friendship's loyalty. It is a word that bridges the gap between material exchange and emotional connection.

Financial Media

On the news or in economic reports, you will hear about 'gharz-al-hasana' funds, which are Islamic microfinance institutions that lend money without interest to those in need.

Finally, in the workplace, 'gharz dādan' is used when sharing resources between departments or colleagues. If you need a projector or a specific document, you ask for it to be lent. The term is professional yet implies a level of collegiality. In all these contexts, the phrase signals a temporary transfer. Unlike 'bakhshidan' (to forgive or to gift), 'gharz dādan' always implies that the item will come back to the owner. This distinction is vital for maintaining clear expectations in any social or business interaction in Iran.

Formal Documents

In legal contracts, you might see 'mushārekat' or 'esteqrāz', but 'gharz dādan' remains the underlying verbal concept for lending.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers learning Persian is confusing 'gharz dādan' (to lend) with 'gharz gereftan' (to borrow). In English, 'borrow' and 'lend' are distinct verbs, but in Persian, they both use the noun 'gharz' with different light verbs ('dādan' vs. 'gereftan'). If you say 'Man ketāb gharz gereftam', you mean you took the book. If you say 'Man ketāb gharz dādam', you mean you gave it. Always remember: Dādan = Give (Lend), Gereftan = Take (Borrow). Mixing these up can lead to very confusing situations where someone thinks you are giving them something when you are actually asking for it.

Preposition Errors

Learners often forget to use 'be' (to) for the recipient. It should be 'gharz dādan BE kasi' (to lend TO someone). Using 'bā' (with) or omitting the preposition is a common error.

Another mistake is the placement of '-rā'. The object marker '-rā' should follow the item being lent, not the word 'gharz'. For example, 'Ketāb-rā gharz dādam' is correct, whereas 'Ketāb gharz-rā dādam' is incorrect because 'gharz' is part of the verb phrase here, not the specific object being transferred. Also, be careful with the 'mi-' prefix in the present tense. It must be attached to 'deham', not 'gharz'. Say 'gharz mi-deham', not 'mi-gharz deham'. This is a rule for all compound verbs in Persian.

Formal vs. Informal

In very formal writing, you might see 'esteqrāz', but using this in a casual conversation would sound very strange. Stick to 'gharz dādan' for 99% of situations.

Finally, some learners use 'dādan' alone to mean 'lend'. While 'ketāb dādam' (I gave the book) can sometimes imply lending in a very specific context, it usually means a permanent gift. To be clear that you expect the item back, you must include the word 'gharz'. Without it, you might accidentally give away your favorite belongings! Also, pay attention to the difference between 'gharz' (loan) and 'gharz' (purpose/intention) which are spelled differently in Arabic but sound the same in Persian (though 'intention' is usually spelled with 'ghayn' and 'zad'—غرض). In modern Persian, 'gharz' for loan is always spelled with 'qaf' and 'zad' (قرض).

Spelling Note

Make sure to use 'ق' (qaf) for 'gharz'. Using 'غ' (ghayn) changes the meaning to 'malice' or 'ulterior motive'.

While قرض دادن is the most common way to say 'to lend', there are several other words that you might encounter depending on the context and the level of formality. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and choose the right word for the right situation. The most common alternative is 'amānat dādan', which is often used for precious items or when you want to emphasize the responsibility of the person taking the item. Another is 'vām dādan', which is specific to financial contexts.

Gharz vs. Amānat

'Gharz' is for general use. 'Amānat' implies a trust or a deposit. If you give someone your keys to hold while you swim, that is 'amānat'. If you give them your car to drive for a day, that is 'gharz'.

In formal Persian, especially in legal or religious texts, you might see 'āriyat dādan'. This is a very literary term for lending and is rarely heard in conversation. Another related verb is 'vagozār kardan', which means to transfer or cede something, but it usually implies a more permanent or official transfer than a simple loan. For money, you might also hear 'pool dasti dādan', which literally means 'to give hand-money'—this is a very colloquial way to describe a quick, informal cash loan between friends that doesn't involve paperwork.

Comparison Table

• Gharz Dādan: General lending (money/items).
• Amānat Dādan: Lending with high trust/safekeeping.
• Vām Dādan: Formal bank loans.
• Pool-e Dasti: Casual cash loan.

When you want to say 'to return' what was lent, you use 'pas dādan' (to give back) or 'bargardāndan'. If the loan is a favor, you might hear 'lutf kardan' (to do a favor), which encompasses the act of lending. For example, 'Lutf mikoni in-ro be man gharz bedi?' (Would you do me the favor of lending this to me?). Understanding these synonyms helps you navigate the social landscape of Iran, where the choice of word often reflects the level of intimacy and the value of the object being exchanged. Always start with 'gharz dādan' as your default, and move to others as you learn the specific contexts.

Antonyms

The direct opposite is 'gharz gereftan' (to borrow). Another is 'bakhshidan' (to gift/forgive), where no return is expected.