Formal Emphatic Negation: "Not Even One"
In the previous lesson, we learned to express "not even one" or "not a single..." using یک + noun + هم paired with a negative verb.
In formal writing and elevated speech, هم is frequently replaced by its formal counterpart, نیز. The emphatic framing structure simply becomes یک + noun + نیز + negative verb.
This refined tone is perfect when discussing meticulous, high-stakes crafts like manuscript restoration and bookbinding, where absolute precision is expected and errors are not tolerated.
| In the art of bookbinding, not even one slip is acceptable. | در هنر صحافی، یک لغزش نیز پذیرفتنی نیست.dar honar-e sahhâfi, yek laghzesh niz pazirafteni nist. |
| The rare book that he bought does not have even one flaw. | کتاب نایابی که او خرید، یک ایراد نیز ندارد.ketâbe nâyâbi ke u kharid, yek irâd niz nadârad. |
Direct Objects and Precision
If the noun enclosed in this structure is the specific direct object of the sentence, the object marker را is placed immediately after the noun and before نیز.
| The bookbinder might not tear even one handwritten leaf. | شاید صحاف یک ورق خطی را نیز پاره نکند.shâyad sahhâf yek varaq-e khatti râ niz pâre nakonad |
| The restorer did not lose even one rare leaf. | مرمتکار یک ورق نایاب را نیز گم نکرد.morammat-kâr yek varaq nâyâb râ niz gom nakard. |
Flawless Execution
This emphatic negation is highly versatile for expressing zero tolerance for abstract mistakes. Whether it is a crease, a crossing-out, or a moment of carelessness, wrapping the noun between یک and نیز instantly intensifies the negative verb, leaving no room for exception in the preservation of rare texts.
| Not even one erasure is acceptable in this manuscript. | یک خطخوردگی نیز در این نسخهی خطی پذیرفتنی نیست.yek khat-khordegi niz dar in noskhe-ye khatti paziroftani nist. |
| I wish not even one crease were remaining in this rare leaf. | کاش در این ورق نایاب، یک تاخوردگی نیز باقی نمیماند.kâsh dar in varaq nâyâb, yek tâkhordegi niz bâqi nemimânad. |
| Our restorer does not make even one careless mistake in his work. | مرمتکار ما در کار خود یک بیدقتی نیز نمیکند.marammat-kâr-e mâ dar kâr-e khod yek bi-deqqati niz nemikonad. |