Comparing with مثل (Like / As)
To say that two things are similar or have the same traits, use مثل (like / as). When used to compare adjectives, it translates naturally to "as [adjective] as" in English.
In Farsi, the comparison word connects to the noun it compares against using the invisible ezafe vowel. The structure is generally: Subject + مثل + Noun + Adjective + Verb.
| The tiger is as fast as a horse. | ببر مثل اسب سریع است.babr mesl-e asb sari' ast. |
| This animal is wild like a bear. | این حیوان مثل خرس وحشی است.in heyvân mesl khers vahshi ast. |
| Is the bear as dangerous as a tiger? | آیا خرس مثل ببر خطرناک است؟âyâ khers mesle babr khatarnâk ast? |
Formal Comparisons with مانند
You will also frequently see مانند (like / as). It is used exactly the same way as مثل and means the same thing, but it is slightly more formal or literary.
| Monkeys are fast like birds. | میمونها مانند پرندگان سریع هستند.meymun-hâ mânand parandegân sari' hastand. |
| A tiger is not heavy like an elephant. | ببر مانند فیل سنگین نیست.babr mânand fil sangin nist. |
Comparing Extent with به اندازهی (As Much As / As [Adjective] As)
If you want to emphasize the degree, size, or amount of a shared trait, use the phrase به اندازهی (literally "to the size of" or "as much as").
| The elephant is as heavy as a car. | فیل به اندازهی ماشین سنگین است.fil be andâze-ye mâshin sangin ast. |
| Nothing is as tall as a giraffe. | هیچچیز به اندازهی زرافه بلند نیست.hich-chiz be andâze-ye zarâfe boland nist. |
You can easily use به اندازهی in negative sentences to state that something does not possess a trait to the same degree, or with action verbs to compare how things are done.
| The wild bear is not as strong as the elephant. | خرس وحشی به اندازهی فیل قوی نیست.khers-e vahshi be andâze-ye fil ghavi nist. |
| The giraffe does not run as fast as a horse. | زرافه به اندازهی اسب تند نمیدود.zarâfe be andâze-ye asb tond nemidavad. |
| The bear does not eat as much meat as the tiger. | خرس به اندازهی ببر گوشت نمیخورد.khers be andâze-ye babr gusht nemikhorad. |
