Ideologies and Philosophies: The Suffix گرایی
To express ideologies, intellectual movements, or broad tendencies—concepts that often end in "-ism" in English—Farsi uses the suffix گرایی.
This suffix attaches to a root noun or adjective and literally translates to an "inclination toward" or "seeking" of that concept. For example, combining کمال (perfection) with گرایی gives you کمالگرایی (perfectionism).
Other common combinations include:
- فرد (individual) + گرایی = فردگرایی (individualism)
- سنت (tradition) + گرایی = سنتگرایی (traditionalism)
- واقع (reality) + گرایی = واقعگرایی (realism)
Here are some of these philosophies in context:
| Perfectionism causes stress for many of the students. | کمالگرایی باعث استرس بسیاری از دانشجویان میشود.kamâl-gerâyi bâ'es estres besyâri az dâneshjuyân mishavad. |
| Some of the people in this society support individualism. | بعضی از افراد در این جامعه از فردگرایی حمایت میکنند.ba'zi az afrâd dar in jâme'e az fardgerâyi hemâyat mikonand. |
| You should read this very book about realism. | تو باید همین کتاب را دربارهی واقعگرایی بخوانی.to bâyad hamin ketâb râ darbâre-ye vâqe'-garâyi bekhâni |
Practices and Behaviors: The Suffix گری
While گرایی implies a belief system or philosophy, the suffix گری is used to form abstract nouns that describe a craft, a profession, or a continuous behavior. It often equates to English endings like "-ing", "-ness", or "-ry".
By attaching گری to a noun or adjective, you describe the act or practice of that root word:
- سفال (earthenware/clay) + گری = سفالگری (pottery making)
- ویران (ruined) + گری = ویرانگری (destructiveness)
- ستم (oppression) + گری = ستمگری (tyranny)
Let's see how these practices and behaviors are used in a sentence:
| She learns pottery making in that very workshop. | او در همان کارگاه سفالگری یاد میگیرد.u dar hamân kârgâh-e sofâlgari yâd migirad. |
| We must stop the destructiveness of war. | ما باید ویرانگری جنگ را متوقف کنیم.mâ bâyad virângari-ye jang râ motevaqqef konim. |
| Wherever you see tyranny, you must resist. | هر جا که ستمگری ببینید، باید مقاومت کنید.har jâ ke setamgari bebinid, bâyad moqâvemat konid. |