Expressing Preference with Nouns
To state that you prefer one thing over another, use the compound verb ترجیح دادن (to prefer).
When comparing nouns, the preferred item is the direct object (followed by the object marker را), and the less preferred item is marked by the preposition به (to).
[Preferred Item] + را + به + [Less Preferred Item] + ترجیح دادن
| I prefer boiled meat to fried meat. | من گوشت آبپز را به گوشت سرخکرده ترجیح میدهم.man gusht-e âb-paz râ be gusht-e sorkh-karde tarjih midaham. |
| The doctor prefers a plant-based meal to meat. | دکتر یک وعدهی گیاهی را به گوشت ترجیح میدهد.doktor yek va'de-ye giyâhi râ be gusht tarjih midahad. |
Preferring Actions with Subjunctive Clauses
To state a preference for an action, use a clausal complement. Like other verbs of desire, ترجیح دادن connects with که (that) followed by a verb in the Present Subjunctive.
This structure applies whether you prefer to do something yourself ("I prefer to eat...") or want someone else to do it ("I prefer that you eat...").
| I prefer that you eat grilled fish. | من ترجیح میدهم که تو ماهی کبابی بخوری.man tarjih midaham ke to mâhi-ye kababi bokhori. |
| She prefers that I make a plant-based snack. | او ترجیح میدهد که من یک میانوعدهی گیاهی درست کنم.u tarjih mi-dahad ke man yek miyân-va'de-ye giyâhi dorost konam |
Dietary Preferences in Practice
Here are more examples using both the noun frame (را ... به) and the clausal frame (که + Subjunctive) to discuss nutrition and habits:
| The nutritionist prefers that you consume fewer carbohydrates. | متخصص تغذیه ترجیح میدهد که تو کمتر کربوهیدرات مصرف کنی.motekhasses taghziye tarjih midahad ke to kamtar karbohidrat masraf koni. |
| I prefer to eat salad because carbohydrates are harmful. | من ترجیح میدهم که سالاد بخورم، چون کربوهیدرات مضر است.man tarjih midaham ke sâlâd bokhoram, chon karbohidrât mozerr ast. |
| The doctor prefers natural fruit juice to artificial sweets. | دکتر آبمیوهی طبیعی را به شیرینی مصنوعی ترجیح میدهد.doktor âbmive-ye tabi'i râ be shirini-ye masnu'i tarjih midahad. |
