Farsi Lesson 128 – Measures and Units in Persian – Part 2

Is bad always bad?

I would say ‘yes’ if you had asked me this question one week ago! Today, I have a different idea (even temporarily!!). Compared to the worse, bad is good!!

Recently, I always complained that my old computer has made me crazy! Although I loved my computer, I thought it was not good anymore, which means it was bad! Then one day, it stopped working permanently! As a result, I lost my connection with the outside world, which was a terrible experience. It was then I came to know that even if it worked poorly, it was good enough to connect me to you! So, compared to ‘worse’, bad is good!

This week, I decided to buy a new computer. I checked my savings and noticed that it was too little for a new one! (Now, you know how rich this teacher is!!). Through some channels, I finally managed to get a new computer. So, I guess I can spend more time online from now on. Say ‘hurray’ if this made you happy!

I also want to take advantage of this time to share something with you. From among all the possessions of this world, I have only one thing that I guess is mine! And that is my tongue!! Recently, I noticed my tongue remains silent! You know that I am very talkative! So, silence kills me! Honestly! I noticed that I could not write or say anything for quite long time. I hate this situation and I would love to ask you to pray to God, or whosoever you believe in, to push my tongue towards words! Please ask Him to let my tongue speak again! Let me see how many of you have got pure heart (!!); for it is said that if you keep asking God with a pure heart to give you something, it will be given to you!! Maybe it is a test for your pure hearts!!

All right,

Now let’s see the lesson. If you remember, I told you in lesson 125 that after the Primary School CD sample pages, we would continue our Persian Measure / Units lessons. So, here we are again! We will learn some more of Persian Units today. If I happen to get more, I will certainly share it with you again.

By the way, how was the Primary School CD? I thought you liked it. So far, only a few have shown interest in it. (My interest measuring system works based on the number of orders placed!!). I am not threatening you, but let me tell you that the less you welcome my works, the less I will find the courage to do more! There is a Persian expression that says: مستمع صاحب سخن را بر سر حال آورد!! It means something like this: supportive listeners / audiences create better speakers! Or, Good audiences put the speaker in a better speaking mood.

Well, I am already convinced that your heart is beautifully pure!! I have already started talking this much!! Keep praying please!!

Here are some more Persian measures / units:

human: نفر /næfær/

Example: two people = دو نفر /do næfær/.

camel : نفر /næfær/

Example: two camels = دو نفر شتر /do næfær shotor/.

Note: some of these measures, like what you see in camel, are not very common in nowadays Persian. You could simply say دو شتر /do shotor/.

carpet: تخته /tækhteh/

Example: one carpet = یک تخته فرش /yek takhteh færsh/.

airplane: فروند /færvænd/

Example: one airplane = یک فروند هواپیما /yek færvænd hæva:peyma:/

car: دستگاه /dæstga:h/

Example: one car = یک دستگاه ماشین /yek dæstga:h ma:shin/.

check (bank note): فقره /fæghæreh/

Example: two checks = دو فقره چک /do fæghæreh chek/.

house / residential place: باب /ba:b/

Example: five houses = پنج باب خانه /pænj ba:b kha:neh/. Or, پنج باب واحد مسکونی /pænj ba:b va:hed e mæsku:ni/ = five residential places

kilogram: کیلو /kilo/ or, /kilu:/

Example: three kilos banana = پنج کیلو موز /pænj kilu: moz/.

gram (as in kilogram): گرم /gram/ (same as in English)

Example: one gram gold = یک گرم طلا

litre (1000 cc): لیتر /litr/

Example: ten litre milk = ده لیتر شیر /dæh litr shir/.

bottle of beer or other alcoholic drinks: بطر /botr/

Example: two bottles beer = دو بطر آبجو /do botr a:bji/

Very important and brilliantly relieving note!!!

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention!! Here, I should say laziness is the mother of invention!! You know why? Read below!

In daily conversations, we the Iranians do not use most of these measures!! Instead, we have a very short word that replaces all the countable measures!! That easy word is تا /ta:/.

Example:

Five cars = پنج تا ماشین /pænj ta: ma:shin/.

Ten camels = ده تا شتر /dæh ta: shotor/.

Four planes = چهار تا هواپیما /chæha:r ta: hæva: peyma:/.

Now satisfied?!! Easy Persian makes sugar sweeter!!

Before I say bye to you, let me give you a small homework!!

Question: I said for countable nouns, we use تا /ta:/ in daily conversation. What is the word for non-countable nouns?

Example:

What if the word is ‘water’ or ‘milk’ or ‘beer’?

Keep thinking!!

See you all next week.

Till then, Khoda Hafez!

Sorry, sorry, it’s me again! I said many things today and still need to say one more thing! I forgot to wish you a very happy and blessed Christmas as well as a wonderful new year! So, merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you!

Wow, your hearts are great!! I am just wondering with so many pure hearts, why is it that our world is still filled with hatred and war? Let us pray for the rulers!!

Lesson 128

• Useful Drills 128