Khaste na Basheed!

Iranians use a lot of Taarof.

For example, when you're in a shop and want to pay the shop keeper, he'll say "Qaabil nadare" which means "it's no big deal" i.e. don't pay me. But the customer insists. Shopkeeper and customer keep playing this game of taroof until the shop keeper relents and tells you the price. Once a taxi driver said "Qaabil nadare" to The Husband. So he left without paying. Of course taroof is false. Obviously someone will want paying after delivering goods or services. The taxi driver ran after him and claimed the money.

Another example of taarof is when a random stranger invites you to their house. It's not a real invitation. Or better still when you go to someone's house and you're standing at their door and they say "Befarmayeed" (please come in). But rather than open the door and let you in, they close the door on your face!

One of my favourites is "Daste shoma dard na kone" Which little means "may your hands not hurt". This is what you say to someone who gives you something or opens a door for you or passes you a pencil. The reply to this is "sare shoma dard na kone" which literally means "may your head not hurt" (i.e. think nothing of it)

The other phrase you use for someone who's working is "Khaste na basheed" or "don't be tired". You generally say this to the teacher at the end of each class.

We had our first gym class today. Our teacher put us through the ringer. We started of running around the hall about 50 times, then a variety of stretches/star jump-type things etc, followed by a mini-assult course and stretches to finish off. We were all SHATTERED and had aches and pains in muscles we didn't know existed. At the end of the class, she tells us "khaste na basheed"! Excuse me, if you don't want us to be tired, don't make us do so much!