At the A1 beginner level, your primary focus when learning the verb يكلف (yukallif) is entirely on its transactional meaning: to cost. When you travel to an Arabic-speaking country, one of your most urgent needs will be the ability to buy things—food, water, transportation, and souvenirs. To do this, you must know how to ask about prices. The phrase كم يكلف هذا؟ (Kam yukallif hatha? - How much does this cost?) is a foundational sentence that you should memorize immediately. At this stage, you do not need to worry about the complex grammar of Form II verbs or the secondary meanings related to assigning tasks. Your goal is simple communication. You should practice using this verb with basic vocabulary items. For example: كم يكلف الكتاب؟ (How much does the book cost?), كم تكلف القهوة؟ (How much does the coffee cost?). Notice that for feminine nouns like coffee (قهوة), the verb changes slightly to تكلف (tukallif) to match the gender. This is a basic rule of Arabic subject-verb agreement that you will practice repeatedly. You will also learn to understand the answers to these questions, which will typically involve the verb followed by a number and a currency. For instance, يكلف خمسة دولارات (It costs five dollars). By mastering this single, specific use of the verb, you empower yourself to interact independently in markets, restaurants, and shops, which is a massive confidence booster for any language learner. Keep your sentences short, focus on pronunciation, and use this verb as a practical tool for survival and basic interaction in the Arabic-speaking world.
As you progress to the A2 level, your understanding of يكلف (yukallif) begins to expand beyond simple financial transactions. While you will still use it to ask about the price of goods, you will now start applying the concept of cost to intangible resources, specifically time and effort. This is a crucial step in developing conversational fluency, as it allows you to discuss your daily routines, challenges, and experiences. For example, instead of just saying a shirt costs money, you can now say that learning Arabic costs a lot of time: تعلم العربية يكلف الكثير من الوقت (Ta'allum al-arabiyya yukallif al-katheer min al-waqt). You will also begin to use attached pronouns to specify who is bearing the cost. This means moving from the general it costs to the specific it costs me or it costs him. You will practice sentences like الرحلة تكلفني غاليا (The trip costs me dearly). At this level, you should also become comfortable using the verb in different tenses, particularly the past tense كَلَّفَ (kallafa) and the future tense سيكلف (sayukallif). Being able to say كم كلفك هذا؟ (How much did this cost you?) or هذا سيكلف وقتا (This will cost time) significantly broadens your conversational range. You are no longer just surviving in a market; you are narrating your experiences and planning for the future. This transition from concrete, immediate costs to abstract, temporal costs marks a significant milestone in your language acquisition journey.
At the B1 intermediate level, a major shift occurs in your usage of يكلف (yukallif). You are now ready to fully embrace its secondary, yet equally important, meaning: to assign, task, or charge someone with a responsibility. This usage is essential for navigating professional, academic, and formal environments. You will learn the specific grammatical structure required for this meaning, which involves using the preposition بـ (bi) to introduce the task. You will practice constructing sentences like كلفني الأستاذ بواجب جديد (The professor tasked me with a new assignment) or المدير يكلف الموظفين بمهام صعبة (The manager tasks the employees with difficult tasks). This is also the stage where you will frequently encounter and use the passive voice of this verb: كُلِّفَ (kullifa - he was tasked). Understanding the passive is critical because in many professional contexts, the focus is on the task itself rather than who assigned it. For example, أنا مكلف بهذا المشروع (I am tasked with this project). You will start reading short news articles or business emails where this vocabulary is standard. Furthermore, you will begin to recognize the noun forms derived from this root, such as تكلفة (cost) and تكليف (assignment), and learn to use them correctly in context. Mastering this dual nature of the verb—costing vs. assigning—is a hallmark of B1 proficiency, demonstrating that you can handle both everyday transactions and more complex, structured interactions.
Reaching the B2 upper-intermediate level means you are developing a more nuanced and culturally aware grasp of Arabic vocabulary. For the verb يكلف (yukallif), this involves understanding its reflexive forms and its use in expressions of politeness and social etiquette. You will become highly familiar with the phrase لا تكلف نفسك (do not trouble yourself), recognizing it not just as a translation of words, but as a vital cultural script used to show respect and humility in social interactions. You will understand that the root concept involves burden, and you will use the verb to discuss emotional or psychological burdens, not just financial or temporal ones. For instance, you might say هذا القرار كلفه الكثير من القلق (This decision cost him a lot of anxiety). At this level, your reading comprehension will improve significantly, allowing you to understand complex political and administrative texts where the verb is used to describe high-level appointments and delegations of power, such as a president tasking a minister. You will also be comfortable with the active participle مُكَلِّف (mukallif - costly) and the passive participle مُكَلَّف (mukallaf - tasked/responsible). You will be able to debate the costs and benefits of various actions using sophisticated sentence structures, demonstrating a deep, intuitive understanding of how this versatile root functions across different domains of the Arabic language.
At the C1 advanced level, your command of يكلف (yukallif) is nearly native-like. You are no longer just using the verb; you are manipulating it to express subtle shades of meaning, irony, and complex abstract concepts. You will use it effortlessly in metaphorical contexts, discussing how actions cost people their reputations, their relationships, or their lives. For example, you might write an essay stating أن تدفع ثمن مبادئك قد يكلفك مسيرتك المهنية (Paying the price for your principles might cost you your career). You will be completely comfortable with the theological and philosophical dimensions of the word, easily recognizing and referencing phrases like لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها in intellectual discussions about human endurance and morality. Your vocabulary will include highly specialized terms derived from the root, such as التكاليف (costs/expenses in a strict accounting sense) or التكليف الشرعي (religious obligation in Islamic jurisprudence). You will be able to read classical literature and modern editorials, instantly grasping the author's intent when they use this verb to describe the heavy burdens of leadership or the devastating toll of conflict. At this stage, errors in preposition usage or voice are virtually non-existent, and your focus is on stylistic elegance, choosing this verb not because it is the only one you know, but because it is the absolute most precise word for the rhetorical effect you wish to achieve.
At the C2 mastery level, your understanding of the root ك-ل-ف (k-l-f) and its Form II manifestation يكلف (yukallif) is profound and comprehensive, matching that of a highly educated native speaker. You appreciate the deep etymological connections between the concepts of fondness, artificiality, burden, and cost. You can engage in sophisticated linguistic analysis of how the morphological shift to Form II alters the semantic scope of the root. In your own writing and speaking, you use the verb with absolute precision across all registers, from the most colloquial dialectal variations to the most elevated Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha). You can effortlessly navigate classical texts, poetry, and complex legal or theological treatises where the concept of تكليف (obligation/mandate) is central. You understand the historical evolution of the word's usage and can play with its multiple meanings for literary or rhetorical effect. For instance, you might use the concept of artificiality (تكلف) to critique a piece of art or a social behavior, while simultaneously using the verb to describe the heavy toll (تكلفة) of that behavior on society. Your mastery is such that the word is fully integrated into your cognitive framework, allowing you to express the most complex, abstract, and culturally deeply-rooted ideas regarding duty, sacrifice, and the ultimate cost of human endeavors with eloquence and authority.

يكلف 30秒了解

  • Means 'to cost' regarding money, time, or effort.
  • Means 'to assign' a task or responsibility.
  • Takes a direct object for cost, uses 'بـ' for tasks.
  • Root relates to burden, obligation, and artificiality.
The Arabic verb يكلف (yukallif) is an incredibly versatile and fundamental piece of vocabulary that every learner must master to navigate both daily life and complex professional environments in the Arab world. At its most basic and frequently used level, particularly for those at the A1 and A2 stages of language acquisition, this verb translates directly to the English concept of costing. When you are traveling, shopping, or engaging in any form of commercial transaction, understanding how to express and inquire about price is absolutely essential. The phrase كم يكلف هذا؟ (How much does this cost?) is often one of the very first sentences taught in Arabic curricula because of its immediate practical utility. However, the meaning of this verb extends far beyond the simple exchange of currency. It is deeply embedded in the way Arabic speakers conceptualize the expenditure of all resources, whether they are tangible or intangible. For example, a demanding job might cost you a significant amount of time and physical energy, which you would express using this exact same verb. You might say هذا العمل يكلفني الكثير من الوقت والجهد (This work costs me a lot of time and effort). This demonstrates the word's flexibility and its capacity to bridge the gap between financial cost and personal sacrifice.
Primary Meaning
To cost (money, time, or effort).

هذا الفستان يكلف خمسين دولارا.

Beyond the concept of cost, the verb carries a secondary, equally crucial meaning: to assign, task, or charge someone with a specific duty or responsibility. In academic, corporate, and administrative contexts, this usage is ubiquitous. When a manager delegates a project to an employee, or a teacher assigns homework to a student, this verb is the standard lexical choice. For instance, كلفني المدير بإعداد التقرير السنوي (The manager tasked me with preparing the annual report).
Secondary Meaning
To assign a task or responsibility to someone.

المدير يكلف الموظفين بمهام جديدة.

Understanding the morphological structure of this word provides deeper insight into its nuances. It is a Form II verb, derived from the triconsonantal root ك-ل-ف (k-l-f). In Arabic grammar, Form II verbs are characterized by the doubling (shadda) of the middle radical letter, which in this case is the lam (ل). This morphological pattern typically imparts a causative or intensive meaning to the base root. The base root relates to concepts of fondness, burden, or artificiality. By transforming it into Form II, the meaning shifts to causing a burden or imposing a cost.
Morphology
Form II verb indicating causation or intensity.

المشروع يكلف ميزانية ضخمة.

Furthermore, the reflexive and passive usages of this root are deeply tied to Arab cultural concepts of hospitality and politeness. The phrase لا تكلف نفسك (do not trouble yourself) is a staple of Arabic etiquette, used to politely decline an offer or to tell a host not to go to unnecessary lengths to accommodate you.

أرجوك، لا تكلف نفسك عناء المجيء.

In religious and philosophical discourse, the verb appears in discussions of divine justice and human capacity, most famously in the Quranic principle that God does not burden a soul beyond its limits. This elevates the word from everyday transactional language to a profound theological concept.

لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها.

To truly integrate this word into your active vocabulary, you must practice it across all these varied contexts, paying close attention to the prepositions and sentence structures that accompany its different meanings. By doing so, you will unlock a powerful tool for expressing a wide range of human experiences, from buying a cup of coffee to discussing the weight of moral obligations.
Using the verb يكلف (yukallif) correctly requires an understanding of its dual nature and the specific grammatical structures associated with each of its primary meanings. Because it functions both as a verb of transaction (to cost) and a verb of delegation (to assign), the syntax of the sentence shifts depending on the intended message. Let us first examine its usage in the context of cost, which is the most common application for beginner and intermediate learners. When meaning to cost, the verb typically takes a direct object representing the price or the resource expended. The subject of the sentence is the item, service, or action that is incurring the cost. For example, in the sentence السفر إلى أوروبا يكلف الكثير من المال (Traveling to Europe costs a lot of money), the subject is traveling, and the direct object is a lot of money.
Syntax for Cost
Subject (Item) + Verb + Direct Object (Price/Resource).

إصلاح السيارة يكلف مبلغا كبيرا.

It is also very common to include an indirect object pronoun attached to the verb to specify who is bearing the cost. For instance, هذا الخطأ سيكلفنا غاليا (This mistake will cost us dearly). Here, the pronoun نا (us) is attached directly to the verb.
Pronoun Attachment
Attach object pronouns directly to the verb to indicate who pays the cost.

الكتاب يكلفني عشرين دولارا.

Now, let us transition to the second major usage: to assign or task. In this context, the grammatical structure becomes slightly more complex. The subject is the person in authority (the manager, the teacher, the government), the direct object is the person receiving the task, and the task itself is introduced by the preposition بـ (bi). This preposition is absolutely critical; omitting it will result in a grammatically incorrect and confusing sentence.
Syntax for Assigning
Subject (Authority) + Verb + Direct Object (Person) + بـ (bi) + Task.

الرئيس يكلف الوزير بتشكيل الحكومة.

This structure is highly prevalent in news media and formal writing. When you read Arabic newspapers, you will constantly see headlines about presidents tasking prime ministers with forming governments, or courts tasking experts with investigations.

المحكمة تكلف خبيرا بفحص الأدلة.

The passive voice is frequently used with this meaning, especially when the person assigning the task is unknown or less important than the task itself. For example, كُلفتُ بإدارة المشروع (I was tasked with managing the project). Notice how the preposition بـ (bi) remains attached to the task even in the passive construction. Finally, it is important to understand how to conjugate this verb across different tenses. In the past tense, it is كَلَّفَ (kallafa). In the present/future tense, it is يُكَلِّفُ (yukallifu). The imperative (command) form is كَلِّفْ (kallif). Mastering these conjugations, along with the distinct syntactic patterns for costing versus assigning, will empower you to use this vital verb accurately and confidently in any situation.

سوف يكلف بناء المستشفى ملايين الدولارات.

Practice writing your own sentences using both meanings to solidify your understanding of these grammatical rules.
The verb يكلف (yukallif) is ubiquitous across the Arabic-speaking world, permeating almost every layer of society and every register of the language, from the most informal street markets to the highest echelons of government and literature. Because it encapsulates two highly fundamental human activities—economic transaction and the delegation of responsibility—it is a word you will encounter daily. Let us explore the diverse environments where this verb is commonly heard and used. First and foremost, you will hear it in any commercial setting. Whether you are haggling over the price of spices in a traditional souk in Marrakech, buying electronics in a modern mall in Dubai, or simply asking for the fare in a Cairo taxi, the question كم يكلف؟ (How much does it cost?) is universal.
Commercial Contexts
Markets, shops, restaurants, and transportation.

كم يكلف هذا القميص لو سمحت؟

In these settings, the verb is often used in its simplest present tense form. However, you will also hear it in discussions about broader economic issues. News anchors and financial analysts frequently use it when discussing inflation, government budgets, or the cost of living. For example, a news report might state that a new infrastructure project will cost the state billions.
Economic News
Discussions of budgets, inflation, and national projects.

المشروع الجديد يكلف ميزانية الدولة الكثير.

Moving away from economics, the workplace is another primary domain for this verb, specifically in its meaning of assigning tasks. In offices across the Middle East and North Africa, managers and supervisors use this word to delegate work. You will hear it in staff meetings, read it in official emails, and see it in job descriptions.

الشركة تكلف فريقا جديدا بدراسة السوق.

This professional usage is highly formalized and almost always utilizes the preposition بـ (bi) to introduce the assigned task. Similarly, in the realm of politics and government administration, the verb is standard terminology. When a king or president appoints a prime minister, the official royal decree or presidential statement will state that the leader has tasked the individual with forming a government.
Political Contexts
Official decrees, government appointments, and diplomatic missions.

الملك يكلف رئيس الوزراء بتشكيل الحكومة الجديدة.

Beyond the practical and professional spheres, the verb also resonates deeply within the cultural and religious life of Arabic speakers. As mentioned previously, the Quranic verse stating that God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity is known by virtually every Arabic speaker, regardless of their level of religious devotion. It is frequently quoted in times of hardship or stress as a form of comfort and resignation to divine will.

في أوقات الصعاب، نتذكر أنه لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها.

Finally, in everyday social interactions, the reflexive concept of taking trouble upon oneself is a cornerstone of Arabic politeness. When visiting an Arab home, if the host begins preparing an elaborate meal, a polite guest will inevitably say لا تكلف نفسك (don't trouble yourself). This demonstrates how a single verb can traverse the spectrum from buying vegetables to expressing profound cultural values of hospitality and grace.
While the verb يكلف (yukallif) is highly useful, its dual meaning and specific grammatical requirements make it a frequent source of errors for Arabic learners. Understanding and anticipating these common mistakes is crucial for developing fluency and accuracy. The most prevalent error, particularly among beginners whose native language is English, involves the misuse of prepositions when the verb is used to mean assigning a task. In English, we say to task someone WITH something. Learners often try to translate this literally using the Arabic preposition مع (ma'a - with). This results in the incorrect sentence كلفني مع المشروع. The correct preposition in Arabic is always بـ (bi).
Preposition Error
Using مع instead of بـ when assigning a task.

خطأ: كلفني مع العمل. صحيح: كلفني بالعمل.

Another frequent mistake relates to the confusion between the active and passive voices. Because the concept of being tasked is so common, learners often need to use the passive form كُلِّفَ (kullifa). However, they frequently mispronounce the vowels, using the active form كَلَّفَ (kallafa) instead, which completely changes the meaning of the sentence from I was tasked to I tasked.
Voice Confusion
Mixing up the active (kallafa) and passive (kullifa) vowel patterns.

أنا كُلِّفْتُ بالمهمة (I was tasked), not أنا كَلَّفْتُ بالمهمة.

A third common error occurs when learners attempt to use the verb to mean cost in contexts where it is inappropriate. While يكلف works perfectly for financial costs, time, and effort, it is not always the best choice for metaphorical costs that imply loss or damage in a highly poetic sense, although it can be used. Sometimes, verbs like كبد (kabbada - to inflict a loss) are more appropriate in formal writing when discussing casualties or severe financial ruin.

الحرب كلفت البلاد الكثير من الأرواح.

Furthermore, learners often struggle with the noun form (masdar) of the verb, which is تكلفة (taklifa - cost) or تكليف (takleef - assignment). Mixing up these two nouns is a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker. If you want to talk about the cost of living, you must use تكلفة المعيشة, not تكليف المعيشة. Conversely, if you are talking about a work assignment, it is تكليف, not تكلفة.
Noun Confusion
Using تكلفة (cost) when you mean تكليف (assignment), or vice versa.

تكلفة المشروع عالية جدا.

Finally, there is a tendency to overuse the phrase كم يكلف؟ (how much does it cost?) in situations where simpler phrases like بكم هذا؟ (for how much is this?) are more natural and idiomatic in spoken dialects. While كم يكلف is grammatically perfect and universally understood, varying your phrasing will make your Arabic sound much more natural.

يمكنك أيضا أن تقول: بكم هذا؟ بدلا من كم يكلف؟

By being mindful of these common pitfalls—specifically the preposition بـ, the passive voice vowels, the distinction between the two noun forms, and the natural phrasing of questions—you can significantly improve the accuracy and elegance of your Arabic expression.
Expanding your vocabulary involves not just learning isolated words, but understanding the web of synonyms and related terms that surround them. The verb يكلف (yukallif) has several synonyms depending on which of its meanings you are employing. When used in the sense of costing money, the most direct alternative is the phrase يبلغ ثمنه (yablughu thamanuhu), which literally translates to its price reaches. This is a slightly more formal way of expressing cost and is often found in written texts or formal news broadcasts.
Synonym for Cost
يبلغ ثمنه (yablughu thamanuhu) - Its price reaches.

هذا الجهاز يبلغ ثمنه مئة دولار، أي أنه يكلف مئة دولار.

In spoken dialects, you will often hear people simply use the preposition بـ (bi) followed by the price, or the word حق (haqq - right/price in some dialects) to express cost without using a verb at all. For example, in Levantine Arabic, one might say هادا بحقه عشرين (This is worth twenty). When the verb is used in the sense of assigning a task, the landscape of synonyms becomes richer. The verb يعين (yu'ayyin) means to appoint or designate, and is frequently used in professional and political contexts. While يكلف implies giving a specific task, يعين implies giving a position or role.
Synonym for Appoint
يعين (yu'ayyin) - To appoint to a position.

تم تعيينه مديرا، ثم كلف بإدارة الأزمة.

Another related verb is يأمر (ya'mur), which means to order or command. This is a much stronger word than يكلف. While a manager tasks (يكلف) an employee, a general commands (يأمر) a soldier. Understanding this gradient of authority is important for choosing the right word.

الضابط يأمر الجندي، بينما المعلم يكلف الطالب بوظيفة.

For the concept of burdening someone, which is closely related to the root meaning, the verb يرهق (yurhiq) is an excellent synonym. It means to exhaust or overburden. If a task costs too much effort, it exhausts the person doing it.
Synonym for Burden
يرهق (yurhiq) - To exhaust or overburden.

العمل الإضافي يرهق العمال ويكلفهم صحتهم.

Finally, it is worth noting the antonyms. The opposite of costing or burdening is to relieve or exempt. The verb يعفي (yu'fee) means to exempt someone from a duty or a cost. If you are not tasked with something, you are exempted from it.

المدير يعفي الموظف المريض من العمل بدلا من أن يكلفه به.

By studying these synonyms and related concepts—يبلغ ثمنه for cost, يعين for appointment, يأمر for command, يرهق for exhaustion, and يعفي for exemption—you build a robust semantic network around the central verb يكلف, allowing you to express yourself with much greater precision and nuance in Arabic.

How Formal Is It?

难度评级

需要掌握的语法

Form II Verb Morphology (Causative/Intensive).

Transitive Verbs and Direct Objects.

Prepositions with Verbs (Verbal Collocations).

Passive Voice Construction.

Attached Object Pronouns.

按水平分级的例句

1

كم يكلف هذا الكتاب؟

How much does this book cost?

Present tense, masculine subject (الكتاب).

2

القهوة تكلف دولارين.

The coffee costs two dollars.

Present tense, feminine subject (القهوة) uses تكلف.

3

هذا لا يكلف شيئاً.

This doesn't cost anything (It's free).

Negation using لا before the present tense verb.

4

كم تكلف التذكرة؟

How much does the ticket cost?

Feminine subject (التذكرة).

5

الطعام هنا يكلف كثيراً.

The food here costs a lot.

Adverb كثيراً used to indicate high cost.

6

هل يكلف هذا مالاً؟

Does this cost money?

Question using هل.

7

الماء لا يكلف كثيراً.

Water doesn't cost much.

Basic sentence structure: Subject + Verb + Adverb.

8

يكلف خمسة يورو.

It costs five euros.

Verb used without an explicit subject (implied 'it').

1

السفر يكلف الكثير من الوقت.

Traveling costs a lot of time.

Using abstract nouns (الوقت) as the cost.

2

كم كلفك هذا الهاتف؟

How much did this phone cost you?

Past tense (كلف) with attached object pronoun (ك).

3

هذا الخطأ سيكلفنا غاليا.

This mistake will cost us dearly.

Future tense prefix (سـ) and attached pronoun (نا).

4

السيارة الجديدة تكلف ثروة.

The new car costs a fortune.

Metaphorical use of 'fortune' (ثروة).

5

لا أريد أن يكلفك هذا جهداً.

I don't want this to cost you effort.

Subjunctive mood after أن (أن يكلفَ).

6

كلفني الفستان مئة دولار.

The dress cost me a hundred dollars.

Past tense with attached pronoun (ني).

7

إصلاح الحاسوب سيكلف الكثير.

Repairing the computer will cost a lot.

Verbal noun (إصلاح) as the subject.

8

العيش في المدينة يكلف أكثر.

Living in the city costs more.

Comparative adverb (أكثر).

1

كلفني المدير بكتابة التقرير.

The manager tasked me with writing the report.

Meaning 'to task', requires preposition بـ.

2

تم تكليفي بمهمة صعبة.

I was tasked with a difficult mission.

Passive construction using تم + verbal noun (تكليف).

3

الرئيس يكلف الوزير بملف الصحة.

The president tasks the minister with the health portfolio.

Formal political usage with بـ.

4

لا تكلف نفسك عناء المجيء.

Don't trouble yourself with the effort of coming.

Idiomatic expression for politeness.

5

المشروع كلفنا جهداً كبيراً.

The project cost us great effort.

Abstract cost (جهد).

6

أنا مكلف بحماية هذا المكان.

I am tasked with protecting this place.

Passive participle (مكلف).

7

المعلم يكلف الطلاب بواجبات يومية.

The teacher tasks the students with daily homework.

Plural object and plural task.

8

هذا العمل يكلفني صحتي.

This work is costing me my health.

Metaphorical cost (الصحة).

1

كُلِّفَتِ اللجنة بالتحقيق في الحادث.

The committee was tasked with investigating the incident.

True passive voice (كُلِّفَت).

2

تكلفة المعيشة ترتفع باستمرار.

The cost of living is constantly rising.

Using the noun form (تكلفة).

3

القرار سيكلف الشركة خسائر فادحة.

The decision will cost the company heavy losses.

Advanced vocabulary collocation (خسائر فادحة).

4

تجنب التكلف في كلامك.

Avoid artificiality in your speech.

Using the Form V verbal noun (التكلف) meaning artificiality/pretension.

5

هو مكلف قانونياً برعاية الأطفال.

He is legally obligated to care for the children.

Legal/formal context of obligation.

6

النجاح يكلف تضحيات كثيرة.

Success costs many sacrifices.

Abstract philosophical statement.

7

تم تكليفه بمهام تفوق طاقته.

He was tasked with duties exceeding his capacity.

Complex sentence structure.

8

لا أريد أن أكون عبئاً أو أكلفك شيئاً.

I don't want to be a burden or cost you anything.

Combining concepts of burden and cost.

1

دفع حياته ثمناً لمبادئه، لقد كلفه ذلك غاليا.

He paid his life as a price for his principles; it cost him dearly.

Highly metaphorical and dramatic usage.

2

التكليف الشرعي يوجب على المسلم أداء الصلاة.

Religious obligation requires a Muslim to perform prayer.

Islamic jurisprudential terminology (التكليف الشرعي).

3

كلفه الغرور منصبه وسمعته.

Arrogance cost him his position and his reputation.

Abstract subjects (الغرور) causing the cost.

4

هناك تكلفة خفية لا يراها المستهلك العادي.

There is a hidden cost that the average consumer does not see.

Economic/analytical discourse.

5

المرسوم الرئاسي يقضي بتكليف شخصية مستقلة بتشكيل الوزارة.

The presidential decree mandates tasking an independent figure with forming the ministry.

Highly formal political register.

6

يتحدث بتكلف شديد يزعج السامعين.

He speaks with severe affectation that annoys the listeners.

Using Form V (تكلف) for negative behavioral traits.

7

الحرب كلفت الإنسانية ثمناً باهظاً لا يعوض.

The war cost humanity an exorbitant, irreplaceable price.

Advanced collocations (ثمناً باهظاً لا يعوض).

8

المثقف مكلف بنشر الوعي في مجتمعه.

The intellectual is tasked with spreading awareness in their society.

Sociological/philosophical context.

1

لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها، مبدأ قرآني عظيم.

'God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity', a great Quranic principle.

Classical/Quranic quotation.

2

إن تكاليف النهضة الحضارية تتطلب تضافر الجهود.

The costs of civilizational renaissance require the concert of efforts.

Academic/sociological discourse.

3

الشاعر يتجنب التكلف اللفظي ويميل إلى العفوية.

The poet avoids verbal affectation and leans towards spontaneity.

Literary criticism terminology.

4

مناط التكليف في الفقه الإسلامي هو العقل والبلوغ.

The basis of obligation in Islamic jurisprudence is intellect and puberty.

Highly specialized legal/religious register.

5

لقد كلفته هذه المغامرة السياسية رصيده الشعبي بأكمله.

This political adventure cost him his entire popular capital.

Advanced political analysis.

6

التكلفة الحدية للإنتاج تتناقص مع زيادة الحجم.

The marginal cost of production decreases with increased volume.

Specialized economic terminology (التكلفة الحدية).

7

أبتغي في كتاباتي الصدق وأمقت التكلف والتصنع.

I seek truthfulness in my writings and loathe affectation and artificiality.

Classical literary style.

8

كُلِّفَ بما لا يطاق، فناء بحمله.

He was burdened with the unbearable, and thus collapsed under its weight.

Poetic/classical narrative structure.

常见搭配

يكلف كثيرا
يكلف غاليا
يكلف وقتا
يكلف جهدا
يكلف بمهمة
يكلف بتشكيل الحكومة
يكلف حياته
يكلف ثروة
يكلف مبلغا
يكلف منصبه

容易混淆的词

يكلف vs يدفع (To pay - opposite perspective of a transaction)

يكلف vs يأمر (To order - stronger than assigning)

يكلف vs يعين (To appoint - assigning a role rather than a specific task)

容易混淆

يكلف vs

يكلف vs

يكلف vs

يكلف vs

يكلف vs

句型

如何使用

nuances

The root carries a heavy sense of burden. Even when meaning 'cost', it implies an extraction of resources.

formality

Highly versatile. 'Cost' is universal. 'Assign' leans formal but is common in standard workplace communication.

regionalisms

While 'يكلف' is understood everywhere, dialects often prefer simpler prepositional phrases for asking prices (e.g., 'بكم', 'شحال').

常见错误
  • Using مع (with) instead of بـ (bi) when assigning a task. (e.g., saying كلفني مع العمل instead of كلفني بالعمل).
  • Confusing the nouns تكلفة (cost) and تكليف (assignment).
  • Mispronouncing the passive voice كُلِّفَ (kullifa) as the active voice كَلَّفَ (kallafa), completely changing the meaning of who assigned the task.
  • Forgetting the shadda on the lam, which alters the verb form and meaning.
  • Using the verb for highly poetic/tragic losses where verbs like كبد (to inflict loss) might be more stylistically appropriate in formal writing.

小贴士

Master the Preposition

Always link the verb to the assigned task using the preposition بـ (bi). Think of it as 'tasking someone BY MEANS OF a duty'. This is the most common grammatical error learners make with this word. Practice writing sentences specifically focusing on this connection.

Emphasize the Shadda

The middle letter (lam) has a shadda, meaning it is doubled. You must hold the 'L' sound slightly longer: yu-kal-lif. If you don't pronounce the shadda, it sounds like a Form I verb, which changes the meaning entirely. Practice saying it slowly.

The Politeness Phrase

Memorize 'لا تكلف نفسك' (la tukallif nafsak). Use it whenever an Arab host offers you tea, food, or help. It shows you respect their effort and are culturally aware. It's the equivalent of saying 'oh, you shouldn't have!' in English.

Learn the Noun Pair

Create flashcards for the two main nouns: تكلفة (cost) and تكليف (assignment). Put a picture of money on one and a picture of a to-do list on the other. Keeping these distinct in your mind will prevent confusing errors in professional contexts.

News Broadcast Cue

When listening to Arabic news, if you hear 'كلف الرئيس...' (The president tasked...), immediately listen for the name of the person and the preposition بـ to find out what the new government mandate is. It's a highly predictable sentence structure in journalism.

Passive Voice Practice

Because 'being tasked' is so common, practice the passive form كُلِّفَ (kullifa) extensively. Write out your own job description using 'أنا مكلف بـ' (I am tasked with...). This will make you sound much more professional in job interviews.

Abstract Costs

Don't limit this verb to money. Impress native speakers by using it for abstract concepts. Say 'هذا يكلف وقتا' (This costs time) or 'يكلف جهدا' (costs effort). It shows a higher level of fluency than just using it for shopping.

Avoid Artificiality

Learn the related word 'تكلف' (takalluf - artificiality). If someone is acting fake or trying too hard, you can say 'كلامه فيه تكلف' (His speech has affectation). It's a great advanced vocabulary word for social critique.

Dialect vs Fusha

While 'كم يكلف؟' is perfect Fusha and understood everywhere, don't be afraid to learn the local dialect equivalent (like 'بكم؟' or 'شحال؟') for street markets. It will help you blend in and possibly get better prices!

The Burden Connection

To remember both meanings, think of the core concept: a BURDEN. Costing money is a financial burden. Assigning a task is a professional burden. Connecting both to this single core idea makes the vocabulary stick better.

记住它

记忆技巧

Imagine a CALiph (kal-lif) assigning tasks and deciding how much things COST in his empire.

词源

Derived from the Arabic triconsonantal root ك-ل-ف (k-l-f).

文化背景

Using 'تكلف' (affectation) is a strong social critique, implying someone is being fake or trying too hard.

The meaning 'to cost' is used in all registers, from street slang to formal news. The meaning 'to assign' is slightly more formal, common in workplaces and news.

In spoken dialects, asking for price often bypasses the verb entirely (e.g., 'بكم؟' or 'قديش؟'). However, 'يكلف' is universally understood.

在生活中练习

真实语境

对话开场白

"كم يكلف السفر إلى بلدك؟ (How much does it cost to travel to your country?)"

"هل كلفك مديرك بمهمة جديدة مؤخراً؟ (Has your manager tasked you with a new assignment recently?)"

"ما هو أغلى شيء اشتريته وكم كلفك؟ (What is the most expensive thing you bought and how much did it cost you?)"

"هل تعتقد أن تكلفة المعيشة ترتفع؟ (Do you think the cost of living is rising?)"

"كيف تقول لشخص 'لا تكلف نفسك' في ثقافتك؟ (How do you say 'don't trouble yourself' in your culture?)"

日记主题

Write about a time a mistake cost you dearly. (اكتب عن وقت كلفك فيه خطأ غاليا)

Describe your daily tasks at work. Who assigns them to you? (من يكلفك بها؟)

Discuss the cost of living in your city. (تكلفة المعيشة)

Write about a goal that will cost a lot of time and effort to achieve.

Reflect on the phrase 'God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity'.

常见问题

10 个问题

Yes, absolutely. You can use it for time, effort, health, or even abstract concepts like reputation or life. For example, 'It costs a lot of time' is يكلف الكثير من الوقت. It is a very flexible verb in this regard. It functions very similarly to the English verb 'to cost' in metaphorical contexts. This makes it a powerful tool for expressive language.

You must use the preposition بـ (bi). The structure is 'to task someone WITH something'. In Arabic, it is يكلف شخصاً بـ شيء. If you omit the بـ, the sentence will sound grammatically incorrect and confusing to a native speaker. Memorize the chunk 'كلف بـ'.

You use the passive voice of the verb, which is كُلِّفْتُ (kulliftu). Notice the change in vowels: 'u' on the first letter and 'i' on the middle letter. Alternatively, you can use the passive participle and say أنا مُكَلَّف بـ (ana mukallaf bi), which means 'I am tasked with'. Both are very common in professional settings.

Both are perfectly correct, but they have different flavors. 'كم يكلف' (How much does it cost?) is standard, clear, and understood everywhere. 'بكم' (For how much?) is slightly more idiomatic and very common in spoken dialects. Using 'بكم' might make you sound a bit more natural in a casual street market.

It literally translates to 'do not burden yourself'. Culturally, it is a polite phrase used to tell someone not to go to unnecessary trouble for you. You use it when a host offers you food, or when someone offers to do you a favor. It is a key phrase for showing good manners in Arab culture.

Both are nouns derived from the same root, but they correspond to the two different meanings of the verb. تكلفة (taklifa) means 'cost' or 'expense' (e.g., cost of living). تكليف (takleef) means 'assignment', 'mandate', or 'obligation' (e.g., a work assignment). Mixing them up is a common mistake.

Not the verb يكلف itself, but a related Form V verb from the same root, يتكلف (yatakallaf), means to affect a manner or to be artificial. The noun form تكلف (takalluf) means affectation or artificiality. It implies taking on a burden to appear a certain way.

The past tense is كَلَّفَ (kallafa). It conjugates regularly for a Form II verb. I cost/tasked: كَلَّفْتُ (kallaftu). You (m) cost/tasked: كَلَّفْتَ (kallafta). She cost/tasked: كَلَّفَتْ (kallafat). They cost/tasked: كَلَّفُوا (kallafu).

The active participle is مُكَلِّف (mukallif), with a kasra (i sound) under the lam. It means 'costly' or 'expensive'. For example, مشروع مكلف means a costly project. Do not confuse it with the passive participle مُكَلَّف (mukallaf), which means 'tasked' or 'responsible'.

Yes, very famously. The phrase لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها (God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity) is one of the most well-known verses in the Quran. It uses the verb in the sense of imposing a burden or obligation. It is widely quoted in daily life.

自我测试 180 个问题

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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