خودخواه
The English word 'selfish' is translated into Persian as خودخواه.
خودخواه is used to describe someone who has regard for their own well-being above that of others. If you want to soften your tone when describing someone as selfish, you can use the phrase ممکن است به نظر برسد, which means 'It may seem'.
Meaning: having regard for one's own well-being above that of others (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word خودخواه is a compound of خود, meaning 'self' and خواه, meaning 'desiring' or 'wanting'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the state of being selfish, you can add the infinitive بودن (to be) to the adjective, resulting in خودخواه بودن.
Did you know?
- In Persian culture, the concept of تعارف (ta'arof) makes being خودخواه especially taboo, as social etiquette requires people to pretend they do not want something even when they do.
- Persian has a distinct word for 'self-sacrifice', خودگذشتگی, which is the direct moral opposite of خودخواه. It literally translates to 'self-passing' or 'letting the self go'.
- The word خود is a cognate of the English word 'self' through their shared Proto-Indo-European ancestor, though the sounds shifted over thousands of years.
Examples in context
- نمی خواهم خودخواه باشم.I don't intend to be selfish.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not intend to be خودخواه.Tatoeba #3840472 by kuarash, translation #1352 by Zifre
- امیر در این رابطه خودخواه است.Amir is selfish in this matter.
- او خیلی خودخواه است.u kheyli khodkhah ast.He is very selfish.
- لطفاً خودخواه نباش.lotfan khodkhah nabash.Please don't be selfish.
Example conversation
Ali and Niloufar are arguing about sharing a dessert.
- علی Aliاین دسر فقط برای من است.in deser faghat barāye man ast.This dessert is only for me.
- نیلوفر Niloufarچرا اینقدر خودخواه هستی، علی؟cherā inghadr khodkhāh hasti, Ali?Why are you so selfish, Ali?
- علی Aliببخشید، من فقط خیلی گرسنه بودم.bebakhshid, man faghat kheyli gorsne budam.Sorry, I was just very hungry.
- نیلوفر Niloufarاشکالی ندارد، حالا با من تقسیم کن.eshkāli nadārad, hālā bā man taghsim kon.It's okay, now share it with me.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
