Anyway: به هر حال
When a conversation wanders, you need a polite way to dismiss the tangent and return to the main topic (مطلب). The discourse marker به هر حال (anyway / in any case) is perfect for brushing past digressions and steering things back on track. It is typically placed at the beginning of the clause.
| Anyway, we must return to this matter. | به هر حال، ما باید به این مطلب برگردیم.be har hâl, mâ bâyad be in matlab bargardim. |
In Any Case: در هر صورت
A highly common and synonymous alternative is در هر صورت (in any case / at any rate). You will hear this frequently in meetings to wave off a minor objection or concede that a particular detail is time-consuming (وقتگیر) before moving on to the broader picture.
| In any case, this project is no longer time-consuming. | در هر صورت، این پروژه دیگر وقتگیر نیست.dar har surat, in proje digar vaght-gir nist. |
Digressions and Summaries
To manage a meeting effectively, you might need to point out when you are digressing (منحرف شدن) from the agenda. When you are ready to wrap things up, use the marker خلاصه (in short / briefly) to transition smoothly into summing up (جمعبندی کردن) the discussion.
| We digress from the matter. | ما از مطلب منحرف میشویم.mâ az matlab monharef mishavim. |
| In short, I want to sum up the meeting. | خلاصه، من میخواهم جلسه را جمعبندی کنم.kholâseh, man mikhâham jaleseh râ jam'bandi konam. |
Moving Forward
If the conversation becomes pointless (بیهوده), these markers help you intervene before you start wasting time (وقتکشی کردن). Once you have steered past the distraction, you can firmly state your intention to resume (از سر گرفتن) the real work.
| In any case, wasting time is pointless. | در هر صورت، وقتکشی کردن بیهوده است.dar har surat, vaght-koshi kardan bihoode ast. |
| In any case, we will resume the negotiations regarding the contract. | در هر صورت، مذاکرات در خصوص قرارداد را از سر میگیریم.dar har surat, mozâkerât dar khosuse gharârdâd râ az sar migirim. |
