Correcting Negative Statements with بلکه
When you want to deny a statement and immediately substitute it with the truth, Farsi uses the conjunction بلکه (but rather / on the contrary).
To use it, first make a negative statement denying an assumption or action, follow it with a comma and بلکه, and then state the new, correct fact.
| He did not make an excuse, but rather he justified his behavior. | او بهانه نیاورد، بلکه رفتار خود را توجیه کرد.u bahâne nayâvard, balke raftâr khod râ towjih kard. |
| My intention was not to insult, but rather I criticized your project. | منظور من توهین کردن نبود، بلکه از پروژهی شما انتقاد کردم.manzur-e man towhin kardan nabud, balke az proje-ye shomâ enteghâd kardam. |
Clarifying Motives and Shifting Blame
Because بلکه introduces a corrective contrast, it is highly useful in conversations where you need to clarify your intentions, deny an accusation, or shift blame.
If someone misunderstands your motive, you can state what you weren't doing, followed by بلکه and your actual goal or state of mind.
| Nobody judged you out of malice, but rather this is only an accusation. | هیچکس تو را با غرض قضاوت نکرد، بلکه این فقط یک اتهام است.hich-kas to râ bâ gharaz qezâvat nakard, balke in faqat yek ettehâm ast. |
| I am not here to insult, but rather I have another intention. | من واسه توهین کردن اینجا نیستم، بلکه یه منظور دیگه دارم.man vâse towhin kardan injâ nistam, balke ye manzur dige dâram. |
Similarly, it perfectly bridges sentences when explaining whose fault something actually was, or when confirming that an event was simply a random accident.
| It was not your fault, but rather it was completely accidental. | تقصیر تو نبود، بلکه کاملاً تصادفی بود.taqsir-e to nabud, balke kâmelan tasâdofi bud. |
| This mistake is not accidental, but rather it's the manager's fault. | این اشتباه تصادفی نیست، بلکه تقصیر مدیره.in eshtebâh tasâdofi nist, balke taqsir modire. |
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