There are certain body parts that Iranians hold especially dear, and this is reflected in the Persian language. We know that calling someone your liver or saying that you’ll eat their liver is not cause for concern, but rather a way to express your affection for them. Matters of the heart are expressed with del (which is also the anatomical stomach) rather than ghalb (which is the anatomical heart). And then there’s the eye. In the dictionary, you’ll find page after page of expressions and verbs with cheshm (eye). It’s the eye that plays various roles in Iranian superstitions– the evil eye, the salty eye, the jealous eye. We compliment people with phrases related to the eye. In the words that stem from body parts, it’s the eye that gives us “[water] spring” (cheshmeh). And when telling a story, Iranians will dramatically exclaim, “Cheshmet ruz-e bad nabine!” (May your eye never see a bad day!) So today, we’re looking at some common Persian idioms and phrases related to the eye, or cheshm. (You can find the Persian spelling of all the phrases in the PDF at the end of the post.)
Chashm
When pronounced chashm, this word is a polite form of saying “ok”, “sure”, or “consider it done” when someone asks that you do something. For example, if a student is late on their payment, and I call them to politely ask that they deposit the money as soon as possible, they might say chashm, which literally means “eye” (sounds silly in English, doesn’t it?). Saying chashm shows respect and implies that you value the person and what they had to say.
To be even more polite and show that you are at someone’s service and are more than willing to do something, you could say ru chesham or be ru-ye cheshm. (If you use either of these, the pronunciation sounds more like cheshm, not chashm).
There’s a common gesture that goes with this, and it’s covering your eye with the palm of your hand. Sometimes, Iranians make this gesture in lieu of the phrase.
Chashmetun bi balâ
The polite response to chashm? Chashmetun (or cheshmetun) bi balâ, literally, “may your eye be without misfortune”. Using the example from above, if my student says chashm when I ask them for the tuition, I would respond chashmetun bi balâ to be formal and polite. The same way that they showed me respect by saying chashm, I’m also showing them respect by saying that I hope they’re always well and in good health.
It’s the same concept as when you thank someone with the phrase dast-e shomâ dard nakone (may your hand not hurt) and they respond sar-e shomâ dard nakone (may your head not hurt). Or when you say khaste nabâshid (lit., “Don’t be tired”) and the reply comes as salâmat bâshid (May you be healthy).
Ghadam ru-ye cheshm
Another common expression using the eyes is ghadam ru-ye cheshm, literally “your step on my eye.” This is a very polite, respectful way of saying that someone is welcome. They are so welcome, in fact, that they can step on your precious eyes as they make their grand entrance! For example, if I go to my grandmother’s house, she might say this in her greeting to show that she’s happy I’m there and I’m welcome in her house. Or if my friend calls to tell me that she might be visiting soon, I’d tell her, “Ghadamet ru-ye cheshm!” (You’re welcome any time!)
Ru cheshm-e kasi jâ dâshtan
And when you have a place on someone’s eye, as the literal meaning of this phrase expresses, it means that you are oh-so-very dear. You’re so dear that you’ve been given the best spot in the house- right on the precious organ of the person who’s put you on this pedestal, thereby blocking their view of anything else. 😉
Cheshm entezâr
I introduced this one back in a Music + Lyrics post as it was used in the lyrics. Literally “eye anticipation,” cheshm entezâr means that you are looking forward to seeing someone and eagerly awaiting their arrival. In the past, whenever I’d make a trip to Iran, relatives would call me beforehand and tell me “cheshm entezâretim” (We’re really looking forward to seeing you.). Now, as it so happens, I hear this expression when I’m going back to the US for a visit.
Cheshm be râh
Cheshm be râh literally means, “eye on the road”, and similar to cheshm entezâr, it expresses your eagerness to see someone. The small difference between the two lies in the time. Cheshm entezâr is the waiting period, whereas cheshm be râh is like you’re almost there, so your eyes are on the road. So if my family makes plans to visit, I’d say I’m cheshm entezâr, but once they’re at the airport and getting ready to fly over, I’d tell them, “Cheshm be râh-etun hastam.” (My eyes are on the road [I can’t wait to see you soon.]).
Cheshmâtun ghashang mibine
You might remember this one from a previous post. Literally “your eyes see beautifully,” this is a polite, taarof-y way to accept a compliment instead of saying thank you. Because saying a simple thank you is accepting the compliment. (Think Mean Girls when Regina George says, “So you agree?!”) But by using this expression, you’re complimenting the person with another compliment. It’s not your hair that looks nice. It’s the other person’s eyes that see it beautifully.
Cheshmetun roshan
This phrase literally means “may your eyes be bright.” When a traveler arrives at a friend or family member’s house (either after traveling a long distance or not seeing the person for a long time), friends and family call to give their cheshm roshani. It implies that the visitor has brought light and goodness to the house.
But you don’t necessarily have to know in advance that anyone was visiting. You may find out by chance and still use this phrase. For instance, if I call a friend and she says her parents are in town, I’d say, “Oh nice, cheshmet roshan!”
Cheshm dukhtan
I think this verb for “to gaze” is so beautiful because it literally means “to sew your eye.” It’s no wonder it’s used so frequently in poetry.
Cheshmo ham cheshmi
This is a phrase that I feel like hyphenated Iranians inevitably say in Persian. The closest English translation is “keeping up with the Joneses,” that materialistic competition some people feel with others. Though this concept definitely exists in other cultures, including American, I honestly don’t feel like I hear this expression much in English. But this idea of cheshmo ham cheshmi is unfortunately quite common in Iran and one of the more negative aspects of Iranian culture, in my opinion.
So there are some of our common Persian idioms and expressions related to the eye. Be sure to download the PDF reference below which also contains the Persian spelling.
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