Expressions of Similarity
When describing a suspect to a police sketch artist, it helps to compare their facial features to familiar shapes. In Farsi, you can express "like" using prepositions of similarity such as مثل and مانند.
These connect directly to the noun or pronoun they describe using a linking vowel (Ezafe). Although rarely written, you simply add a short "e" sound to the end of the preposition to link it to the next word.
| The suspect's nose was wide like an athlete. | بینی متهم مثل یک ورزشکار پهن بود.beeni-ye mottaham mesle yek varzeshkâr pahn bud. |
| The sketch artist was drawing his face; his forehead was like a wall. | طراح داشت چهرهی او را میکشید؛ پیشانیاش مانند یک دیوار بود.tarrâh dâsht chehre-ye u râ mikeshid; pishâni-ash mânand-e yek divâr bud. |
Using "Similar to"
While مثل and مانند translate closely to "like", the word شبیه translates to "similar to" or "resembling". It behaves exactly the same way grammatically, relying on the Ezafe to connect to the noun that follows it.
| His forehead and chin are similar to this portrait. | پیشانی و چانهی او شبیه این پرتره است.pishâni va châne-ye u shabih in portre ast. |
| The suspect has a strong jaw similar to a tiger. | مظنون فک محکمی شبیه ببر دارد.maznun fak mohkami shabih-e babr dârad. |
Adding Identifying Details
These prepositions are highly flexible. You can use them to expand upon a specific adjective (like round or wide), or let them stand as their own descriptive phrase to paint a vivid picture of specific identifying marks, such as a mole (خال) or a mustache (سبیل).
| There was a mole on his face, like a black star. | روی صورت او یک خال بود، مانند یک ستارهی سیاه.ru-ye surat-e u yek khâl bud, mânand yek setâre-ye siyâh. |
| It has been two hours that the detective is searching for a man with a mustache like a black line. | دو ساعت است که کارآگاه دنبال مردی با سبیلی شبیه یک خط سیاه میگردد.do sâ'at ast ke kârâgâh donbâl-e mardi bâ sebili shabih-e yek khat-e siyâh migardad. |
